"Our next guest is the ever fabulous Amber Sweet! She's taken the world by storm with the hot news of her upcoming musical debut. Tonight, at Geneco hall, she'll be performing her brand new song! I hope you've all got your tickets! She's the founder of the Zydrate Support Network and beloved daughter of Rottisimo Largo, saviour and saint of the modern world! Please put your hands together for the one and only Miss Amber Sweet!" The voice was loud and booming, and the crowd cheered.
Amber swept across the stage, looking effortlessly elegant and smiling teasingly, blowing kisses to the roaring audience who were packed into the huge studio. The lights were bright and glaring, half blinding her as she walked confidently, arms swinging at her sides, to sit down gracefully on the comfortable leather couch. The host was a middle aged man in a brilliant, glittering green tuxedo. His hair was black and spiked jauntily, giving him the appearance of a rather overgrown teenager. He was Declan Andrews, world famous for his variety show, sponsored by Geneco (well what on earth wasn't sponsored by Geneco these days?) 'Genetic D Live'.
He jumped up and shook Amber's hand enthusiastically. She smirked at him, her hand cold against his own, which was hot and slightly clammy. She batted her ludicrously long eyelashes, that foxy smirk still in place.
"Miss Sweet, it's so wonderful to have you on the show." Declan gushed, as Amber crossed one long leg over the other, leaning back into the couch as if she owned it.
She wore a powder blue corset along with a black, voluptuous skirt that ended at her knees, along with brilliantly shining, calf length white boots.
"Well, thank you for having me." She said in a breathy, girlish voice, smiling sweetly and giving the audience a flirty wave, her long white fingernails glinting.
The host sat down in the chair opposite the couch and leaned forward towards her with an evident eagerness. He asked her a few questions about what she was up to at the moment, and they exchanged banter for a few minutes, the audience hanging on her every word.
"Now, Amber." Declan said pointedly, "I have to ask, what's with the name change?"
Amber smiled, her icy blue eyes glinting, "Well, I need a stage name, don't you think?" She twirled a strand of long, auburn hair around her finger, "And besides, I'm far too sweet to be a Largo."
The audience all laughed and clapped. She smiled silkily, flipping her hair and tilting her head to one side to regard Declan with a sultry pout. He continued to ask her questions about her upcoming performance, about life at Geneco tower and her Zydrate Support Network. She answered his questions, all smiles and flirty looks. It was what people loved her for; that sweet yet flirtatious manner she had.
"Are you seeing anyone special at the moment, Miss Sweet?" Asked Declan, with a cheeky smile.
Amber giggled, "Why, Mr Andrews, are you flirting with me? I'm high maintenance, dear."
The audience all laughed and cheered.
"Now Miss Sweet, what do you say to the allegations that you are in fact, addicted to surgery?"
Amber lost her cool for a moment, but regained it swiftly, fixing her flirty smile in place. She flipped her hand dismissively, "Oh now really." She said, "Who hasn't had a little work done here and there?" She grinned and winked, "After all, it's what's inside that counts."
The audience laughed again, cheering and clapping, for everyone knew Geneco's catch phrase.
"And what do you say to the rumours that you take street zydrate?"
Okay, this was getting a little heavy now, and Amber gave him a bemused look, "Are you serious?" She gave a little laugh, "I have too much respect for my body to take that stuff. People who take street zydrate are trying to escape their problems. What on earth would I have to escape from?"
And she smiled charmingly, as the audience clapped.
-
Amber marched purposefully from the elevator, moving quickly through the office and over to her father's desk. She was still wearing her outfit from the interview, still looking immaculate and altogether presentable. Her father's office was as shadowy and cold as ever. Opulent and elegant, yet somehow sterile and unwelcoming, too. The walls were dark and rough, the entire room cast in long shadows. The decorative lamps that lined the walls did little to lift the gloom. Rotti was sitting in his high backed leather chair behind his desk, busily sifting through documents on his desk and wearing a serious expression – but when didn't he look serious, really?
"Daddy!" She exclaimed, leaning on his desk and fixing him with a steady look.
Rotti looked up, annoyed, "What is it?"
