Three weeks have passed since the dreadful birthday incident and Rita was relieved that neither Clown nor Flint tried anything funny. But she was concerned about Faro not seeing Mindy for dates anymore, so she goes to ask him, what was wrong, by going into his bedroom while he was napping.
Rita stepped into Faro’s bedroom, her emerald green silk robe flowing behind her as she approached the bed. The soft sound of her heels tapping against the marble floor barely stirred him. Faro was lying on his stomach, his arm tucked under the pillow, breathing steadily in his nap.
With a smirk, Rita sat at the edge of the bed and gently ran her fingers through his dark orange hair. “Sweety, wake up,” she cooed, her voice laced with amusement.
Faro groaned slightly, shifting under the sheets. “Mmm… what is it, Aunty?” he mumbled, still half-asleep.
Rita tilted her head, eyeing him with a mix of curiosity and mischief. “It’s been three weeks since your birthday, and I haven’t seen you take Mindy out on a date again. Did she bore you already?”
Faro finally blinked awake, rubbing his eyes before turning on his side to face her. “It’s not that…” he muttered. “I just don’t feel like it.”
Rita raised an eyebrow, crossing her legs elegantly. “Not feeling like it? That’s not like you, my sweet nephew. Mindy’s a beautiful young girl, and I handpicked her for you. You should at least enjoy her company.”
Faro sighed, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. “I don’t know, Aunty. She’s nice, but… she’s not really my type. I thought she’d be fun, but I don’t feel anything for her.”
Rita studied him carefully, then smiled knowingly. “Oh, I see. Still thinking about Ronda, hmm?”
Faro frowned, avoiding her gaze. “No.”
Rita chuckled, standing up and smoothing her robe. “Well, whether it’s Ronda or not, you should still enjoy your life, darling. A young man like you shouldn’t waste his time moping.” She leaned down, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “Go take Mindy out again. You might surprise yourself.”
Faro exhaled, shaking his head. “We’ll see.”
Rita smirked as she walked toward the door. “Good. Because I already told Mindy you’d be taking her out tonight. Be ready by eight.”
And with that, she disappeared out the door, leaving Faro staring after her in disbelief.
A counter offer.
Rita had just reached the hallway when she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Before she could turn, Faro grabbed her hand, stopping her in place.
“Aunty, wait,” he said, slightly out of breath.
Rita turned around, her emerald eyes amused as she arched a brow. “Yes, sweety?”
Faro hesitated for a second, then tightened his grip on her hand. “I don’t want to go out with Mindy,” he said firmly. “I’d rather go out with you.”
Rita’s lips curled into a teasing smirk. She tilted her head, eyeing him with interest. “Oh? Is that so?”
Faro nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Yeah. If I’m going to spend my evening with someone, I want it to be you.”
Rita chuckled, stepping closer. “You do realize people might talk, right? A billionaire businesswoman dining with her handsome young nephew in a city that thrives on gossip?”
Faro smirked back. “Let them talk.”
Rita placed a hand on his chest, tapping it lightly. “Flatterer,” she said, before sighing dramatically. “Fine. But you’re taking me somewhere fancy. If I’m dressing up for this, I expect a lavish evening.”
Faro grinned. “Deal.”
Rita patted his cheek playfully before walking past him. “Pick me up at eight, darling. And wear something nice.”
Faro watched her disappear down the hall, a rush of excitement coursing through him. Tonight was going to be interesting.
Just as Rita was about to enter her bedroom, Faro ran after her again, grabbing her wrist gently.
“One more thing,” he said, looking into her amused green eyes.
Rita smirked. “Yes, sweety?”
Faro swallowed, but his confidence didn’t waver. “Wear something I like.”
Rita blinked before laughing softly. “Oh? And what exactly do you like?”
Faro smirked. “Something… daring. Something that makes people stare.”
Rita placed a finger on her chin as if in deep thought. Then, leaning closer, she whispered, “You always did have a bold taste, didn’t you?”
She reached up, running a single red-painted nail down his chest before stepping back toward her door. “Alright, I’ll surprise you,” she said with a wink.
Faro watched as she disappeared into her room, his heart pounding with anticipation. Tonight was going to be unforgettable.
As Faro stood outside Rita’s door, he smirked to himself, his mind racing with anticipation.
Hope she wears red underneath…
He had come to love the way red looked on her—the way it peeked through her dresses, teasing yet commanding attention. It suited her boldness, her power.
With a deep breath, he turned away, heading to his own room to get ready. Tonight was going to be something else.
Mindy arrives early.
Just as Faro was about to step into his room, the doorbell rang.
He paused, frowning slightly. Who could that be?
