"We have a reservation at the Eminence restaurant. Would you and Ms. Kate like to join us Father Abel?" asked Ivan.
"We would love to!" said Kate before Father Abel could intervene, and clung to Aaron's left arm while Mei Ling held onto his right.
"Alright you five go ahead, I shall join you at the restaurant" chuckled Father Abel as he picked up a motorcycle helmet and a pair of bags from the security desk.
"What motorcycle do you drive Father?" asked Ivan, impressed at the high quality of Father Abel's helmet. He gently pried the bags from Father Abel's hands, silently insisting he stow them in the car and spare Father Abel the inconvenience of carrying them on a motorcycle.
"A Ninja" said Father Abel as they exited the door and made their way to the parking lot.
Ivan whistled in amazement. "Well, alright Father, we'll meet you at the restaurant" he said as Father Abel waved and went to the motorcycle parking area.
"How was your experience riding on the back of Fr. Abel's beast Kate?" asked Mei Ling as they approached the BMW M5.
"It was quite exhilarating Mei. Have you ridden on it?" asked Kate.
"I was 17 when Fr. Abel bought that thing. I don't think I have ever held on to anyone else so tightly than when I sat behind him for the first time on that motorcycle" giggled Mei Ling.
"Perhaps, I should learn to ride one" said Aaron thoughtfully as Ivan unlocked the BMW M5.
"Absolutely not!" snapped Annette, pulling the rear left passenger door open and getting inside. Giggling, Kate and Mei Ling got in after her.
Annette breathed a sigh of relief as Ivan sat in the driver seat. "Everyone comfortable back there?" he asked looking at Annette, Kate and Mei Ling through the rearview mirror.
"Yes" said Kate who was in the middle.
Ivan started the car, its engine rumbling to life, and smoothly pulled out of the parking lot.
Aaron sat in the front passenger seat, quietly contemplating his feelings.
He had been feeling a strange mixture of emotions towards his mother as the evening had progressed.
First was confusion and embarrassment. Ivan had clearly told them both that both the theater and the restaurant they were going to now had a black-tie dress code, yet Annette had stubbornly refused to adhere to it, and had almost made a scene when the security guard denied her entry. Why would she embarrass herself and him like that?
Next was amusement and pity. When Annette finally arrived at the box, she was wearing a shimmering black cocktail dress. The dress was beautiful and fit her perfectly, yet she seemed uncomfortable in it, and she had not properly shaved her arm and leg hair. Compared to Kate and Mei Ling's immaculate presentations and smooth, flawless, hairless skin, Annette appeared uncivilized and crude. Why?
Finally, there was annoyance, anger and contempt. He was annoyed that she was being so stubborn about things, angry that she hadn't even thanked Kate and Mei Ling for helping her get rid of her unseemly body hair and contemptuous that even after all that, she had the gall to tell him that he couldn't learn to ride a motorcycle.
Aaron and the others had just disembarked from the BMW M5 when Father Abel pulled into the parking lot on his Ninja 1000SX, its inline 4-cylinder engine making a formidable growl.
"An impressive machine, Father Abel" complimented Ivan.
Father Abel nodded in thanks and the six of them ascended the steps to the Eminence restaurant.
A smiling waitress in a uniform consisting of a plain black knee-length dress and black pantyhose showed them to a table laid for six.
Aaron sat on one side with Kate and Mei Ling flanking him. Ivan chuckled in amusement at how possessively they held on to him and wondered if that was one of the reasons for Annette's sulk as he sat on the other side, flanked by a sulking Annette on his left, and an amused Father Abel on his right.
"Would you like to order your drinks?" asked the waitress politely. Aaron, Ivan and Father Abel all ordered just water citing age and needing to drive respectively, Kate and Mei Ling ordered vodka martinis and Annette hoarsely demanded champagne.
Ivan tried to put his arm around Annette to comfort her, but she angrily swatted it away "Don't touch me!" she whispered fiercely to him.
Ivan sighed and addressed Aaron. "How did you like the play?" he asked."I quite enjoyed it Father, it was a most engaging and illuminating performance" said Aaron his excitement for the play showing a little through his Stoic countenance. Ivan smiled in relief and triumph. He had finally gotten Aaron to open up more.
The waitress returned with a small cart laden with their drinks and a champagne bottle in an ice bucket. Before she could set the bucket on the table, Annette snatched the bottle, popped it open and took a massive swig, startling the waitress and almost toppling all the other drinks on the cart.
"Mother please! That was reckless!" snapped Aaron. He knew she was unhappy with how the evening had unfolded, but that was no excuse for her behavior.
