"Coffee! I need coffee!" Tamsin said to no one in particular as she stumbled upstairs from her basement room in the Clubhouse to find it brewing but didn't see Kenzi anywhere.
"Kenzi!" Tamsin yelled.
"I am upstairs in Bo's old room!" Kenzi yelled back.
"Wait one, I am coming up!" Tamsin shouted back as she pulled the coffee pot out from the coffee machine mid-brew, poured a cup, put it back, and headed upstairs. She found Kenzi sitting on Bo's enormous, fully made, four-poster bed. Kenzi and Tamsin always kept the bed at the ready for guests. Kenzi was fully dressed for the day, with a coffee cup in her hands, seemingly lost in thought. Tamsin went and sat next to her on the bed.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Tamsin asked. Kenzi looked down at her cup.
"Need a fresh cup?" Tamsin asked.
"No. I'm good." Kenzi replied.
"So what's up? Not enjoying the morning?" Tamsin asked as she took a sip of her hot coffee.
"Kind of hoped Bo, Lauren, and their four mini-me's would have stayed the night. It has been awhile since they have done a sleepover." Kenzi said.
"That would have been fun, but with all the chaos reigning right now, their focus is obviously on the move they have to make here shortly."
"I know, you're right. It's just last night was so much fun it made me long for the days." Kenzi said.
"The days when we just floated, no steady jobs, no hard responsibilities. You mean all the non-grown-up stuff?"
"Yes." Kenzi said a bit meekly.
"Me too." Tamsin admitted.
"Really reflecting on last night. Reflecting on these last couple weeks, Reflecting on these last ten years. Reflecting on life itself. And it only keeps changing. Thought we would be settled by now. I thought I was mentally okay with all this. Trick's plan, but it seems like I'm not. And now even Trick will be moving with them!" Kenzi said as she threw up her hands.
"Yeah, but we will still be able to call and visit with them with that awesome tech they installed in the house." Tamsin replied.
"That phone system rocks, right?" Kenzi said excited.
"The enveloping part will take some time getting use to. Like a holodeck. A bit disorienting. But I am sure Lauren is geeking out all over it." Tamsin replied.
"I said the same thing to Bo, but Bo says Lauren's more weirded out about the Seneschal, and hovers over the children like they are gonna get kidnapped or something." Kenzi said.
"I get it, but then I don't get. A group of Fae that can anticipate your every need, and run every aspect of your daily life? I would be a spoiled brat if I grew up with the Seneschal." Tamsin replied.
"No joke. But then Antony and his brothers grew up with the Seneschal, and they display none of that." Kenzi said.
"Yeah, but then again they have The Regnant for a mother. You can clearly see she isn't putting up with spoiled anything. Ever since they arrived they have been on the move." Tamsin replied.
They sat in silence for a long moment.
"Last night was pretty amazing." Tamsin commented.
"Wasn't it though? And it was all so surreal. Like we captured a moment in time." Kenzi shook her head. "I feel like all of our past, present, and futures came together here last night."
"A premonition?" Tamsin asked. Kenzi raised her eyebrows.
"A feeling, maybe. Who knows. Or maybe I am just wowed by the fact that we had both the current and future Queens of all of Faedom sitting outside in our backyard eating dinner." Kenzi replied.
"That was amazing. And the fact The Regnant is a fantastic cook. I was so full. " Tamsin said.
"According to Antony, she does not often get the chance at the Presidium, but when they go off on family trips she always cooks and he joins in." Kenzi replied.
"Dakari said something about how they have to keep Antony limited to Sous Chef duties." Tamsin said as she chuckled.
"And Evony? What was that about? Miss domesticated all of a sudden. You could tell Evony is still in love with The Regnant." Kenzi replied.
"Yeah, was scoping that too. Crazy business."
"I cannot wait to meet The Regnant's wife. See who is at the center of their worlds."
That cued Tamsin to ask, "So…you and Antony went off for a bit. Deets, girlfriend."
Kenzi smiled and blushed. "Well. He is obviously incredibly handsome. Sexy. That smile of his. Love his accent. Love his voice. Alluring. Intense. Strong. Elusive, yet present. Go figure that one. And very clever." Kenzi described.
"How's that?" Tam asked.
"He can say a lot with little, but then say little with a lot."
"Okay."
"He wanted to know more about me, and you know what I was struck by?" Kenzi recalled.
"What?"
