ROCKETEER

Chapter 4: Partner

"Extreme fear can neither fight nor fly." - William Shakespeare

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"Emma, I haven't heard anything about the wedding for a few days now, how is that?" Marina's annoyingly snotty voice drawled from my phone. 

"Because I haven't had time, Marina. I'm trying to work right now, but you insisted this phone call was unavoidable." I let my attitude let loose, showing how frustrated I was. 

"It is, Emma. And you might want to show some respect. I'm signing your monthly check right now, and my hand might just.... slip." I heard her leering through the phone. 

I huffed. This is the third phone call this week about the wedding. Woman doesn't take a breath out of my life. And why would she? I am her future daughter-in-law. 

Ohhh, right. You don't know about that, do you?

Well, darling miss Marina decided I would be just the perfect opportunity to get rid of her son, Shindo "Beanie" Mandelli. I promised to marry him at the beginning of my hero career, a year ago, as a favor for hero training under Marina. I never thought she would see it through, though. I always thought she hated me. 

And maybe she does. It wouldn't surprise me. But our relationship is fixing to be a whole lot closer when I marry Beanie. 

Don't get me wrong, Beanie's a wonderful guy. He's your typical golden retriever boy: blue eyes, sweet, perfect smile, money for days. 

But for me, he's too perfect. Too sweet, too rich. He hesitated to getting engaged, like me, but it's whatever. Not like I would have much of a romance as a hero, anyway. Beanie has his life, and I have mine, and we're content with that. 

But Marina wanted us to do couple things. Marina wanted a big, public-approval wedding. Marina wanted publicity, attention, false pretensions. Although I did owe her for getting me into the hero world, I made myself stay. She had nothing to do with that, but I still felt guilty for not liking her son as much as she expected. I kept her opinion to the highest; her expectations were my goals. I understood her want- no, need for recognition. It's what keeps her position in the world, as much as it keeps mine. 

"Emma? Don't ignore me." Marina chided. Thanks for getting me back on track, guys. Real good job. 

"I wasn't, I zoned ou-"

"Yes, yes, whatever. Anyway, you need to pick flower arrangements by the end of the week so I can get them ordered on time." 

"The end of the week? Marina, that's literally tomor-"

"Emma." I shut up at her tone. Fear and guilt coursed through me, and my mind went numb. It was her 'your whole life is on the line' voice. "Your deadline is the end of the week. I won't ask again. Stop wasting my time with your excuses, little girl." And the phone call ended. 

Little girl?! Who does that bitch think I am?!? Little girl, my a-

"JACKSON! HERE, NOW!" my office phone rang out. I startled, dropping my personal phone. Great, the other superior, terrifying figure in my life.