The next morning, Bonnie woke up at 4:00am sharp. She was determined to return to that claming nirvana. Today would be the only day to try. Tomorrow they return home. Slipping out of the hotel, the brunette quickly made her way through the jungle, and was at the clearing in an one hour and twenty minutes. Huffing and wheezing, the teen collapsed on the lush green vegetation. The earth was warming with the raising sun, but everything was still a bit damp from the morning dew. Exhausted from the run, she drifted to sleep.
When she awoke it was nearly noon. Stretching her muscles, she walked towards the placid lake. It was calm like last night, but it was hardly enchanting. Dragonflies were still abundant, and the fragrance of the lilies still lingered in the air, but it was not the same. A part of her was hoping to catch a glimpse of the pale woman again here, so she returned. However as the sun continued to burn in the sky, she was feeling foolish. The raven-haired woman was obviously just that; a woman. So why would she return to the lake anyways.
With a heavy sigh, Bonnie headed back to the hotel. By the time she returned, her father was already waiting for her in front of the fountain. The look on his face was stern, and the gaze that he leveled at her was strict. He had been waiting in front of the fountain for his runaway daughter for the past four hours. Taking her by the wrist, he pulled her up the stairs and into the elevator. Neither said a word as they entered the condo. Bonnie took the seat by the table and stared at the ceiling, prepared for another long lecture. Mr. Rockwaller shook his head, and huffed at her actions.
“Hurry and get changed.” he ordered her. “If you can’t be trusted to stay in one spot, then you’ll have to come along with me.” When she didn’t move, he raised he’s voice and repeated his statement. Why couldn’t she be more like her sisters, he asked himself as the youngest of his offspring entered her room.
On the golf course Bonnie stood with the clubs as her father teed off with his CEO, Sumire Goroda. Mrs. Goroda was a mature Japanese woman, with graying jet-black hair cut stylishly above her shoulder. As the group stood at the fourth hole, hazel eyes watched the young teen with amusement as John Rockwaller cocked back his club ready to launch the white golf ball.
Between all the daughters John introduced to her, Mrs. Goroda was intrigued by the youngest most of all. This Bonnie, was the only one that her employee did not speak much about. Attending the company gatherings for the past fifth-teen years, the Rockwaller’s were fairly well known among the other employees, yet this was the first time Sumire had ever meet the youngest daughter. With the company based in Japan, Sumire made it a point to get to know every employee of the American branch as well as she did the ones of her home country. Often staying a few months in Upperton to oversee the North American Labs, Sumire was usually present for two of the four company gatherings a year. So when John introduced his youngest to her, and accidentally called the teen by the name of another sister, the Asian woman was a bit perplexed. After all, none of the girls looked alike.
With a resounding thwack of the club, the dimpled ball was sent sailing through the air and landed on the green. A few dozen yards from the designated hole, the aqua-eyed man grunted at his failed shot. Handing his club to his aloof daughter, doubling as his caddy for the day, John, Mike from Accounting, and his son Bill, headed for the cart.
Cramming the club into the bag, Bonnie fumed as she headed for the small cart. Hanging out with her dad was rare, but if it meant being his caddy then she would gladly pass. Besides she could only forgive him for calling her ‘Connie’ so many times in a day. Tossing the bag into the back of the cart with as much grace as a crippled rhino doing a belly-flop, the brunette seated herself in the empty back row of the nine seat golf cart. She had to follow her dad around, but she didn’t have to like it.
An ebony eye-brow craned at the young teen’s attitude, as a smirk slid across the CEO’s face. This young girl reminded Sumire of her granddaughter. Not in looks, since not many could rival her beloved granddaughter in her opinion, but there was something about the youngest Rockwaller that was similar to her granddaughter. Passing her normal seat at the front of the cart, Sumire sat at the other end of the back row. An empty red cushion between them, the graying raven-haired woman motioned the driver to go. Not paying any mind to the many eyes on her as she sat quietly beside the young teen, hazel eyes took in the lush green that went on for miles over hilly terrain.
