Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Two For One Special Part 1
Having settled things with Terra, Arias and Slade returned to Gotham City with her, ready to set the plans of a country take over into motion.
Slade had assumed Arias only wanted to treat Terra kindly and have her fall for him the same way she had grown infatuated with Slade just for saving her.
But Arias planned to go a step further.
Upon arriving at the Markovic Residential Tower, everything seemed normal to both Slade and Terra.
Slade's island was quite lavish so the luxuriousness of Arias's place didn't attract her attention all that much.
She looked more excited to be in a city, but at the same time anxious because of her memory loss.
Once the trio entered the lobby though, they found two women in formal attire waiting near the reception area.
Slade didn't know who they were so he just cast a curious glance at Arias, but couldn't read through what he was planning.
Upon approaching the two women, Arias showed a charming smile and exchanged handshakes as they gave their greetings.
"I hope we didn't keep you ladies waiting." Arias charmingly spoke, causing the women to show smiles while shaking their heads. "Not at all Mr. Markovic, we understand you're a busy man."
After the brief exchange, the two women looked at Terra and spoke. "So this must be Terra, what a sweet looking thing. You're one lucky child." They complimented, bringing confusion to both Slade and Terra.
"Uh thanks?" She awkwardly replied while looking at Slade as if asking what was going on.
Slade just shrugged his shoulders slightly while looking at Arias trying to understand the situation.
Before either of the two could even pose a question, one of the ladies passed Arias a folder with documents before saying. "Everything was processed without a problem, her identity card and passport will be sent over tomorrow. But here's a print copy and all other necessary documents finalizing everything."
Some understanding finally flashed across the eyes of Terra as she understood that Arias was giving her an identity.
Her expression looked less anxious and Slade also thought he was overthinking, until Arias passed over the print copy of her ID, which read, "Terra Markovic."
Surprise flashed across both the faces of Slade and Terra. Terra's surprise came understandably while Slade's came from the fact that he understood what Arias was thinking.
Once the time came to reveal her true identity, he would technically be her father and would have likely established some sort of bond or control over her.
At that time, he would have the perfect piece to control that nation in his stead.
To think he was willingly to go this far and use this girl to such a degree, even Slade who had plans to turn her into a killer felt humbled by this level of psychological play and deep forward planning.
It was just far too well thought out. Slade now wandered if the entire meeting with the Bedlam Syndicate was within's Arias's plans.
"What do you think?" Arias asked Terra in a charming tone while gazing into her eyes.
She could barely meet his gaze, not because of shyness as she was a very upfront girl, but because of the intensity in his eyes.
He was a domineering figure who despite looking kind and charming, looked scary and capable of a lot.
The fact Slade worked for him was enough to tell her he wasn't simple at all.
She didn't immediately answer and looked at Slade as if asking him what she should say.
Slade looked at her with a frown and scolded. "Well don't look at me, thank him properly. He's basically given you an entirely new life after saving you from your first one. You also don't have to play babysitter anymore but the money was worth it."
Like that one wingman, Slade understood the assignment and played his role well. For Terra to fully fall into Arias's grasps, he needed her to know that everything he did was just for money and that Arias is the real figure behind everything good in her life.
It may pain her to know that the person she admired most didn't care for her and even saw her as a burden, but she would heal with time.
Terra looked visibly hurt by what Slade said but she tried her best not to let it show. The two women present just kept smiling awkwardly through the entire thing.
She soon turned to Arias and gave her thanks. "Thanks, uh, uhm… Mr..well, Dad." She said in a very awkward tone.
But at the same time, it did bring her a slight feeling of happiness deep down to finally have a family.
She didn't realize just how big of a figure Arias was and what it meant to be his daughter, even if adopted.
Making sure she was adopted was very easy given the amount of connections he held within Gotham, or rather the amount of people he had under him.
Arias nodded at her and said nothing, he didn't want to oversell his position of wanting her as a daughter, after all it would show that he had ulterior motives down the line.
The true test of Arias's planning would be how he planned to play the role of an adoptive father to such an extent that few could suspect that he had ulterior motives.
This meant Terra would be a long term project who needed at the very least a year under Arias.
"Thanks for everything, I'll ensure your firm is compensated accordingly." Arias said to the women who left with bright smiles on their faces.
He then turned his attention to Terra and gave her a slight nod. "Well Slade and me have some other things to attend to but lemme first show you to your room and introduce you to the two other residents living here.
"Only two other people live here?" She asked, a bit perplexed that a building that large only housed two people. She had even thought that it was a hotel at first glance.
"Well yes, this entire building is my house and I'm even getting many floors renovated accordingly. I'll properly show you around the city tomorrow when I take time off work."
Terra was amazed by what she was hearing. She couldn't help but lower her head and ask. "Why are you doing all this for me?"
Having seen a world where no actions were done out of good faith, Terra was skeptical over everything.
"You remind me a bit of myself but the real reason is, I see potential in you. As for what that is, I'll leave that for you to figure out." Arias was vague enough to not have her doubt his words whilst saying enough for her to be content.
She would have been far more suspicious if he said it was out of sheer good will.
"Right…, well. Thanks again, for everything, I mean it. I'll do my best at being your daughter… I mean well, I dunno how put it."
Arias could see she was struggling to settle into the role so he decided to help her relax a bit by cracking a smirk and replying, "Don't worry, it's my first time being a father too so I get what you mean, we'll just figure things out as we go. Okay?"
She smiled back, feeling less pressure and nodded.
"Okay, Dad."
A/N: Here's another chapter. Where are the damn stones? I know someone among you is being stingy, I just know it. Anyway you know the drill, steal and bring stones for that extra chapter. Find out why it's called two for one… Heh
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