Page 22 of Right Next Door
“A little,” he admitted, sitting back. “You have a report for me?”
“A list.” Davard opened his combot and brought one up. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it into Tsok’s computer. “The charina’snext clients have all been vetted and approved by the security team. This is their names and statuses.
“Good work,” Tsok praised. “I’ll look at them later. Anything else important?”
“Yes. You received a formal invitation.” Davard held up a datastick.
“Oh. From who?” Tsok took it from him, looking the little device over before running it over his combot, allowing it to be scanned. Even as the invitation was popping up, Davard was answering-
“Senior Boktare, as a matter of fact.”
Tsok blinked, surprised. It was, indeed, an invitation from Boktare. He was having a charity event, and he wanted Tsok to attend.
“Why is he sending me an invitation?”
“He is in as delicate a position as you are,” Davard said. “As much as you want to sway public opinion to your side, he does as well. But neither of you want to shake the people’s faith in the system, in the process.”
“You believe he is doing this to show the people that we’re still united in doing what is best for Kree?”
“It would make sense. And perhaps he thinks that there’s still time to win you over to his side. To change your mind.”
Tsok frowned. That might very well be true. Wasn’t that exactly what he was trying to do? He just didn't think that Senior Boktare would be willing to invite him around to do so. Of course, a charity event could be considered neutral territory. Davard was probably right in assuming that he was doing it as a means of showing the people that, even in disagreement, they were still united.
But that wasn’t his only intention.
There, on the invitation, it was made clear. ‘The honored char and charina are both cordially invited…’
He was trying to see Misty.
She hadn’t made a formal appearance at anything yet. She had been focused on her manor and setting up her business. Tsok had left her to it. If she wanted to get out and explore, she’d tell Davard, he was sure. He thought it best to let her get comfortable in her new home before he started parading her around as his partner.
But the invitation was explicit in its intention.
Boktare was demanding to see Misty. Demanding Tsok prove that she was safe, that she wasn’t being held against her will. Though the invitation itself was polite and above reproach, Tsok knew too much about Senior Boktare to not see the hidden threat.
Show her, or be condemned for locking her away.
“Davard,” Tsok looked at his assistant. “Tell Misty it is time she prepare for her first party.”
Chapter 9
Misty
“I know the fuck he did not just summon me like I’m a damn dog!”
Pacing up and down her room, flames near shooting out of her mouth with each harshly spat word, Misty snarled her anger at the audacity of this man. Male.Thing!
Who the hell did he think he was?!
Honestly, Misty had almost forgotten she was mated at all. She was having such a great time in her new mansion, not a bill to be paid, running her business that was set to make a steady profit at the rate she was going, making new friends from her clients and other hair dressers that had come around to ask about her braiding techniques. Although their hands couldn’t replicate the ones she made perfectly, she was never going to tell them not to try or discourage them from putting their own spin on it. In return, they taught her techniques and tricks not taught in the basic grooming lessons.
Her life was going great, as it happened.
And now this.
The message popped up on her combot this afternoon, as she was lounging about at her leisure, sipping on something sweet and alcoholic - it wasn’t wine; it was something synthetic, apparently, but she didn't care because it was delicious, and she was promised it wasn’t bad for her. Though it was a synthetic concoction, it was a body neutral one. She could drink it, and it would make her pleasantly buzzed but not drunk, and it was practically calorie free.
Give her the diet friendly not-wine all day!
