Chapter Four #2
Their food arrived at some point, and they continued to talk and eat as they had their meals.
He looked at her. “I will get the name change drawn up.”
“Don’t be too hasty. I am trying to think of a cool last name.”
He paused and then snorted. “Why didn’t insurance cover your house?”
She ticked things off on her fingers. “It wasn’t my house. It was a cousin’s house. They had insurance but had not listed me as a tenant, so I was unable to get renters’ insurance. They renovated the house and gave it to their kids, so I was out on my ass.”
“And into a shelter.”
“Yup. That’s where I met Arwell. She owned the shelter and said that if I ever needed anything again, I could call her, so when Likon did what he did, I called her before I factory-reset the phone. She told me where to go and met me there.”
He nodded. “A good friend.”
“One of the pale ones with jagged ears. I think she’s currently in some kind of courtship because she takes a lot longer to return calls.”
“Interesting supposition. You are correct, by the way. I have looked into everyone associated with you, and she is forming a connection with a pair of my people.”
“So, two dudes.”
He grinned. “Yes. Too much?”
“Yeah, not really my thing. I was raised to believe that one partner was sufficient, and that was that. Stuck in my ways, I guess.”
“Your parents are still alive?”
“Yes. And I have one sister and one brother. No one talks to me. I had to be all independent and not want to follow the pattern and get married right out of high school.” She shrugged. “The urge to travel and find a place to do my tech thing was a compulsion. Why did you travel here?”
He smiled. “Because all the non-official descendants of the emperor were being sent off to colony worlds, just to space us out and keep the bloodlines safe. Our lines are emergency reserve.”
“Oh, nice. Good to know you have a place somewhere.”
He nodded. “It is, and it isn’t. With the blood comes rank.”
“Ah. Nepotism hire.”
He snorted and covered his grin. “Just so. I have to be stronger, faster, and smarter, just to be good enough.”
Eudora blinked. “Just like a woman in business. Poor thing.”
He snorted, and his shoulders shook.
“Wait, so where does Den come into this?”
“Ah, he’s my youngest brother, and when he heard I was coming here, he volunteered to come along with me. Our mother was not thrilled, but his father understood.”
“How many other siblings do you have?”
“Three. Two more brothers and one sister, the jewel of the house.”
She looked at his expression and giggled. “But you are still prettier.”
He laughed. “I didn’t say it.”
They laughed and continued to chat until she saw chairs being placed on the tables. “Oh, shoot. We are keeping them.”
He sighed. “Ah, mood is broken.”
“Yup. I don’t interfere with another’s right to go home.”
The server flashed a surprised expression, and the bill came out. Sern paid it with a twenty-five percent tip. Sern took her hand, and they walked out of the restaurant and back to his car.
He drove her back to her apartment and squeezed her hand as he walked her to her door with the garment bag held over her arm. He smiled and said, “Oh, Likon has gotten new representation. I believe this will all be wrapped up shortly. Magnus is very reasonable.”
She blinked. “I know that name. He’s on some of the videos I have been sampling.”
“Ah, yes. I recall hearing about that.”
She paused. “There may be a conflict of interest. I work for Meksoren Media, a division of the Meksoren Group. Magnus is a member of Kern Meksoren’s pack.”
Sern paused. “I didn’t think of that. Huh.”
She looked at him. “You knew. Why isn’t it an issue?”
“Because Likon is undoing everything Nelson did. We are working together to fix this, and your funds should be released to you by the end of the week.”
She blinked. “That’s in two days.”
“Yes.”
She giggled and grinned. “But I still owe you six events.”
He nodded. “I am good, but I am not cheap.”
She laughed and squeezed his hand. “Noted. I don’t suppose you know any realtors. Or someone who can help me find a rental.”
“I thought you had this place until the end of next month.”
“I do. I could also ask for it to be longer, but I don’t want to impose on Arwell’s good graces. Someone else can use this space.”
“So, you are not attached to this space?”
“Nope.”
He grinned. “Good. See you tomorrow for dinner or paperwork.”
“Oh, surprise me.”
He laughed and waited until she was in her building behind the security doors, and then he returned to his car.
Eudora was still smiling when she reached her apartment and went inside. Another day gone, but she had gotten a lot done. The garment bag was hung on the inside of the closet door. Paranoia made her make sure the dress was hers and not Fen’s. When that was confirmed, she breathed easier.
