2022-10-18: Her Grandfather's Clock
Cutscene: Her Grandfather's Clock
Cast: Emilia Eschonbach's Grandfather, Joseph Eschonbach
Where: Pendragon, Britannian Mainland
Date: October 18, UC0096
Summary: A world away from Area 11, an old man makes a cruel decision after finding out the activities of the reminders of his daughter's foolishness. CW: Workplace sexual harassment.
Adolphine 'Fina' Miller sat at her desk outside her boss's office, reviewing his schedule one more time. Her father had got her this job eight months ago through one of his Blue Cosmos contacts. For a job minding one of the NIA's old farts, it was pretty easy. The software did all the actual work, and very few phone calls got up the chain to her. Honestly the most arduous part of the job was indulging the old man's fantasies throughout the week.
That was easy enough, though, he was no worse a fuck than the other rich men she'd dealt with.
She squints at the schedule. "Why the hell is this flight business class, you stupid machine? We fly first class!" With a couple of clicks, the program goes about booking new seats- or flights- ignorant of expense. Adolphine didn't care, she was equally ignorant of expense. It wasn't her money yet.
She heard the buzz of the intercom, and grabbed her company phone, walking into the office. A buzz on its own meant he wanted her personally. The old man- she wasn't sure how old honestly and she didn't care to look it up off her own bat- was standing staring out the windows, supported by his cane. He knew she was there, so she didn't bother to announce herself.
"Miss Miller, have security bring the head of Monitoring and Prevention to my office immediately."
Oh. Oh someone has fucked up. Adolphina nodded. "Of course, Mr Eschonbach." She walked over to Mr Eschonbach's desk, seating herself on the edge and picking up his phone.
This job was so dull already. She wasn't going to miss out on some entertainment.
The screen showed a frame of a young woman with lavender hair, wearing a skimpy outfit that Adolphina thought was wasted on her. But everything was wasted on that brat. She still didn't understand why Joseph hadn't cut her loose or cut the loose end already. But as long as she didn't have any chance of inheriting, it wasn't her problem.
"Why am I seeing this, Mr Mortimer." Every word from Joseph's mouth was laced with venom, and the slimy forty-something flanked by security across from him. Adolphina shifted her weight, watching the drama unfold.
"I- Sir, if I had *known* such an event was occurring, I assure you-" Mortimer was trying to weasel out of it, the way only a middle aged Britannian man who is at the mercy of an older, richer Britannian man. Delightful.
"It's your *job* to know!" The statement is punctuated with the *thump* of Joseph's cane being rammed into the man's stomach. The old man couldn't put that much force in anymore, but the point was made. He had men to beat people for him, conveniently flanking Mortimer. "She had the gall to backtalk me in front of Her Highness! She's made friends with those damned spacenoid colonists! Elevens, even! I tell you to send her somewhere to crush her spirit… Does she look crushed to you, Mortimer?" Joseph advanced on the man. "So if this isn't your fault, Mortimer, then whose is it?"
It's here that Mortimer sees a lifeline. "Sir, give me twenty four hours and I'll have the idiot responsible in front of you!" The age old tradition of throwing someone else under the bus. That'll buy him some time-
"Gentlemen. Help Mr Mortimer find his failure. If he hasn't in three hours, escort him from the premises. He is not to return."
Adolphina stretched her arms up, now that the show was over, then stood up. "What would you like me to do, Mr Eschonbach?" Making herself useful unprompted was always a winner.
"Inform Ashford Academy that the girl will no longer be attending, effective immediately. Then find a place in a military academy who will take her. She needs to learn to follow instructions. Give them the usual information."
"Understood, sir." Mr Eschonbach wanted the spacenoid brat to suffer, well, she suffers. Adolphina couldn't care less.
"And give the young man who sent this information the usual payment. And one of the horses the company acquired. Perhaps this aspiring young jockey can pay dividends." As his secretary moves to leave, he clears his throat. "And make some time in our respective schedules before the flight."
"Of course sir." Adolphina leaves the office, a smirk on her face. Maybe providing a more palatable bastard could pay dividends for her, too.