"I will drink however I want to drink young man. Screw you and your newfound pretentiousness!" snarled Annette, and took another long drink from the bottle.
Aaron looked coldly at Annette, but she refused to meet his eyes and turned away from him.
"M-May I take your food orders now?" asked the waitress timidly, surprised by Annette's sudden behavior.
"Yes please miss. Pay no attention to that woman. I will have the porterhouse steak, medium well" said Aaron in his clipped and commanding tone.
His tone seemed to shock the waitress back into professionalism, and she quickly took the rest of their food orders.
Father Abel watched the scene unfold before him with growing worry. While Annette's sudden outburst was understandable, she had been put under a lot of stress by Ivan's plan, her transfer of blame from Ivan to Aaron was disturbing. Both Mei Ling and Kate were looking at Annette with cold contempt. Ivan was torn between guilt and anger.
"I think we should have a toast." said Father Abel, raising his glass and drawing attention to himself and way from Annette.
Ignoring Annette, Aaron and the others raised their glasses as well. "Mr. Aaron Zakhrov, you are a most interesting young man. I look forward to having you at St. Ignatius. Happy Birthday!" said Father Abel as everyone clinked their glasses. "Thank you, Father Abel" said Aaron giving him a smile of genuine gratitude.
"Would you do us the honor of leading the grace Father Abel?" asked Ivan as the waitress reappeared with their food.
Nodding solemnly, Father Abel made the sign of the cross and led them in prayer.
Dinner proceeded smoothly after that. Despite Ivan's pleas for her to eat something, Annette ignored the others and kept drinking her champagne, but otherwise didn't cause any more outbursts or scenes. Kate and Mei Ling bantered happily with Aaron about fashion and style, while taking turns to feed him - and get fed by him - bites from their meals.
Ivan and Father Abel shared their enthusiasm of performance vehicles, with Ivan recounting how he worked extra projects to acquire his BMW M5 and Father Abel telling Ivan how he worked as a construction worker to afford his Ninja before he joined college to study psychology.
Dinner soon drew to a close, Father Abel, Kate and Mei Ling insisting that they each pay for their own orders. Ivan accepted it graciously and they proceeded outside.
Kate, who had changed into a black leather jacket, pants and boots for riding on the motorcycle with Father Abel hugged Mei Ling tightly. "I shall see you soon, Mei. It was wonderful to meet you" she said as she let go of her.
"It was nice to meet you too Kate" said Mei Ling. They both turned to Aaron.
"Happy birthday once again Master Aaron. I look forward to seeing you again" said Kate
."Thank you for letting me be your escort for tonight Master Aaron" said Mei Ling.
With a swift, and almost practiced movement, both women kissed Aaron on the cheek, Kate on his left and Mei Ling on his right.
The kisses caught him completely off guard, and he blinked in surprise.
Ivan chuckled as he saw them while supporting a semiconscious Annette, "Ah young love" he muttered to himself as Kate left with Father Abel on his Ninja.
Aaron recovered quickly and opened the rear passenger door for Mei Ling, giving Annette a cold look of disapproval.
The drive back was very quiet. Aaron was contemplating again. His cheeks still tingled from where Kate and Mei Ling had kissed him. He had enjoyed their company and their somewhat submissive behavior towards him, their addressing of him as 'Master Aaron', and their obedience to his commands to enjoy the play in silence made him feel powerful and in control. He smiled wryly to himself, feeling that they were just humoring him, but he liked the feeling nonetheless, he also felt a powerful surge of dislike to his mother Annette which he had never felt before. Her behavior and unwillingness to follow instructions made him furious. He decided that if she couldn't follow reasonable instructions laid down by others, then he didn't need to submit to her authority even if she was his mother.
Mei Ling was conflicted. She felt a powerful pull of attraction towards Aaron, his cold demeanor and commanding presence sent shivers down her spine. While part of her realized that he was only 13, and she was 26, another part of her felt safe and secure when hanging on his arm.
"We are here Mei Ling" said Ivan from the driver's seat jolting her out of her revere. She composed herself with a deep breath.
"Thank you for everything Mr. Zakhrov" she said. She turned to Aaron to say goodbye, but he seized her chin with his right hand and kissed her cheek.The kiss sent a surge of electricity down her spine. She fought to stay in control. "Goodbye Ms. Ling. I had a lot of fun today" he whispered to her.
"G-Goodbye" she said weakly, getting out of the car and entering her apartment building in a daze.
Ivan watched Mei Ling's reaction in the rearview mirror with growing concern. Despite being a fully grown woman, Mei Ling was like putty in Aaron's hands. If he had this effect on women, he could be in trouble.