"He listened." Kenzi looked back down at her coffee. "Most guys when they first meet you and say they want to hear all about you it's just something they say to make small talk. Not with Antony. Not only did he listen, but he also asked some frank, thought-provoking questions. He even made a couple of recommendations with respect to the Dal's social programs, which I plan to take him up on."
"Wow! Sounds intensive for a first conversation. Did you learn anything about him?"
"It was. And I did. He talked about himself, his family, and the Presidium. Looks forward to my first visit there." Kenzi looked out at the window. "That was my favorite part of the night really. Listening to him, just talking to him. I enjoyed the intimacy of it. The tune of it. Like we knew how to read eachother's communication, when to listen, when to pause. But even more so, when we talked it felt as if it was just us. No one else there. Like we were in a cocoon or something all our own. There is a part of me that believes if I allowed myself I could lose myself in that." Kenzi replied.
They sat again for a moment.
"I also told him about Hale." Kenzi finally said.
"In the first convo?" Tamsin said surprised.
'Told you it was intimate." Kenzi replied. Tamsin looked at Kenzi and smiled hard.
"What are you grinning at?" Kenzi asked.
"I think you have been struck by love." Tamsin teased.
"Oh, no!" Kenzi protested as she suddenly perked up.
"Oh, so yes!" Tamsin said she as she rose from the bed and headed downstairs. Kenzi followed as they went.
"Okay then, so what was all the attention from Dakari?" Kenzi challenged back.
"Trying to change the subject?" Tamsin said as they reached the kitchen and she grabbed a thermos and filled it with coffee.
"Of course!" Kenzi replied as she followed suit.
"I think he was just being a wingman for his brother who had ulterior motivations. You being the motivation." Tamsin said as she winked.
"Ha! Ha! I don't that was his sole objective, my dear." Kenzi replied.
"Whatever!" Tamsin said. "Honestly, I think Dakari was just trying to be friendly. Not that he is repulsive by any means, being the epitome of the classically, tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome type."
"I know. All four of the Regnant's sons are gorgeous in their different ways. How does that happen?"
"Bo said her daughters are all stunning. If the Regnant is as beautiful as she is. Can you imagine what the Queen Consort looks like? To have nothing but gorgeous children?"
Kenzi perked up as if she suddenly noticed something. "Where is Dyson, by the way? I thought he stayed over last night?"
"No. he went back to his place after we talked. He has a full day today. Besides he raised the issue about moving in again last night?" Tamsin replied.
"Okay, what spurred that on?"
"Honestly, I think this latest round was spurred by his shock at becoming the new Ash. With his own transition happening, I think he wants some other matters settled, namely our relationship."
"Tams, you guys have been together going on almost nine years now. It's a fair question at this point."
"I know."
"Well, don't be fearful of moving out and leaving me here alone. I will be fine. Trust me." Kenzi said.
"Earlier in Dyson and I's relationship leaving you here alone here was part of my fears."
"Dude, follow your heart. If moving in with Dyson is the next step in your relationship and you are ready, take it. Don't wait, and most certainly do not concern yourself about me. If I want another roommate I can always ask Julia."
"Are you sure you would be okay here, alone?" Tamsin asked.
"I may live alone, but I won't ever be alone. I have you guys." Kenzi replied.
"Well, all that can wait until after Bo, Lauren and Trick make their move to the Presidium." Tamsin said. Kenzi went up and hugged Tamsin.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks." Tamsin said as they broke their embrace. "I better go. Big meeting this morning. Just a tad." Tamsin patted Kenzi on the arm and then left.
Kenzi took a look around at the very empty Clubhouse, then gathered up her and Tamsin's coffee cups, put them in the sink. Gathered her things together and left for the Dal.
XXXXXXX
Kenzi arrived at the Dal to find Beatrice waiting for her on the main floor.
"What's up?" Kenzi said when she walked in.
Beatrice offered a large smile, turned and did a sweeping motion of the main bar area. Kenzi followed her gaze, and then her eyes went wide. There were bouquets of flowers that sat on each and every table and on the bar.
"What the…" Kenzi said.
"They are everywhere. All appropriately sized for their settings. Even in the bathrooms." Beatrice informed.
"In the bathrooms?"
"In the bathrooms." Beatrice repeated.
"How did all of these get in here?" Kenzi asked
"They were here when we all arrived this morning, but you have got to see the office downstairs. There is a special one for you. With a note." Beatrice replied with glee.
Kenzi went down to her office followed by Beatrice, and was stunned. Her entire office was beautifully decorated with different flower bouquets, but there was one large bouquet of roses of all colors wrapped by African marigold, tulips, and daisies that sat on Kenzi's main side table. Kenzi swore it was her height in size.
