Michelle walked into Thompson manor with a wide grin etched on to her face.

“Michelle” a voice calling out her name caused her to awaken from daydream, “Father!” Michelle called out to her father as she lost her easy stance and got into one of attention. “You left your guards again” Ernest spoke up as he made it to his feet.

“Do you have any idea the troubles I went through to get you those guards?”

“Well with how easy it is to give them the slip, I’d recommend you get your money back”

“Your cousin is rubbing off on you. This isn’t a game Michelle, the streets of this city are not a safe place, I thought you would know that, after recent encounters.” Ernest spoke as he took a few steps arriving before his daughter and staring straight at her eyeballs.

Michelle rose her head in preparations to argue back but then seeing the look in her father’s eyes, pressure comparable to an insurmountable mountain originated from her father and came over her body and caused her to remain silent. “I will be assigning you new guards, and I expect this will be the last of your antics”.

Ernest walked away from his daughter after he had finished speaking, arriving before the entrance he stopped before speaking up, “Oh, tomorrow I’ll be expecting you at the office”. Ernest had finally left after those words leaving Michelle in a downcast mood in stark contrast to the mood she was in when she first arrived.

***

Ernest took a seat at the back of his limo when his eyes landed on an individual causing them to widen for a brief moment before narrowing. “What are you doing here?” “You asked to meet me” Jessica replied as she tilted her like a curios cat, Ernest had a frown on his face when he saw her actions. Whenever Ernest saw her act like that, he couldn’t help the feeling she was mocking him.

“At the usual place, not in the back of my limo” Ernest spoke with his displeasure clear in his voice as the limo began moving. “What can I say, I enjoy being spontaneous at times” Jessica continued a lazy tone as though unaware of the emotions of Ernest who was seated before her.

Letting out a sigh of frustration, Ernest decided to let it go and ask about what was important “how’s phase two of the plan going?” “Smoothly, pretty soon we will be done then we can move on to phase three” Jessica had lost her lazy tone as she proceeded to report to Ernest.

“That is great to hear” Ernest nodded before proceeding to pour himself a glass of wine, “seeing that is going well why don’t we move on to more pressing matters”

“More pressing matters?”

“The phantom”

“Ooh, since when was he pressing matters?” Jessica questioned with a playful tone

“Since you said you will take care of him and yet I hear he has been on the streets going on a rampage even going up against a few of our own. Luckily they are no longer as useful and don’t have any information of importance or else that bastard would be causing more damage to our operation” Ernest got into a rant.

“Calm down, you’re thinking too much. So, we’ve had a few setbacks, but trust me. I said I’d handle it and so I will, right now just focus on the plan and grand scheme because soon, pretty your dreams will be coming soon”. The two shared a meaningful silence before the car suddenly came to halt allowing for Jessica t step out and walk away.

Ernest was left in the back of the limo alone, moving his hand to his chin he fell deep into thought.

***

Hank arrived home to see his cousin in a bad mood with an opened bottle of wine and a glass half empty before. “Woah, what happened to you?” Hank questioned as he moved closer to his cousin. “I’m not in the mood for your antics right now Hank”, Michelle spoke before downing the glass of wine before her.

“Just how much of that have you had?” Hank questioned with his concern leaking into his voice, “not enough” was Michelle’s response as she poured herself another glass. Hank seeing this stopped her halfway by taking the bottle off her hands. “Hey!” Michelle exclaimed, “I think you’ve had enough” Hank said as his moved the bottle farther away.

“Michelle what’s wrong? Talk to me, I’m your cousin”, Hank persuaded as he took a seat before Michelle. Michelle looked him in the eyes and finally asked, “do you think I’m capable of taking care of myself?” “What?” was Hank’s answer as he was confused about the question, she just asked him.

“I said, do you think I can take of myself?” Michelle repeated her question, “of course I do, but why would you ask such a question?” Hank questioned. “You and my father keep treating me like a child and so I had to ask do you think I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“Uncle and I are just protecting you”

“Protecting, more like over bearing.”'

“You have to understand him, If the phantom hadn’t saved you-“ Hank began but was cut off by Michelle “yeah no” “what is that supposed to mean?” “You make it sound like that guy is a hero but truth be told he is a serial killer. I was just lucky that his target was trying to kill me did you hear of what he did to that boy”

“He was trying to stop a robbery and that boy wasn’t so innocent”

“And so that gives him the right to break almost all of the boy’s ribs. He isn’t a hero so don’t paint him as one.” With those words Michelle stood and walked away leaving Hank staring at her back.