Along the way, they ran into Oliver. The two kids froze and stared at the older boy.
“Parker, is that you?” Oliver asked in a curious tone.
“My family is in town for the week. It’s nice to meet you, Oliver,” Parker said, while he gingerly shook the other boy’s hand.
Maggie placed her hands on her hips. “Oliver, are you following us?”
“No, I’m checking out the new pop band across the street. They’re parked in front of a casino, playing live music. What are you guys doing here?” Oliver asked.
“We’re getting to know each other,” Maggie commented.
Parker tried to be civil with Oliver. “I want to keep the peace. Do you want to tag along with us?”
Oliver shrugged. “Sure. I’m just by myself today. We should go back to Dad’s casino and grab something to eat.”
“Good timing. I’m getting hungry,” Maggie admitted.
The three kids hurried down the street and found Gable’s casino. They took a shortcut to the food court, and ordered burgers. After their lunch was ready, the kids found a table and enjoyed the food.
Oliver munched on his cheeseburger. “I’ve seen your online video game scores. It’s madness.”
“Thanks, but I think you usually beat my scores,” Parker replied.
Maggie wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Oliver is obsessively competitive about video games. I don’t think anyone can beat his scores.”
“What else do you like, Parker?” Oliver asked.
Parker finished eating a French fry. “I like different types of sports, but Maggie has helped me to develop an interest in reading. There’s a really cool book series about time travel and adventures I just started.”
“So, Maggie is capable of having some good influence?” Oliver teased.
Maggie was not amused. “Don’t get started. You’ll be sorry.”
Parker changed the mood with, “Maggie said you wanted to be a surgeon. Is that true?”
Oliver nodded his head. “Definitely. I want to make a difference in the world.”
“That’s awesome. I’m too squeamish around blood,” Parker admitted.
“Me too. It was so gross when Oliver and I saw those people dying in Louisiana,” Maggie commented.
Parker remembered the train crash in Oklahoma. “You guys must be really brave. Some people would have a nervous breakdown after surviving that type of experience. I had a similar incident on a train when I went to Oklahoma. It was intense.”
“I just hope we have better luck than everyone else in our family. It seems like Mom, Dad, Aunt Reb, and the others can’t get away from terrorists,” Maggie grumbled.
Oliver felt optimistic. “We’re not going to have that kind of trouble. The adults in our family are great at making people angry at them. I think we can stay under the radar.”
*****
Back in San Francisco, Percy and Savannah enjoyed lunch at a seafood restaurant. Savannah had fish and chips while she enjoyed the bayside ambiance.
Percy stopped reading the newspaper to ask, “Didn’t Reb and Giles take a road trip to Las Vegas?”
“Yeah, they needed to finish some work with Gable and Priscilla. Why do you ask?” Savannah wondered out loud.
Percy folded the newspaper and said, “According to the news, Las Vegas is having some trouble with mobsters. The police think organized crime is rebuilding a black market there.”
Savannah groaned. “Our kids always have to head directly into trouble. Well, Gable and Reb just need to keep everything professional and cordial.”
“This might be serious. A few Steampunks were killed by those mobsters. The motive is unclear, but the police are putting together theories,” Percy fretted.
Savannah cut into one of her fish filets. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the mob wants to retake Las Vegas. Steampunks have a lot of enemies.”
Percy took a sip of his iced tea, then said, “I heard rumors about the mafia building a huge cargo depot in the desert. That’s a great place to store illegal merchandise.”
“I just hope this mafia scare isn’t too serious. Gable is a big casino owner and he might be a target,” Savannah stated.
Percy ate his lunch. “Later, I’ll give the kids a call. I just want them to be safe.”
*****
Meanwhile, Giles met Bella at Gable’s café. He pulled a chair out for her at the table before they both sat down.
“Thank you for meeting me today, Giles. This café looks wonderful,” Bella commented.
Giles picked up a menu. “I’m glad you appreciate it. By the way, you look quite lovely in that outfit.”
