Sarah, Robin’s grandmother, looked between Jack and Robin, then up at her husband and said, "I think you’re right, Ron." Then she tilted her head towards Jack and said, "I think that’s the boy Robin’s been talking about."
"Jack Waldron, pleased to meet you, Mr. Ashford," said Jack as he stuck out his hand to Robin’s grandfather.
"Just call me Ron. No need for formalities," said the older man as he shook Jack’s hand with a firm but not domineering grip.
Then Robin’s grandmother stood and stuck out her hand as she said, "Just call me Sarah."
He shook her hand, then sat, while indicating the one empty chair. "Please, have a seat."
Once Ron sat, Jack said, "I’m sure you want to know why you are here and how you got here. But to answer those questions, I’ll need to give you a little background."
They both gave him expectant looks.
He started by telling them about receiving Genesis Heart and what he could do with it. But when he got to the part where he had used it to win the lottery, Robin interrupted.
"What?! Are you telling me it was you that won the one point five billion credit jackpot!" exclaimed Robin.
"Yep. Though I took the lump sum payment of six hundred and fifty million credits instead of the annuity. Good thing, too, because my money manager has already doubled my money."
Ron was looking at Jack appraisingly, and Robin was staring at him, mouth agape, but Sarah was giving Jack a look that he had trouble interpreting, though it seemed like she wanted something from him.
"Then what are you doing in college?" asked Robin.
"Is your money manager exclusive?" asked Sarah.
"Let the boy finish, Sarah," said Ron. "I suspect your concerns are about to become moot."
Turing to Robin, Jack asked, "Would you give up your robot dreams if you had a billion credits?"
"No! Why would I?" she said.
"Would you sit back on your ass and pay people to design and build what you want instead of doing it yourself?"
"No. I would want to be involved."
"And do you know enough right now to create what you want?"
"No, of course not. That’s why I’m going to college."
He just stared at her, wondering if she would put two and two together. And her grandparents shared a knowing look as they watched.
After a few moments of silence, she started looking uncomfortable, then she said, "What? Don’t you have more questions?"
"If you would not give up college even if you won a billion credits, then..." he said, trying to lead her to the right conclusion.
He sensed her embarrassment over their connection before he saw it on her face.
"Oh. Right. I spoke without thinking. Of course you want to continue going to college. You have all those plans."
"It’s not like I need to go to college to get an education. I could just copy anyone I need and turn them into my private tutor. But I want a normal’ish life. At least for a few years. And I think having an official degree, or three, will be beneficial."
"I guess that makes sense."
"So, as I was saying.." he said, and resumed describing what had happened, including the events that led to him offering an afterlife of sorts to his girls’ loved ones.
"So, you’re saying you’d trot us out on her birthdays or special occasions but otherwise we’d sit on a shelf collecting dust?" asked her grandfather.
"At least until I can increase my soul strength. But, honestly, at the rate things are advancing, it’s likely we’ll have some serious life extension treatments available in a few years."
"Ooh, that would be nice," said Sarah while looking at her husband.
"But what would you do with us after we die?" asked Ron.
"The only reason we are even having this conversation is because you are Robin’s grandparents. And after you die, how much time you spend ’off the shelf’ will largely depend on her. Unless you make yourself useful to me beforehand."
"Ron, even his worst-case scenario is better than oblivion," said Sarah.
"True," he sighed. "I just hate the idea of being ’off’ while time passes me by." The rightful source is novel⸺fire.net
Then Ron turned to Jack. "You’re going to need personal protection for yourself and your girls at some point. And for your corporate executives. I can help train the people on those protection details. Heck, I can even help you find good people to hire."
"Have you heard of Castle Group?"
"Yes, I have. They send some of their people through my academy."
"Well, I hired Castle Group. So technically, you’re already doing what you offered. Though I wouldn’t mind recommendations. We are in the process of building out my girls’ protection teams and need young, attractive women for the close protection roles."
"Why attractive?" asked Robin.
He wasn’t sensing any jealousy from her over their connection, so he assumed she was either asking out of curiosity, or maybe out of habit from a prior thought process.
"Because it would look weird for older women to be constantly hanging out with eighteen-year-old girls," said Ron. "Close protection is a very intimate role and there needs to be good vibes between the protector and protected."
"Amanda, the woman that will be leading all my personal protection teams, recommended that I add at least one woman from each of my girls’ teams to my outer circle."
"Outer circle?" asked Sarah.
He explained the distinction between inner circle and outer circle to them.
"If I wasn’t married to Ron, I’d try to get in on that," said Sarah.
"Grandmother!" exclaimed Robin in shock.
"What?" said Sarah. "He’s a handsome man, and the way you keep looking at him, I’m guessing he’s packing some serious heat."
Robin looked between her grandmother and Jack in mild horror.
"Oh, stop messing with the girl, Sarah," said Ron. "I think you’re melting her brain."
Just as Robin relaxed and Jack sensed relief flood through her, her grandmother said, "Oh, alright. I’m probably too old for him anyway. But if I were a few years younger...hmmm."