Page 147 of Sweet Dominion

The guard’s scrutiny didn’t end there as he dove into Duck’s pocket and then pulled out. . .blue panties.

What the fuck? What is up with you and panties this year?

I suppressed a laugh as the guard cleared his throat and glanced at Dima. “Uh, sir? What should I do with these?”

Dima didn’t find it funny at all. “Let him keep the panties. I doubt he could use them as a weapon.”

“I could choke Banks with them, but thanks.” Duck snatched the panties from the man and placed them back in his pocket.

I tilted toward Chen. “Do you know who’s panties are those?”

Chen leaned my way and whispered, “Those are Thandi’s panties. Today, they had a bet on the beach and she lost.”

“What was the bet?”

“Who could hold their breath under water the longest. Little did she know that forherpanties, Duck would have drowned himself.”

I snickered. “What wasshegoing to get if she won?”

“Dinner at the Golden Unicorn.”

“Not a bad reward.”

The Golden Unicorn was the East’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, nestled in the heart of the culinary district. The opulent establishment combined traditional Chinese mythological themes with avant-garde cuisine.

They had a delicious entrée calledthe Dragon and the Fox. The dish featured tender fox meat marinated in a blend of rare spices, then grilled to perfection. It was accompanied by a smooth, golden dragon fruit puree on jasmine rice.

But the true highlight was their signature dessert dish named after the restaurant.

TheGolden Unicorndish was a decadent, show-stopping dessert that was adorned with real gold. The mousse was made of some hard-to-get white chocolate from the mountains. The chef had told me once that the mini unicorn-shaped cakes that sat on top of the mousse took them several hours to make.

One had to consider the fact that Chinese Unicorns—known as Quilin—did not look like the unicorns of the West. They were not horse-like creatures with a single spiral horn.

The Quilin was a more complex and majestic being. It had the body of a deer, hooves of an ox, a dragon-like head, and a pair of antlers on its head; Its mane and tail flowed with flames.

Either way, due to all of the great care of the restaurant’s chef and staff, the Golden Unicorn restaurant had a six-month waitlist.

So Thandi wants to go to the Golden Unicorn and Duck is holding on to her panties. Interesting.

Done with the security check, Duck sat down on my right.

Too intrigued by these new details, I leaned his way. “Thandi?”

“She’s too sexy to resist.”

“But did you try?”

“Of course I didn’t.”

I smirked. “And the Golden Unicorn?”

“I’m on the waitlist. I bullied them into putting me in the top twenty.”

“Say the reservations are for the Mountain Master. That should get you all the way to the top. Take her next week.”

Duck’s face lit up. “Are you trying to get a kiss from me, cousin?”

“Save your kisses for Thandi.”

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