The Zenith

Part 2

Private Network

-Griffen

Kate was tired, spent… and it meant nothing, there was work to be done.

"Mom, am I allowed alcohol?" Kate asked.

"What's that question?" Their mother exclaimed.

"Come on, ten bucks says I get offered."

"Okay, if any of the staff offer you anything, without you mentioning your age, or rather, lying about it. Then I'll give you a fiver each time. But if I catch you drunk, I'll ground you for a month." Their mother said, laughter and joy in her eyes.

Kate rolled hers.

Upon walking out, a limo awaited. It was black, sleek, the low riding flatness of a sports car broken by its length, it being able to seat ten people, with four doors on each side. Six massive wheels, the two front and back were rib high and would have shamed a tractor and the two middle were massive domes which gave the impression the limo could fold in half if it wanted. The vehicle was stunning in its black sheen.

A man in the thinnest suits in the world, a layer short of body paint, broken by the thickness of the fur on the ankles and the collar like a cat they upon his shoulders. He gave courtesy and stepped up.

"Mornin" He said with a British accent, "I'll be your driver, jus a couple moar stops en we guud." He said, with a smile. "The name's Roscow Cree, my fr'ends call me Rascal."

"Lovely, great to meet you. Kate, Griff, in." Said a very dead pan mother.

Kate and Griff rushed in freely like bear cubs, being herded, which, for their mother, was… unique… But that escaped Kate's mind quick. Because… wow.

The inside was jet-black leather seating that somehow looked like the creature was still alive and just resting in the foetal position. Just touching it left like a hug. She couldn't wait to slam her butt down like a sledgehammer.

And…

It was everything she'd hoped!

It was so comfy! Like someone was sedating her with needles to the tailbone. Even Grif gushed. Their mother slid in a twist and wiggle that made Kate's soul retch.

"What planet did this come from?" Kate asked.

"More like, who do you know mom?" Griff asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Their mother asked.

"What the idiot is trying to ask is. Are we suddenly rich?"

Their mother gave them a look of suffering fools.

"It's a work event, it's apparently, huge, planned by the CEO for years. The Simmons family showed up with no idea about it. Too soon to participate, too late to get credit. Or even be considered a team member. It's like we're smoking a stolen cigar in front of the cigar owner."

"You're taking it well." Kate said, her brow raised.

"Oh, my daughter, my sweet child. I am panicking. I am screaming so intensely that, if you heard it, you'd freak and projectile vomit all over the place. And never look at me as your mother ever again."

The kids gaped with no reply forth coming. Kate sighed, her gaze hardening.

"Okay mom, what's the mission?"

Her mother smiled the smile of the exhausted.

"The mission, should you choose to accept it, should be to…" She rubbed her chin, mulling it over. "Well, behaving yourselves, goes without saying."

"Mom, behaving could mean staying in the limo. Or going home, as soon as our intro is complete."

"Yes, but every time you do this I feel like a bad mother." She said with a laugh. "Okay, going home isn't an option. Not gonna drop you off, also I've always known you were beautiful Kate, but what's with everyone knowing it too?"

The conspiratorial concern in their mother's eyes, suddenly Kate blushed, heat flushing her face.

"Mom you're distracting from the mission."

"I'm just noticing something important to your future a loving mother can do that. You're not old enough to take that away from me. At least I have time with this one." As she said those having words, their mother gave the dunce a hug, murdering the moment.

"Less than you think." She mumbled.

Mom gave her a look but focused on her baby.

"Gosh, I feel, what you'd kid's say? Called up?"

Kate rolled her eyes.

"Mom! Before others come in."

"Okay, simple is simple. I'll send you a profile of my boss. Do, not and I mean do not make me look bad. I meant it. Impress, be awesome, but keep your clothes on."

"Mom stop, I'm literally dying of shame."

"I know! Heads up"