Bella looked down at her formfitting dress that was influenced by 1940’s fashion. “Thank you very much. Actually, I think you look very stylish for a Steampunk.”
Giles raised one of his eyebrows. “You don’t seem to be thrilled with my culture.”
“I knew everything would change after the Apocalypse destroyed most of the nation. However, I didn’t think people would mainstream a genre of science fiction. We live in a futuristic world, but most people are choosing to revive elements from the 19th Century. It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Bella explained.
“The 1940s isn’t a modern decade either,” Giles bluntly said.
Bella couldn’t argue with his statement. “I suppose retro-futurism is what the public wants. The 1940s is just more sleek and stylish.”
“It’s a matter of taste. Anyway, I want to cover some important details today. What are you looking for in your entertainment agent?” Giles questioned.
Bella pushed a strand of hair out of her face. “I want someone who’s strong, masculine, and not afraid to face conflict.”
Giles stared at her. “Bella, you need to take this meeting seriously. Reb and I don’t accept everyone who wants to be our clients. We choose who we represent very carefully.”
“Honestly, I would prefer you to be my agent. Reb is the brawn of the operation, but you have the brains. I know you’re professional, brilliant, organized, and focused. My partner and I need that type of structure and commitment,” Bella explained.
“I don’t know much about you or Nero. Can you give me some more details?” Giles inquired.
Bella read the menu while she said, “Nero and I want to create a massive franchise that can rival Gable’s Steampunk casinos. We want to bring back a part of Las Vegas that was lost many years ago. Gambling should be fun, and in a classy environment with a lot of splendor. Doesn’t that sound delightful?”
“It does sound tempting,” Giles replied.
Bella put down the menu and touched his right hand. “I can be tempting in other ways too. You’re so uptight and serious. Wouldn’t you like someone like me to loosen up your stressful life? Everyone knows Reb locked her feelings in a box and threw away the key, but I can accommodate the emotional part of a relationship. Be my agent and we can do remarkable things together.”
Giles pulled his hand away. “That’s inappropriate. You know I’m a married man.”
Bella looked at him alluringly. “It seems like your marriage is an obligation. You’re such an honorable and masculine guy. We can finish this conversation somewhere more private, and then I’m sure you’ll feel much better about this Post-Apocalyptic world.”
“What did you have in mind?” Giles asked as he stared at her.
Chapter 5
Giles walked into the hotel room’s bathroom clad in a bathrobe. Even though the bathroom was full of steam, he could see the sleek woman bathing behind the shower door. Giles removed his bathrobe and slid the shower door open.
“You’re back awfully early. I thought you would still be at lunch. You didn’t even give me chance to finish getting ready,” Reb said, as she stood under the hot water.
“I had to cut the lunch meeting short. Do you mind if I join you?” Giles asked.
Reb handed him a bar of soap. “Make yourself useful and scrub my back.”
He took the soap and
joined her in the shower. Giles slid the door closed and slowly scrubbed her back. “Bella can’t be our client. She asked me to sleep with her.”
Reb didn’t expect him to say that. “I probably shouldn’t be surprised. You’re a very attractive and manly guy, with a significant reputation.”
“Obviously, she doesn’t value commitment, morality, or respectability. Bella is just a cheap slut,” Giles bluntly commented.
“But she was still hot. That’s why you’re trying to be affectionate with me in the shower. Her proposition made you horny,” Reb mused.
Giles wrapped his arms around Reb’s waist and held her close. “You could say I’m seeking comfort at the moment.”
Reb turned around and gave him a hug. “I agreed to be here for you when we got married. At the moment, the only thing I can give you is a wet, naked hug.”
“I won’t complain about that at all. You can give me a wet, naked hug anytime,” Giles said, and chuckled, as he squeezed her body.
