Ororo was in awe as she saw the hotel interior where they had arrived. She had never been inside such an establishment and was used to stealing on the streets and living between the houses, hiding amongst the rats. It all got better when she met T'Challa, and they journeyed across Africa for a few years, living in the wilderness and sleeping under the stars. But after they arrived in Cairo, where her 'journey' had started all those years ago, she didn't expect to come to a hotel like this.
T'Challa told her the architecture was grand and elegant with touches of Oriental charm. There was ornamental woodwork, Persian-style carpets, marble floors with detailed tilework, large chandeliers, and gold was mixed into almost everything. She stood at the entrance and took a moment to get her breath back. T'Challa smiles next to her and waits for everything to settle. He is in no rush, not right now at least. This was his way of completing Ororo's journey and closing the circle of sadness and loss she started out with, with happiness and grandeur. He was here to spoil her a bit, before they had to move on to new horizons inevitably. T'Challa had responsibilities to Wakanda and a future King, and Ororo had to find her place in the world as well, and for that, she would also need an education. For three years, T'Challa had been teaching her many things that she might have missed by not being able to go to school and even reach university levels in specific topics.
"Are you alright?" T'Challa asks her.
"I..."
"Haha, take your time. I'll get our rooms ready in the meantime," he tells her and moves to the reception.
"Greetings, sir. How may I be of service?" the receptionist asks.
"I would like to have a room, please, the largest one you have available right now." T'Challa tells the man and places his passport on the counter. He could see the disbelief of the receptionist, seeing his young age and not very extravagant clothes.
"Very well." The receptionist takes his passport.
"Mr. Carl Lucas, is that right?"
"Yes, do you need to see anything else?" T'Challa asks and takes out a thick bundle of banknotes, making a show out of the entire moment.
"Uhh, no. Haha, of course not, Mr. Lucas. Please, this way, you can leave your luggage here and we will bring it to your suite in just a moment. If you and your lovely... girlfriend would kindly follow me, I will show it to you." The receptionist laughs nervously and embarrassedly.
T'Challa looks at Ororo and sees her still in the same spot. He smiles and walks over to her, grabbing her hand.
"Come, love. You will have more than enough time to look at everything."
"Ok," Ororo says absentmindedly and follows T'Challa.
The receptionist leads the two upstairs to their suite. His tone and posture have changed, and he is constantly smiling now, unnerving Ororo, who has a good read of people's intentions. The room was spacious with some kind of dark expensive wood, a king-sized bed with white sheets and pillows, heavy drapes to stop the hot sun of Cairo from heating up the room and more. Ororo walks into the bathroom and has stars in her eyes, seeing the marble floor, the large bathtub, sinks and a shower.
"Is there anything else, sir?"
"Yes. We haven't eaten anything yet, so I'd like to make a reservation." T'Challa says.
"Certainly, sir. For lunch?"
T'Challa looks at Ororo, who has just discovered the balcony and seems lost. He shakes his head.
"No. Make that a dinner reservation. For two people on the terrace, if you would."
"Naturally. At what time would you like to eat?"
"Not too late, on our first day. How about 7 PM?"
"Perfect. And if there is anything I can do for you, please call Nigel," the receptionist says after he opens the door to leave.
"Of course. Thank you."
T'Challa shakes his head in amusement and joins Ororo, taking her into his arms. She purrs like a cat as he does so.
"He has some ulterior motive for being so nice to us. His smile was fake," she says.
"Haha, I know. They live off of tips here, and after I established being rich, he saw an opportunity to get some of those much-desired tips from me. Which is why he's so nice."
"Is that usual here? To lie and pretend to get what you want?" Ororo asks.
"Yes, very much so. And the sooner you get used to it, the better. For those who have something, others who want it will always try to take it from them."
"You mean your money and station and the like. As you told me before, there might be sycophants approaching you and trying to get some of that royalty for themselves." Ororo says.
"Yes. And with you, that would be even more dangerous. So, how do you like it? Too much?"
"It's overwhelming for me, but I can't say I don't like it. I do miss our little hut, though." Ororo says.
"True, it was rather cosy and silent. But we couldn't hide forever, I'm afraid. If we don't prepare, the world will overwhelm us. And an official education will be of benefit, for both of us."
"I know. So, how about a bath? Do you want to try out that large bathtub with me?" Ororo smiles and walks into the bathroom.
"Kill me, if I ever say no to that."
.
The evening had arrived in Cairo, and a big family was coming together at a large table on the terrace of the most exclusive restaurant. The head of the family, Winston, sat on one end of the table, and the mother, Hazel, on the other end. Together they had four children, one son, the second eldest child and three daughters.
"So..." Hazel starts.
"No, Friday won't work. I'm on holiday for the week with my family. Yes, I told you about it." Their eldest daughter was on the phone as she usually was.
"...how was everyone's first day on holiday? Cairo is such a beautiful city, I almost forgot the time." Hazel says.
"I can't say that I like it. Far too hot for my tastes. And added to that, your son nearly revealed one of our trade strategies to a major competitor, Hazel..." Winston looks as angry and stern as he always does.
"How many times do I have to apologise, Father?" Christian asks, annoyed for being called out yet again for the 20th time today.
"Until I get tired of hearing your apology, Christian," Winston says and has a look at the menu. "What's good here? I don't like spicy food."
"I give up. I won't even try to defend myself."
