7. Maldenis
Maldenis
“Why do I always have to clean the bathrooms?”
“Because that’s your job. Your kind of work.”
“Says who?”
“Says me! Now get to it, the inspector could be here any minute”
Maldenis rolled his eyes, but did not look from behind the POS system. Makron and Charlie had been arguing over the last half hour ever since their contact at the health department warned them that they were sending someone today for a surprise visit.
“Someone clean it, I don’t care who,” Maldenis shouted at them. “We can’t afford to fail an inspection.”
“Fine,” Charlie said, defeated. “I’ll do it.”
Maldenis rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. A failed health inspection would be just the topping he needed on this shitshow cake. Though truth be told, if things didn’t improve soon, then they would have to shut down anyway.
According to Makron and Charlie, business had only gotten worse in the last few of days.
Sure, a couple of the regulars came by, but they were drunk degenerates who didn’t care who served them.
But barflies and boozers alone wouldn’t be able to keep them afloat.
They needed the happy hour crowd, the drinks after work crowd, the juveniles turning twenty-one crowd, and on and on and on.
Just hang in there. It’ll all be over soon.
He would restore his family’s honor and they’d be back in business. All he had to do was be the council of elders’ dancing monkey for the next couple of days, then spend the next year traipsing around Vale Crossing with his bride.
The vibration of his phone interrupted his thoughts right before he conjured up visions of himself in a furry monkey suit. Glancing at the name on the screen, he groaned. He considered letting it go to voicemail, but that would make things worse.
“Mother,” he greeted. “I hope your urgent business was concluded favorably.”
“Where are you, Maldenis?”
“How am I doing? Oh, I’m fine. Just dandy, thanks for asking.” He switched the phone to his left side, tucking it between his ear and shoulder so he could scroll through their inventory list with his right hand.
Melora tsked. “You’re at that bar aren’t you?
“Where else would I be on a weeknight? I’m a respectable business owner now.” Well, the latter yes, but the former, maybe not quite, considering their clientele.
His mother let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “I don’t care what you do during business hours, but tonight, you must sleep with your wife.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, sleep,” she emphasized. “Be with Liora. Cohabitate. If the elders find out that you are not living under the same roof, then you can forget about restoring our family’s honor.”
He cursed under his breath. “Do I really have to?”
“Yes. You must stay by her side as long as you are married. I’ve worked so hard to even convince the elders to see you tomorrow and give you a chance. Don’t ruin it all now because you refuse to leave whatever efficiency flat in the upper terraces you’re renting this month.”
“Excuse me,” he said. “It happens to be a one bedroom. And I have my own bathroom this time.”
“That’ll make it easier then. Pack a bag and move into her suite tonight.”
“What?” he exclaimed, nearly dropping the phone. Pushing himself away from the computer, he whipped his tail around. “I’m just supposed to barge into her hotel room and demand I sleep there?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think she’s gonna like that.”
In fact, he didn’t think Liora liked him very much right now.
The drive back to the hotel had been uncomfortably silent and while he kept his eyes on the road ahead, she stared outside the opposite window, refusing to even glance his way.
When he pulled up the entrance, she left without a word, slamming the door behind her.
I’m the biggest jerk in the world.
He shouldn’t have snapped at her like that. It wasn’t even her fault. She asked about his father because it was her job.
This was all too much. The accidental marriage, finding out about his father…Too many feelings in such a short time.
“Hello? Maldenis are you there?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said. “Alright, I’ll head over there as soon as I’m done here.
” And, based on the fact that tonight’s only customer had his cheek plastered to the bar top as he snored, Maldenis guessed that would be very soon.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he shouted toward the back room. “Makron! Charlie!”
Makron’s head popped out from the entryway. “What?”
“I’m heading out.”
“Now?” his cousin exclaimed. “The inspection—”
“Will be fine. I checked everything else myself. As long as those toilets are spotless, we’ll pass.”
Charlie’s head appeared beside Makron’s. “Where are you going?”
“I got stuff to do.” Bless their hearts, Makron and Charlie had no idea what was going on, or at least they didn’t really give a rat’s ass about being shunned.
The three of them had always been different from the rest of their family.
“I’ll see you at the reception. My mother will let your mothers know the details. ”
“What reception thing?” Charlie asked, which earned him a smack on the head from Makron.
