Chapter 26 Fireworks and ghosts
Chapter 26: Fireworks and Ghosts
Golden hadn’t expected returning to the Nixon Estate to feel… comforting.
The moment the car rolled through the gate, Alex sighed theatrically and stretched her arms.
“Ahhh yes. Fresh billionaire air. Smells like premium oxygen.”
Golden snorted. “You’re insane.”
“And you are correct.”
The garage had more cars than usual. It seemed like they had a few guests over.
It had been a long time the estate had this much activity. It seemed like Varney had invited a few people over to check out the game.
“Is it just me, or are there more cars than usual today? Alex asked as she drove to the front of the house.
“I was just thinking the same thing too. Look, there is even a Valet parking up front.” Golden pointed.
“Well your brother does like to throw money around. This is super fancy” Alex smirked as she alighted and handed her keys over to the Valet.
“Hey, that's not true.” Golden said taking Alex's hand as she began noticing there were more people around.
“The guy offered me a billion dollars to be your friend” Alex retorted. Taking Golden's hand that was beginning to shake she said.
“Relax, Gigi. Let's just go and freshen up. It looks like the party is out back.
“Okay let's go”.
The party was held out back in the game lounge. There were about 15 people in attendance.
These people were Varney's business associates and they had come over to try out the new game the company was about to launch.
Inside the gaming lounge, the lights dimmed automatically as the motion sensors detected Golden and Alex.
The enormous LED screens lit up with the title of Varney Entertainment’s newest VR release:
SHADOW VAULT: ZERO HOUR
A deep robotic voice echoed:
WELCOME, PLAYERS. PREPARE FOR IMMERSION.
Alex’s eyes widened. “This is sick.”
Golden grinned. “Wait till you play it.”
They put on the VR bands, and immediately the virtual world swallowed them with neon colors, levitating platforms, and gravity-defying combat sequences.
Golden had never moved like that in her life, dodging, sliding, teleporting.
Alex was a natural, obviously.
In the middle of a run where she almost fell off a holographic cliff, Golden burst out laughing.
For the first time in days, she felt happy.
She glanced at Alex, all energetic and brilliant, then at Varney’s photo that sat on the console desk.
They were the two most important people in her life. Then a crazy thought flashed through her mind.
‘Alex and Varney together’
No! Abort mission! Then she heard Alex scream at her.
“Hey get your head in the game Gigi, I almost died out there.”
She laughed and dismissed the stray thought.
Varney was older, a workaholic genius.
Alex was chaos on two legs.
They’d either explode or burn down the planet.
Golden shook the thought away and focused on the game.
After two hours of screaming, laughing, and nearly breaking expensive VR controllers, they left the Estate for the Chinese New Year Festival.
Chinatown: The Chen's Residence...
Golden had visited Alex's home a couple of times. They had even spent the weekend together a few times Varney was out of town for business. But something was different today.
Chinatown was in full festive mode, bursting with red lanterns, dragon dancers, firecrackers, and the smell of fresh dumplings.
Alex dragged Golden through the crowd as she headed to her house at the other end of the town.
“Come come come, my grandma will LOVE you.”
“Is that supposed to comfort me?” Golden muttered.
“Absolutely not.” she said giggling.
They got to the house and Alex dragged Golden all the way to the backyard where she knew her grandma would be.
Alex’s grandmother was a tiny, fierce-looking woman with silver hair in a long braid. Her cousin Lou stood beside her, a shy, tall boy who kept pushing his glasses up even when they hadn’t slipped.
“Nana, Lou, meet my absolutely best friend Golden Nixon.
Gigi, my Nana and cousin Lou.” Alex called out a brief introduction.
“Hello Grandma Chen. Hello Lou, it's nice to meet you. My name is Golden, but you can call me Gigi.” Golden called out a greeting, a little nervous because of the stern look on Grandma Chen's face.
Grandma Chen stared at Golden for a while, her face contouring and pulling a frown as she checked Golden out.
Golden was begining to break out into cold sweat. She hoped Grandma Chen would approve of her.
And somehow her best friend who was supposed to help her out seemed distracted with something on her phone.
“Okay Nana. You are about to give my friend a heart attack” Alex said rolling her eyes.
Almost immediately, Grandma Chen bursted into a soft laugh. “This one is a softie” she said as she wiped out the tears that had slipped from her eyes.
Golden didn't understand what just happened until Grandma Chen pulled her into a hug.
“Nice to meet you Golden, and please call me Nana” she said patting her back.
“come let's go inside, I made dumplings” Nana dragged Golden by the hand into the house.
“Lou quit standing like a lamppost. At this rate, you will never get a girlfriend.” Nana shouted at her grandson who was still standing in the yard and starring shyly at Golden.
“Child, do you have a boyfriend? What do you think of my good grandson?” Nana asked Golden as she shoved her into a seat and began setting the table.
Alex fell off her seat laughing as she heard her Nana. “A little heads-up will be nice Nana next time you want to drop a bomb!”
“Mum you are not trying to matchmake Lou again are you?” Alex's father said as he stepped into the kitchen.
“Hello Golden, it's good to see you. Are you joining us for the festival?”
“Hello Professor Chen. Alex invited me to spend the weekend. Hope you don't mind one more mouth.” Golden said with a warm smile.
“Of course not. You are welcomed to stay for as long as you want.”
“You didn't answer my question. Do you have a boyfriend Gigi?” Nana asked with a smile. She was determined to get a response.
“Mum! Don't scare our guest.” Prof Chen quickly came to Golden's rescue.
“Ignore my mother Golden” he said as he picked up a plate of dumplings and disappeared into the house.
Golden didn't know what to make of the whole situation. She was begining to understand where Alex got her energy and vibe from.
A certain warmth passed through her body as she watched the Chens' interact.