Chapter 17
The suit was regal, black, and rather expensive. Tailored by a Saville Row-trained tailor in Hong Kong, it was a holdover from his days as a dot-com maven. Very early on in his business career, Kevin had realized that most Internet entrepreneurs had failed to understand one very key tenet of business: people like to buy from people who looked wealthy. It was an unfortunate human prejudice. If given a choice between buying from some one who looked like a hobo and someone who looked like they were from a prep school, the vast majority of consumers would buy from preppy, even if the hobo offered a superior product at a superior price. In the same way, Kevin saw that the majority of website businesses had computer science majors at the head of them, a breed who normally would not think twice about strolling into a sales event in a t-shirt and ripped jeans. Kevin had seen a competitive advantage to grab and had taken it
And so, on a family trip to Hong Kong, Kevin had plowed his first thousand dollars of earnings into buying the finest bespoke suit he could have made. The bespoke suit was something of a British tradition, dating far back in history, where tailors would cut and sew a specific suit for a specific individual. The tradition still lived on in a few areas of the former British empire, plied by high end tailors and cutters. Hong Kong, with its lively community of British expatriates, was a prime place to get them.
The result was a formal suit that would fit no one else in the world. The suit transformed him from a slightly pudgy teenager to a member of an Asian aristocracy, a person that exuded smooth competence and integrity. Moreover, it had paid off twenty times over, as Kevin could recall many times when he had stolen a client from another, more qualified candidate by virtue of his look.
He spared a glance at the window before letting his eyes flick back to the mirror. Even Kevin would admit that he looked rather sharp in it. It was a special suit for special occasions and, in its own way, imparted more formality than even a tuxedo could.
He reached for the burgundy tie on the table next to him, quickly and easily tying it into a knot around his neck.
The collar fit snugly, a bit too snugly in his opinion. The soldier despised his formal uniform, understanding it to be the product of some bureaucrat's warped idea of stylish dress. It was a mildly unflattering shade of speckled cream, better suited to a vase or throw rug than a uniform.
He tugged at the collar again, hoping to bruise it into a more comfortable shape with his fingers, finally giving up with an exasperated sigh and settling for staring at the ceiling. The room was richly furnished with antique tables, chairs, and knick-knacks of all sorts, the kind of curios one was supposed to look at but not touch. Murals and oil lamps decorated the walls . At the far end of the room, a pair of curving stairs descended from the upper stories, leading to parts unknown.
A strikingly beautiful woman trotted quickly down one of the stairways, favoring the soldier with an easy smile. "Retainer, you are early."
The young man nodded quickly. "Your Majesty requested that I arrive at a particular time. I have arrived at that time."
The woman chuckled tiredly. "My friend, I think you need to attend more balls while under my employ."
"And why is that, your Majesty?"
The woman moved smoothly over to a snuff box near the entryway and took a pinch before answering. "When you don't know the rules of being fashionably tardy, I detect certain problems with your social upbringing."
The man's eyebrows raised slightly at the subtle insult. "Your Majesty, I was informed that the post of your assistant required a more militarily than socially adept background. If that is not the case, I would be content to resign my position in favor of someone else."
Queen Serenity gracefully moved next to him. "I apologize, there was no insult intended. I already believe that you are invaluable to the well-being of our family. I only meant that a handsome young soldier like yourself ought to get out to parties a bit more."
She smiled slyly. " Besides, I've heard that you have some rather dedicated admirers in the court."
The soldier's face betrayed the hint of a smile. "Indeed, your Majesty? I have not taken notice. Perhaps your Majesty is imagining things."
The queen, her nose merrily red from the snuff dust, laughed aloud in a most un-royal manner. "I see I'm not going to get very much out of you tonight. I must send a servant to see if the girls are ready yet."
The soldier's voice betrayed a slight humor. "And what of being fashionably tardy?"
Serenity shook her head slowly, a wide smile on her face. "I don't even suspect that they are even close to ready. But it would be a novel idea to arrive to a party early rather than late."