"There is a note." Beatrice reminded with excitement.
Kenzi saw the envelope, plucked it out of the roses. It felt a little bulky. She opened it and pulled out the note first. She read it out loud.
"Dear Kenzi: Thank you for opening your home to our family and staff. We most certainly enjoyed the evening. We hope our presumptions in the renovations are to your liking and we hope will be of active use. Please accept this small token of our appreciation in the hope we shall enjoy many more such evenings. - Antony."
Kenzi smiled at the note then looked inside the envelope and her eyes opened wide.
"What is in the envelope?" Beatrice inquired.
"Jewelry." Kenzi replied.
"Oooooh jewelry! He's a keeper!" Beatrice said with excitement.
"Apparently." Kenzi turned over the envelope and out popped a brooch. It had a jewel in the middle that had a combination of red-blue-orangish colors, and it was surrounded by diamonds. Big diamonds.
"Are you kidding me? Holy crap look at those diamonds! I thinks those are rubies!" Beatrice went up to Kenzi so she take a closer look.
The brooch was nearly three inches all around, nearly square in shape. The core stone was reddish-orange, surrounded by a ring of twelve carat round diamonds designed in a flowered fashion, and slight raised at the center. The bouquet of stones was ringed by small deep blue stones that was ringed by ten-carat princess diamonds. The princess diamonds were further ringed by cream pink stones, ringed by eight-carat cushion diamonds, held together by an intertwining gold band.
"Did you promise to have his next three generations of children or something?" Beatrice asked.
"No! I think this is just his way of apologizing for all the changes that were made to the Clubhouse without asking. Installing the comms and transport technology, and literally transforming our backyard into this fantastic grill area." Kenzi replied.
"Backyard? Are we talking about the same Clubhouse here?"
"Wait until you see it. It is amazing." Kenzi said as she looked at the brooch. "But this," She shook the brooch slightly in her hand. "This too much. I need to give it back."
"Can I say something?" Beatrice asked.
"Sure."
"Keep it. Beatrice advised.
"What?"
"For now."
"Bea…"
"Hear me out. That brooch is custom made. If he thought well enough to craft it for you just for simply hosting a dinner, take it for what it is." Beatrice advised.
"And what is that?"
"That he is very interested in you. He is courting you, old school. Very, very old school. This is what old school courtship looks like. Take is from me, a person who has lived for over two hundred years. It doesn't mean you owe him anything, but what it demonstrates is that his interest is sincere. If you give it back you may send the wrong signal."
"What wrong signal?"
"That you are not interested."
"I'm not interested. I mean aside from the fact that he's nice, sexy, strong, very strong, and a fantastic listener, I…" Kenzi protestations were halted by Beatrice's look. "What's that look?"
"I heard it in your voice when you read his note, and I saw your reaction when you finished reading it. I am not saying you are going to run off and marry him right away, but to say you are not interested is not being honest with yourself." Beatrice said.
Kenzi looked at the brooch for a moment. "I really did enjoy last night."
Beatrice patted Kenzi on her arm. "Enjoy it for what it is. Because obviously, he feels the same way."
Kenzi went and sat at her desk and placed the brooch in front of her then looked at Beatrice.
"Okay. For now." Kenzi replied
"That's the spirit!" Beatrice said as she went over, patted Kenzi on the shoulder then went to her own desk.
"Now without further ado, we sent some of the staff to cater the breakfast ahead of the Elder Fae Council meeting this morning at Cotadela Palace. Once the meeting convenes we will send staff over to set up lunch. We have to review the final quarterlies for Liam so we can sign off on them, and he can submit them as part of our annuals. Then we need to…"
Kenzi's phone rang. She looked at her Caller ID. It was Julia.
"Hey." Kenzi answered.
"Clio received word from Sadie. She found that one Under Fae that gave me the slip. You were right, it was a deal gone sour, and now he wants to negotiate an exchange on behalf of the person who hired him."
"What's the exchange?" Kenzi asked.
"Apparently, there is a rare book within Engelram's collection that his employer would like to get a hold of."
"Hm. Exchanging the relic for a book?
"That is what I'm told."
"None of this makes any sense. First, a relic and now a book." Kenzi shook her head. "But we will roll with it. Does this book have a title?"
"Yeah, it's called the Athenaeum." Julia replied.
"Okay. Check with Tamsin's Catalog Team. They should have some record of this book by now and let me know."