"There's nothing to defend, Christian. You're an idiot. You always were."
"Adrienne, would you please cut short your phone call? We're trying to have dinner, and it is rude towards the other guests," Hazel tells her oldest child.
"Let her make her call. What do we care about the others' opinions? They should be happy to have us here." Winston says.
"Sorry, Mother. That was a rep from another modelling agency back home in Massachusetts. Apparently, they are looking to turn me into he next Cindy Crawford or something. I'm humouring him, of course. But I intend to work with Daddy once I finish my master's." Adrienne says.
"Splendid, dear. And Emma...? How was your day? Did you get to have a look at the city with Cordelia and Bryce?" Hazel asks.
"It... it was great. I've come to enjoy the busy city and think that you will be successful in establishing a trade here, Daddy." Emma says.
"Bryce, fetch me one of those food runners, will you. I want to ask about the food here, it sounds atrocious." Winston says, ignoring what his daughter just said.
"I... I wanted to ask about something, Daddy. There's... there's this dance after the holidays in a few months, and I was wondering... if I could go. They would be really disappointed if I didn't go." Emma says.
"Well, Winston...? Can she go?" Hazel asks her husband.
"That, Hazel, is entirely up to Emma," Winston says.
"Really? Then-"
"You will have to get your grades up for that." Winston interrupts her.
"Grades... what would I have to achieve for it, Daddy?"
*Ring ring*
The phone rings, and Adrienne excuses herself to take it.
"I've got to take this. I bet it's another modelling agency. They have been calling me nonstop today for some reason." she says and stands up from the table.
"You would have to get at least Bs on your next report card to go to the dance. Your current grades are atrocious for a Frost." Winston says and starts to talk to the waiter.
Emma sits down again and looks at her plate. Deemed unfit in her father's eyes, Emma produced low-grade point averages and was a social outcast in her school. She hoped desperately to find some form of love in her father's eyes or words. She would have to study hard to get to that dance, even if she had just lied, and no one would care if she didn't arrive at the dance.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Adrienne returns to the table in a hurry and walks to Winston.
"What is it?!"
"What was that company you said that was giving you trouble, because it was seemingly a brilliant inventor or something, wasn't it?"
"Panther Enterprises. They appeared something over 6 or 7 years ago and have made large strides already. And now they are about as large as Frost International. Any chance at meeting the CEO, Carl Lucas, has failed, and I am starting to wonder how they're doing it." Winston says angrily.
"I think I have just found him," Adrienne says.
"Found who?"
"The CEO of Panther Enterprises, Carl Lucas," Adrienne says excitedly and points to a table on the other end of the terrace.
Winston looks to the other side and sees two young people. One is roughly as old as Christian or Adrienne, and the other is about as old as Emma. They were very young, but dressed in expensive clothes. The young man was dressed in a sharp black suit, adding to his incredible charm and attracting the attention of many young women. Adrienne and Emma also weren't exempt from that. The young woman sitting opposite him was also an extraordinary beauty, with white hair and a beautiful but simple dress.
"Those two? Don't be ridiculous, Adrienne and sit back down!" Winston says.
"I'm not kidding, Daddy. I heard it by chance when I was walking by. The waiter called him Mr. Lucas, and the girl said Carl to him. That has to be a sign." Adrienne says.
"Hmm... Bryce."
"Yes, Master Winston?" their family butler asks.
"Go and check that out. Find out whether that's truly the Carl Lucas of Panther Enterprises. And if he is, ask him to come to our table and have a talk with Winston Frost about a business deal." Winston commands, and Bryce walks off.
.
T'Challa and Ororo were having dinner together. Both of them had bought appropriate clothes for the occasion. It was the first time for Ororo to go on a shopping spree, and she loved it, causing them to spend almost the entire day doing nothing else. It took considerable effort for T'Challa and many promises to finally get her to return to the hotel and dress for dinner.
"How's the food, love?" T'Challa asks.
"It's good. But the portions are so... small. Why do they bring such large plates if they don't use all the space?" Ororo asks naively.
"Haha, I also wonder about that. For some reason, that's just custom. But don't worry, we'll get you full." T'Challa assures her.
"Haha, I'm glad. So, what is the plan now? And what's with your name? Carl Lucas... sounds important." Ororo says.
"It is important. I told you about the business I had created before leaving on my rite of passage."
"How old were you then?"
"13."
"And how big is it right now, Panther Enterprises?" Ororo asks.
"Well, not that big. I have been using some of our money to acquire as many useful firms as possible. I wanted to spread my reach as far as possible, without gathering too much attention. Right now, it's going rather well, and I have been creating some simple technology to give us enough revenue to use for more investments."
"You created a worldwide conglomerate at only 13 years of age?" Ororo laughs and shakes her head.
"Well-"
"Cough cough. Pardon me, sir. If I may have a moment of your time."
T'Challa and Ororo's talk is interrupted by the arrival of an elderly man. T'Challa noticed him arrive, but wasn't alerted by his presence. However, he doesn't like to be interrupted now that he is enjoying his time with Ororo.
"What can I help you with?" T'Challa asks.
"My master, Mister Frost, who sits at that table on the other end, has sent me to ask for a talk. He has been very eager to make your acquaintance, sir," the butler says.
"I apologise for your trouble, but I am uninterested in talking about business right now. Please send your master this message. Good night."