126 The CEO already knows...
The private jet touched down in Los Angeles with impeccable smoothness, but the nervousness coursing through Vergil inside the aircraft was anything but smooth. He glanced at Katharina, who seed to be thoroughly enjoying his evident discomfort.
"Relax, darling," she said, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at him. "It's just your mother. What's she going to do? Scold you?"
Vergil scowled. "You clearly don't know my mother. Or, better yet, you've forgotten the last situation we had with her. She wanted to kill for having three wives. Imagine what she'll do when she realizes I've been gone for this long."
Katharina burst out laughing, vividly recalling the mont when she, Roxanne, and Ada first t her infamous mother-in-law.
"Oh, I know her. I rember exactly how she was. Don't forget that this woman is currently one of the most powerful figures in the financial world. Relax, her temperant must've improved. She's now an even more powerful and feared CEO—the kind of woman who manipulates markets while sipping green tea. She's legendary, Vergil!" Katharina teased, trying to downplay the storm that would undoubtedly arrive in a few hours.
He sighed, staring out of the window at the city's dazzling lights. "Yeah... and she's also the woman who made scrub the backyard on my knees because 'I needed to learn humility.' Can you believe I still hear her voice in my nightmares? 'If you grow up to be a bum, I'll personally kill you!' she used to yell," Vergil joked.
"You'll survive. Felicia isn't that bad; she's just a... concerned mother," Katharina replied, a playful smile lighting up her face.
"Concerned about what? Katharina, if she were Japanese, she'd be a gyaru who bullied everyone," Vergil retorted, and Katharina nearly choked with laughter at the comparison.
"PFFFFF...!!! Imagine HAHAHA your mom HAHAHA tanned KAKAKAKA in a school uniform HAHAHAHA! Over-the-top makeup HAHAHA," she laughed uncontrollably, and Vergil couldn't help but laugh along with her. It was absurd to imagine, but knowing his mother... it wasn't entirely impossible.
Shortly afterward, they arrived at the main building of Agares Company, an imposing skyscraper that seed to pierce the Los Angeles skyline. The glass facade reflected the city, emanating an aura of absolute power. Vergil stopped on the sidewalk, staring up in awe.
"Wow..." he murmured. "I knew it was big, but... this is ridiculous."
Katharina took his hand and pulled him toward the entrance. "Co on, dear. Don't look too impressed, or you'll seem like a country bumpkin."
Inside the building, the luxury was overwhelming. The lobby looked more like a palace than a corporate headquarters. The polished marble floors reflected the crystal chandeliers, and an abstract gold sculpture dominated the center of the hall. Well-dressed employees moved briskly, but when they spotted Vergil and Katharina, their steps slowed. Whispered conversations started, and a few pulled out their phones to docunt the mont.
"Looks like we're already drawing attention. Since when are we popular in the human world?" Vergil muttered, feeling uneasy. "I get it in the Demon Realm, but here?..."
"I'm the heir to the Agares family. What did you expect? Anonymity? Besides... if you check 'Y,' you'll see you're pretty popular these days," Katharina replied with a smile, waving to the curious onlookers like royalty.
Vergil calmly pulled out his phone and opened the social dia app. He glanced at the "What's Happening?" section, and the first thing he saw was #HandsoAgares. The second? #PrincessConqueror. The third? #VergilAgares.
"What the—"
"Well, despite being demons in the demonic realm, we're human here. We're not exactly celebrities, but we're rich, and our company's na is currently at the top. So, basically, we've beco paparazzi targets and all that," Katharina explained, clicking on one of the hashtags. The first thing that popped up was a picture of her and Vergil in Paris.
"In such a short ti, we're already a dia target... I wonder what they'd do if they found out you've started two more companies recently," Katharina added, scratching her cheek as she imagined the chaos.
"Two more?" he questioned in confusion, and she glanced at him. "Did you forget you have two more wives? They also have influential families in the human world. Baal's family owns a construction empire, and Sitri's family runs a massive confectionery chain," Katharina explained with a smile.
"If you saw their market values... you'd probably have a heart attack," Katharina teased.
A security guard then escorted them to a private elevator, which swiftly ascended to the top floor. When the doors opened, they revealed Felicia's office, a modern and expansive space with glass walls offering a panoramic view of the city.
Vergil stood frozen for a mont, taking in the grandeur of the place. "This is... incredible."
But his admiration was cut short by the sound of high heels echoing across the room. He turned to see his mother, Felicia, approaching. She was impeccably dressed, as a CEO should be—tailored suit, high heels, and her hair tied in a flawless bun. Everything about her exuded power and authority.
For a brief mont, Vergil thought the situation might remain professional. But then he noticed her eyes. They were literally on fire.
"VERGIL!" Her voice bood like thunder, and Katharina's grin grew instantly.