The first stop was next to a sand pit where Bill exited with his caddy. The others soon followed, but Bonnie didn’t see the point in standing with the others since her father‘s ball was yards away. Sumire also did not exit the cart, content on sitting in the shade, as the other men continued with their game, her ball was the closest to the hole anyways.
“You do not seem to be enjoying the game, Ms. Bonnie Rockwaller.” Sumire noted with a light accent.
The tanned girl only huffed as she regarded the older woman sitting by her. Splendid, not only does she have to suffer being board to tears by her father’s game, but now the old bat wants to chat. Who cares if this ageing lady is the head of an international, multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company, she was still old, a lady, and bordering on annoying. Okay, so this was the first time the older woman spoke to the brunette, she mentally corrected herself, but it was still annoying. Besides only dumb people state the obvious, the teen thought.
“Golf really isn’t my thing.” the young girl said. Even if Bonnie wanted to say more, this was her father’s boss she was talking to, so she at least had to be somewhat respectful.
A smile curled on the Asian woman’s face at the teen’s answer. It was not exactly a lie, but it was also not the truth. The girl was trying to be polite for her father’s sake, Sumire noted with much delight. Unlike the other two daughters, this one was not looking to please her or weasel onto her good side. Just being honest, not bluntly like her granddaughter, but it was refreshing nonetheless.
“Please dear, you needn’t be polite for your father’s sake.” the CEO chuckled, “anyone can see your board to tears. Perhaps you wish to do something else?”
Bonnie was taken aback, not many people could discern her emotions. Least of all people she’s just met. Usually annoyed or aloof were the only things other could see, but to be cracked by this one outsider was a bit unnerving. Was she losing her touch on aloofness; didn’t she come across as annoyed at the world, she briefly wondered before the cart was filled with the other golf players. Bonnie did not answer the lingering question, and looked out the side of the cart as the game continued.
They continued on for the rest of the game in silence. Sumire continued to sit in the back row with Bonnie, much to the rest of the players’ curiosity. It wasn’t as if the two females of the group were talking, let alone had something in common. With a single seat between them, and neither looking at the other, it was amazing there was no tension emanating from either of the two.
The game ended with Mrs. Goroda leading by 24 points. It was a hollow victory since she knew the others lagged on purpose. One of the things she hated about her employees were such traits. Well it didn’t matter to her if they wanted to be spineless in the presence of their CEO. Shrugging off the victory, the Japanese woman collected her belonging and headed to the resort. Refusing to let some suck-up carry her bag, the proud woman entered the hotel.
That night Bonnie was dressed in a pale blue dress that highlighted her turquoise eyes as she attended the company dinner. Apathetically watching the evening performance of the traditional island dancers, the tanned young woman poked at her lemon-grass grilled chicken. Playing with the leftovers of her meal, Bonnie continued to pretend not to be interested in the dance as she looked off to the side. Everything was clearly reflected off the polished steel double doors of the dinning room, as the teen directed her gaze at the mirrored images.
It was bad enough those two monsters never missed a chance to lord over her about their achievements, they sneered at her for liking dance every chance they got. Growing up they poked fun at her for taking ballet. Destroying her tutus, and over stretching her leotards, Bonnie was determined to continue in the art. Ballet was the only thing her father ever approved of her doing, and she’d be damned if she quit just because of her sisters. But that didn’t mean she openly challenged them to thwart her. She wasn’t stupid. She didn’t enjoy their cruelty, and she didn’t instigate it by showing interest in anything she enjoyed. That would be a sure fire way for it to be belittled and ultimately destroyed. So Bonnie secretly watch the performance indirectly, and it was breathtaking.
When the dance ended and the lights brightened, Mrs. Goroda took the podium and began her speech for the evening’s toast. It being two nights before Christmas Eve, everyone was handed a small present from Goroda Labs as the CEO ended the speech and raised her glass in toast. The dinning room cheered as the Asian woman took her seat and another speaker took the stand.
Discreetly slipping beside the elder CEO, the young pale woman lifted her glass to toast.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Shiina?” Mrs. Goroda asked her granddaughter in their native language.
