[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZN0rdcC.png[/img]
[right][sub][color=#32CD32]『Time - [color=gray]Afternoon[/color]』
		『Location - [color=gray]Wolfe Estate[/color]』
			『Collaboration With @Chai | [color=gray]Heather Vandertulip[/color]』[/color][/sub] [/right]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EIhqzkf.png[/img][/center]

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[color=gray]Marco thought he was last to show up, but the spotlight was stolen from him by quite the handsome male with a chip on his shoulder. Everyone was probably on edge after the events that transpired and led them all here. It never dawned on him if he was the only one who was being blackmailed or if they all had skeletons in their closet. [color=#32CD32][i]”Three men, three women”[/i][/color] Marco thought to himself as he tallied the gender ratio, under different circumstances this could be reality dating show. The vivid image of Marco as a bachelor played in his head for a brief moment, dying seconds later. Just as there was a semblance of normality, a firework exploded onto the scene. 

Everything about him was flagrant and queer, his appearance and natural traits almost put the women in attendance to shame. His gaudy attitude and demeanor flowed out of him so naturally it couldn’t have been just an affront to the crowd of strangers before him. Marco suffered from the traditional latino [color=#32CD32][i]machismo[/i][/color], so much so that the excess flamboyance was starting to coalesce into something all too much for Marco. While he made his rounds Marco just repeated one word in his mind over and over, [color=#32CD32][i]“Marica”[/i][/color]. Marco didn’t really give a shit about made up star signs or the moon being retrograde, but at least the slav in his tracksuit was right about alcohol. 

His face was harsh and brooding when it came to his turn. Marco just wished he knew who this person was and their significance to all this. His clenched jaw and rigid cheeks managed to force a smile that was just uncomfortable as he was. 

The tension in the room was still as dense as it was before this character entered the fray, their silence speaking volumes. They all had free reign to do and take whatever they wanted, it was all just too good to be true. As enticing as the cornucopia was, Marco was still very weary of the whole thing. Cigarettes and alcohol would be his only friends until he had answers. Suddenly, Marco perked back up when he saw Heather join in again. He knew he had taste when she was just as disinterested in his entrance as he was. 

[color=#32CD32][i]”Ezra Wolfe”[/i][/color] of course, why hadn’t he made the connection before? The whole introduction screamed renaissance, the golden straw, the grapes, even the chiseled figure. Marco was ready to go up to his room and just rest for the few hours they had before this so-called party they were all invited to. 

[color=#efc9d9] [i] "Fuckin' bitch,"[/i][/color]

Marco stopped mid track and pivoted his body to face both Ezra and Heather, [color=#32CD32]“Hey! Show some respect for the lady.”[/color][/color]

[color=#efc9d9]"I'll show some respect for [i]you[/i], does that count?"[/color] came Ezra's sing-song voice in reply, though his gaze remained fixed on his cell phone that he had taken out again. His thumbs whizzed across the screen until he paused abruptly, glancing up and to the sides and looking over his shoulder before lazily grinning at Marco. [color=#efc9d9]"Look. My guy. Heather's nice and all, but we're just having a bit of fun. I call her an insufferable know-it-all broad, she calls me a—"[/color]

[color=tomato]"Spoiled brat? Who hasn't changed since he was a teenager?[/color] Heather interjected, finished with the call in the hallway. She frowned at one of the potted plants near her, fussing with some of the leaves before heading down the steps to join the group. [color=tomato]"Maybe you can take a page out of Mr. Ronquillo's book, Ezra, about treating people with respect."[/color]

[color=#efc9d9]"Should I? Well, I guess that would depend on the chapter of the book, wouldn't it? Some of the earlier ones..."[/color] Ezra's eyes searched Marco's knowingly, almost conspiratorially, as his voice trailed off into nothing.

[color=gray]Marco usually had the candor to speak to men like this, that’s what made him so refreshing of a personality. Easy as it may be in any other situation, it was frankly hard in this particular case. Marco wasn’t there to make friends nor was he so eager to bite the hand that fed him this early into their [i]game[/i]. Swallowing his pride he chose to relax and allow Ezra Wolfe’s effervescence to go without confrontation. [color=#32CD32][i]“Coño, que me he metido?”[/i][/color] Marco half whispered half sighed. 

The banter between the two returned and if it weren’t for the sass Heather was able to dish out, he wouldn’t have felt even more attracted to the Asian Amazonian. His attention had been sliced in two by Ezra’s piercing words and searching look. Ezra reminded him of his place at the estate, Marco overstepped a little too far on their first day. [color=#32CD32]“The ending is always the best part to any novel, I hope you finish reading”[/color] he said before being interrupted by another gallivanting superstar debuting as Ezra’s sister. The two were shockingly two different tones, she probably got more Vitamin D than her brother. 