In an unusual move, she got ready for bed and set her alarm on her slick new phone.
She thought of Sern and smiled again. He was giving her a gift she hadn’t anticipated. He was giving her herself back.
The next morning, she sat at her desk, gnawing on a bagel and sipping some coffee. The exercise videos were ready, and so was Eudora. Headphones went on, and the world went away. This was her favourite thing.
The smell of a burger caught her attention, and she turned her head to see Den grinning with a paper bag bearing a familiar logo and a set of drinks.
“Lunch, Eudora. Come on.”
She blinked blearily at him. “Lunch?”
He gently took her headphones off and set them on the desk, then saved and locked her computer terminal.
“Sern has entrusted me with making sure you eat. He knows you want to finish this project, and to do that, you need fuel. Come on.”
She stood up and blinked, scrubbing her hands over her face. “You are not the boss of me.”
He chuckled and escorted her to the break room. “No, but my brother is interested in running for the position.”
Eudora snapped to attention. “What?”
“Don’t worry. He’s not in a rush. He genuinely likes you.”
She blinked. “Oh.”
“Yeah, come on, eat and get back to the video. The bit I saw over your shoulder looked like a lot of fun. Where did you get the idea?”
“I saw a woman reaching into a car and grabbing a bag of groceries and then reaching back for a toddler. She stood, straightened her back, and that is the same move I do before I powerlift. That got a ripple going in my brain.”
She snorted and took the food he offered.
She ate, focusing on not cramming food into her face. A steady, measured pace.
“So, when do you head to the gym next?”
“Friday night, if I get everything done early, and I think I might. I got nearly a minute done today.”
“Who is the runner?”
“Serena. She’s done footage for commercials before and has her own equipment. Also, she likes running. How was lunch with Fen?”
“Informative. I grilled her for information on you.”
She paused. “I had not considered that a possibility.”
“She is lovely, but not for me. I am betting that if I stay near you, my mate will appear.”
“So, you are looking for a certain something?”
“Yes. I think you have already heard this phrase from Sern. You glow to his senses. When you are near, you are all he focuses on.”
“That isn’t intimidating at all.”
He grinned. “Many would be flattered.”
“I have never wanted to be one of many.”
Den looked at her. “Right. Well, Sern is fixed on you. That’s for sure, which will make you my sister. I am very happy about that.”
“So, what are my options with him?”
“Well, if you aren’t interested, he will know, and he will just circle back in a year, and then a year after that. Wearing you down is in his patience capacity.”
She sipped the drink he bought her. “That sounds inevitable.”
“Do you like him?”
She coughed and spluttered. “Maybe. He’s very kind and funny and interested in my work.”
“He genuinely is. He’s also interested in anything that gets you to light up.”
Eudora blushed. “Ah. Well.” She paused. “Nope. I’ve got nothing.”
He laughed.
She paused and asked a question. “Do you know what a Wednesday present is?”
“Sure. It’s a present that one partner gives another to show that they are remembered and appreciated.
My dad and mom used to give them all the time.
It was a surprisingly loving household. The emperor picked a good husband for her, and I am the grateful result of my dad being assigned to her.
Well, me and my siblings, but I don’t know their status. ”
“That must be horrible. My family doesn’t like me, but I know where they are.”
“I can’t believe anyone doesn’t like you. You are so sweet.”
She giggled and then started laughing out loud. “I can play a role. I am a bit scrappier than my meek appearance will lead you to believe.”
“I know. I can see the strength. It isn’t just physical. You went through three years of neglect and emotional abuse, and yet everyone refers to you as sweet and gracious. That takes effort.”
“It really does. Are you going to the charity auction on Sunday?”
“Nope. Not my speed. Speaking of speed, can you introduce me to the runner?”
She stared. “You are joking.”
“No. I know my mate needs to be physically strong. My mother kicked ass, and anything less just feels like getting a pet.”
“Serena has four foster kids.”
Den paused. “Ah. That’s a lot.”
“It is. Ages nine to seventeen. The running and workouts are her quiet time, but all the kids use the home gym and local running tracks.”
Den smiled. “Where would these local tracks be?”
“On their property. If you want to meet Serena, give me a few days, and you can meet her for lunch. Her evenings are taken up with kids most of the time.”
“Ah. Got it.”
She looked at him. “If you want to be matched up with someone, I do know someone who is more suited to you. No guessing based on physique.”
Den blinked. “You do? Can I meet her? It is a her, right?”