Hello, thank you for the kind reviews! And thanks to The Musing Airhead for pointing what's supposedly "Not all gems are bright" out, yes, that escaped me LOL. Soooo here goes, everyone! I hope you are entertained.

XOXO

Chapter 2: Bargaining

They said a devoted daughter was a blessing for the family...

... Of others.

Nothing shocked Innes more than a dressed-in-business-attire Tana sitting cross-legged on his desk as he entered his office that morning. And what a rare scenery! His sister clad in white shirt and gray trousers, her blue hair tied into a bun 'defended' with two golden bobby pins. She wore a pair of black Mary Jane flats with straps—another surprise for him because...

"I don't want to be like you! Confined in the office, wearing dull suits of this so-called professional colors you proudly tell me about."

At least that was before Tana realized her brother made so much money by 'wearing dull suits of professional colors'... which supported her shopping and other leisure activities. Now she looked so professional, anyone wouldn't have guessed the beautiful Frelian daughter was a third year college student. And to think how Tana passionately abhorred gray suits and the likes...

Well, he did not think much as he grabbed the door handle thinking either Gerik, the head security, already entered the room for morning inspection, or Syrene leaving him important notes as usual, with the latter being his secretary. But now he had to face his sister, now arms crossed, which reminded him of their father's unapproving gesture. "You're late," her sister said sternly.

Jaw-dropping in the most inelegant manner a Frelian offspring could make, Innes was so close to spitting the coffee he sipped mid-way to the room. "How did you... and—" he noticed a pile of papers that wasn't there yesterday, at least not until he packed to leave.

"I know you won't start anything!" she charged even before he could take a seat and tried to swallow this truth—of his sister dethroning him from that expensive chair of his. "So I came to help you. We're team, Innes! And I must say, Dear Brother, with the non-existent taste of yours and your keep addressing our potential guests as minions, I'm worried."

"Where?" he threw his briefcase on the desk.

"Where what?"

"Where did you hide Marisa's body? Did you kill her so Gerik would comply and let you in?" he mocked, remembering Gerik's versatile right-hand man... woman, with unparalelled loyalty even compared to Pikachu. Marisa only took Gerik's orders. And Gerik would be soooo willing to listen to what he wanted... right?

"You are so immature," Tana grunted. "She said you weren't here when I came... so I waited. Do you know I skip my lessons today so I can help you?"

"As if wearing formal attire magically turns you into a mature person," his reply was colder than any Forever Alone's heart. "Tana, I'm busy. I have no time to babysit you."

"You're busy with everything but planning the party!" Tana got up from the desk, making Innes mentally note to purify it later. "You heard Dad, Innes. Let's get this started. The sooner, the better, right? I brought you magazines to help us coming up with an idea to begin with. Then we discuss the concept that is suitable to Dad's liking, assessing the budget with Vanessa, hunting for avenues... oh boy, I'm so excited, I can't wait!"

Innes groaned in frustration. Magazines? He had to deal with them now? But Tana was right after all, sooner or later he had to start planning. And of course, knowing his father, 'later' was not even a choice. Now this is worse than being asked with what I should hit Ephraim in the butt with, he thought as he took one magazine out of the piling fossils... alright, pieces of art Tana had graciously brought.

"NSFW gifts your friends will like," he read that aloud. "Ex-heck-cuse me? And this is put under party ideas section?"

His sister's face turned red at an instant. "Alright, we'll skip that one. Treat it like it is the worst mini-ripped jeans you've ever seen," she grabbed the cursed issue out of his brother's hand.

Innes frowned but didn't say anything. He obeyed, picking up another because he knew the sooner this ended, the lesser he needed to deal with his sister throughout the day. "Don't blame me if I think 80% girls are dirty-minded. The rest 20% are too shy to admit that," he smirked. "Perhaps if you are willing to read scientific journals, Dear Sister..." but Tana silenced him by smacking another magazine right at his face.

"Bubbly party, bubbly wine, bubbly resolution perfect for you bubbly New Year's Eve. Invite your bubbly best friends squad to share the bubbliest moment in your life," he read again.

"Oops," Tana grinned sheepishly. "I promise the rest of them aren't that bad..."

"You have five seconds to tell me a good reason why I shouldn't throw you out of the window for wasting my time and disturbing my blissful morning with my dulcet coffee," Innes threatened.

"Dulcet coffee? You really aren't the best conversant are you?"

"Three..."

"Alright, alright! Give me some time," she laughed nervously, grabbing ten magazines at once, skimming it under Innes' unforgiving menacing look. "Better than before. Pool party, funky 70's party, period party..."

"Period party," he repeated. "Period. Party. Am I starting to think inappropriate things or your magazines are full of delusional people? Tana, I don't want a funky party. Our party is supposed to be elegant, sophisticated, different—"

"—And refined, cultured, unforgettable, delightful, grandiose," there came his sister's sarcastic response.

"You forgot perfect," Innes frowned again. "But yes. I have to praise you for being able to juxtapose your mind with mine this time."

"Stop being punny, you're not funny," Tana glared. "Oh my God, I got infected as well. But, Innes! So much expectation you have in mind yet you're not willing to cooperate with me? If only you told me that you'd prefer an elegant-kind of a party, I wouldn't have to drag those holy manuscripts all the way here to inspire you! I'm trying to save us here, you know?!"

"I am not at all inspired."

"Why don't you pick the best out of the worst there while I get us breakfast," Tana raised her hands up, defeated. "Also, I've told Gerik to bludgeon you in the balls if you even dare to get out of this place!"

"Bros don't betray each others because all of us have balls. Our feelings are perfectly synchronized about that wretched bludgeon... and for your information, I do think the best out of the worst still qualifies as horrible. But of course, by all means, Dear Sister, be my guest. Take your time because I will be more than glad to meet you a century later," Innes responded gallantly. Tana did leave for the glory of breakfast... at least reading some more copies of the Los Miserablos Treasury his sister had so kindly brought today wouldn't kill... right?

What a waste of time, he thought. Tana wants me to choose, fine, I'll just do. And maybe praying like a lark hoping for a miracle to get me out of this. He took five of the magazines and threw his darts at them. The best out of the worst, huh? He thought as another dart flied from his fingers. Let's just pick anything. It's not like it's a dead end... I hope, he thought again, throwing two more darts. The darts were originally meant for stress-reliever—which also suited him because his aim never missed. Not even once...

Why didn't I do this sooner? This feels good. This feels...

The sound of a door creaking made him stop, his mouth agaped seeing Tana returned with two large croissants in her hands.

Oh, how nice it was to be a croissant. Curvy, delicious, a life-saver since it freed people from hunger. Most importantly, a croissant didn't have to deal with Godzilla Tana!

And suddenly the idea of being bludgeoned in the balls didn't sound so bad...