Exhaling deeply, forest-green orbs looked sternly at her relative. “I’ve told you, call me ’Shego.’ There is no Shiina, just Shego. It’s not even that hard a name to remember.”
The elder of the two just chuckled. It was adorable how her granddaughter continued to insist on using that old nickname. Casting away the duty of a hero, but keeping the alias, so none could trace her heritage or family name. It was honorable in it’s own way; not that Sumire approved of her granddaughter’s illegal activities. The younger was just to stubborn, but that was one of the traits that they shared. Stubbornness.
“Very well, ‘Shego.’” Sumire sighed. She might as well humor her only granddaughter, she did love her after all. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
Shego looked at the elderly woman hesitantly. Everything thing this woman said was always laced with double meanings and she had to be wary to answer correctly, or the questions would never end. “Of course I am.” she said, and she was. Thinking back to their earlier conversation before the banquet, that was the only question left hanging. Grandmother Sumire was curious about her ‘other’ life, and asked if it was enjoyable. It was.
Sumire smiled a little at the answer. It seemed that her granddaughter was answering the last question, since just looking at the pale young woman, she could tell she was board out of her mind. Well that was fine. At least she was enjoying her notorious life style. Although happiness was another matter it seemed. Happiness was all she ever wished for her granddaughter.
As the last speaker finished up, and the lights returned to normal, a few of the guest started to leave the room. It was past eleven; they might as well head back to their room too.
Finishing the last of her wine, Sumire stood and was about to head for the door, when the youngest Rockwaller girl caught her attention. One of the first to leave the spacious dinning hall, the young teen seemed in a hurry to abandon her lingering family. “Come, Shego. There is someone I would like you to meet.”
Rolling emerald eyes at her grandmother, Shego followed the elder woman out into the lobby. Might as well get this over with, she thought. Shego missed the amused grin the older woman was wearing a few moments ago. Lagging behind a bit, when the raven-haired woman entered the lobby, she spotted her relative talking with a young girl with dark caramel hair. Curious, the pale moss hued woman approached the two.
“I am glad you enjoyed the performance. Ah, please meet my granddaughter, Shi--”
“Shego.” the pale woman interrupted the CEO, before she stood before them. Glancing down at the young girl with her kin, Shego was a bit startled to see it was the girl from before. A shark smile slid across her face as she spoke to the tanned teen. “Perhaps you regained your voice tonight, Kitten.”
“Now, Shego, be nice. This is Ms. Bonnie Rockwaller. You remember her sisters, Connie and Lonnie, don’t you?”
“Nope. Not ringing any bells.” Shego replied as she inspected her nails. “The names, and the people you introduce me to, have no meaning to me. Chances are, I will never see this person again.” Shego glanced at Bonnie before she headed towards the elevators.
“What is up with her?” Bonnie asked as they watched the pale woman ascend the stairs. She would have loved to tear into that snobby woman if the CEO wasn’t present. Gah, the things she did for her father. Capping her anger at being dismissed like that for a second time, Bonnie withheld the urge to charge after that infuriating woman and take her down a notch. Facing the hazel eyed woman, the teen realized she was still scowling, and quickly corrected herself. Much to Sumire’s amusement.
“Perhaps, next time we meet, she will not be so annoyed.”
“Excuse me?” Bonnie asked. She didn’t like that sparkle in the old woman’s eyes.
“At the next company party of course. It is on New Year’s Eve. Just a small get together for a few hours before the ball drops. I hope you see you there, Ms. Bonnie Rockwaller.” Sumire smiled and bowed before taking her leave.
Yes, this girl is quite amusing, Sumire thought with a light smirk. The surprise in her aqua-eyes when she saw her granddaughter was delightful. The low growl and angered expression when Shego dismissed the teen was truly exquisite. Mrs. Goroda pondered how they knew each other for a few moments as she entered the elevator. They obviously knew of each other, but had never been introduced, from what she could tell. Exiting on her floor, Sumire smiled happily. She just knew the next party would be wonderful.
AN: Sorry again (…; )\ I was trying to edit Chapter One, but then I accidentally deleted it. I had to re upload everything, and it was quite a mess. ; However I think I'm getting the hang of this.