After saying her goodbyes to Ester and giving Lila a perfunctory nod; Amanda leaves the Carpenter house and heads home in her Tesla. Seeing Spencer driving her brown bronco truck with Eric and Frieda inside and following behind; it wasn’t long for Amanda to arrive at the estate minutes ahead of Spencer. Amanda’s car clearly faster and capable in handling tight turns and far more maneuverable; parking her car next to Benton’s red Lamborghini Veneno. Her Tesla; an electric powered sports car with a navy blue paint job, standing in stark contrast to Benton’s gas guzzling status symbol.
Inside, Amanda was greeted by their new butler; a were-tiger named George, with a British accent. Informing him that Frieda will soon be home along with her friends; Eric and Spencer. Amanda heads to Benton’s study; opening the door to see the room empty; Amanda was surprised to see the room empty for a change. Closing the door, Amanda heads to the kitchen to see Ethel preparing dinner. She and her husband James’s their chauffeur were the only original staff members left. Benton’s rage in knocking out their old butler Jeffrey prompted the entire staff to quit in protest. Amanda was only able to convince Ethel and James to return.
“Ethel,” Amanda grabbing an orange from the table; “where is Benton?”
“From what the maids said earlier,” Ethel stirring something on the stove top; “he is passed out on the sofa in the living room.”
“Okay,” Amanda responding as she peels her orange; “Frieda will be here as well as her friends. George already knows.”
“I’ll have some snacks laid out for them,” Ethel commenting as Amanda leaves; seeing no one there the cook goes back to preparing dinner.
Entering the living room, Amanda sighs as the large wall mounted flat screen is tuned to a news channel displaying the latest stock market results in a scrolling marque at the bottom of the screen. Turning the tv off; Amanda see her husband in his were-panther fursona sprawled out on the coach sleeping soundly. Benton’s clothes strewn about the place; Amanda assumed that her husband gave strict orders not to be disturbed.
“Those were-cheetah maids,” Amanda shaking her head; “I’ll have to talk to those two later.”
Amanda removing her clothes and placing them neatly on a table; she quickly assumes her were-panthress fursona. Purring as she enjoys the shifting into her furry self; Amanda quickly climbs on top of her husband. Squeezing the orange in her paw, letting the juices drip on Benton’s muzzle; she soon licks Benton, causing him to wake up.
“So how was the baby shower,” Benton seeing it was Amanda waking him up.
“It was fine,” Amanda sighing; “I didn’t know anyone there. All the people present were Lila’s friends and former co-workers.”
“You didn’t try to pick a fight now did you,” Benton looking at his wife as she eats and orange wedge.
“No,” Amanda looking at her husband; “I kept to myself. Like I said, I didn’t know anyone there apart from Ester and Lila,” Amanda sighing; “Frieda will be home in a few minutes.”
“So no time for a bit of fun then,” Benton looking at Amanda longingly.
“Maybe later tonight,” Amanda licking her husband’s muzzle; “right now we got to get ready for diner.”
“That’s not for a few hours,” Benton grinning; wrapping his paws around Amanda; “lets both you and I snuggle upstairs for an hour of two.”
“Well your certainly in the mood,” Amanda looking bemused; “I hope you had a long enough of a nap, because Eric and Spencer are pulling up right about now with Frieda.”
******
The big story for the day at the Gazette was Samantha’s press conference. The mayor pro-tem announcing her run as mayor for the next election put the entire paper in overdrive. For Lance Knight, Editor and chief of Moon Lake Gazette as well as owner of Knight Media; his responsibility was to remain impartial. Having to tell Samantha that he cannot actively take any side during the upcoming election; he was however able to provide moral support and a promise to talk to his older Brother Benton.
Lance knew Benton had no love for Jack Crawford. A were-panther that has been scheming to oust Benton from Knight Industries since last December; only getting so far as to become a minority board member, that Benton has managed to bar from any Knight Industries building; despite the man’s stock. With knowledge that Jack Crawford’s wife will also be running for mayor and that Arnold Steward Stevenson is her campaign manager; a were-donkey that Benton also loathes, Lance sighs if his older brother would be interested in getting involved.
Looking up Kenya Adaeze; Lance doesn’t find much in the way of a personal history, however he has recognized the face before on her social media page. Acting on a hunch he looks up past articles stemming from his Brother’s and Amanda’s social functions he comes across several pictures of Jack Crawford. Only it is labeled as Jack Ashford. While Lance finds that odd, seeing the woman next to him in the pictures, she is the spitting image of Kenya Adaeze; only listed as Kendra Smythe.
“Now why did you two attend my brother’s social functions last year,” Lance wondering; “while using assumed names?”
Lance knew his brother has better connections in ferreting out more information regarding his adversaries; Lance quickly puts what he found on a thumb drive. Looking at the time and seeing he needs to leave to pick up his wife from the baby shower; Lance shuts down his computer and secures his office. Leaving the bull pen and heading to the elevator; Lance wonders how his wife’s day went.