Albort, ever the diligent butler, opened the door to reveal Mindy standing there, dressed in a cute blue dress with white heels, her blonde hair styled neatly. She smiled brightly.
“Hi! I know I’m early, but I was really excited!” she chirped, stepping inside with a small gift bag in her hand.
Faro blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He had just told Rita he didn’t want to go out with Mindy, yet here she was, all dressed up and eager.
Rita, still in her room, overheard the commotion and smirked to herself. This should be interesting.
Rita stepped out of her bedroom, now wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her emerald earrings catching the light as she sauntered toward Faro. She placed a hand on his chest and leaned in close, speaking just loud enough for only him to hear.
“Listen, sweety,” she purred, “how about a little deal?”
Faro arched an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “What kind of deal?”
“You take Mindy out tonight—just a simple double date with me and her. Play along, enjoy yourself, and in return…” she trailed her fingers down his arm, smirking, “I’ll wear exactly what you like underneath this dress.”
Faro gulped hard.
“You drive a hard bargain, Aunty,” he muttered.
Rita winked. “Always, darling. So, do we have a deal?”
Faro glanced at Mindy, who was happily chatting with Albort, completely unaware of the negotiation taking place. He sighed, then smirked at Rita.
“Fine. Deal. Wear your red ones Aunty and show them to me in the restaurant when I am conversing with Mindy.” Faro winked.
Rita chuckled, tilting her head as she looked up at Faro with playful mischief in her emerald-green eyes. She leaned in, her lips just inches from his ear.
“Oh, sweety,” she whispered, “you really do love making things exciting, don’t you?”
She stepped back, smoothing her dress teasingly. “Alright, I’ll wear the red ones… but you’ll have to keep your cool at the restaurant.”
Faro smirked. “Oh, I’ll keep my cool… but will you?”
Rita laughed softly, brushing past him as she made her way to her bedroom. Before closing the door, she turned back and gave him one last smirk.
“Get ready, sweety. It’s going to be a very interesting dinner.”
The Scarlet Claw.
They arrived at The Scarlet Claw, a well-known upscale crab restaurant in Thundarr City, famous for its signature Thundarr Sea King Crab and fiery spice blends. The ambiance was warm, with dim golden lighting reflecting off the deep red decor, giving the place a luxurious yet intimate feel.
Faro, dressed in a sleek black button-up, sat across from Mindy, who was all smiles in a short lavender dress. Rita, wearing a stunning sleek black dress with a deep slit, sat beside him, while Mindy took the seat next to Faro.
As the waiter took their orders, Faro’s eyes kept drifting to Rita. He knew what he was waiting for. The moment she promised.
And then, just as he was mid-sentence with Mindy about her recent work at Rita’s office, Rita casually shifted in her chair. Her gown parted just enough for Faro to catch a glimpse of that familiar red lace underneath.
Faro nearly choked on his drink.
Rita smirked, sipping her wine as if nothing had happened. “Something wrong, sweety?” she asked innocently.
Faro cleared his throat, gripping his fork tightly. “This dinner was a great idea.”
Rita excuses herself for the ladies’ room.
As Rita returned from the ladies’ room, she gracefully slid into her seat beside Faro. With a subtle flick of her wrist, she discreetly passed something into Faro’s hand beneath the table, ensuring Mindy’s gaze remained occupied with the crab on her plate.
Faro felt the soft, delicate fabric between his fingers and nearly lost his composure. It was warm. It was lace. It was red.
Rita leaned in just enough for her breath to tickle his ear. “A little souvenir for you, sweety,” she whispered before taking a sip of her wine, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief.
Faro swallowed hard, gripping the lace in his fist, his heart racing. This dinner just got a whole lot more interesting.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Just as Faro tried to compose himself, a sudden BANG! BANG! BANG! shattered the lively atmosphere of The Crimson Claw Crab House.
Screams erupted from outside as panicked diners rushed to the windows. The restaurant’s bright neon sign flickered from the chaos unfolding in the street.
Faro’s power ring burned hot against his skin—danger was near.
Rita, still sipping her wine, turned her head lazily toward the commotion. “Well, well,” she murmured, unimpressed. “And here I was hoping for a quiet evening.”
Mindy gasped, clutching Faro’s arm. “What’s happening?!”
Faro stood, eyes locked on the entrance. Through the glass doors, shadowy figures with clown masks could be seen closing in.
Rita set down her glass and smirked. “Looks like dinner’s about to get interesting.”
D.E.C.
For once, the D.E.C. arrived on time, storming the street with precision. Within moments, the clowns were subdued, disarmed, and hauled into armored vehicles. The scene outside The Crimson Claw Crab House settled back into an uneasy calm.