“His marriage with that Upperworld chick, remember?”
“Oh yeah.”
Maldenis swung around the bar, headed out, waving to his cousins as he left, and headed to his vehicle. After a quick stop at his place where he packed up a bag of essentials—his mother said not to worry about his clothes, she’d be providing everything he needed—he drove to the Stonestare Suites.
Why am I so nervous?
The question lingered in his mind as he made his way up to her room. They had parted on such a sour note. Would she even want to see him?
Scrounging up every last bit of his courage, he knocked on the door. “Liora?” he called out. “It’s me. I mean, it’s Maldenis.”
He expected complete silence. Or maybe yelling. He didn’t expect for the door to immediately open.
“What do you want?” Liora asked in a chilly tone.
Casually, he leaned against the jamb. “You look cozy.” His gaze flicked down to her flannel pajamas. Strangely, something about the casual attire made her even more attractive.
Don’t even think about that.
Clearing his throat, he continued, “Enjoying your evening of bad movies and room service?”
“I am,” she said with a sniff. “Or I was. Until now.”
He supposed he should apologize. For how he snapped at her. Pushed her away. Unfortunately for her, he wasn’t the apologizing type.
“That’s good,” he said, completely ignoring the irked scowl she flashed him. “By the way, I’m moving in with you.” Not bothering to wait for her reaction, he slinked past her and into the luxurious suite.
“What the—what are you doing?” she yelled. “Hey! You can’t just come in here—”
“Wow,” he said, letting out a whistle as he glanced around him. “Your agency must have deep pockets.”
“Get the hell out of my room.” She stomped toward him, arms stiff at her sides. It would have made a menacing sight except A, the plush carpet absorbed any sound and vibrations from her stamping feet and B, her flannel pajamas were covered in cute capybaras.
“I can’t.”
“Excuse me? Yes you can.” She pointed to the door. “Door. You. Out.”
“No, I mean, I need to stay here.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “My mother called me and told me that we need to start cohabitating immediately.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Believe me, I feel the same way. But it’s true, I’m afraid. If the council of elders finds out we’re not living together like a proper married couple, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Argh!” Her fists curled into tight balls at her sides. “Fine. I’m gonna go get another room then.”
“No!”
Her eyes narrowed into slits. “No? Why not?”
That protest came a bit too quick, especially since he didn’t exactly have a good reply.
In theory, it was a good idea, since technically they would be in under the same roof.
However, seeing her now, looking annoyed, yet cute as hell, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see her sleeping.
Would she snore? Or make cute sounds? Or look peaceful?
“Maldenis?”
“Uh, because it doesn’t count. We have to be in the same room.”
“Really?” Her mouth twisted. “Specifically said we must be in the same room? At night?”
“Mm-hmm,” he said noncommittally, then dropped his bag on the floor. “Honey, I’m home!”
That only earned him a nasty look.
“Woo, I’m so tired,” he said, adding a fake yawn to his statement before gliding into the bedroom.
Like the rest of the suite, it was also luxuriously decorated, with a seating area in the corner and a king-sized bed in the middle. Recessed LED lights went around the perimeter, giving the room a soft glow, and the scent of expensive Egyptian cotton linen and amber hung in the air.
“We should get some sleep. Long day tomorrow and all that.”
“And where are you going to sleep exactly? You’ll barely fit in that bed, with your tail and all,” she pointed out. “And there’s no way I’m sleeping on the couch in my suite.”
He tsked. “This is a basilisk hotel, remember?” Making his way to the bed, he traced his hand along the headboard.
“One sec…ah!” His fingers found what he was searching for—a button hidden on the side.
With a quick press, the bed shifted, recessing into the floor continuing until it was three levels lower than it had been, effectively creating a sleeping nest, large enough to fit two adult basilisks. “See?”
Liora planted her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. “And where am I supposed to sleep?”
“In there.”
“With you?”
“Yes, with me.”
“I’m not sleeping in there with you,” she protested.
“Why not? It’s not like—oh my gods. Do you think I’m gonna try to have sex with you?”
“Well…”
He pressed his hand to his chest. “Liora Chura,” he began, putting on his best scandalized tone. “Do you think I’m that kind of basilisk? That I would force you—”
“Of course not,” she shot back.