[Edward POV]
Thursday night, Vanessa and I left my house to see a theater show. The show was awful—just as I expected from Penny. On a side note, I did manage to spot a familiar face on stage.
After the performance, Penny thanked Vanessa and for attending.
"So, Edward, how do you rate the show?" Penny asked eagerly, feeling proud of her work.
"The story: 3/10," I said rcilessly, which deflated Penny's excitent. "But your performance is a solid 6. Just a little bit more, and I might cast you as a lead in Netflix's new series," I added with a smirk.
Penny almost squealed in excitent but quickly collected herself and covered her feelings. The industry was full of jealous, backstabbing individuals, so she had to be careful about her career prospects, especially since the deal was a private promise between the two of us.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow while Penny and I talked, her eyes were focused on Penny's deep cleavage.
I asked her about the new actress on stage, Natalie Dyer. The future star of Stranger Things had just broken out in the acting industry at 17 years old.
Most of the mbers of the theater troupe introduced themselves to Vanessa and , hoping to catch my attention, which would lead them to an acting role. We slipped away early after I gave my agency number to Natalie.
"Again, thank you so much for coming to my show!" Penny said as she gave a tight, full frontal hug.
In the car, Vanessa asked, pretending not to care—her furrowed eyebrows betrayed her—"What's the deal you have with Penny?"
"If she passes my benchmark, I'll hire her for the series called 'Flight Attendant'. It will take so more ti before she can take a lead role in anything, though. I only gave her a 6 to encourage her."
After replying casually, I turned to Hudgens slightly with a smirk while driving, "What's with your face? Are you jealous? Do you want to be the only one to gain my attention?"
Vanessa pouted and said, "Isn't that the normal thing to do? I'm your girlfriend, but you're giving roles to others while I have nothing to do."
She was exaggerating. Vanessa was currently showered with acting offers, but she rejected them all.
I shrugged. "Since you're my girlfriend, I have to be even more fair to you. Besides, you're the one who said you wanted to rest after finishing your big project."
Vanessa nodded, still sulking, but she had to accept it. "I did say that."
I smiled and teased her, raising her chin slightly to cheer her up. "Don't worry. You're a bit of a special case, so it takes more effort to pick a suitable role for you."
Vanessa smiled, thinking about the success of the series Diner. It was tailor-made for her, completely breaking her free from her Disney days and typecasting.
Suddenly, Vanessa leaned toward , putting her hand on my thigh. "I'm thinking that I should act in a rom-com next. You know, sothing fun. Maybe we can do it together."
"Rom-com, huh? Maybe I can do it, but I still have Now You See and the Black Widow movie to work on. Unless you can wait until next year," I said with a difficult expression.
Vanessa suddenly turned sulky again. After a brief silence, she said, "Is the reason you're so adamant about bringing the Black Widow movie to production Scarlett Johansson? She recently had a divorce, so are you trying to hook up with her?"
I furrowed my eyebrows in disbelief and turned toward her. "Why on earth would I try to hook up with Scarlett?"
"Uh, her breasts?!" Vanessa replied matter-of-factly. "You can deny it all you want; I know you like it big. Even Penny has large ones. So that's why you want to give the role to her."
I opened my mouth, but acceptance ca before the argunt. Vanessa beca irritable when I nodded slightly, agreeing with her words.
I had seen the movie Serial Ape-ist—the D-tier horror movie Penny starred in featuring a topless scene. Even her minor roles in Netflix productions had her wearing bikinis and playing sexy characters.
Then, Penny began to take many side character roles. Her exposure grew, and she started receiving more acting offers. Although her work mainly focused on TV roles, it was enough for her to afford moving out of her small apartnt.
At the ti, she was dating Leonard, so I thought it was fine for her to leave, but they broke up seven months ago, and Leonard was currently dating Rajesh's sister. Since then, Penny had stopped hanging out with Sheldon and his friends.
"See—I was right!" Vanessa suddenly snapped out of my thoughts, thinking my silence was acknowledgnt.
"As I know for sure I won't win this argunt since there's irrefutable evidence of that, the only reason I want to bring the Black Widow movie forward is the scale of the cinematic universe," I said playfully.
I continued ranting, unaware that Vanessa wasn't really listening. "They are going to make movies with larger stakes and bigger battles, so there's little gap in the tiline where the Black Widow movie can fit into the cinematic universe without seeming out of place."
