THE EVIL STEPS part1
“Mum, should we go there?” Dudley asked her.
“Yes! We’ll get our money, and we’ll be rich!” She proclaims.
“Pet, did you double-check all the documents? We don’t want to miss this opportunity.” Vernon tries his best to look good in their mirror.
“Of course! Now, let us go.” She clasped her hands, “We should not be late! Mr. Riddle hates it when someone is late.” She put the documents into the envelope.
They went to their car, and they excitedly chatted about how they would spend their money once the freak will be sold. They arrived on time, and they were surprised when the gatekeeper let them in smoothly without hassle.
Although Dudley thinks something strange happens when the beast smiles at them with sheer malice.
“Let’s hurry up! The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can get our money!” He says happily.
“But Dad, I’m so hungry! Why we didn’t eat first before we head over there?” Dudley stomped his foot with a whimper.
“It’s fine! They have plenty of delicious foods in here.” She whispered to her son. Dudley drooled over the promise.
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, please follow me to the study room,” Ella said to them politely.
“I bet that painting is worth hundreds of millions,” Vernon exclaimed while looking at every painting in the hallway.
“Of course, dear! Everything in this house is expensive!” Petunia said.
“This way, please” she opened the large door, and there were three men in the room including Mr. Riddle.
“Master,” Ella bowed to them, “the guests are here.” She bowed once again and left.
“Ah, glad you could make it in time.” Thomas smiled at them,” take a seat.” He pointed to a chair not far from them. The three guests eagerly sat down.
“Well, gentlemen let me introduce you to the Dursleys.” he looks at his two other guests,“ and these two gentlemen here are my old friends and my business partners.”
Thomas pointed at the blonde man next to his right, “this is Abraxas Malfoy and this,” he points the other man to his left, “Dominicus Greengrass.”
As soon as Vernon heard their names, he was eager to impress them. After all, he needs big names and wants his company to be known just like theirs.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Vernon smiles widely. He held his hand out, but they just stared blankly and ignored it. He was embarrassed for a second and coughed dryly.
“So Thomas,” Dominicus grinned at him, “I heard you got yourself something interesting.”
“Ah, yes,” Thomas told them proudly, “it keeps me busy and also it gives me so much happiness.”
“Oh? May I know what this interesting thing you have?” Dominicus licked his lips, he missed all this little details he had with his old friend’s life.
“It’s not a thing,” Thomas smirked. “It’s a person, an adorable little child.”
“It’s not Tom, right?” Dominicus asked confused.
“He’s intelligent and handsome but not adorable. He would kill me for that.”
“Heh? Did you kidnap someone else child?” Teases him, “are you perhaps a pedophile? Does your wife know it?” He turned his face away in disgust.
“Of course not you git. It’s my child” Both laughed, and Abraxas just listened and drank quietly.
Petunia was shocked upon hearing their conversations. Since when did Merope have another child? She shouldn't have to hide it from her because they are best friends, and she comes here often. Maybe they hide it for some reason? As if protecting it from any harm? She was intrigued by the news she heard, she somehow listens to them eagerly.
Vernon feels awkward about what they’re talking about, but he also wants to laugh. He tries to think of another topic to which everyone can relate. Right! About BUSINESS! Everyone here is a businessman.
“Ahem-,” Vernon says out loud the three of them look at him intensely.
“You know Thomas-“
“It’s Mr. Riddle for you Mr. Dursley,” Thomas smiled at him.
“R-right, I don’t mean to disrespect you, Mr. Riddle.” Thomas tilts his head.
“I-I mean… about BUSINESS! I mean business, it would be nice to have a lovely conversation about the bus-“
“I apologize, Mr. Dursley, but I do hate discussing business in the house. It’s a house, only family matters not business matters. It’s very disrespectful towards my family, especially to my child.”
Vernon felt a little hot on his face, and the other two looked at him blankly, but their eyes were mocking him. He felt so humiliated. He felt small in the matter.
“Unless there’s an urgent matter, of course, there’s an exemption to it but only in a short period.” He smiled charmingly towards the whale-man.
“O-of course there is to it,” he panicky replied.
“Maybe later we’ll discuss that.” He said warningly, “Are you in a hurry, perhaps?”
“N-no. I’m not-“ Thomas held his hand to make him stop talking.
“Well then, you don’t mind waiting, right?”
“W-we don’t mind waiting Mr. Riddle! We will wait, right dear?” It was Petunia who responded. Not sure how her husband would respond. Thomas nodded at them, then turned his attention to his friends.
“Well, Dom,” He looks at him with glee, “do you want to see this child of mine?”
“Now, now I want to know what this is about because my wife always mentions this child of yours.” He grinned at him. “May I see him? Maybe I could ask another child from my wife.” He exclaimed excitedly.
“Don’t you already have three of them?” Abraxas asked.
“Yeah, but what’s wrong if I want more?” His eyes sparkled in a way.
“What about you, Thomas? Don’t you want another one from your dear wife?”
Thomas laughed and answered, “Well, I think she doesn’t want to have another one. She was in love with this child of mine.”
“So what of, Tom? Did he get jealous or have a thought about wanting to replace both of you?” Dominicus knows him well, and he was a replica of his father.
He chuckled a bit, “he was just like his mother but he was more deeply in love with this child of mine.”
“It’s a bit weird, I tell you,” Abraxas spoke.
“Just be careful he was a jealous little devil whenever someone trying to get near him.” Thomas warned him.
Dominicus can’t help laughing, “Oh dear! I can’t wait to see it.” This time, he laughed even louder.
While the three of them having a discussion about Thomas’s second child. Vernon simply stays quiet and patient. It would be bad if he talked more and somehow pissed Mr. Riddle at some point, and he listened to his stories about ‘his adorable son’. Should he discuss his Dudleykins too? He is adorable too, though he is not handsome as Mr. Riddle’s son. His name is Tom, right? Maybe, he should have named his son after him.