Chapter Three
Around ten in the morning, she was making coffee when Jienne came down in her robe and pyjamas.
“Morning, Jienne.”
“Morning, Ava. Are you making breakfast?”
“That is part of the waking ritual, so yes. Lots of fruit, I am afraid. I am rather lazy.” Ava grinned. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
She used the larger unit so the carafe could be put into use, and while that was happening, she started the stove to warm the pan and filled the toaster with soft white bread. The eggs were lined up for frying, and the bacon was in the bacon cooker, sometimes known as the air fryer.
Jienne sat on the stool near the kitchen counter and said, “If you get me the stuff, I can prep the fruit.”
Ava grinned and got the fruit out, setting it on the counter next to the sink. “Knives and cutting boards are in the drawer in front of you.”
Jienne nodded and got to work. Ava slid a bowl over for the fruit. “Do you want toast?”
“What kind of bread? Sorry. A few years at the restaurant made me a food snob.”
“Lemmee see.” Ava went to look and said, “White flappy bread.”
“Yes, please. I can’t look sourdough in the eye anymore, and rye just creeps me out.”
Ava laughed at the directness.
She put the bread in the toaster and got the eggs going. “Sorry, I just do soft scrambled.”
“Good with me. I actually slept last night. Thank you.”
“We are going to be having quite a few visitors today. After we eat, second door on the left is a wardrobe. Wear anything that you like that makes you feel comfortable.”
“Why do you have a wardrobe for me?”
“Oh, it’s my friend Keska’s, but she won’t be here until later.”
Jienne paused. “Will she mind?”
“Nope. Folks throw clothing at her constantly.”
“Is she naked?”
“No, she’s beautiful. Gorgeous. Stops traffic and has a mind like a steel trap. Creative as hell.”
“What?”
“You will see when she shows up in a few hours. Her sister is coming to help with the legal aspect of the situation.”
“A few hours?”
“The BDC is going to a tribunal regarding last night, and she is the one to judge. She’s very good at it.”
Jienne blinked. “What?”
“You will see. The BDC is being taken to task for letting your patron in.”
“Why are you doing that?”
Ava smiled and stirred the scrambled eggs. “The eggs? This is the only way I know to make them.”
“No, why will there be a tribunal?”
Ava took the eggs off the heat and added some chopped butter cubes.
She split them between two plates. “You won’t have to attend.
It is the actions of the corporation that put the tribunal into action.
Your contract indicated that your patrons would be fully vetted and would pose no direct danger to you.
He was not only a danger, but he also put you through situations that were strictly against your contract stipulations.
They should have stopped it. It should never have happened. ”
Jienne said, “I... thank you. This is helping.”
“No problem. This is what is supposed to happen. You were supposed to have bots with you if you panicked.”
“I physically didn’t. He kept me calm, but he also didn’t want me travelling with bots to the nightclub. I was supposed to be safe there.”
“You were. I am going to have a chat with Vikor about security for escorts in Hell. The bots will stay with the ladies from now on. A psychic trigger could have saved you the entire evening.”
Jienne nodded. “That would have been good.”
Ava buttered the toast and put bacon on the plates. Jienne put the bowl of fruit in the centre, and they each got a serving. Breakfast began with only one pause to grab coffee.
When the dishes were dealt with, Ava walked Jienne to the room where Keska kept some of her clothing. She changed height and weight depending on the impression she wished to make, so she had a lot of clothing.
They picked a sundress and underwear that surprisingly fit.
Ava smiled and went to her own room to pick out comfortable clothing. They were sitting outside when Nigel bounded up, looking cheerful. “The morning is bright, and breakfast was wonderful.”
“Thank you. I shopped for it myself.”
“Keep that butcher happy. They are a master.” Nigel gave her a serious look. “Whatever it takes.”
“I am not going to tip the butcher with sexual favours.”
Nigel sighed. “Fine, but if quality drops, you need to get on your knees.”
Jienne blinked. “Is he pimping you out for meat?”
“Yup. Quality well-marbled beef, to be specific. He eats about fifty pounds a week. The rest of the time, he keeps the wildlife on the property under control.”
Jienne blinked. “Right. Nigel, what are you, exactly?”
“A quadruped who can make a bed with hospital corners. Better than Ava can do.”
Ava shrugged and sipped at her coffee. “He isn’t wrong. Ah, here are our first guests.” She lifted the com and looked at the faces displayed. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.”
Zera sighed. “They are here to make a formal apology, and so am I.”
“Where’s the big purple dork?”
“He said he was flying in.”
