Jennifer couldn't believe her eyes. Coming towards her friend was a monster of a man dressed in a black trench coat and a pair of black sunglasses. Stopping right in front of her, he spoke loudly.
'Hey, you,' Jennifer shouted as he approached Green Girl. 'Leave her alone right now, or else!'
'It's okay, Jen,' Green Girl said quietly. 'This man knows my boyfriend, Ben.'
Jennifer couldn't believe what she heard. 'Ben, the guy who was undergoing the same experiments as you?'
Green Girl nodded as Powerhouse spoke. 'Ben is very much alive and would like to see you, Stacey.'
Jennifer piped up. 'Okay , best not to keep him waiting . I think that we should both go, don't you?'
Powerhouse gave Jennifer a dirty look. 'The boss only wants to see Green Girl, not you, miss, as you are nothing to him.'
Jennifer was going to say something to the giant, but Stacey butted in. 'She's my friend. Please let her come with me.'
Powerhouse relented. 'She can come, but you'll have to explain your actions to the boss, he isn't known for his patience.'
Climbing into his car, he instructed the two women to get in the back. He started the car and slowly began to drive past the estate and into the main city. During the journey, Stacey remembered how kind Ben had been when they first met and how encouraging he was when she told him she was thinking about going to college.
'That's in the past now,' she said to herself, as she saw the car approaching a three-storey building and slowing to a stop.
Powerhouse turned around. 'Here we are, girls,' he said in a gruff voice. 'The boss is in that building.'
He got out of the car and opened the back door for the girls. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Powerhouse told them to follow him. The front of the impressive building was made from solid green marble. Walking into the entrance lobby, it was ornately decorated, a marble staircase and water feature stood in the middle of the hall with statues of lions and horses flanking both sides.
Powerhouse moved past them. 'The boss is on the top floor, please follow me,' he said as he began to climb the stairs with the girls in tow..
Stacey thought she could hear Ben's voice echoing from the top room, it sounded to her as if he was on the phone. As they ascended towards the third floor, two armed guards in black body armour carrying small handguns waited at the top of the stairs to search them. Once the security check was complete, the men went back down to the main entrance. Stacey and Jennifer followed Powerhouse who turned a corner down the corridor until they reached a door at the far end. Stepping inside, they saw a young man sitting at a desk with his back to them. Standing next to him was a tall, slim man, with dark blue eyes, short blond hair, wearing a blue suit who appeared to be waiting for Ben to finish.
As they entered the room, Ben turned around. 'Stacey, is that you?' he asked beaming as he ran over to meet her.
Stacey looked at him admiringly. Ben was taller and looked much older than when they first met. Now, he had a short, blond beard and cropped, dirty blond hair.
'Look at you, Ben,' Stacey said as she threw her arms around him. 'It's so good to see you. How have you been?'
'Not bad, thanks,' he said, looking over his shoulder at the man who had been standing next to the desk. 'Frostbite, come over here and let me introduce you to my friend.' As the man walked slowly over to them, he left a trail of what looked like ice. 'Stacey, this is my business partner, Frostbite.' Frostbite gave her an icy look, as Ben turned towards him. 'Do you think you and Powerhouse could give me and our guests time on our own so I can fill them in on the details?' Frostbite headed towards the door and slowly walked out, followed by Powerhouse. Ben turned his attention back to the two women. '
Now, where were we?'