Chapter Five #3
She grinned. “I can appreciate that.”
He didn’t let go of her hand until they were seated. He smiled, and they quickly ordered the dim sum for lunch. She smiled when the bamboo steamers were brought to them, and the spring rolls arrived a few moments later.
Eudora filled a small dipping dish with chilli sauce and gestured to Sern. “You go first.”
He grinned, took the chopsticks, and began to load the small bowl that disappeared into his hand.
She followed suit and muttered, “I think we are going to need more dumplings.”
Madame Fen was an unmistakable figure, and she came to them with a grin. “Mr. Copperwell, how are you this fine Friday?”
He swallowed and nodded. “I am doing well, Madame Fen. How are you and your family?”
“Very well. May I introduce you to one of my granddaughters yet?”
“No. I have found my intended. We are just working on the courtship.”
Eudora paused, shrugged, and kept eating.
Madame Fen turned to look at her and blinked. “Mrs. Chyris?”
“Yes, Madame Fen. Though Likon and I are divorced now. I am getting ready for the name change back to Calloway.”
“What happened?”
“Nessa astride him in the living room.” She smiled and continued eating. “That was the final hint I needed. Even I could figure that one out.”
“So, you have attached to another alpha?”
“Well, the alpha kind of came with the lawyer. I needed the lawyer first; it is just encased in the alpha.” She smiled. “See you on Sunday?”
“You are still coming? Wonderful. You are so much fun at those events.”
“I am his plus one.” She smiled. “You will have to arm wrestle him for my attention.”
Madame Fen looked at him. “I could take him, as long as my sons could help.”
Sern smiled. “Maybe. Eudora could get me on my back without any trouble.”
Eudora paused with chipmunk cheeks and worked to swallow. “Nothing suggestive until we have the agreement filed.”
His eyes glowed happily. “So, legal evening it will be.”
She sighed. “Fine. Can we order pizza?”
He laughed. “We can. We are going to be having the meeting at Magnus’s home office.”
“Oh, he lives near Likon.”
“No wonder. It was convenient.” She finished her food and sat back. “Eat up; you fell behind.”
Madame Fen grinned. “You two get along well considering that nothing intimate has been going on.”
“Yeah, we will be downright witty if we bang.” She blinked at the sentence, hearing it only after it emerged.
He grinned and loaded his bowl again.
Madame Fen snickered behind her hand. “So, you held back with Likon?”
“He didn’t want anything I had to offer aside from a warm body to keep the ladies away. When he changed his mind, that was that.”
“And it wasn’t your body he wanted.”
“It was not.”
“Ah, no wonder Athena is pissed. She’s been in a foul mood all week.”
“Yeah, I lost a sister and a nephew, all because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.”
Madame Fen could get behind that, and she nodded wisely. She sat next to Eudora and said, “Could you believe the lack of jewels on Maclosky’s new wife? The rumour is that he lost them all in the divorce.”
Eudora smiled. “That is what the rumour mill will say when Likon’s new wife struts around in the jewels I used to wear. The prenup was extensive.”
“Why did you sign?”
“My house burned down, and I needed a place to live. I had already exhausted my place at the shelter. So, through the afterschool program I worked with—you know the one, you fundraise for it—I was introduced to Likon when he came to pick up Tyler. He offered me the marriage right off the bat, we signed everything in front of witnesses, and that was that. I was in an evening gown and working the room the following Saturday.”
Madame Fen blinked. “I had no idea you were unhoused.”
“Yup. I was renting my cousin’s place. The neighbour’s house caught fire, and the house I was in caught fire.
They didn’t have it declared as a rental, so I couldn’t get renters’ insurance, and when the house went down, I was out with nothing but the clothes on my back, my wallet, and my phone.
I had just started a new job, so I needed to get ready for work on Monday.
I contacted a shelter and thrifted my clothes, which I am still wearing today. Like, right now.”
Madame Fen blinked. “So, that is why...”
“Why I always went full in on charities that helped people in shelters get office clothing? Yeah. It’s important.
