Lost Flyght – Chapter 2

“So,” Marcelo says, leaning back in his chair and cradling the hot cup of tea in his hands, “let’s talk about the Lees.”

I reflexively glance over my shoulder even though I know Jinzo and Asteria are both doing their jobs and Marcelo shut the airlock door.

Marcelo’s smile is all-knowing.

“When I first inquired with Jinzo about bringing him into your network, I also had a long chat with Hera Lee.”

“You did?” I lean forward, eager to hear any bit of information or gossip he may have. My teacup sits on his table, untouched. I don’t trust my hands today. They’re tired from handling hot sauce, and little tremors jostle my fingers when I’m not paying attention.

“I did. She expressed her desire for Jinzo to move on from Cressida. Cressida and Ms. Lee had never gotten along, and Ms. Lee was pleased when Jinzo decided not to renew their contract. She believed they were through since they hadn’t been together for several months.”

I nod, remembering what Jinzo had told me when I first found out about Cressida. Their contract had expired, and they hadn’t spoken for months. He had moved his belongings from her home on Avenal. He believed they were done.

Cressida had other ideas.

“Ms. Lee was hoping he’d meet someone more down to earth, less obsessed with wealth and fame…”

Marcelo’s words taper off as I lean forward and bang my head on the table. My mug of tea clatters with each thump.

“Ms. Vivian, you’re going to spill your tea.”

“Less obsessed with wealth and fame?”

Marcelo moves my tea to the end of the table. “You are not obsessed with wealth or fame. What makes you think others would believe that?”

I blink my eyes a few times. “Are you blind?”

He tilts his head to the side, and I transform into a five-year-old.

“I’m obsessed with money. I need it more than anything.” I throw my hand out to the side, indicating all I’ve fought for. “I count every credit. Every day. I think about how to get more of them constantly.” I rub my face, sigh, and put my head down on the table. “I miss my farm. I miss my home. I miss my normal life.” I lift my head. “I don’t belong here.”

Marcelo relaxes and sips his tea.

“I see what’s going on here.”

Emotion tickles the back of my throat, but I swallow it away. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve failed Skylar. I’ve failed Carlos. I’ve failed this ship, especially Ai. I’ve been trying to hold it together, but it’s a facade. One step forward, two steps back. I’m not making any real progress.”

I’ve denied it even to myself, but I’ve been depressed since my graduation party a week ago. Hot sex and good food can only go so far when I doubt myself every moment of every day.

Marcelo gets up from his chair, crosses the room to his kitchen pantry, and retrieves the box of chocolates. I let out a defeated huff of a laugh.

“Thanks,” I say, taking a square and letting it dissolve across my tongue. Why does chocolate make everything better?

“You’re welcome.” He pauses for a moment to consider me. “Let me give you a new perspective on things.” He picks up his teacup again, and so do I. The tea goes well with the chocolate. “You started out with a five million credit debt. What are you at now?”

“I need 2,592,000 credits. I’ll get 1,600 credits for the hot sauce, so now my debt shrinks to about 2,590,000 credits, more or less. Well, actually less, when I consider all the expenses for the Amagi.”

“So you’re almost halfway there, then. And you still have a few months to go before the auction.”

I raise my finger. “If I get the farm back, if, it will be in the worst shape it’s ever been in. The fields are lying fallow and untouched. Our warehouses are depleted. My best buyers and distributors are looking elsewhere for work.” I grab another piece of chocolate. “I need the money now, not later. If I had it now, I would go straight to the bank and plead to buy it back before the auction, before the bank ruins my home and inheritance.”

“I see your points. How much money are you getting from Ken and Jinzo?”

I take a deep breath and try to find the right words. “I’m… I’m not sure.”

Marcelo raises his eyebrows.

“There’s been talk, obviously, from both of them, of supporting my bid to buy the farm. But real numbers? Transfers? Neither of those things have happened. The numbers in the bank aren’t climbing. They’re falling every day. I’m paying for food, fuel, repairs, salaries…” I tick each off on my fingers. “Promises are lovely but to me? The only numbers that matter are the ones I see in the bank.”

Marcelo, always quiet and careful with his words, thinks for a few moments.

“I’m going to give you some advice you’re not going to like.”

“Go ahead. That’s nothing new.”

He smiles. “You need to sit down with both Ken and Jinzo and ask them for the money. Give them each credit goals to shoot for. Otherwise, they won’t know what’s expected of them.”

I let my head fall forward onto the table again. “I hate talking about money.”

“Everyone hates talking about money. All the way back to the cave people on Earth. And it’s hard to put this kind of pressure on new additions to a network, but they should expect it. You won’t be acting any differently than any other network head.” He shrugs. “They’re either in, or they’re out.”

This makes me cringe. I’m already attached to both Jinzo and Ken in profound ways. What if I put this kind of pressure on them and they balk?

“I know what you’re thinking,” Marcelo says, and I curse my lack of a poker face. “These men care for you, and for a good reason. You have shown them a great deal of love and generosity of spirit. Your families have reconciled and welcomed them. You’ve shown them that their opinions, wants, and needs matter. They couldn’t ask for a better mate in you.”

