Lost Flyght – Chapter 23

It feels good to be back on Ossun again. There’s something about this world that feels natural to me, probably because I grew up here. The air smells like home. There’s just the right amount of gravity. Ahhh.

“Ready?” Marcelo asks, walking me up the long drive to the Correa estate. Nestled here against the mountains and far from the farmlands of Southern Sakata City, the Correa estate is a rambling castle with courtyards and interior gardens, marble floors in grandiose open halls, and Corinthian style columns along the outside. It’s breathtaking.

“So much for ‘not having any money,’” I mumble to Marcelo, nodding and smiling at people as we walk past them.

“Well, it’s not his money. If he had gone into the military like his brothers and sisters, this would not be an issue. He could have been a doctor in the military.”

I shake my head. “That’s not Gus. He’s too quiet and sweet for the military. He wouldn’t have lasted a month, much less several years to get the degree and serve at the same time. He’s just not like that.”

Marcelo is quiet for a few moments and slows down as we reach the gates to the main drive. He turns to face me.

“You’re going to ask for him, to join your network.” He knows.

I bite my bottom lip and consider lying. I’m one-hundred percent positive he’d see right through it. “Yeah. I don’t know. He just fits. He’s like a missing piece of the puzzle.”

Marcelo’s smile is suitably cynical.

“He gets along with everyone, and I…” I shrug, not knowing how to put my feelings into words. “I just want him.” I sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s not the best excuse for bringing someone into the network.”

“No, no,” he interrupts. “I get it. Your instincts are telling you that Gus will be a suitable member of your network. Even if you have nothing to gain from him financially, he may serve other purposes like being a consul to you or your other men, or an outreach tool to other relationship networks, or just a good shoulder to cry on when you need it.”

Yes, I feel like he could do all these things.

Marcelo glances at the fancy estate and the people filtering in for the wedding. “Let me tell you something about his mother, Nina Correa, that I found out during our Flyght trip with them. She’s stuck in her ways, for sure, but she has a weak spot. She’s military to her core, so she believes in negotiation. If you’re going to take Gus, then you’ll have to give her something in return. What do you think that should be?”

My mind blanks. I have nothing, really. I don’t think, in good conscience, I can give her, and by extension the military, the seeds. Though it’s possible Athens Industries is giving those seeds they got from my brother to the military via their contract. Sigh. The seeds are a liability at this point. I need to figure out how to get rid of them anonymously. Not hand them over to my buyer face-to-face. I close my eyes for a moment, inhale the clean Ossun air, and think. Think, think, think.

I’ve got nothing.

“I don’t know.”

Marcelo kisses me on the cheek. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something.” He has more faith in me than I do. He leans back to assess me, my hair, makeup, and dress. “You look lovely today. I’m glad you had a week on Laguna and another day to recoup on the Lee home ship.”

“It wasn’t much of a recuperation after being accosted by Eamon, the AI dealer.”

“Well,” he says, shrugging, “you can’t have it all.”

A universal truth.

I leave him behind and walk into the Correa estate alone, following the throng of people winding up the driveway to a large, white tent in a grassy field. Okay, I think I look all right. My dress is the perfect shade of fern green, much like my invisibility ferns. I chose green to represent the medium in which I work — plants, of course — though green also means money. The dress’s deep neckline and long A-line silhouette highlight my height, something I usually don’t call attention to. The Bomba-Farias don’t match, so I left them at the hotel in favor of a pair of silver heels. Malina gave the whole outfit two thumbs up, so I’m sure it was the right choice, though I worry it makes me look too sinister.

But today is a day to be statuesque and powerful, not meek and obedient. Not only do I have to face Gus’s mother but also India Dellis.

When I finally make it through the long line to enter the tent, I’m met with a man taking names.

“You’re with the bride’s side of the family. Please sit anywhere on the left.”

“Thank you,” I whisper and incline my head, trying not to talk over the music playing.

This is my chance to scope out the crowd as I make my way to my seat. I recognize some people here, mostly celebrities. Oh, look! It’s Zoe Cannon. I should ask her if she dated that horrible asshole I went on a date with. What was his name? Devos Tite, I think. Everyone else is in the military, and it’s apparent by all the decoration on display. Medals hanging from sashes, even people in dress uniform. Wow, I don’t see that every day.

I slow down as I approach the rows closer to the action at the front. India Dellis is sitting with three men, and they talk with their heads lowered, whispering back and forth. She looks radiant in a dress adorned with crystals, her hair swept up, and elbow-length gloves. For a moment, I imagine how we could’ve been friends or even colleagues if things had been different.