When you only have one set of clothing and underwear to survive in, you can’t just strip down in a laundromat to wash clothing for an interview.
They literally need a clean place to start.
I had my bank account and some cash. I could buy a limited wardrobe and shoes and underwear, but an apartment first, last, and damage deposit was beyond me after I had the clothes sorted. ”
Madame Fen nodded. “All good points. I don’t suppose you would speak at an event?”
“Well, now I firmly have gold digger stamped on my ass. Not a great look for independence.”
Sern paused. “What?”
“Well, I have gone from one very wealthy guy to you, and I googled you yesterday.” She paused. “That sounds dirty. Anyway. I am no longer able to pass as an upright beta making her way through the world. To most, I appear run-through by one alpha and am jumping onto a second.”
Fen winced. “I will do what I can to stem the rumours.”
“Don’t hurt yourself. They are going to happen with or without you.”
Sern frowned. “No one will speak a word against you.”
“They will, but I am fine with it. I know what I am. You are interested in finding out exactly how strong I am, and I am willing to show you.” Eudora grinned.
Madame Fen smiled. “No one has ever doubted your strength. You navigated the society of the city with grace and ease.”
“It does help when you know you can snap the egregious alphas in half.” She fluttered her lashes and sipped her tea.
Madame Fen blinked. “So, when you said strength...”
“I mean strength.” She shrugged. “It isn’t useful in the day-to-day, but it comes in handy for special occasions.”
Sern finished. “I think that concludes our speedy lunch. I would look forward to seeing you again another time, Madame Fen. Perhaps when Eudora doesn’t need to get back to the office, we can chat longer.”
Madame Fen suddenly turned sly. “Are you going to be attending any events after Sunday?”
Sern smiled. “She is going to attend a total of six events with me. After that, we will see where we stand.”
Fen grinned. “I will never understand you elves and your slow courtship. Why not just catch a scent and follow it home?”
Eudora smiled. “With an alpha and beta, the door can stick if you don’t jiggle the handle.”
He snorted and covered his mouth, “Accurate if hilarious description.”
“I am in advertising. It is my job to put an image in your head.”
His eyes were glowing, and she blinked. He was currently fixed on jiggling the handle.
“Madame Fen, not to be rude, but can we get the bill so we can leave? I have to face my ex tonight, and I would like to be able to dress down for pity beforehand.”
Fen smiled and looked her over. “It can get worse?”
“Oh, absolutely.” She rubbed her hands together. “I have worn jeans and torn tees with underwear whose elastic smells like it is about to go brittle.”
Fen blinked. “Can I send you to the aunties?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Fen whined. “Please? You could be so pretty.”
“If the charity auction makes over five hundred thousand, I will let you send me to the aunties, but just to look. I can’t afford anything yet. I am working on getting back on my feet.”
“But, Mr. Copperwell can help.”
“I don’t ask people to volunteer resources for me. I earn them.”
“But you are going to the auction.”
Sern spoke softly. “I am in the situation where mothers are throwing their eligible daughters at me, and I wish for someone to make them unsure of that course of action.”
Eudora smiled. “Me. I have already done that job once. He provided his extremely expensive legal services for me, accompanying him to six events.”
Sern smiled at Fen’s astonishment. “This is the slow courtship you mentioned earlier.”
Fen lifted her hand, and a young woman came by with the bill in both hands. She set it down, and Sern put his card on it.
Fen blinked, and Eudora grinned. “I am still a client, so this is deductible.”
Sern grinned. “She’s correct.”
He got the bill back and signed for it, taking a copy and sliding it into his wallet. “Ready?”
“Yup. I left a woman dangling off a cliff.” She smiled.
Madame Fen sighed. “Fine, take away my fun.”
“Yup. That’s my job.” Sern came around and eased her chair back, and Fen stared at them when she stood up.
“Oh, I see it now.” Fen winked. “See you Sunday.”
“See you Sunday.”
They left, holding hands, and she returned to work. She got an email about her temporary restraining order and smiled. Delia must have been at work because hope was definitely happening.