He discarded the bar of soap and planted a strong kiss on Reb’s lips. The lovers caressed each other’s bodies while the hot water drenched their skin. Giles clutched her waist and ran several kisses along her neck. Reb felt a tingling sensation of pleasure when she felt the hairs of his beard tickle her skin. She kissed his wet shoulder and stroked his groin area. He pressed Reb’s slim body against the wall and hoisted up her legs. They gave into each other’s primal desires while hot steam filled the bathroom.
*****
Back at Gable’s house, the three kids were unsupervised while the adults worked in their offices. Parker and Oliver played video games, while Maggie fussed with her hair in one of the bathrooms.
“She’ll be in there for an hour. Girls are like that,” Oliver muttered, while he pressed the controller’s buttons.
Parker maneuvered his character through a Post-Apocalyptic wasteland. “Your sister is still cool.”
Oliver had a nagging feeling. “It seems like you have a lot of freedom.”
“My parents provide for me, but it doesn’t seem like we have a lot of time as a family. They’re probably on a date right now. Basically, my dad needed an heir. So that’s why I exist,” Parker explained.
Oliver felt guilty. “I’m sorry, dude. Truthfully, you seem like a really good guy. I would invite you here for dinner tonight, but my parents would probably throw a fit.”
Parker continued to play the video game. “They’re probably not ready for me to enter the picture yet. Give them some time.”
“My parents are understanding people. They’ll open up to you soon. By the way, we make a great tag team in this video game. We’ll get a really high score today,” Oliver said with a smile.
“Let’s blow these amateur video gamers out of the water,” Parker mentioned, and they gave each other a fist bump.
*****
Giles rested in Reb’s arms as they lie in bed.
“Do you feel better now?” Reb asked.
“Absolutely,” Giles replied, keeping his arm wrapped around her torso.
Reb reflected on their situation. “Look, I trust you. Women like Bella don’t scare me. Every day, available women offer their bodies to influential men like you. I know you’ll never stray. Loyalty is one of your greatest values. We survived the end of the world together. Afterward, we built a brand new world that was unlike anything people had seen during the 21st Century. It naturally brought us closer together.”
Giles kissed the left side of her face. “Everything is about survival. How could we survive the Apocalypse and all of those terrorist attacks without trust? I have your back.”
Reb nodded her head. “Of course. I would like to spend the day with you, but there’s some business in my schedule. Priscilla and I have an appointment. It’s my turn to make sure her business is staying afloat.”
“I know. Thanks for comforting me. Even tough guys like me need some encouragement at times,” Giles admitted.
“You can always come to me. I might not be very good at expressing my feelings, but our relationship is still true love,” Reb said reassuringly.
Giles rolled onto his back. “Exactly. With that said, we don’t have to get mushy all of a sudden. Let me know if your meeting goes well with Priscilla. Maybe we can meet up later?”
“Definitely. In the meantime, stay out of trouble. If Bella harasses you, give me call and I’ll teach her a lesson,” Reb stated.
Giles leaned over and picked up his clothes. “I have no doubt that you’ll make her regret it. However, I would like a chance to fend off my own enemies. I don’t want to become a damsel in distress.”
*****
Bella entered her Dieselpunk casino and stormed through the crowds of tourists. Her casino was very different from the Steampunk casinos that were popular in Las Vegas. Nero and Bella had turned an old casino into a statuesque monument that was streamlined with elements from the Art Deco movement. It took elements from both world wars, such as wartime aviation and heavy artillery. The casino also included elements from streamlined automobiles, rivet guns, detective fiction, submachine guns, and combustion engines. The Dieselpunk casino was sleeker and more contemporary than the Steampunk varieties. Despite its beauty and unique appearance though, the Steampunk casinos were much more popular than the Dieselpunk counterpart.
The scorned woman took an elevator to the top floor. After she exited the elevator, Bella hurried into Nero’s office.
“What happened? I can tell you weren’t gone long enough to close the deal,” Nero growled.