Minako looked at herself in the mirror. The strapless dress was a pale, creamy orange, reaching down to the tips of her matching shoes. A simple red bow swept her hair from her face and she practiced an easy, friendly smile. That smile had seduced countless others of the opposite gender, and she knew its power better than anyone else. Males would do things for her that they would not for others, if only she would flash them a flirtatious smile. It was a power she used sparingly, but one she could not shy away from.
The smile faltered before the mirror, as apprehension began to take hold of her beautiful features. Doubt marred the image in the mirror and she looked away quickly to the clock on the wall. The seconds ticked away easily, until the clock chimed five times.
She really should not have been flustered, but was. Minako couldn't explain it. She had attended dances before, had gone on many dates, yet none had felt quite like this.
The doorbell interrupted her thoughts and she checked her makeup job again, grabbed her purse and ran to the door.
Her mother gave her a rare, complimentary smile. "Take care, dearest."
"I'll be back late, mom." Minako kissed her on the cheek before flinging open the door and scampering outside.
"Ready?" Kevin stood in the pathway to her house, with his back towards the setting sun. It cast the front of his figure in deep shadow, but Minako could make out the outline of Kevin's figure, his hands shoved into his pockets.
She reached forward and brushed a stray piece of lint off his shoulder. "Snazzy suit. Where did you get it?"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Around. You're not looking bad yourself."
Minako aped his nonchalant gesture. "This old thing? It's just been lying around my closet for ages now."
Kevin rolled his eyes slightly, but offered his arm by way of apology. The limousine in the driveway was a matte black with tinted windows providing the only sheen on the car. He leaned over to open the door for her and she smiled at him before stepping inside.
The American smiled to himself and followed her.
The inside of the car was terribly noisy. Usagi had responded to the newcomer with squeals of glee, nearly spilling her drink on Minako's dress. "Yay!"
Minako twisted slightly, moving out of Usagi's range, but responded with a dazzling smile. "Well, I made it!"
Usagi grinned at Kevin. "And we have you to thank for it! I want to hug you too!"
Kevin shrugged. "She said she needed a date and I was free tonight."
"Aww!" Usagi tried to leap across the car to make good on her promise, but was restrained quickly by the dark haired man next to her.
Mamoru swept the glass away from her quickly and handed the bottle over to Kevin. "I apologize for that. While you were out getting Minako, she got into the wine."
Kevin chuckled and waved off the apology before examining the wine bottle. It was a rosè champagne from France, rather expensive from the looks of it. He winced to think what he was paying for this limousine ride, but shrugged it off with a smile. Kevin lifted the bottle slightly. "Care for a glass?"
Minako grinned. "Only if you have one with me."
"I think I can agree to that." Kevin popped the cork carefully, so not to have it bubble over. Then with the precision of a surgeon, he poured into the two proffered glasses. The wine was a very pale pink, with the distinct aroma of roses emanating from it.
The blonde handed one off to him and was about to take a sip before Kevin interrupted her. "We can't drink without a toast."
She cocked her head slightly. "A toast?"
"Yes, drinking should be a celebratory event. We need something to celebrate."
"How about being young, carefree and having the rest of our lives to look forward to?"
Kevin thought about that one for a moment then nodded his assent. "I think I can drink to that."
They clinked their glasses together and drank deeply. The flavor of raspberries was the first thing that touched his palate, complemented by the almost overpowering crispness of violets. Then, suddenly the taste mellowed out considerably, leaving a wonderful aftertaste of wild strawberries tickling his nose.
Minako drained her glass, then sneezed delicately before licking her lips. "Mmm, that was delicious!"
Kevin nodded. "It was quite good."
She giggled happily and leaned on his shoulder. Instinctively, his arm wrapped around her body, drawing her close. Minako sighed with contentment and closed her eyes.
Kevin turned his head to watch the scenery whizzing by the window, reflecting on how right everything felt.
It would not be a feeling that persisted.