Chapter 13

Later at 8pm, when Eric walked out the office, he only wondered one thing. How am I going to tell Melody? I don't want to disappoint her. But I don't want to disappoint my boss, either! Despite Roy's answer, he thought of asking Walt anyway. No, it would not make much a difference. Eric know how loyal Walt is to the Red Rabbit Company-after all, he was the one who built it. Walt would say the same answer. He sighed dejectedly, got inside his jeep, and drove away. Little did he know, two pairs of yellow eyes were watching him, behind from a silver Saturn.

"He just left the building, mistress," said Flotsam, through his cell phone.

"Okay," said Ursula, still in her apartment. "Now follow him! I want you to keep on eye on him and that little daughter of his. Find out everything about them and report it to me!"

"Roger that!" said Flotsam. He and Jetsam drove off. They followed his direction and made sure that he didn't notice him.

Eric got home and parked the jeep. He got his suitcase out and walked to the house, in a tired way. Flotsam and Jetsam parked their car a bit far from Eric's jeep. They slithered out of their car and hid behind a few bushes.

"Melody, Ari-Miss Benson, I'm home!" Eric called. Ariel and Melody came from the living room to greet him. They had just finished their singing lesson.

"Hello, Mr. Barnes," said Ariel.

"Dadddyyyy!," squealed Melody. She rushed to Eric and hug his legs tight. Eric became startled at Melody's outburst but smiled as he ruffled Melody's hair.

"Did you bring me a pwesent?"

"I sure did," Eric chuckled. He pulled out a small mouse toy that Walt was handing out to the employers before he left. The mouse was based on a software program,"Mic Mousie Animations," that the company had designed.

"Mousie!" Melody exclaimed. Her grubby hands grabbed the toy and hugged it to her face. Almost forgetting her manners, she thanked her father.

"Now, don't lose it," Eric gently, warned.

"I won't!" said Melody, as she skipped to the living room. She sat down on a red carpet and began playing with it. Eric walked to his sofa and plopped on it. His frown did not go unnoticed by Ariel.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, sitting down next to him. Eric, who was in thought, almost didn't hear her.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Everything is fine," he said tiredly. He didn't want to tell her what happened at the office. Eric is too scared of her (and Melody's) reaction as to why he couldn't come to the talent show. Maybe I'll tell her, but not right now. He thought. Ariel didn't look convinced but decided not to push the subject more.

"All right," she said, as she got up. "Well, I'm making dinner so what would you like to eat?"

"Anything," Eric smiled. "I'll eat whatever you cook."

"Can I have ice cream?" Melody asked. "I want strawberry ice cream with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top for dinner, pleeasse!" she said so sweetly.

"No, Melody. You are not having ice cream for dinner," Eric said, sternly.

"Ahhhhh," Melody groaned. "But you said Ariel can cook you anything!" She whined.

"Would you like some chicken nuggets, instead?" Ariel suggested. Melody jumped in delight.

"Chicken Nuggets? Oh boy!"

Ariel giggled while Eric playfully rolled at Melody's childishness.

At the same time, Flotsam and Jetsam had been watching the whole scene from the window. They were hidden in the bushes, with only their eyes peeking out.

"Who is that chick with the red hair?" Flostam growled.

"I don't know but she looks pretty," Jetsam drooled.

Flostam knocked him from the back of his head.

"You idiot! This girl is an obstacle to Ursula's goal!" he snarled through his teeth.

"Ah, you're right!" Jestsam, whispered, panicky. He dialed Ursula's cell phone number.

"Mistress, we have a problem," Flotsam whispered in the phone. Ursula who had been anxiously, waiting for juicy news, almost flipped.

"A problem? Tell me you boys got another parking ticket, did you?" she cackled.

"No boss, it is a woman," answered Flotsam.

"And she is in Eric's house," Jestam added. Ursula flipped.

"A woman! Outrageous!" How could that be possible? Ever since Vanessa died, Eric had sworn off marriage forever. Great. Now, how will she get his money along with his brat's trust fund? Ursula cooled down for a bit and resumed talking.

"Well, what do you know about this woman?" she asked.

"We don't know," said Flotsam. "We never seen her before. She has long red hair, blue eyes, and wears a pink dress."

"I see," said Ursula. Whoever this red haired woman is, she must be a new friend of Eric's. A secret lover? Oh, she hoped not! That would ruin her plans!

"Well, see if the red-haired woman is really much of a problem," said Ursula. "If she is not, great. If she is...then, we'll think of some way to drive her away from the family. Understand?"

"Yes, mistress," said Flotsam and Jetsam.