Bella fumed in front of her business partner. “Giles refused to sleep with me! I’m so insulted! How dare he resist my feminine charms!”
Nero grabbed two drinking glasses and poured scotch in both of them. He approached Bella and handed her a glass. They kissed each other and vented about her failed efforts.
“I didn’t think it would be easy to bring Giles to our side. He’s a man of honor and virtue. He would have been a useful ally. He knows everything about the Nelson family and their weaknesses. We need a double agent,” Nero explained.
“Good luck with that. It seems like Steampunks are very stubborn and dense people. Before the Apocalypse changed the world, I could seduce any man. These Steampunks are much more difficult to persuade,” Bella complained.
Nero sipped on his drink. “I didn’t succeed either. Gable refused to sell his casino franchise to me. We can’t take over Las Vegas without his casinos.”
“Isn’t there another way to overtake the Steampunks?” Bella wondered out loud.
Nero led her to the window to view the busy streets below. “I have a master plan that will make the Steampunks fear us. At first I tried to be diplomatic. Now I realize diplomacy won’t be effective. I have a stash of enormous combustion engines in my cargo hangars. They can be very destructive as weapons.”
Bella became intrigued. “Please explain your plan in more detail.”
“Look at the massive buildings. I have unique combustion engines that were designed to overheat and explode. Every casino has a hidden thirteenth floor. Entrepreneurs thought it was bad luck to use the thirteenth floor for hotel rooms. Those floors are mostly used for storage. My men can plant diesel engines on the thirteenth floor of any casino. We’ll activate the engines and the results will create a huge explosion that will destroy my rivals,” Nero explained.
Bella was not impressed. “Those buildings are grafted. The Steampunks learned a valuable lesson from the Utopian attack. Explosions won’t destroy those casinos.”
Nero corrected her. “Not from the outside. We can destroy those casinos from the inside. The combustion engines will cause a massive explosion inside the casinos and cause the infrastructure to crumble. Even grafted buildings have weak spots.”
“It’s an excellent plan. When are you going to launch this attack?” Bella asked.
Nero felt smug. “Very soon. I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Gable didn’t cooperate with me and now the entire city of Las Veg
as will pay the price.”
“So, Gable and Priscilla will fall as the monarchs of Las Vegas, and then we will rise as their replacements,” Bella mused.
“Precisely. Cheers, my dear,” Nero said, then he and Bella clinked their drink glasses together.
Chapter 6
Beauregard hosted an art exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona where he schmoozed with Southwestern art enthusiasts, buyers, critics, and educators. His current gala featured Steampunk artwork with an emotional Romantic twist from the 19th Century.
Malcolm cocked his head to the right when he examined one of the paintings. “What’s up with the trees and farm? I don’t find this type of painting very Romantic.”
Beauregard explained it to his friend. “Romanticism was an art movement during the 19th Century. It doesn’t have to be about love, but the art should evoke feelings. This is a pastoral work that emphasizes the simple life. It should make a person feel tranquil and relaxed.”
“Dude, this artwork confuses me,” Malcolm grumbled.
The two men walked through the gallery while the patrons viewed Beauregard’s paintings.
“I noticed that you didn’t bring a date this time,” Beauregard mentioned.
Malcolm sipped on his martini. “At the moment, I can find women who are capable of giving me a fun time, but none of them deserve fancy events like this gallery event. What happened to your girlfriend? I remember that you were seeing someone for a few months.”
Beauregard momentarily looked away. “She wasn’t the right woman for me. I worked really hard to find a stable place in my life. She was a party animal who made a lot of poor choices. I was afraid that she would drag me into a life of substance abuse again.”
“It sounds like she was bad news. You’re better off without her,” Malcolm stated.
Beauregard felt like his bachelorhood was bittersweet. “Yeah, but I keep searching for the right match. I have a lot of success to share with someone, and it’s very lonely.”
They stopped in front of a painting that illustrated a Dieselpunk version of New York City.
The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Vendetta Page 25