Vanessa silently mimicked my words with a mocking expression. "All that grand cinematic universe planning just to justify your love for big boobs."
"Is the reason you're lashing out because you can't keep it in anymore? Will you be the one to break down first and throw yourself at ?" I teased.
Vanessa was taken aback and imdiately shot back, "You're the one who's going to break first, Newgate!"
I shrugged again, which only frustrated her more.
Although we had been dating for about two weeks, we still hadn't slept together yet. It wasn't because I wasn't attracted to her, but because Vanessa had made a bet with at the beginning of our relationship.
The first person to make a move would have to do whatever the other asked, and the other person couldn't weasel out of the penalty.
I didn't know what she wanted from , so I was keeping my defenses up. It had started out as a playful thing, but as the bet dragged on, both of us were feeling a bit frustrated.
"Do you want to go to Kiernan's party?" Vanessa asked as she checked her phone, clearly tired from the earlier topic.
"I wouldn't go to any party if I had the chance."
Vanessa sighed. "Did you develop agoraphobia from dealing with too many people? So celebrities have that."
I shrugged. "Maybe a little. I know for sure that the girls there will throw themselves at all night long, and I don't want to deal with it. Kiernan included, since she still thinks I'm single."
Vanessa frowned and typed angrily as she replied to Kiernan Shipka. Although her words in the text were polite, I could sense her irritation.
As we arrived at my house, Vanessa imdiately rummaged through my bar and took out my beers and the rest of my alcohol. "Let's see if you can still keep your guard up when you're drunk!"
"You sound like a sexual deviant, Ness," I said curtly before I ignored her and sank onto the couch. Vanessa was taken aback and pouted again.
"Just kidding. Bring it over here," I called playfully. She smiled and skipped happily as she walked toward before throwing herself into my arms.
After downing three bottles of spirits, Vanessa and I started making out in the living room. She hinted heavily at wanting to take the night further.
Although I knew I would lose the bet, I relented and finally made my move. We had a wonderful ti that night, which led to us staying in, just enjoying each other's company for two days.
Sunday morning, Vanessa and I were making out in my bed, our naked bodies covered by a thin white blanket. Suddenly, Yuri Alpha entered the room, surprising Vanessa.
She yelped and quickly pulled the blanket to cover her body, but in doing so, she inadvertently exposed mine. I grabbed a pillow and covered my crotch area before speaking to Yuri.
"Why did you break protocol, Yuri?" I asked her calmly.
Yuri bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry for being rude, sir. Your father and future stepmother, along with the rest of your family, are coming to the house in thirty minutes for Sunday dinner. They are bringing their friends with them. I assu you need the reminder since you've been—"
"Friends? Who?" I interjected before she could finish. Vanessa covered her face with her hand, incredibly embarrassed.
"The Dunphys and the Pritchetts, along with their respective families," Yuri replied, bowing slightly before leaving.
Vanessa stamred once she was gone, "Y-Your entire family is going to be here?"
I nodded slightly. "Yeah, I think so. Want to do it one more ti before they get here?"
She quickly crawled off the bed, anxiously saying, "No! I will not walk funny in front of your entire family! Or faint from pleasure again!"
I laughed at her exasperation. "But we should still take a shower together."
Vanessa was stunned and turned, biting her lips slightly. "I—NO! I'm not going to get seduced again, Newgate! You're insatiable! I'm sore enough already."
But despite her claims, she didn't push away when I joined her. We got ready at our own pace, even with the guests having already arrived before we even got out of the shower.
It wasn't until everyone was seated at the dining table and the food was already laid out that Vanessa and I finally joined them. Everyone greeted excitedly, and Vanessa was quite embarrassed when she felt the eyes on her.
Amy and Maggie pulled her away from and forced her to sit next to them while I walked to my dad. I saw the ring on Frankie's finger and smiled in satisfaction.
"So, you finally listened to and took her on a midnight cruise to pop the question, huh?" I said playfully, a grin spreading across my face. Both my dad and Frankie shifted awkwardly, a hint of embarrassnt creeping into their expressions.
The journey to this mont of commitnt hadn't been easy for Frankie. She had a sister with a ntal disability, born when their mother was around Frankie's current age. This weighed heavily on her mind as she faced the possibility of pregnancy at 40. The thought of bringing a child into the world with the sa challenges her sister faced was understandably daunting.