But that’s not how it is, Vivian.

I slip into a row three behind her, far enough away to watch her, but not too far to feel like I’m being a coward.

Yeah, I analyze everything.

I keep my brain occupied with my messages via my wristlet until the ceremony starts. Carlos is doing his best to keep the Amagi running, even with catastrophic failures all over the ship. Anxiety grabs my lungs and squeezes while my leg bounces. A woman down the aisle glances at my leg, but I can’t stop it. I feel like it’s only another hour or two, at most, before the Amagi is a flying tin can and Skylar is a lump of tears crying on the floor of the bridge.

What am I going to do if I lose my only source of income after the men I’m bringing into my network?

The music for the ceremony starts, and I turn to watch the procession of people. I have no idea who any of them are until I see Gus. My breath catches way up in my throat. He’s so handsome. I’ve never seen him dressed up like this, in a well-fitting tuxedo that is perfectly cut to accentuate his broad chest. My eyes are glued to him all the way down the aisle. To think that I fell for him in nurse’s scrubs with his scruffy beard and lazy hair? What a difference the trimmed beard and styled hair makes. He sees me and smiles, and my heart cries out for him.

These pent-up emotions are slowly killing me, and they get more intense with every man I add to my network. There are people out there in single-pairing relationships, and some days I wish I had followed in my parents’ footsteps like that. It certainly would have been easier on both me and my heart. But then I look at Ken, Jinzo, and Gus, and how could I choose?

I can’t. And it wouldn’t be fair to the many men in our systems who far outnumber the women if we all decided for a single partner. Many men would find comfort in each other, but still, many just don’t swing that way. They’d rather share than go without.

As I sit through the ceremony, I’m reminded that a wedding will never happen for Jinzo and me, for any of my consorts. Jinzo may go from consort to husband on paper (there are good reasons for him to want to do that), but we’ll never be able to afford an extravagant wedding like this, not for any of my network. The tears I want to spill stay in check until everyone else is crying for the bride and groom. Only then do I allow a moment to feel bad for myself. No one will know I’m crying for me, not the happy couple.

—-

What an evening.

My face hurts from smiling so much, but not because anything is funny. No. Everything has been utterly dull, and I’m trying to pretend it’s not.

Gus leans over to my ear at the reception dining table. “I need to talk to someone. Would you like to move to the bar?”

“Yes, please.”

I nod as I slip my hand into his, place my napkin on my chair, and stand up. Gus’s younger brothers and cousins, all seated around the table, don’t know what to make of me. I’m not a struggling artist. I’m not in the military. I have no idea how to sail. I’ve never been kayaking. And most of all, my parents did not have a network. It’s astounding I’ve survived as long as I have! We have just spent the last two hours eating and sharing small talk, and even though I’ve tried to connect with them, they still stare at me like I have two heads.

Not every relationship goes great on first meetings.

Gus leads me through the crowd, his hand on my lower back. “You look ready to keel over from boredom.”

“Sorry. Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me. I think you faked the conversation well.” He rolls his eyes. “There’s only so much I can talk about sailing, too.”

He deposits me at the bar, kisses my cheek, then takes my hand. “Dance with me when I get back?”

“Sure.”

He walks off to the back of the tent and clasps hands with another man talking to Gus’s dad.

“You’ve snagged yourself another influential man. Why am I not surprised?”

India Dellis rolls right up next to me, not a breath after Gus has left. My eyes focus on the tiara on top of her swept-up hair. Women on Ossun love jewels, especially anything that makes them look like royalty. I glance left and right and find the bar suspiciously empty, and now we’re surrounded by security. India’s more sneaky than her sister! Maybe it’s not Renata I need to be afraid of.

“Well, hello, India. It’s nice to meet you face-to-face, finally.” I turn on my most simpering smile.

She lifts her chin and looks down her nose at me. “Same.”

“How’s the bread business?” I turn to the bartender and order a gin and tonic.

“It’s excellent. How’s Kawabata Holdings? And don’t play dumb. I know that you get updates on the business from Malina Tsing.”

Ugh. Everyone seems to know my business. Who is feeding information to these people? They seem to know all, see all. Maybe they have a nosy AI, like I did? I’ve really missed Ai. I’m glad she’s back, somewhat.

“It’s had a bumpy few weeks, but I’m confident it’ll be back in good hands in no time.”

