"Hello again, Lady Flemming, it's been a while," Adam said towards the holographic screen that showed Isabella Flemming sitting behind an expensive-looking old desk.
The two of them had just started a video call and it seemed she had used her computer to answer it.
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Damn, now he's talking directly with Lady Flemming.]
"Indeed, it has, Mr Spencer. I trust you're doing well?" Isabella replied with a polite smile.
"Quite well, thank you," Adam replied while showing a similarly polite smile.
[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): WOW. I'm surprised he's being so polite with one of the leaders of the five families.]
"I'm glad to hear it," Isabella replied before asking, "I assume this call is regarding Robert?"
"That would be correct," Adam replied before asking, "What did your family decide to do in this matter?"
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Drum roll. Kekeke.]
"We have already apprehended him and have him under house arrest at one of our properties."
[Justiceistruth (Earth): Seriously?]
[AlamoMatador4thewin (Earth): Wow, she's actually tossing her own grandson to the wolves.]
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): I guess she sees the bigger picture.]
"Really?" Adam replied in mild surprise before asking, "I'm assuming you questioned him. Did he tell you anything?"
"No, he has been suspiciously quiet," Isabella replied before asking curiously, "Also, why do you seem so surprised that I agreed to your terms?"
"Well, honestly, I was expecting you to try and attempt to hide Robert like what Ayana Keita did with Kareem Badawi."
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Kinda disappointed she didn't.]
[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): I guess she's smarter than that Ayana Keita.]
"I'm guessing she didn't succeed?" Isabella asked before realising something and asking curiously, "Wait, why did she attempt to hide her lover from you?"
"Believe it or not, it's because Kareem Badawi was also involved in Emma's attempted kidnapping," Adam replied.
"Really?" Isabella replied with interest before asking, "Can you tell me more?"
"If you give me Roberts' phone."
"That's agreeable, but can I ask why?"
"To determine whether your grandson is a genius or a loveblind fool," Adam replied with a smirk.
"Loveblind?" Isabella repeated before thinking of something that caused her eyes to widen in surprise as she said, "Don't tell me."
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Oh, she's going to be pissed when she finds out. Kekeke]
"You figured it out?" Adam asked as his smirk increased.
"Robert and Nada Keita?" Isabella asked in disbelief.
"Please tell me he's joking," Stacey's voice came from near Isabella, followed by a male voice Adam didn't recognise that said.
"How unexpected."
"I assume you have proof?" Isabella asked.
"Of course," Adam replied before saying, "Spector, send her a copy of the correspondence."
"Affirmative," Spector replied before a file suddenly appeared on Isabella's computer.
"You bypassed my firewall and sent a file directly to my computer?" Isabella remarked in surprise before she opened the file and began to read through the message correspondence.
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): The streamers' AI can hack planetary security in mere seconds. You think a mere antiquated computer would pose a challenge to it?]
"Jesus Christ, that fucking idiot," Isabella cursed as she read the correspondence.
"Lady Flemming," The male voice admonished.
"Be quiet, Winston," Isabella snapped before adding, "That idiot grandson of mine was about to hand over the entire Flemming family to the Keitas."
"Excuse me?" Winston replied.
"What do you mean, grandmother?" Stacey asked.
"Take a look for yourself," Isabella replied as she transferred the correspondence to a second monitor to show them before turning back to Adam and asking, "I take it you want Robert's phone to try and ascertain whether he was really fooled by Nada Keita or if he was just playing along with her under the family's orders?"
"That's correct," Adam replied.
"Understandable, I will instruct the people detaining Robert to hand his phone over to you along with him," Isabella replied before adding, "You can find him at…" Only for Adam to interrupt her as he said.
"I'm already here."
"What?" Isabella asked.
"I've already arrived at where you're holding Robert," Adam replied with a smirk.
"You have?" Isabella asked wide-eyed before adding, "How did you know where to go?"
"Robert's phone, no one turned it off," Adam replied simply.
"Seriously?" Isabella asked in exasperation before saying with a smile, "I was expecting you to say some futuristic hi-tech way."
"Why make it complicated?" Adam replied with a shrug.
"Understood, I will let the people watching Robert know about your arrival," Isabella stated before asking, "But while you're doing that, can I ask a favour?"
"Appreciate it," Adam responded before he uncloaked the shuttle and had it land on the driveway of a large mansion while startling the guards.