Before he could say a word, Felicia was in front of him. She didn't speak; she just grabbed his ear with an iron grip and began dragging him across the office.
"WHAT?!" Vergil shouted, struggling to free himself. "MOM! That hurts! What are you doing?!"
"EXACTLY WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE SECOND YOU STOPPED ANSWERING MY CALLS!" she snapped, her voice filled with fury.
Katharina walked behind them, struggling to contain her laughter. "Oh my god, this is even better than I imagined," she whispered, covering her mouth.
Felicia dragged Vergil through endless hallways, ignoring the stares of secretaries and executives who were clearly trying not to laugh. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING YOUR MOTHER? YOU DISAPPEAR, DON'T CALL, AND I HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR SCANDALS THROUGH THE NEWSPAPERS!"
"I was busy, Mom! Married life is hard, you know?! I was doing important things!" Vergil protested defensively.
"Do I need to marry you to get your attention, too?" she suddenly asked. For a mont, Vergil thought she was serious, but then he caught her sharp gaze. Phew... it's a joke.
"WHILE YOU WERE OFF PLAYING WITH YOUR WIVES, I WAS LEADING AN EMPIRE, AND YET I STILL FOUND TI TO CALL YOU! AND YOU IGNORED !"
She rounded a corner, still clutching his ear, and marched into a conference room. The executives inside all stood, stunned, at the sight.
"Carry on!" Felicia ordered, as if nothing unusual was happening. "I'm just here to show MY SON how responsible people work."
Vergil shot a desperate look at Katharina, who simply waved cheerfully. "You're doing great, love."
After dragging him through almost the entire building, Felicia finally stopped in front of a break room. She let go of his ear, and Vergil rubbed it with a look of pain and indignation.
"Now," she began, crossing her arms and glaring at him like a general inspecting a soldier, "you're going to sit down and tell exactly what you've been up to these past few months. And don't spare the details."
Vergil looked at her, panting. "I'm not a kid anymore, Mom!"
"Then start acting like an adult!" she shot back.
"Of course you didn't, because you never answer your phone!" Felicia shot back, rolling her eyes. "But yes, Sapphire and I t recently. She literally showed up at my house one night, introduced herself as your wife's mother, and dropped the truth on . It was a very strange conversation," she added matter-of-factly.
19:02
"And you just believed her?" Vergil asked incredulously.
Katharina finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as tears stread down her face.
"It's official," she managed between fits of laughter. "I love your mom."
Vergil sighed, throwing himself into a nearby armchair. "Glad soone's enjoying this."
Felicia glanced at Katharina, her gaze softening briefly. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so glad you're taking care of him. He clearly needs it."
Katharina smiled. "It's a tough job, but soone has to do it, mother-in-law."
Felicia turned her attention back to Vergil, pointing a finger at him like an accusation. "And you, the next ti I call, you'd better pick up. Or next ti, it won't just be your ear."
Vergil just shook his head, resigned. "Yes, Mom."
"Good," she said, finally relaxing. "Now, let's have lunch. And I expect you to tell sothing interesting while we eat."
Katharina placed a comforting hand on Vergil's shoulder, still smiling. "At least she loves you, honey."
"In a very peculiar way," he replied, standing up and following his mother toward the building's private restaurant.
~~~
Felicia led the way, her posture as impeccable as that of a queen walking to her throne, while Vergil and Katharina exchanged nervous glances. The company's private restaurant was as luxurious as the rest of the Agares headquarters, with minimalist décor, marble tables, and massive windows offering breathtaking views of the city.
Without hesitation, Felicia chose the best table in the center of the room, and the three of them sat down. Before the waitstaff could even bring the nus, she leaned slightly forward, clasped her hands over the table, and looked directly at Vergil.
"Stop pretending I don't know you're a demon. It's getting on my nerves," she said flatly, as if comnting on the weather.
Vergil and Katharina's eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"What?!" Vergil practically shouted, while Katharina sat frozen, her jaw hanging open.
Felicia sighed, adjusting her blazer as if preparing to explain sothing obvious. "Did you really think Katharina's mother wouldn't tell the truth before suddenly making the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company?" She gestured dramatically, as if it was the most logical thing in the world. "Co on, darling. Please."
Vergil sputtered, struggling to form words. "W-what do you an? When did this happen? I… I didn't even know you two had t!"
"Of course you didn't, because you never answer your phone!" Felicia shot back, rolling her eyes. "But yes, Sapphire and I t recently. She literally showed up at my house one night, introduced herself as your wife's mother, and dropped the truth on . It was a very strange conversation," she added matter-of-factly.
"And you just believed her?" Vergil asked incredulously.
"She threw off a building," Felicia replied, her tone deadpan. The table fell silent.
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