Amber frowned slightly, "Did you see me on Genetic D?" she asked, flicking her immaculate hair back from her face.
"Sorry baby, I've been busy." he said, and he gave her an apologetic look.
Amber straightened up, folding her arms over her stomach, "I want another nose job." She said petulantly.
"Fine, fine, I'll sort it out later." Rotti said, distractedly as he turned back to the documents on his desk.
Amber watched him with a nonplussed expression then walked to sit down on the small couch that faced his desk. She looked down idly at her white boots, as she smoothed her skirt over her thighs. She'd lived with her father for years now, having spent most of her childhood living with her mother. She'd never gotten on especially well with her mother, or with any of her mother's string of boyfriends (although some of them had liked her a little too much). She had been eager to move to the huge, industrial city and live in Geneco tower with her father and brothers. Her father had always been somewhat distant, seeing her only on holidays, and she had thought living with him might bring them closer. But although he doted on her in his way, always showering her with gifts, there was never any real affection there. In her youth she had sometimes wondered if this was the way all fathers acted. But if all he could give her was gifts and gold, then so be it. She would take whatever she could get, because it was close enough to affection, right? If he never told her she was pretty, but gave her beautiful clothes, then that was close enough, right? He hadn't even batted an eyelid when she announced she had changed her name. She'd almost dared to think that he might care. She loved her father, she supposed. But how she hated him, too!
She examined her nails in the dim light, thinking idly of her idiot brothers. Pavi's face was still a mess, and it made her smile. At least he kept his distance now. He tried getting a facelift to fix it up, and the hilarious part? It got botched and made his face worse. Oh well, Geneco were developing some new kind of skin graft now, 'replace your face' or whatever, so he'd probably go in for that. Whatever. She just loved seeing his loused up face; it made her feel powerful. That'd teach him for being a pervy creep. He never told anyone how it had happened, but she knew that was less out of protection for her, and more out of his own shame. Well, it served him right.
"By the way," Rotti said, half startling Amber out of her musings, "I'm organising a couple of bodyguards for you. Can't have you running about town on your own, it's too dangerous."
He didn't add the implied: 'especially when you've taken to disappearing all night and stumbling home half dead the next day'.
Amber rolled her eyes, leaning back on the couch, "Oh, great!" she exclaimed with heavy sarcasm, "Well, just as long as they don't cramp my style. And they'd better be good looking."
The elevator bell chimed and Amber looked curiously over the top of the couch towards the lift doors. Her icy blue eyes showed no emotion as she coldly watched Nathan Wallace sweep into the office, holding his well known refrigerated carry bag. And looking like a god damn school teacher as usual in his collared shirt and long coat. He didn't glance at her as he walked to Rotti's desk and placed the bag down without preamble.
"Ah, Nathan." Rotti said, as he rifled opened up a desk drawer and pulled out several transparencies, handing them to Nathan. "These are due in the next couple of days."
Nathan tucked the shining transparencies into his coat and nodded curtly, turning to go. He spotted Amber, who was watching him from the couch, and his face coloured slightly. He hesitated for the briefest moment, before walking back to the lift.
Amber got up, "Hold the lift!" She called to Nathan. "Bye daddy. I should go get ready for my show." she said pleasantly, skipping after Nathan to the lift.
Rotti looked up sharply, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Amber trail after Nathan into the lift. She blew her father a kiss as the metal doors closed smoothly.
Nathan glanced at her, expressionless, "That was subtle."
Amber folded her arms, as Nathan jabbed the ground floor button, and the lift began to move. Out of the window behind them, the bright lights of the city could be seen moving steadily past as the elevator made its smooth decent.
"Did you see me on TV?" Amber asked, "I was on Genetic D, you know."
Nathan didn't reply, fixing his gaze on the window and watching the buildings move slowly past as they went down. The tower was impossibly high and he wished the lift would go faster.
Amber frowned, leaning sullenly against the lift wall, "Well?!"
Fuck, why did he ignore her half the damn time? It was like he wasn't even there half the time, like he was lost in his own thoughts so completely that he didn't even hear her speak.
