A morning of complicated feelings

Oh god, what had I done? Gloria was hot, but I didn't care about what would come after. Would she question why she was suddenly acting this way? Would she be scared about being pregnant? I was afraid what would happen when she would wake up.

As usual, I decided to do the only thing that I do when anxious. Get even more anxious by looking at my phone. It was 6:55AM, ew. Five minutes before my alarm. I had to wake up so early again to prepare breakfast. I was essentially living alone again. Except that I had two guests. This might actually be the first and last time I'd have two women sleep a night here without either of them being at +100SP.

In any case, I opened the company email. Since yesterday, I had only gotten one email. It was from... [email protected]. The email read: 'Dear Mr. Goodman, the Acting Mayor of Trinton City, Marsha Donalds, invites you to a dinner in the Mayor's mansion on the 23rd of December, at 6PM. She wishes to speak to you about your company and the upcoming mayoral elections. Best regards, Mayor's Office Spokesperson Nick Clark.' Short and sweet, I guess. But it means I had a dinner invitation for tonight too.

This led me to quickly check my father's many budgets. I'm sure Acting Mayor Donalds was merely asking for funds for future elections here. It didn't take too long, but I found the records. My father spent some money on every mayoral and council election and saved up money accordingly. For the council elections, the funds always went to the LPP, but for the mayoral elections always to the SGP. So for her this is a chance to get more funds, I assume. Lost in thoughts, I panicked as my phone began to ring the alarm, causing Gloria to wake up.

"Sorry, you can rest a bit longer, my alarm is just early to make breakfast."

"No it's fine, I'll just get ready now."

"H-Hey, how did you like what we did last night?"

"Honestly it was really cool. It was charming seeing you like my body this much, it's weird, but it feels like a compliment. Oh by the way, sex robots can't get pregnant, right?"

"I'd be surprised if they could." Yeah, let's keep it at that. Seems like she doesn't question it much. "Would you like to this again? Both the stripping stuff and the sex robot stuff? Maybe even as Gloria?"

"Honestly, yes. But be careful with me, I don't want to get pregnant."

"I'll stick with your ass, no worries."

"Haha, great. You know I'm feeling really great today, just like yesterday evening. Life can be fun sometimes. Oh, speaking of which... Do you have some water?" I gave her a bottle. "Ah, crap. I forgot to buy new ones." She held up empty packaging of medicine, I'm assuming from her antidepressants.

Oh shit, will I find out so soon whether my plan succeeded? "Should we make a stop by a pharmacy before work?"

"No it's fine, I'll buy some after work. I'll just buy them at the airport."

"Going away for Christmas?"

"Yeah, family. We'll see each other next week, no worries."

"I'm glad. Take a shower, get dressed, do whatever you do. I'll make breakfast for us three."

I opened my bedroom door and found the pile of clothes we wore yesterday in front of my door. I think we just started having sex in the living room yesterday and forgot about the rest of the world. Oops. This also meant that... Yep, Jane was already awake. She was watching the morning news.

"Don't you still need to rest?"

"No I'm fine. And I usually have to wake up at 6:30 anyway."

"And I thought I had it rough..."

"Haha, trust me James, those of us who are always needed have the worst schedules. Crime can always happen, so can fires and heath issues."

"You're right, yeah. Sorry."

"It's... fine. In a way, you're not supposed to think of us all the time. We're needed to make society function. You only really talk about police, fire fighters, or health care when it's broken. Just like dams and tornado warnings. People don't like to think about the weak spots of their lives."

"Well, I'm glad you do. You seem to be skilled and have good intentions."

"Sigh... it's becoming rarer by the day. James, I'll try going back to my workplace today, okay? Could I have your keys please, just in case?"

"I wish you the best, I hope your colleagues will be happy." I handed her mom's keys that she left behind.

"I'm not worried about my colleagues, I'm worried about the new mayor. I have no idea about her."

"I'll put in a good word for you with her."

"Are you meeting her?"

"She invited me. I assume for the election campaign."

"Oh, that's early."

"Well whatever floats her boat I guess. Breakfast's finished. Want some?"

"If you don't mind..."

Gloria got out of the bathroom, fully dressed and dried up. Damn, she was quick. We all ate a rather quiet breakfast together, before going to the train station. Jane left a station before us, it seems like the Police Department wasn't too far from work. On the train, I looked up some of the parties' past record and election promises. I wanted to make an informed decision later today, so I just scrolled through a mix of Wikipedia, Ballotpedia, and local party websites. From a business standpoint, the LPP didn't seem that bad, though the SGP seemed better than one would expect, too. The LPP was always a minor party, so this is the first time they could have a shot at winning a mayoral election.

On my way to work, I was yet again ambushed by Megan. I let Gloria go ahead.

"Hello Mr. Goodman. My question... remains the same."

"Question?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Mr. Goodman. The topic of your next article."

"I'm not budging, Ms. Dapy."

"Well that's what you say now, but... What about your father and brother's fate? Do you not care about the verdict? Do you want to know it before it's public?"

"Not really, it's not that useful. And if it's not public yet, it's not final anyway."

