Blandview High Musical

18. Thriller

Jade stomped up the metal staircase of the building that her father had his office in. She was wearing her red pleated skirt with black fishnet stockings and a t-shirt with the Rolling Stones logo on it. It was tucked into the skirt. The shoes she was wearing were black platforms. She came to the large metal door at the top of the staircase, she pulled it open to reveal another set of stairs. At the top floor was the entrance to her father's office. She scaled the stairs.

            Once at the main door, she opened it to the little sitting area of her father's office. Martin and Bard were arguing about some meaningless thing. "Whoa. Whoa. Who the hell are you?" Martin asked, standing up and walking towards her. He kept her blocked in by the door. "I need to speak to Mr. Tondre." She said. "He didn't say anything about allowing hookers in his office." Martin said, looking over at Bard. They shared an insulting chuckle. Jade just smirked. "Is that any way to address your superior's daughter?" She asked. Suddenly, Martin turned red in the face. Bard didn't seem bothered by it.

            "Now, are you going to let me in to see my father? Or are we just going to stand around all day insulting each other?" She asked. Martin stepped aside and Jade moved around him to the glossy black door leading to her father's office. "Hey." Bard started. She turned to look at him. "Lemme know when you turn 18, baby. You might want an experienced man to butter your little muffin." "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm allergic to big and stupid." She said, twisting the handle and opening the door. Martin stifled a chuckle. "What are you laughing at?" He snapped. "Your stupidity." Martin said, sitting down and going back to reading the magazine.

            Jade shut the door, near slamming it to catch her father's attention. "Goddamnit. I told both of you to stay—!" Lawrence swiveled around in his chair, ready to chew someone out. Suddenly, a look of shock passed over his face. "Honey!" He said, surprised. She scoffed. "Hello, father." "What are you doing here? This-this is a nice surprise." He said. She narrowed her eyes. "Is it really? Or were you just planning on coming back here without telling me?" She asked, moving towards him. "I had some business to take care of, not that it's your business." He said. "Oh, but you were going to just snatch the diner out from under all of us, right?" She asked.

            He frowned. "I have no idea what you're talking about." "Oh really? What's this then?" She asked, pulling the card from her skirt pocket. She slammed it down on the desk. Lawrence leaned forward, looking at it. "Where did you find this?" He asked. "I didn't find it anywhere. It was given to me." She assured. "I wanna know just what you think you're going to do with the diner." She said. "We're going to bulldoze it. Damn near half the Strip has sold already. The diner is the only thing clinging to life." He said. "Are you working for Stone Industries?" Jade finally asked, cutting him off. "Honey, I've always told you that I worked for an offshoot of the company—" "Yes or no, father." She said, crossing her arms.

            He sighed. "Yes." "How long?" "All your life and part of your mother and I's marriage." He said. She scoffed again. "You're unbelievable. Were you just going to kill Mr. Hammer if you didn't get your way?" she asked. "Sometimes in certain situations one has to do things that are necessary to get the desired results." "Oh, don't talk to me in that mumbo-jumbo high finance jargon that no one fucking understands. You were going to kill him! Over a piece of property!" She shouted. "And you will watch your tone and know your fucking place!" He screamed, standing up and nearly towering over her. "Not this time." She said. "You're going to be sorry you did this." She warned. "Is that a threat?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Maybe it is. Maybe you're starting to rub off on me, father." She snarled, turning around and walking off.

            Meanwhile, things had already gone awry. Just two days before, Lawrence had been informed that the taxes on the diner had been paid. While it didn't make it more difficult to acquire, it just meant they'd have to pay top dollar for it. But another problem also needed to be dealt with and it was giving Lawrence a headache. A much bigger problem.