Inside, Rita casually twirled her fork in the last bites of her crab pasta. “Well, that was underwhelming,” she sighed, sipping her wine.
Faro, still feeling the heat of his power ring, kept his senses sharp. He didn’t trust how smoothly things had wrapped up. But for now, he played along.
Mindy, still shaken, forced a laugh. “Do things like this happen all the time in Thundarr City?”
Rita smiled. “Only on special occasions, dear.”
With the meal finished, the trio headed back to Rita’s penthouse in the sleek black Faros family limousine.
Inside, Albort had already prepared the coffee. Rita, slipping out of her heels, stretched on the couch and gestured to the cups. “Help yourselves, darlings. I think we’ve all earned a little caffeine after that… eventful evening.”
Faro took a cup, but his eyes lingered on Rita—waiting for a private moment. He knew she still owed him something from their little deal.
Rita took a slow sip of her coffee, then placed the cup down and stretched with a sly smile. She glanced at Mindy, who was still seated on the couch, scrolling through her phone nervously.
Then, turning to Faro, she said in a low voice, “Come to my bedroom, sweetheart. I need a word with you.”
Faro’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his cool, following her down the hall. As soon as they were inside, Rita shut the door and leaned against it, arms crossed, her emerald eyes gleaming.
“Have Mindy as your guest tonight,” she whispered, stepping closer. “And tomorrow morning… you can watch me bathe.”
Faro swallowed hard, his power ring warming against his skin. He exhaled slowly, knowing exactly what kind of game Rita was playing.
Faro smirked, looking into Rita’s mischievous eyes. “Deal.”
With that settled, he stepped back into the living room where Mindy was sipping her coffee, looking up at him curiously.
“Mindy,” he said smoothly, “why don’t you stay over tonight? It’s late, and I’d rather you not go home alone with everything that’s been happening.”
Mindy blinked in surprise, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Oh… well, if you insist,” she said, smiling shyly.
Rita, standing by the doorway, smirked knowingly. “Wonderful,” she purred. “I’ll have Albort set up a guest room for you, darling.”
With everything arranged, Faro followed Rita back to her bedroom, the night promising something far more intriguing than just sleep.
Rita’s plan.
As they entered Rita’s bedroom, she turned to Faro with a sly smile.
“Change of plans, sweetheart,” she whispered, running a finger down his chest. “Go spend the night with Mindy.”
Faro’s smirk faded. “What? I thought—”
Rita placed a finger over his lips. “Trust me, darling. Let her feel special tonight. You can come to me… later.”
Faro sighed, glancing toward the living room where Mindy was waiting. He knew Rita always had her reasons, and the way she looked at him told him there was something more behind her request.
“Fine,” he muttered. “But tomorrow morning, I’m coming straight to you.”
Rita chuckled, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “I’ll be waiting… in red.”
With that, Faro turned and made his way back to Mindy, while Rita watched with a knowing smirk, already thinking three steps ahead.
As Faro walked back into the living room, Mindy sat nervously on the couch, fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
“Um… so, about staying over,” she said hesitantly. “I, uh… I usually sleep… you know… without anything on.”
She blushed, avoiding his gaze.
Faro smirked and leaned casually against the armrest. “That so? Well, don’t be embarrassed. I sleep naked too.”
Mindy’s eyes widened for a second before she giggled, relaxing a little. “Really?”
Faro nodded. “Really. Nothing to be ashamed of. Just makes sleeping more comfortable, right?”
Mindy smiled, feeling reassured. “Yeah… I guess so.”
She stood up, stretching. “Well, I guess I should get ready for bed, then.”
Faro grinned. “Me too.”
As she headed toward the guest room, she gave him one last playful glance before disappearing inside. Faro exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk before making his way to his own room. Tonight was going to be… interesting.
As Faro was about to enter his own room, he heard Mindy’s soft voice from behind.
“Faro…?”
He turned around to see Mindy standing in the doorway of the guest room, her fingers lightly gripping the doorframe. Her face was slightly flushed, her eyes shy yet inviting.
“Would you… stay with me tonight?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Faro raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “You sure about that?”
Mindy nodded slowly. “I just… I don’t really like sleeping alone in new places. And, well… I’d feel safer with you here.”
Faro smirked. “Safe, huh?”
She giggled softly, biting her lip. “Just come in already.”
Faro stepped into the dimly lit room as Mindy gently closed the door behind him.
As they lay together under the soft glow of the bedside lamp, Mindy suddenly turned to face Faro, her eyes filled with curiosity and something more. Without a word, she leaned in and captured his lips in a deep, unexpected French kiss.
Faro’s eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment. Mindy blinked in shock as Faro abruptly pulled away, his face a mix of panic and confusion.