The guards who were reaching for their weapons stopped as they seemed to receive orders not to act and instead watched the shuttle carefully.
"So what's this favour?" Adam asked curiously.
"She wants a favour from the man who is about to kill her grandson? Talk about an interesting turn of events," Aphrodite said with a chuckle.
"Perhaps she understands that my man is far more impressive than her own grandson," Rowena remarked.
"Stop bragging that you're Adam's lover," Aphrodite snapped angrily.
"What's wrong? Jealous?" Rowena asked with a smirk.
"You certainly have some interesting companions," Isabella remarked with a smirk.
Adam just smiled in return before asking, "So what's this favour you want?"
"I would like to discuss a business proposition with Miss Hopkins."
"Oh! What sort of business proposition?" Emma asked curiously.
"It seems she's intrigued, so I will leave you both to your discussion while I go visit Robert," Adam replied before standing up, only for Emma to take his place and ask.
"So, what's this business proposition you want to discuss, Lady Flemming?"
"Adam, Adam, can I come with you?" Tephe suddenly asked as she bounced towards him excitedly.
"Why?" Adam asked.
"I'm not interested in this business talk and coming with you seems way more fun," Tephe replied.
[RealOtaku (Earth): Yeah, take Tephe, it will be more entertaining.]
"All we are probably going to do is check his phone before killing him," Adam stated.
"I know," Tephe nodded before adding, "I just want to come with you."
"You do know I can still hear you, right?" Isabella suddenly said.
"Oh, my bad," Tephe replied while sticking out her tongue.
"If Tephe's going, I want to tag along too," Stacey said with a smile while grabbing one of Adam's arms.
"Ok," Adam nodded before looking at the others and asking, "Does anyone else want to tag along?"
"I'm going to stay here and observe Emma's capabilities," Rowena replied.
"I will also stay since Emma will most likely be the one negotiating with Astarte in the future," Aphrodite stated.
"I want to see firsthand if she is good enough to run our family's future business operations," Lorelie remarked seriously.
"Since Lorelie is staying, I will also stay," Eri stated.
"Why do I all of a sudden feel like I'm in a job interview?" Emma asked with a bemused smile.
"Because you are," Lorelie replied seriously before continuing, "I may trust Erkath's opinion, but I still want to observe your capabilities firsthand."
As she observed Lorelie's demeanour, Aphrodite leaned close to Rowena and whispered, "I've noticed this in the past, but Lorelie definitely gives off head lover vibes."
Rowena nodded before whispering, "I agree. Initially, I thought Stacey would be the head wife or lover in Adam's harem, but now I'm starting to think it will be Lorelie."
"Does that not disappoint you? I mean, Stacey is your granddaughter," Aphrodite asked with a smirk.
"Not really," Rowena replied while shaking her head before adding, "I only believed it initially because Stacey was Adam's first lover. However, my granddaughter doesn't really have the mentality to be the head woman in a group relationship."
"Agreed," Aphrodite nodded before adding, "While I wasn't part of them for long, I have been part of group relationships in the past and we have both encountered them several times in the past. The ones that had a head woman with Stacey's mentality never lasted."
"I am unfortunately forced to agree," Rowena nodded.
"Are you interested in being the head woman?" Aphrodite asked curiously.
"No," Rowena replied while shaking her head before continuing, "While I have experience being a wife in the past, I don't think I'm suitable to lead the other wives and lovers. I believe I'm more suited to teaching Adams other lovers how to be a good wife or lover to him."
"That's true, you like causing chaos after all," Aphrodite said with a laugh.
"Pot calling kettle black," Rowena shot back.
"What?" Aphrodite asked in confusion.
"What are you two whispering and laughing about?" Lorelie asked curiously.
"Nothing," Rowena and Aphrodite both replied simultaneously.
"Hmmm," Lorelie replied as she stared at the pair of troublesome divas with suspicion.
"Quite the interesting group you have found yourself with, Miss Hopkins," Isabella remarked as she observed and listened to the group's interaction.
"It's my luck to be invited to join them," Emma replied happily.
"Are you now?" Isabella asked in surprise before changing the subject. "So, now is probably not the best time for a full discussion, but I wanted to ask if you're interested in joining the Flemming Families Earth Project?"
"You mean your revolutionary, sustainable, and massive artificial island project designed to generate clean, renewable energy?" Emma asked in surprise.