But before she could spiral deeper into worry, I introduced her to so procedures that could assess the fetus's health and her genetic risks, should there be any.
Knowing the risks brought Frankie a sense of calm, allowing her to embrace the idea of pregnancy. The fetus was fully normal right now.
Ultimately, she agreed to my dad's proposal after figuring out where she stood in the whole child rearing thing.
To be honest, even though Frankie is 50, I truly believe she can have a healthy child. I have various thods at my disposal that could help her reclaim her vitality.
Her physical health right now was similar to a healthy woman in her 20s after I gave her several supplents. Her back pain was gone, her eyes beca clearer, even her hair beca glossier.
"Edward, it's been a while!" Gloria hugged excitedly after she stood up from her seat. I sensed sothing familiar inside Gloria, the sa feeling I get when I realized Frankie was pregnant. I guess it was ti for Joe to co out soon. However, it seems that Gloria didn't realize it yet.
Everyone in the family ca, except for Haley who's in college.
"Luke! What happened to you?" I asked, surprised by Luke's current appearance. He wore a large hoodie, his hair a little scruffy, and he had opted for a bad boy persona instead of his usual innocent character.
"Things happened," Luke replied, attempting to act mature. Alex rolled her eyes and exposed him, "What do you an, what happened? You happened. It was you who did this."
"I did this?" I was thoroughly confused. Alex continued, "Your delinquent movie. He's emulating your character."
"No, I am not!" Luke imdiately refuted Alex, revealing his innocent deanor beneath his tough facade.
"Aww... That's pretty cute," I teased. Abashed, Luke grunted and whined, "I am not copying you. This is my life right now."
"By the way, that's a pretty nice hoodie," I said as I touched his dinosaur-print hoodie. "Aren't you feeling hot? The sun is sweltering outside."
Luke wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "It's fine. I can take it."
Although he wanted to act tough, he was only 13 years old. The hoodie was a gift from his sister– Haley, designed by her for his birthday, just like many others sold on her fashion website.
Manny laughed at Luke and joined in the conversation, "You sacrificed comfort for fashion. I guess you are getting more mature now Luke."
Manny also has a major change after two years. He was no longer chubby, and he cut his hair short. The Gloria and Javier genes showed their effect on him, turning him into a pretty boy.
Dad announced his engagent to Frankie after the Sunday dinner. Everyone was excited about the prospect of the wedding. Claire was picked as the maid of honor, and Phil beca my dad's best man.
The wedding was set a month from now, so it would be a June wedding.
"Edward! Pick up!" Lily exclaid, raising both her hands as she stood in front of . I scooped her up and let her sit on my forearm. She giggled and nestled her head against my chest, wrapping her arms around in a gentle hug.
The sight turned Vanessa on for so reason. Her face flushed and she breathed heavily as she stared at until Maggie snapped her finger in front of Vanessa, prying her focus elsewhere.
"Lily, will you let hold your baby brother or sister like this when they arrive?" I asked teasingly.
"No baby!" Lily grumbled, her annoyance evident.
Mitchell and Cam watched us with a mix of exasperation and affection. Their new child was due to arrive any day now, but they were having so difficulty getting Lily on board with the whole idea of having a sibling.
The two of them had connected with a pregnant woman in Calexico and were in the process of adopting her child.
'I checked, and it doesn't seem like it was the sa woman from the TV series. This one has no close family, no sister, and definitely no grandmother who would insist on raising the family herself instead of allowing Cam and Mitch to adopt. Maybe in this tiline, Lily would actually have a sibling after all.'
...
Afterward, everyone gathered at the house. Manny and Luke were torn between swimming in the pool or playing in the arcade, so they decided to settle it with a ga of rock-paper-scissors and ended up opting for the VR ga.
As I put on my haptic gloves, I turned to Luke and Manny. "Pick the normal mode option, not the reality mode."
Luke and Manny donned their waist harnesses and stepped onto the omnidirectional platform, preparing for their first VR dive. I had four of these platforms set up in my basent and had organized 200 of them at the gaming company for staff testing and feedback on the VR experience.
"What's going to happen if I pick reality mode?" Luke asked, his tone cocky.
"When you get hit, you'll feel it all over your body," I replied casually as they strapped on their haptic body vests.