“What are you doing?!” Faro blurted out, his voice louder than he intended.
Mindy, equally startled, raised her hands. “I… I thought—”
But before she could finish, Faro bolted off the bed, completely naked, and dashed straight into Rita’s bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Mindy sat there, stunned, her lips still tingling from the brief kiss. A deep sigh escaped her as she shook her head in disbelief. Slowly, she got up, gathering her clothes with a quiet sense of rejection. Dressing up in silence, she stole one last glance at the closed bedroom door before creeping towards the penthouse entrance.
Without another word, she slipped out into the night, disappearing down the hallway.
Rita, lounging comfortably in her silk nightgown, widened her eyes in shock as she looked up to see Faro standing stark naked right in front of her bed.
“Faro! What in Sol’s name are you doing?!” she exclaimed, sitting up, her green eyes locked onto him with a mix of amusement and surprise.
Faro, breathing heavily, ran a hand through his hair, still rattled from what just happened. “Mindy… she—she tried to kiss me,” he blurted out. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just ran.”
Rita tilted her head, studying him for a moment before smirking. “And your first instinct was to run straight to me? Naked?”
She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “Oh, darling… what am I going to do with you?”
Faro took a deep breath, realizing how ridiculous the situation was. He lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back at Rita.
“I—I’m sorry for barging in like this… naked,” he said awkwardly. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Aunty. Are you… are you upset?”
Rita raised an eyebrow, her smirk never fading. She leaned back against her pillows, folding her arms as she eyed him up and down.
“Offended?” she repeated, letting the word roll off her tongue. Then, with a sly chuckle, she shook her head. “Oh, Faro, darling, if I were offended by a little nudity, I wouldn’t be me, now would I?”
She patted the empty spot beside her. “Come, sit. Tell me what really happened with Mindy.”
Rita’s bed.
Faro hesitated for a moment before finally climbing onto the bed, keeping the pillow firmly pressed against himself. He let out a deep sigh, still flustered from what had just happened.
Rita watched him with amusement, resting her chin on her palm. “So, are you going to tell me why you ran out of that girl’s room like a scared little boy?” she asked, smirking.
Faro exhaled and shook his head. “She tried to kiss me… just like that, without warning. It caught me off guard, and I—I panicked.”
Rita chuckled. “Panic? Oh, Faro, you’re adorable. I didn’t raise you to be this shy.” She reached over and gently ran her fingers through his hair. “Or maybe… you just realized she’s not what you really wanted tonight.”
Faro glanced at her, his grip on the pillow tightening. “Maybe…” he muttered.
Faro’s eyes slowly wandered over Rita, taking in her presence. She was lying comfortably on the bed, wearing a silky nightgown that clung to her curves, her long legs casually crossed. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief as she caught him staring.
“See something you like, birthday boy?” she teased, tilting her head slightly.
Faro swallowed hard, gripping the pillow tighter. “You’re… just really beautiful, Aunty,” he admitted, his voice softer than usual.
Rita smirked, leaning in slightly. “Flattery will get you everywhere, sweetheart. But tell me, are you planning to sleep holding that pillow all night?”
Faro hesitated, his heart racing, unsure of what to say next.
Rita chuckled, watching him shift awkwardly. “Probably a wise choice, sweetheart,” she teased, stretching lazily. “But next time, maybe bring a robe if you’re going to come running in here like that.”
Faro nodded, gripping the pillow tightly as he carefully slid out of the bed. “Goodnight, Aunty,” he said, avoiding eye contact as he hurried toward the door.
“Goodnight, darling,” Rita purred, watching him with amusement. As the door closed behind him, she smirked to herself, shaking her head. “That boy…”
Shower and soap.
Faro stepped into the warm shower, letting the steaming water cascade over him as he lathered himself with plenty of soap. He took his time, scrubbing away both the tension and the awkwardness of the night.
As the suds washed down the drain, he exhaled deeply, his mind still racing from everything that had happened—Mindy, Rita, the strange pull he felt toward his aunt. “I need to clear my head,” he muttered to himself.
He turned the water even hotter, hoping it would help, but the thoughts lingered.
As the hot water streamed down his face, Faro suddenly remembered what Rita had handed him back at Crabby Cove, the upscale crab restaurant.
He quickly stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and rushed to where he had stashed it in his pants pocket. Pulling it out, he unwrapped the small folded napkin Rita had slipped him when Mindy wasn’t looking.
Inside was a tiny, silky piece of red fabric. His eyes widened as he realized—it was a piece of Rita’s lingerie.
Faro swallowed hard, his heart pounding. She really wore red…..
Faro sniffed hard.
