Chapter 16 #2
“Because you and Lorenzo are already so overworked, and I didn't want to worry you,” I replied, biting into my tart. “Besides, it's resolved now. I finished her off in the ring and she broke my phone, so I consider it closed.”
“Of course that wouldn't be a problem, Kay! I know Lorenzo and I aren't the most available people in the world, and we're usually swamped with work, but you're part of our family. Whenever you need to, you can tell us anything.”
Ambrose had the gift of conveying all his feelings through his gaze. In that moment, I felt enveloped in his warmth.
“Thank you. You two are definitely my favorite people.”
Maybe a little bit of the emptiness in my chest had just been filled. It wasn't much, but a little piece was better than nothing.
“Look, I just remembered she has a very strict family too. Her mother works at the biggest hospital in Yonser and is always causing problems for the doctors here,” he explained, stealing one of my brigadeiros.
“She's always complaining that her daughter should get more attention and that we're doing a terrible job.
What she doesn't understand is that Adele doesn't have a high power level, and it's impossible to meet her expectations.”
“So Adele has problems with her family...”
“You could say that. She lives with her uncle, who's a psychic in the criminal division. I don't know which section exactly, but I know he's important and very rich.”
“Hmm. I've met Ivanov. He's polite and kind—quite different from her,” I said, finishing my café au lait.
“Now that I know everything you've told me about Adele, Ivanov must be a saint for putting up with her.”
And I hadn't even told him about the harassment over the past four years, or the ridiculous amount of alcohol and drugs Adele used at parties. Breno told me she was constantly being carried off by random men after starting fights—when she wasn't crashing her car or getting fined for drunk driving.
“Are you going to use this information against her, Kay?” Ambrose asked, frowning.
“No, I just want to understand the girl.”
I finished my sweets and paid the bill.
“So, what are we doing now?” he asked excitedly.
“Breno advised me to go to the party in a more 'edgy' dress,” I murmured to Ambrose as I stood up. The right word would have been “sexy,” “vulgar,” or “promiscuous,” but “edgy” sounded better. “Do you know a good place to get an evening dress like that?”
Ambrose puffed out his chest and gave me a haughty look.
“Oh, my dear, give me some credit. If there's one thing I know in this neighborhood, it's fashion.”
He stood up and linked his arm through mine, pulling me outside.
Δ
We bought the dress at a store called Lithium and, as expected, the saleswomen wrinkled their noses at me right away, though they served me reluctantly.
It turned out Ambrose was one of their VIP clients, and they probably didn't want to lose him because of me.
So they brought me an endless array of dresses to try on, and in the end, I concluded that the best of a bad lot was a shimmering rose-colored dress.
It was short with thin straps; the neckline showed off my breasts and the back was completely open.
A thick gold metal band cinched at the waist and hips, leaving almost nothing to the imagination.
Ambrose told me to get it, saying I looked like a shooting star, and added a pair of high-heeled sandals to the purchase—all gold and shimmering. They were the ankle-tie kind, and when I put them on, I realized the only purpose of that type of heel was to make my feet look attractive.
Although I liked everything, the surprise came when we reached the register. The little purchase came to 2,000 dunas, and I didn't have that much on me. Ambrose offered to pay, but I obviously wouldn't let him, so reluctantly, I had to use Zion's card, promising myself I'd pay him back.
We left the store with Ambrose completely thrilled with the purchases and me calculating how many months I'd have to save to pay for this little splurge.
Δ
“Kay, why don't you buy a car?” Ambrose asked, keeping his eyes on the road. I took in the landscape—so many colorful mountains, an incredibly blue sky, and the entire expanse of the inner wall.
“I don't like driving, and I don't want to touch Zion's account.
So for now, I'm happy walking since everything's close by.” I rolled down the window to feel the breeze on my face.
As always, it smelled of wisteria and decaying leaves.
“When I start working as an official elmedic, maybe I'll buy one to show off.”
Licensed elmedics earned an average of 20,000 dunas a month.
It was a great salary that would let you live well, but it was still nothing compared to what Zion earned as a general.
Ambrose didn't respond, and we continued the drive listening to the upbeat music he had on.
Twenty minutes later, we parked in front of the house.
“While you were trying on dresses, I took the liberty of calling an acquaintance of mine. She's a makeup artist and she'll be here at 6 p.m.,” he said, glancing at his watch.
I clicked my tongue in disapproval.
“I can't believe you, Ambrose. I told you not to worry about it.”
“Of course I do—it's my duty as your gay friend and your only family here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.
“Lorenzo and I bought this a while back.
It's a gift for all the good grades you've been getting.
We were going to give it to you at graduation, but we figured we'd give it to you now since this is your first party and it matches the occasion.”
He opened the lid, revealing a sinil necklace with a yellow amethyst pendant. My mouth fell open and I stared at him in shock.
“Good goddess of wars, this must have cost a fortune!” I exclaimed, looking at the necklace gleaming gold.
Sinil was the most expensive metal on Jupiter.
The element could hold enormous amounts of magic, serve as a battery, and was as beautiful as gold.
“You must be out of your mind! A necklace like this is worth a fortune!”
“It's a gift, and don't even start with that speech of yours—it's already paid for. Every healer worth their salt needs one of these.” He closed the little box and placed it in my shopping bag. “Thank me by wearing it.”
I thought about protesting, but he seemed so happy with himself. If this was also a gift from Lorenzo, it meant it was something they'd planned in advance, not just an impulse buy from Ambrose. I decided to just go along with this madness.
“Thank you, Am! I really loved the gift,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him tight. When we pulled apart, he kissed my forehead.
“Now go inside, take a nice long bath, and have a blast at this party. If you need anything, just call me.”
“You're the best tutor in the world!” I exclaimed, smiling.
“I really am,” he agreed confidently.
My heart felt so full that I didn’t even want to say goodbye, but I grabbed my bags and headed home. I had a battle ahead of me.
Δ
“I’ll be waiting for you at 9:00 PM. I bought a new phone.”
I sent the message to Breno as soon as I got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my head. A minute later, the phone beeped.
“Thank the gods, technology has finally reached you, wild girl! I’ll be there at 9:00 PM.”
Laughing, I put Kiara in Zion’s room and explained that we’d have company.
She seemed excited to meet the visitor and wreak havoc through the house, so I bribed her with a heaping bowl of food.
Kiara didn’t make a peep and quickly lost that mischievous gleam in her eye.
She sprawled out on Zion’s bed and fell asleep.