"Will do."
"When and where do they want to conduct the exchange?" Kenzi asked.
"Today, 11:00 A.M. at Engelram's Warehouse."
"That warehouse is really popular these days." Kenzi said.
"Ya think?" Julia said smartly. 'There is one more part."
"What's that?"
"They want The Regnant to make the exchange."
"The Regnant? Why the Regnant? How did they even know she was here?" Kenzi queried.
"Have no idea. I am just the messenger of the messenger of the messenger." Julia replied.
"Well, that wwon't work with the big Fae meeting going on and all that jazz. I will simply have to pinch hit for her, and figure this all out later." Kenzi said.
"Are you sure?" Julia asked.
"Can't be helped. Besides this whole business with this relic is getting crazier. This is turning more and more into a deal not limited to a deal gone sour. It has implications, and now the The Regnant is becoming involved." Kenzi replied.
"Makes sense." Julia said.
"I'm at the Dal now, getting things organized for the day. I will meet you there at 11:00 AM." Kenzi said.
"See you soon." Julia said. And they both hung up. Kenzi turned to Beatrice.
"I have to meet Julia at Engelram's old warehouse at 11AM for a meet up."
"Are you not attending the luncheon with the Elder Fae?" Beatrice asked.
"So no. Hale's father and sister will be there. Staying out of sight and out of mind." Kenzi replied.
"I understand." Beatrice said as she grabbed the financial reports as they both moved over to their small meeting table.
"Liam wanted me to point out something in the investment reports for your information."
"An Investor that has decided to increased their stake in DRM." Beatrice said as she handed Kenzi one of the reports and pointed out the information in question.
"Whose that?" Kenzi asked.
"Andrassian Capital. It's a multi-billion dollar venture capitalist firm."
"Who runs it?" Kenzi asked.
"The firm lists Ellie Saen as its head. Know the name?" Beatrice asked.
"Never heard of her. What's going on?" Kenzi replied.
"According to Liam, about five years ago Andrassian Capital made an initial investment in the JFM, but then expanded their reach into the DRM portfolio." Beatrice explained.
"How did they come to know about the Dal's portfolio? Investing in Ash Pharmaceuticals is one thing, but how did this same firm come to know our portfolio?" Kenzi asked.
"Not sure, but it wouldn't take rocket science either. DRM was the capital investor in JFM so whomever did their research for Andrassian must have figured we had a dog in the fight, so I am sure it was just a matter of linkage." Beatrice surmised.
"What did the investment look like from this Adrassian Capital? Was it apportioned, or a lump sum?"
"A single, standing investment was made for Ash Pharmaceuticals, and then apportioned sums were split along our DRM investment tracks."
"Sound like this firm is testing the waters." Kenzi figured.
"That's Liam's thinking too." Beatrice replied.
"Well, Ash Pharmaceuticals is out there now with their proven drug to cure Dementia." Kenzi said.
"Still cannot get over that Dr. Lewis came up with the cure, and now they are preparing to tackle diabetes," Beatrice shook her head "simply amazing."
"It is amazing. But Lauren credits the DNA make-up of the Fae like the Aswang with spear-heading the solutions that lead to these breakthrough developments." Kenzi noted.
"She can credit whomever she wants. I credit her for pulling it all together and driving it home." Beatrice said.
"I agree." Kenzi said.
"They are going to be puking money." Beatrice noted.
"if the prelims the JFM is about to let loose on their next round of trials proves itself like their drug did for Dementia, oh yes. But which also makes both them and us targets for investors wanting to get in on the game." Kenzi exhaled. "I see no issues with Andrassian Capital's increased investment, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on them. See if they show a deeper financial interest." Kenzi said.
"Agreed. I will let Liam know." Beatrice replied. "Boy, this is a dangerous game we play all our own trying to manage investor involvement without exposing them to our world."
"That is why Ryan, Liam and Vex get paid the big bucks, so our worlds do not collide." Kenzi replied.
"Kenzi?" Bruce said as he walked halfway down the stairs.
"Hey, Bruce!" Kenzi said.
"You wanted to be aware. The Elder Fae meeting is starting now." Bruce reported.
"Thanks Bruce." Kenzi said as he nodded his head in acknowledgement, and went back upstairs.
"What was that?" Beatrice asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, I just wanted to know when it actually kicked off so I could send happy thoughts to Bo on this very historic day." Kenzi replied.
"Sending mine too." Beatrice joined.
They sat for a moment in thought, and then Kenzi said, "Let's keep going."