He chanced a glance at her, those pale green eyes regarding her.
He sighed slightly, "I saw it."
She felt a little thrill inside, "I looked pretty good, huh?"
"You seemed very....cheerful." He replied evenly.
She looked at him carefully, trying to work out if that was a thinly veiled insult or not. It was hard to tell.
"I told you I'd be a famous singer." She said, smirking, "You should come to the show tonight."
She delved into her turquoise green clutch and produced a laminated slip of paper, embossed with curly script.
"Here. It's a back stage pass, too." She smiled beguilingly, those eyes glinting with mischief.
Nathan took the paper but didn't look impressed, "I have to work tonight."
"Oh, kill people later." Amber said, with a flip of her hand, "They can wait a while to die, right?" She smirked.
The lift doors opened and Nathan strode out.
He glanced back at her as he walked away, "Nice name, by the way." he said quietly.
And she was reminded vaguely, of another time, many months ago. She stood in the lift for a moment, indecisive, and then walked after him. Geneco personnel flitted around the lobby, GENterns and surGENs and the like, as Nathan and Amber walked silently out of the Geneco tower and onto the street. Nathan walked purposefully down the street away from the tower, with Amber close behind.
He sighed again, "What do you want?"
She gave him her winning smile, the one she reserved for television and photos, "World peace." Then she gave a little cough of laughter, "Actually fuck that, that'd be boring."
They walked through the streets, long shadows and harsh noise all around them in that aching city that seemed to stretch up forever above them.
Nathan gave her a sideways glance as they walked, "You took off pretty quickly the other day." He said quietly.
"I had things to do." Amber replied defensively.
"I thought I might have offended you." Said Nathan, in his nonchalant way.
Amber curled her lip slightly, "Not even close."
Nathan looked at her for a moment, then quickened his pace, "Are you escorting me home? Because there's really no need, I think I can take care of myself." he said humourlessly, as she strode faster to keep up with him.
Amber glowered at him, "God! You're such a snob!" she exclaimed.
That was rich, coming from her. He ignored her, walking briskly along the pavement. The streets were only mildly crowded, most people having gone home at this time. Amber strode along after Nathan with a cold determination.
"So what's wrong with that kid of yours, anyway?" She asked cattily, as they turned a corner down another long street.
The traffic on the street roared past them. The air was full of the sounds of cars, voices, distant sirens and Geneco announcements that blared over the huge speakers about the city constantly.
((Ask a GENtern if Zydrate is right for you.)) an electronic female voice could be heard proclaiming from the speakers which littered the streets.
"She's deformed, isn't she!" Amber exclaimed, gleefully.
Nathan gave her a murderous look, "She certainly isn't."
"That's why you keep her locked up in her room isn't it!?" Amber said happily, "Oooh you dropped her on her head didn't you! She's hideous isn't she!?" And she laughed, cruelly.
Nathan rounded on her, stopping in his tracks. He was bristling with rage, and he slapped Amber across her pale, cool cheek with a force that shocked her. Her head jerked violently to one side and she staggered backwards. She touched her stinging cheek lightly with her hand, and looked at him with a cold indifference, her mouth drawn.
"My daughter is perfect." He said evenly, his eyes glinting with malice, "She's absolutely perfect. And she's the only thing in this world I care about. Don't talk about things you can't possibly understand."
She watched him as he walked hurriedly away. Her cheek was throbbing. She didn't show any emotion, just stared after him for a moment. Then she turned to walk back to Geneco tower.
To hell with Nathan Wallace and his stupid sick kid. If she bothered to give any great thought to it – which she certainly did not want to do – she might realise that she was drawn to him for the same reason she had to run from him. Because he might actually see her. Either way, she was bound to lose.
She strode confidently back through the streets towards the tower. Time to prepare for her show. Time to go be little miss fucking sunshine. Carmela Largo might be gone, but Amber Sweet really isn't much different, she has to admit. It's funny because she thought somehow that changing her name would change her, in a way that surgery couldn't. What's that old thing about a rose smelling the same whatever you call it?
Well, she had a different name, but she was still dirt.