I keep my head down. I don’t want to hear these things about me. I’d rather go on believing that I’m failing.

Marcelo taps on my arm, so I sit up.

“Ask them for the money. Flyght credits from your share of the business should come soon. Jinzo has his own assets to contribute. The money is there. It’s coming. It’s time to ask for it.”

I nod, though I have no idea how I’ll grow the courage I need to ask for this. I swallow a few gulps of tea and think. It’s possible I could get a million credits between Jinzo and Ken. And then maybe I’ll be making progress.

“So, back to our original topic. Hera Lee will know from the first moment she meets you that you are nothing like Cressida. Cressida wants money and fame, but only because she thinks those two things will get her anything she ever wants.” Marcelo chuckles. “This is why she’s throwing such an immense fit over her loss of Jinzo. Fame and money will not bring him back.”

“No, they won’t. He’d rather cut off his arm than go back to her.”

“Your quest for credits is not driven by greed, Ms. Vivian. So please, just remember that.”

I press my lips together. I’m sure some individuals think I’m greedy because I stole Jinzo away from Cressida. I shouldn’t worry about what they believe, but I can’t help it. I’ve been anonymous for most of my life, and knowing people have opinions of me that I can’t control drives me nuts.

“Hera Lee is a shrewd woman who can smell bullshit a parsec away. She will look right through you and know you from the first moment you meet. You’ll be just fine, Ms. Vivian. It was my job to make sure the Lees would welcome you before I even made Jinzo an offer. Trust me. It’ll go well.”

He pushes the box of chocolates at me.

“We have some new business to discuss.”

“We do?” What’s this now? Don’t I have enough on my plate?

“We do. I’ve spent the last few weeks working on new approaches for your network. Most women grow a network over a vast amount of time, some of them take ten to twenty years since women are fertile way into their fifties now.”

Yay for medical advancements.

“Unfortunately, you are on a deadline. You’re not ten to twenty years into a relationship with your two main consorts when things are easier and less volatile. You are in the thick of new love.”

I think cooling thoughts and try not to blush. Yes, it’s true. I may be in love with both of them.

“So I’ve been looking for… unconventional men to add to your network.”

“Unconventional? In what way?”

“I’ve been searching along a few different lines of inquiry. First, I tried looking at older men, much older, who are either widowed from their networks or never found the right network in the first place.”

“Older men… Hmmm.” I suppose I’m not turned off by this idea. “I think I could be okay with that.”

“My search along those lines continues. I haven’t found anyone yet who is a perfect match for you. But, I have discovered someone a bit older, never married or became anyone’s consort. He has a career that makes decent money, and I believe he’s open to meeting you.”

An older man with a good career and he has no consort. “I’m going to ask the obvious question. What’s wrong with him?”

Marcelo smirks. “I’m hesitant to say anything until I’m sure he’s open to a meeting. As soon as I say anything specific, you’ll figure it out.”

“Is this the Sonoman you mentioned?”

“You have a good memory, Ms. Vivian. Too good.” He opens his hands, palms upward. “Either that or I’m too much of a pushover.”

Sonoma, a planet I love, full of celebrities, ancient estates, wineries, good food and agricultural conglomerates that can rival the best on Ossun. I’ve been to Sonoma twice, once for the wedding of a cousin, and the other time right after Ken and I broke up in college. I went by myself, with Mom’s credits, and drank wine for a whole week to drown my sorrows. I cried in bed every night and drank my problems away every day. I came home from that trip hungover and three kilos heavier. Sonoma has both happy and painful memories for me.

I lick my lips and bring my thoughts to the present.

“So, do you think we’ll be heading to Sonoma soon?”

The ship’s systems have been humming to life for the past hour as Asteria and Skylar get us ready to go.

“I think there’s a possibility we’ll be doing just that. We’ll get the Amagi up and running again and hope to move on after. That should give my contact enough time to make his decision.”

Marcelo’s door chimes, and he stands up to answer it.

“Captain,” Lia says, leaning into Marcelo’s shuttle, “we’re ready to go. Ken has supervised the offloading of the hot sauce, and it’s on its way to the distributor now. He’s on board and in his room, and we’ve accounted for everyone else. I have the animals stored for departure.”

“Thank you, Lia. Let Skylar know that we should get going whenever she and Asteria are ready.”

“Will do!”

She leaves, and Marcelo turns to me with a smile.

“You think you don’t belong here, yet you do.”

I grab our tea mugs, so I can stow them in the galley. “It’s all an act, Marcelo. I’m just…” I close my eyes and remember my childhood. “I’m just saying the same things Aunt Fusako would say. Doing the tasks I saw her do.”

He rests his hand on my shoulder. “That’s the best any parent can hope for. You learned a lot from the women in your family. Treasure that.”

And not for the first time, I want to hug Marcelo and thank him. It’s hard to reveal my weaknesses to someone as important and successful as him. But he always makes me feel like I’m doing okay, like I’m making progress.

“Thanks, Marcelo.” I produce a weak smile for him, and he accepts it.

He nods once to me. “We’ll talk again once we reach Lee Shipyards.”