"Hrnggh..."

"Ms. Dapy, I understand your frustration, but please, I have only just finished my research. There's still plenty to work on with the article. I can't give you any hints when I might need to change my article so drastically in the future."

"You know what, let's play that stupid game of yours... Am I wearing it right now?"

"Ms. Dapy, it's winter. You are wearing almost every piece of clothing I could write an article about."

"Come on, Mr. Goodman, please... I did so well with that thing you wanted me to write, don't I deserve a reward?"

"Don't you think the press coverage is a reward? The praise you get for your journalism? The amount of people reading your article? Andersen's resignation?"

"S-Sorry, you're right..."

"Can I ask... Why do you care so much about my articles? I know they're popular, but you're an investigative reporter, you're not interviewing stars, if I can even count myself as one."

"YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD, YOU DESERVE IT. Your articles have been read millions of times! I've been in so many shoe boutiques recently and people see them differently, because of you! You're making a real impact and your writing is just so brilliant and..." She was red as a tomato.

"I have work to do, Ms. Dapy. We can talk after Christmas again, maybe I'll have something more to share, okay?"

"Wonderful, I can't wait. Saturday?"

"Yes that works for me."

Was she... fangirling? I was surprised she let me proofread her article when it was so time sensitive, but I guess it makes sense now if she likes me that much as a journalist. The question is just... can she keep her mouth shut if she finds stuff? And is she just admiring my skill or is she genuinely a 'fan', if you will? What are our bizarre interviews for her? A way to meet her favorite star or a genuine attempt to write a new article? I wasn't sure yet...

But it seems like my fame was increasing. People in the elevator and in the halls looked at me weird. Not judging, but more so questioning, as if not quite sure if it was really me. It was kind of annoying, in all honesty. I wasn't used to all the attention, positive or negative.

I entered the office, Donna was currently hanging up Christmas decorations. "You know Donna, there won't be a lot of people here tomorrow, you sure you want to hang this up?"

"Oh, don't be a buzzkill. We should all be a little bit more cheerful, even if we're few. Besides, it gives me a good opportunity..." I hadn't consciously realized that the ladder she stood on made her ass be on my eye height. She simply bowed down a little bit, pretending to do something. "Take a good look, maybe even a good grab." My hand was moving towards her ass, when I heard someone coughing, in that fake way to get attention. Floria.

James: "Oh hello Floria, sorry. Didn't know you were here."

Floria: "Whatever. Merry Christmas you two lovebirds. It's my last day in the office this year, so I wanted to say it now. Where's Christine by the way?"

Donna: "Don't know, she must be late..." As if on time, Christine entered.

Christine: "Sorry, my train was late. Hi James." She gave me a kiss. "Hi Floria, hi Donna" She gave each a hug. Floria was still a bit taken aback by everything.

Floria: "I-In any case, I baked some cookies with the church youth club. I brought one for everyone in the office. Well, besides Beth, they'd have gotten stale by the time she'll come back. Can anyone take Amber's cookies?"

James: "Sure, I can."

Christine: "Uhm, James, could I?"

James: "Sure, if it's not a hassle for you. She moved on Monday by the way."

Christine: "I want to tell her what I... nearly did to you. I wanted to tell her in person, but I never had the chance to on Friday. Where did she move to?"

James: "She lives with my neighbor now, they're a couple."

Floria: "Klara's a lesbian? Never would have guessed."

James: "Haha, she didn't either. Took her a while but seeing me and Amber, she went after Amber."

Donna: "And you let her?"

James: "Hey, I've tried to date Klara too, before she came out to me. I can't deny her charms, why should I keep Amber all to myself?"

Donna: "Have you asked them yet to watch them when they-"

Floria: "Hey, why would they let him? Don't you talk about Klara and Amber like that. And James, if you do anything to Klara, I'll kill you, commandments be damned. That girl deserves to be happy with Amber. I hope she knows what Amber and you are."

James: "I'm pretty sure Amber told her already, it would be hard to miss anyway. And don't worry, I wouldn't dare lay a finger on her. Her milk is the best in the city. And she means a lot to Amber and you. And to me as well. Even though she found out she was a lesbian through trying to date me, we're still good friends. If you want to visit them some time after Christmas, just write Amber, I'm sure they'll be happy."

Floria: "I don't know, I never knew Klara well until..." Floria started to tear up and Christine hugged her.

Christine: "It's okay Floria, it's all over now."

Donna: "Hm? What's over?"

James: "I don't think Floria wants to talk about this right now. Let's move on with the conversation." Floria +5SP (+37SP)

Christine: "Wait, will we take the same train home today then?"

James: "No, I was invited for dinner by the mayor and I need to buy a Christmas present."

Donna: "For whom? Isn't your mom gone?"

James: "You don't know her yet, but Em."

Christine: "Covering for her again?"

James: "Yeah... She was asking after last time."

Donna: "Well, I'm done and you all have your secrets anyway. I hate to stop these important conversations and it's nearly Christmas, but... we are at work. If you could..."

All three: "Sorry Donna."