Ava cackled and sent the unlock key to the gate, and she gestured to Jienne to come with her. “They are here to make an apology. Torun likes to fly. He gets car sick but claims flying is just faster.” She was grinning widely. “Look up.”
They both looked up, and there was Torun and, nearby, Remark. “Keska calls it the bug zapper. I will turn it off for a moment.”
The two actives thudded onto the grass.
Torun got up and sighed. “Really, Ava?”
“Well, Keska thought it would be handy, and Caska looked up local ordinances. It’s legal.”
Torun lifted Remark to his feet, and Jienne hid behind Ava. Ava chuckled. “They aren’t mad, they just feel stupid. Torun feels extra stupid because I told him when the bug zapper went up.”
Torun winced. “She’s right. Five years ago, when Zera broke ground on the tower.”
Ava looked to the left. “Nigel. You might want to head outside for a few minutes until folks get settled. These ones are already coming in nervous.”
Nigel huffed and walked off the patio. “They had better be polite.”
Torun nodded. “Nigel.”
“Purple asshole.” Nigel nodded, and then he began a slow lope into the trees at the back of the property.
Torun winced. “He still doesn’t like me.”
“You called him a scruffy food sucker who licked his own balls. You dream you were that flexible.”
Jienne was startled into a snicker. Torun looked at her, and she hid behind Ava.
Ava sighed. “I am not a really good human shield, Jienne. Come on, let’s let the others in and have a conversation.”
She showed Jienne where to sit and went to open the front door. She looked at Zera. “Come in.”
She moved aside and walked over to the love seat, where Jienne was sitting nervously. A specific ping on Ava’s wristband made her grin. Caska’s timing was right on. She came in with Keska behind her. They didn’t need to ring in. They lived here.
They took their positions behind Ava. Zera’s eyes went wide. “We are doing this now?”
“Oh, yes. You are here, Torun is here, Ava and Keska are here.” Caska chuckled. “Susara is still at the capitol, so she can come in via com.”
Keska nodded and spoke softly, “She’s standing by.”
Zera sighed. “Keska, can you?”
The gadget freak nodded and dropped a small puck into the room. A woman who looked cheerful, sexy, and pink appeared.
Zera sighed. “I want that projector.”
Keska shrugged. “I want to eat without getting full. Get used to disappointment.”
Zera groaned. “I am sorry I forgot your birthday.”
Keska crossed her arms. “Not sorry enough.”
“What about the toy that I let Vikor use on Drin? It stopped working.”
Ava saw Drin perk up. “The toy?”
Keska snorted. “We never came to an agreement on royalties. You are too busy fucking around.”
Zera blushed.
Torun looked offended. “She’s busy with admin.”
Zera sighed. “That is what she refers to as fucking around. She doesn’t like paperwork.”
Keska shrugged.
Vikor murmured, “I am confused.”
Keska chuckled. “Good look for you. I make the gadgets. The bots. The small helpers that are easing the good people of this modern age through their days. Mostly. Zera makes weapons. I make toys. All kinds of toys.” She looked at Drin.
Drin blushed.
Caska said, “If the Elf Star Consortium has something to say, they should say it now.”
Jienne cringed.
Ava smiled as the twins put their hands on Jienne’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Jienne. They don’t put up with much. Do you want me to bring Nigel in?”
Jienne blinked and smiled. “Would you?”
Ava chuckled and whistled softly.
The huge creature came in on silent paws.
Ava said, “Jienne needs some support.”
“Got it.”
Ava chuckled as those who hadn’t met Nigel stared. The creature sat next to Jienne. Ava smiled. “Okay, you can speak with her.”
Vikor got up and walked over. “Miss Jienne, I am very sorry that you came to harm under my roof. I was under the influence of the patron, but I should not have requested that the hub not to give you a bot to protect you. Our protocols are being changed to insist on the distress protections the BDC has put in place. No weaselling out of it to give patrons a chance to be bad actors. That was our mistake, and our culpability will be included in our compensation for you. It will not happen again.”
Jienne swallowed. “Thank you. That’s comforting, I guess.”
He sighed. “I am sorry.”
She nodded, and Drin walked up and put out her arms, and Jienne got up for the hug. Nigel watched as the next apology was given.
Ekron wasn’t an ass for a change. Techor was extremely remorseful because it was he and Remark that had ripped her mind open. They were both very sincere.
Jienne nodded and then swallowed when Klauz was standing in front of her.
“Jienne, I am so very sorry that I was in your mind like that. Please don’t quit.”
She blushed. “I have to, and you know exactly why.”
He stroked her shoulder. “Why?”
Nigel growled loudly, and Klauz dropped his grip.
“I am sorry.”