As I readied myself, Vanessa, Amy, Maggie, and Alex watched from a distance. Vanessa shyly waved at before I adjusted my visor.
"So, how is it?" Maggie whispered to Vanessa, the others leaning in with curiosity.
Vanessa placed her hand on her back and replied, "He's like a beast in bed. I'm feeling pretty sore right now."
Claire noticed the girls gathering and felt an urge to join their conversation, but she quickly turned away upon realizing the topic at hand.
As the visor settled into place, the scene transford into a post-apocalyptic world. A massive dragon soared low overhead, its wings creating gusts powerful enough to threaten the players' balance.
Manny instinctively yelled, while Luke fumbled to understand how to handle his weapons. Their nervousness was unwarranted since they needed to set up their characters before jumping into the ga.
Luke chose an orc warrior as his avatar, while Manny picked a suave sniper complete with an eyepatch. I opted for a swordsman, and together, we launched into battle.
The ga thrust us directly into a campaign reminiscent of a classic Dungeons and Dragons adventure. Players could level up their characters, discover exclusive items, loot opponents, and even broadcast their gaplay to their Entertain livestream, although that last feature was still unavailable for now.
We spent the entire day at my house, leaving only after sharing a al together.
"I really miss you guys," I said, giving Gloria a gentle hug. Manny replied, "You should co by our house more often."
"Or we can co here to continue the campaign. Alex is stopping by for the lab, right? We can hitch a ride with her," Luke suggested.
Alex rolled her eyes and replied, "If I could ever get started on the study. Edward keeps pushing the date back."
Phil, unexpectedly interjecting, said, "He just wants to rest a bit more, Alex. Please be understanding."
Both Alex and I were taken aback by Phil's comnt. Alex grumbled, "I didn't an to be difficult. I just want a starting date."
"Co by next Tuesday. We'll get started with the work then," I offered.
Alex perked up and grinned, "Okay! I'll co here right after school!"
"Alex, what about your lacrosse practice?" Claire asked, her concern evident as she realized Alex might be overlooking her other commitnts.
"If I participate in the research, I won't need to engage in extra co-curricular activities to boost my college admissions. So I'm going to quit lacrosse from now on," Alex declared with determination.
"ALEX?!" Claire exclaid, clearly taken aback by Alex's resolute decision.
"If you have lacrosse, just co after your ga. I need to work on a few productions too, and if I can't focus on that, I'll have to push the work to my pharma company instead," I suggested, trying to provide a compromise.
"NO! Then I won't be able to participate!" Alex protested begrudgingly.
I shrugged and replied, "You can still apply as an intern there. There are special programs available for the lab that you could benefit from. I'll arrange a eting with Dr. Rostenkowski—maybe you can impress her enough to take you under her wing."
Eventually, Alex relented after I talked her through the options. Although I was eager to study the new cure right away, I had my hands full with other projects.
First and foremost, I needed to finalize the casting for the movie Now You See and start production before June. I still had to follow up with Feige about the Black Widow movie and draft another script for Vanessa's next project.
Since she wanted a rom-com story, I would do my best to deliver that. I wanted to focus on one aspect of my life at a ti; my life had felt scattered for months. Work haunted even in my sleep.
Even during monts with my girlfriend, like kissing her, my mind often wandered to upcoming projects. I longed to be present instead of obsessively planning my next big idea.
"Maybe I'll play Atlas in the Now You See movie. I think I'd enjoy that character," I mumbled to myself as I wrapped my arm around Vanessa's waist, both of us walking into the house together after everyone had left.
"Oh, by the way, what are you planning to ask to do if you win the bet?" Vanessa asked as we reached the living room.
I smirked and replied, "It's not much. Maybe sothing fun while you're cosplaying. What about you? Now that you've won, what do you want to do?"
"Cosplay? Who would I cosplay as?" Vanessa asked, montarily diverting the question.
"Maybe Khaleesi or Jinx. But it doesn't matter now since I've lost anyway," I said playfully.
Vanessa smirked, her eyes sparkling. "Don't feel down. Maybe you haven't entirely lost hope just yet."
"Really? That's nice to hear. Also, what's my penalty for losing?" I approached her, wrapping my arms around her waist and drawing her close, maintaining eye contact.
Vanessa giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck as she stood on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear, "I want you to..."
My eyes widened at her words, disbelief washing over . "Really? That?"
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