“Let’s just say, Kit is pretty. Yes.”
“Good point. I forget that. They’re both pretty, but I don’t think I’d want anything lasting. A quick romp and stomp, sure,” Ioana said, shifting in her chair.
“Been there, got the t-shirt. Don’t think I’m looking for anything fling-like anymore.” Felix let his thoughts drift backwards in time for a second.
“Yeah, getting old. Not sure what I want, but it’s not a fling.”
“What about those dating sites? I hear there’s a supervillains one.”
“I’m not much of a villain. Or a hero. A civilian with a power that he can only use to influence others.
“But yeah, I get your meaning. I suppose I could try that.”
Ioana leaned towards him and held an open hand.
“Andrea wouldn’t say no.”
“She’s also a Beastkin. A wolf, if I don’t miss my guess. That’d turn into something permanent for her quicker than I could get her to make me a pancake.”
“That’s pretty quick. They’re pretty great pancakes, though.”
“Yeah, it is. And yeah, they are. We’ll see. I’m not averse to the idea, I just don’t see it happening any time soon and being more than a one-night stand.”
“Could you imagine if you talked her into using her Others, though? I mean, I bet they could—”
Felix started to laugh again as Ioana was getting into her own thoughts. “Stop. We have to talk to an audience in a bit. Getting me all bothered about Andrea isn’t going to help me at all.”
“What about me?” asked an Andrea, easing up from behind his chair.
“Nothing. Nothing at all. I take it the new recruits are here?” Felix said, standing up.
“Coming now. They’ll be filing in momentarily. The food is on the way as well.”
“Great,” Felix said, shaking his hands.
He hated public speaking.
“What are you going to say?” Andrea asked.
“Same as ever. Don’t talk about the organization. Don’t disobey your superiors. Don’t hurt each other directly or indirectly. Don’t try to escape. Normal stuff. Then I’ll let them know the same thing I told you all.”
Felix leaned his head to one side and felt the pop he’d wanted so desperately. “Ah, that was a good one. But yeah, same thing I told you all. Live, prosper, be happy. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Good. You’re not going to hire a secretary, are you? I still might want the position.”
Felix shook his head and stepped up to the podium that had been set up at the front of the hall.
Flicking the mic twice, he leaned in to it. “Test, one, two.”
Leaning back, he looked to Ioana, who gave him a thumbs-up.
Trolleys laden with food, both hot and cold, were wheeled in from the sides. Almost as soon as they were set up, the front door to the hall opened and two Andreas strode in confidently.
They turned to each side and held open the conference hall doors as his new purchases began entering.
They looked more like a disorganized mob than anything. Which nearly turned into chaos when they realized there was food.
Felix leaned into the mic again. “Be calm. Make an orderly line, and get your fill of food, a drink, then take a seat. Once everyone is seated, we’ll begin.”
Instantly, there was order.
Can’t give them directions like that without expecting it to happen exactly as I state it.
Felix blew out a sigh after he flipped the switch on the mic that muted it.
“Good, I’m glad to see you have them in hand,” came the cool voice of Lily.
“I told you he would,” responded Kit.
Both ladies seated themselves on either side of the podium.
“They looked like they were about to mob the buffet tables. Can’t have that. That’d just devolve into a Mad Max breakfast.
“We don’t really need them killing each other.”
Lily shrugged her delicate shoulders and crossed her legs. “You’re right, of course.”
“A group of Andreas and Miu are running the store,” Kit said before he could ask.
“Thanks. And what about Eva?”
“She’s with Miu as well.”
Felix grunted and looked back out to the throng of people.
Most were seated, and only ten or so remained at the tables, filling their plates.
All eyes were on him. He could read almost every emotion in the entire range of human capacity on their faces and in their eyes.
From hope all the way to suicidal despair.
Have to make sure I order them not to hurt themselves. Directly or indirectly.
Once the last person seated themselves, and the Andreas closed the doors, Felix flipped the mic into the live position.
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Felix Campbell. I’m your new owner.
“First, all of the following orders apply to you directly, and indirectly.
“Rule one, you will not discuss anything about our organization with anyone outside of it, for any reason. This is for everyone’s safety.
“Rule two, you will not harm each other, or yourselves, for any reason if you can avoid it.
“That’s it for the rules,” Felix said.
He swept his eyes over everyone. Now was the part where he gave them hope and a chance.
The carrot.
“I expect you’re all wondering what is to become of you. Honestly, that’s a fairly simple answer. You’ll live together and share a purpose to build an organization that puts us in a place to live comfortably. You were purchased for your powers and how they help my own.
“My promises to you as your owner are thus. I will feed you. I will clothe you. I will not spend your lives wastefully. I will not sexually assault any of you. You will be given healthcare on a level that you are not accustomed to. Dental included.”
Felix paused for a moment. “I’m still considering if I should pay you a salary, but I’m leaning in that direction.
“Of course you’re all wondering what’s coming next, right?
“Either tonight, or tomorrow, you’ll be given a room that you’ll live in. This is your room and yours alone. You will not enter someone else’s room without their permission, nor will you steal from anyone in the organization. It all belongs to me anyways.”
Felix cleared his throat. He hated talking in front of people.
“After that, you’ll begin training in whatever department you are best suited for. Lilian Lux and Kit Carrington,” Felix said, gesturing to the women on either side of him, “will be placing you accordingly. Please cooperate with them to the best of your abilities. If I’m your CEO, they would be my board members.
“Serving as my chief of security is Ioana Iliescu.” Felix pointed to the big warrior. “If any of these women tell you what to do, you’ll treat it as if it were an order from me.”
That should do it. Good speech.
Andrea slammed into his side and snatched the mic. “I’m his personal assistant and secretary! I may or may not be sleeping with him. I’m not sure yet. Actually, I am sleeping with him, but we’re not having sex.”
Andrea pushed his hand away as he tried to get her off the mic.
“He’s my type, after all, and he smells awesome. Especially when he’s sweaty or angry.”
Andrea turned and smiled at him warmly, her mismatched eyes twinkling. Then she looked back to the crowd.
“I think I want some pancakes, then a nap. I can’t wait to sleep in the clothes I collected this morning. They smell great. All that adrenaline from the gunfight really got his blood going, so they reek fantastically.”
Felix couldn’t help himself, and he face-palmed.
Chapter 15 - Building Bridges -
“It looks like a shithole,” Felix grumbled, looking at the public school they’d stopped in front of.
Andrea turned around in the driver’s seat and smiled at him. “It really does.”
Lily sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “This is the school she’ll be sent to, according to the system.”