I wish I had the confidence I’m faking in my voice. It sounds more ferocious than I feel. I nearly kiss the bartender when he sets the gin and tonic on the bar next to me. I need a strong drink, right this second.

“Any chance you’ve reconsidered my sister’s offer to work for Athens Industries? Renata does not enjoy taking ‘no’ for an answer. And your ‘yes’ could mean a better outcome for your farm.”

I consider my drink for a moment, turning it from side to side, before opening my mouth. “It’s nice when people come straight out with the blackmail. Makes it easier to know where I stand.”

India scoffs. “Blackmail is such a pedestrian term. We are ‘negotiating,’ Ms. Kawabata.”

“Of course, we are not.” I turn to go when she clears her throat.

“I spoke to someone at First Ossun Bank about your land. Have you heard from them lately?”

My stomach muscles tense, ready for the punch to land. I’m too irritated to wait for it. I turn back to my spot at the bar. “What? No talk of how I damaged your friend’s reputation and how you’re dying to discredit me because of what happened to Cressida?”

I’ve seen nicer smiles on dragonsnakes. “Cressida? She’s the one who pulled the plug on her own future. I think we can forget her for now.”

“What a relief.” My voice is drier than the gin used in this drink. “No, I haven’t heard from First Ossun Bank lately. They’re taking care of the estate while we wait for the auction.” If I don’t buy the land back first, right? That was the plan.

“And how long did they tell you it would be until auction?”

Intense foreboding settles on me like a dark bank of clouds before a storm. She already knows, and something tells me that I don’t.

“A year. They needed that much time to audit everything before they could put it up for sale.”

“They’ve moved up the auction to much sooner, possibly next month,” she states, upfront and direct. “The bank put more employees on the task since those bumpy weeks were pretty rough. They didn’t want the estate losing even more money. Not good for profits, right?”

Of course, I’m not going to have the entire year to gather my money. Not with vultures like the Dellises circling my estate. And the bank won’t entertain me buying it back now. Not when they can take it to auction and make even more money.

“Right,” I say, setting my drink down. “So, what am I facing here?”

“Well…” Her manner turns coy, and I smile.

“Please. Let’s dispense with the games. You’re here talking to me, so let’s be honest with each other.”

She leans in next to me to rest her elbow on the bar, turning to smile at someone.

“I’m going to make this very easy for you, Vivian. You give my sister what she wants, and we’ll let you repurchase your home without interference from us.”

I stand in silence, afraid to say anything. The seeds or me? What do they really want?

“The relationship between Athens Industries and the military is over. Athens needs what you have to survive.”

“And what might that be?”

She leans a little closer. “We know what you’re growing in your ship.”

I adjust my dress. It gives me away. “Do you think you can do a better job of studying it than me? You may run Patras Agriculture, but I don’t think you’ve ever gotten your hands dirty in your life.”

“Oh, come now, Vivian.” Now it’s her turn to simper. “People like me don’t get their hands dirty. They pay others to do that. You should really consider that for yourself. It’s a shame there are so many pictures of you on the duonet working in the fields.” She clucks her tongue.

“It makes me relatable.”

“It makes you look like a commoner.”

Okay, I’ve had enough. “So, what if I gave it to the military instead of your sister?”

“They’ll arrest you, take everything you have, and you’ll never get your land back.”

I sip my drink. “And if I sold it to Cosmas?”

She throws her head back in laughter. “Cosmas? Cosmas is the military. Same outcome.”

I nod, trying to make eye contact with Gus across the room. Look at me, Gus! I need a wingman!

“Right. What about the contract Athens has with the military? Athens was all set to take the seeds my brother was going to give them and turn them into military weapons.”

Her eyes widen as I lift my drink to my lips again. I could laugh, but I have more class than that. Whatever they know about me, it’s incomplete.

“I see you have your own sources, huh? It’s done. Over. Once they figured out the seeds came from Rio, they started combing the jungles themselves. Maybe two or three days ago? The news is calling the sorties ‘standard training exercises,’ which is bullshit. Now we’re in a race.”

Shit. I did see that on the news.

There’s only one thing to do. “I’ll consider your offer and get back to you soon.”

“Soon,” she says, picking up her wine glass. “Don’t delay too long. The advantage in this business comes from being early to the table, not late.”

She walks off to install herself on the arm of a man across the room.

Well, I’m glad that’s finally out in the open. Ken warned me about selling to Athens, but I wonder what he’d think of this conversation.

I think and think as I turn my glass on the bar top.

I have two choices, and they both stink. Both of them could get me killed.

How am I going to resolve this?