[color=#32CD32]“Can you show me around Ms. Vandertulip?”[/color][/color]

Heather almost said no. [i]Almost[/i]. She worried it might have been unprofessional of her, or perhaps even showing favorites. If there was one thing she prided herself in, it was the air of neutral professionalism she had on display at most times. But she figured a personal tour wouldn't hurt so much, and she smiled in Marco's direction. [color=tomato]"Of course,"[/color] she said plainly, [color=tomato]"I think I have a few minutes to show you around the house. If you'll follow me, I'll be happy to give you a tour around."[/color] 

Turning on her heel and nodding a simple goodbye toward Ezra and Valentina, she led the way out of the great room and took a left once she reached the main hallway. It opened up to a large copper room, its windows looking out over the majestic Montana scenery. [color=tomato]"This is the copper observatory. It's become quite a favorite spot for family and guests alike to enjoy the sun while they read or work.[/color]. She made a general motion toward the back walls lined with books, then turned her gaze toward the mountains in the distance. [color=tomato]"It's beautiful, isn't it?[/color]

[color=gray]Marco’s eyebrows peaked at Heather’s reply, maybe there was some normalcy to this place. Jumping at the opportunity, Marco made his way past the two Wolfe’s in sheep’s clothing, [color=#32CD32]“You sure this won’t take hours? This house is pretty huge”[/color] he said, catching up to his guide. While he was supposed to be observing the house he couldn’t help finding himself studying Heather instead. Everything about her screamed bureaucratic, she was rigid, stoic, and neutral. The copper observatory was quite breathtaking, Marco was surely out of his element and the greenery was quite refreshing, he even appreciated the architecture from within. [color=#32CD32][i]“Pero no tan hermosa como tú”[/i][/color] his accent playing smoothly, shifting his gaze onto her. [color=#32CD32]“I don’t read much, but I can read people. Don’t you get tired of being so professional all the time? How did you even land this gig?”[/color] Marco probed, hopefully she could discern empathy from interrogation.[/color]

[color=tomato]"How does anyone land a job?"[/color] She asked him, turning away from the window and cocking one of her immaculately groomed brows at him. It wasn't meant to be sarcastic, but a hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. [color=tomato]"Actually, they found me through LinkedIn. Don't look so surprised! I was working in HR prior to this. The corporate demeanor fits me, I've been told."[/color]

Heather laughed freely, walking out of the Copper Observatory and back through the hallway, leading Marco past some other rooms. She stopped in a doorway, gesturing inside at a lengthy hand-crafted oak dining table. [color=tomato]"This formal dining room. Not many people actually eat here, but you're welcome to. Across the room is a door that connects to the kitchen, and if you go through that, you'll reach the breakfast room."[/color] Pausing for a moment, her jaw clenched as if she wanted to say something, but she seemed to rethink her words and instead settled on leaning back against the ornate doorframe. [color=tomato]"Is there any other part of the house you wanted to see?"[/color]

[color=gray]Her quick reply had completely disarmed him, coupled with that devious smile. Her features were both soft and perfect, she could have easily been a model with her stature and gifted beauty. [color=#32CD32]“Yeah, but for these people? I think you would fit better somewhere else”[/color] Marco had heard of this ‘linkedin’ but acclimating to technology and traditional work was still new to him. 

The pair had made their way to the dining room, while everything in the house was quite beautiful it was expected. [color=#32CD32]“Seems like a waste to have these many rooms and have no one use them don’t you think?”[/color] Marco caught a glimpse of her hesitation through his peripheral vision wondering what she had to say. Unfortunately for him, something prevented her from doing so, whether it was out of fear or professionalism he would never know. 

[color=#32CD32]“Yeah there is something else I wanted to see. Is your bedroom nearby?”[/color]
[/color]

She simply stared, unamused, with her brown eyes piercing into him. [color=tomato]"I don't live on the estate, though I live near here. And by that, I mean I don't live near enough for any of you to come and visit me. I just oversee what happens at the estate—finances, costs, sometimes we rent it out for luxury events."[/color] The rejection was swift, but also more gentle than she would have done otherwise. Lifting her phone out of her pocket to check the time, she pushed herself off the frame and took a step through into the dining room. [color=tomato]"You'll have to excuse me, but it's just about time for a meeting. You're welcome to explore the rest of the house on your own if you want. Or you relax in your room; whatever you like."[/color] And with that she left him, disappearing through the doorway on the opposite side of the room.

[color=gray]The taste of rejection was all to swift. Marco didn’t need anyone doing him favors or letting him down easy. Had every rejection wounded the latino heartthrob, there would be nothing left. As she turned and vanished into the distance, Marco couldn’t help but notice she left something in her wake. [color=#32CD32][i]“Heather wait!”[/i][/color] his plea rather futile. Picking up the pristine white handkerchief, he examined it only to find three initials engraved at the bottom. A smirk of his own crept onto his face, the tour wasn’t a complete loss. Stuffing the handkerchief into his pocket he turned and made his way to his room; T-minus two hours till the party. [/color]
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