"Conor?" The door cracked open, revealing a blurry-eyed teen in a rumpled tee-shirt.
"Hey, Yuri. Can I hang out here for a bit? Things are a little... crowded next door."
"Yea, sure. Crowded?" Yuri held open the door and let Conor pass him.
"Monster-in-law"
"Ah, well I can show you the new release images on the game! Mr. Nuri is amazing to work with! Oh, I forgot to mention that! Mom got a new job thanks to Mr. Nuri. She will be working as an assistant for... some photo company that needs a secretary. She said that we will likely be able to move in a few weeks!"
"Really! That's great news! Where do you think she will move you to?"
"Well, Mr. Nuri told her about this new part of town. It's a bit farther away from most things but the rent is better, and there is a lot more space. He told her they are putting in super high-end utility lines so I should be able to run all my systems at full speed! It will be great for us both cause I know mom hates the traffic in town. The buses are always so crowded."
"Mmm. Maybe one day Jessica and I can join you out there."
"Sooner than you think, if this launch goes well."
"Well, even if it goes well, any funds I make will likely need to be used to help Jessica and her family for now. I owe them a lot for what they put up with when my Celia's Blessing shop failed."
"That was you! Man, I was only twelve at the time, but I still heard all about that from mom. I think she used some of those things."
Conor cringed. "They all started off safe. I think after mom went missing and everyone said she was likely dead, I just stopped paying attention to the new shipments. How was I supposed to know Janson had changed suppliers and was getting coal from the EisenGrube Mines mines?"
"EisenGrube Mines..... I have heard that name... some of my gamer friends chat about it. Supposedly it's bad news. Prison labor and all that... I think..." Yuri excitedly swiveled to his computer and started typing madly, totally ignoring whatever he was about to say. "Yea! Here it is!"
Conor looked at the screen to see a newsprint article with the county mayor and a man he didn't recognize. The subtitle under the photo read 'County signs deal with Benedict Corporation to handle Prison labor at EisenGrube Mines.'
"My friend says they send some bad dudes there, and very few ever make it to the end of their sentence. It's supposed to be some deal for the prisoners to work off their sentence and get out early, but few live long enough to collect on that deal." Yuri shuttered. "If you got some of your product from them, no wonder the public went nuts. This was a huge headline around four years ago."
Conor sat back, scratching his chin. Benedict....
"So, monster-in-law has you all riled up? Want to shoot monsters for a bit to get out of that headspace? You can help me test these final levels!"
Conor chuckled darkly. "Why not. It's not like I am welcome back over there any time soon.. let's see what you have come up with this time."
***
The apartment: Jessica's POV
"I am telling you, Jessica, he has already proven himself a failure. It's time to move on."
"Mom, I think he is really trying. You saw how he cleaned up and made dinner. He is working hard"
"Jessica, it's been, like, two days of this new Conor. Are you really going to forget over three years of failures because he trimmed his hair? He just wants time in bed with you and you know it."
"It's not like he has gotten any in a few years..." Jessica muttered humorlessly. "But he is trying to improve. I don't see any reason to discourage his new attitude. He has been working at the GrizlHut now for over two months. He seems to really be working hard."
"Just... don't open yourself to just be hurt again. I don't see him being able to be worthy of you, no matter how much effort he puts in."
"I know mom, but... I want to give him the chance."
"Nyman is not going to wait for you forever, dear. If you really want him, you need to be prepared to make the separation sooner than later."
"Nyman will be fine. I heard he had some new doll face to keep him occupied for now. She will not be any competition when the time comes. I will be sure of that!" Jessica spat.
"Now there is my girl. Just don't let him toy around too much, because you might lose him to another rich family, or even that Karigan Lokir girl."
"Lokir? Isn't she some corporate chairwoman?" Jessica asked, trying her best to remember where she had heard the name.
"Lokir is a brilliant woman. As far as my friends at the salon know, she is the youngest head of any of the major corporations, and her Dragon Corp is said to be tied to the temple of Abrasax, the dragon god of the east," gossiped Cynthia.
"Really? How old is she?"
"Young for controlling that group. I think I heard twenty-four, maybe twenty-six. I am telling you, if Nyman Banks gets sight of a powerful woman like that, his own family is likely to push the matter. Though I have heard she is quite the cold fish when it comes to men," Cynthia chuckled. "Apparently the favorite tale among my lady friends is that Kelen Benedict made a play for her hand about three years ago and was severely shut down. With her ties to the Temple, Kelan wouldn't dare retaliate outright."
Jessica sat in silence for a minute absorbing this news. Then she struck on something, "You mentioned Abrasax... We worship Celia. Where did Abrasax come from?"
"Ah, now you are getting beyond what I know, dear. I will always honor Celia, but have never really understood all the temples and such. All I know is Abrasax came to more power about four years ago when our own high priestess of Celia was killed... you know, Conor's mother. Your grandfather knew much more about this stuff than I do and believed it deeply. He was the one who convinced your father you should marry Conor. But that is beside the point. It could have been infighting within the church, or some outside force, we may never know, but many flocked to Abrasax after the priestess's death, hoping to have his protection. His temple has always been more of a fierce visage. Lokir does her patron god proud in that regard. She was named CEO of Dragon corporation by age eighteen and made some radical shifts, propelling it to the monster organization it is now. There is no telling how the monks feel about any of that, but I am sure the other members of the board are glad she has mellowed in her intensity in the past several years"
"If I could negotiate some business with her for the mall, that would put us in a grand position to repulse anything Benedict tries! You said Lokir has already refused him?" asked Jessica suddenly hopeful.
"If you really want to scorn Kelan, then yes, having her protection would be very helpful. Not only is the Dragon Corporation enough to make him pause but her connections to the temple are also a public relations nightmare if Kelan acts too rashly. But Jessica, don't be rash in approaching that woman. If she smells blood in a company, she is likely to demand a heavy price from us to do anything." explained Cynthia.
"And what of Conor?"
"What about him? If you are really set on giving him a chance, see if he can even make rent this month. It's due next week, right? If he can at least pay rent... maybe he is changing. But Jess, dear, that is a long road for you to consider. Nyman, or even Kelan can provide for you tomorrow. Their families can support our whole business and will benefit everyone. The best you can hope for with Conor is that he makes enough for you to survive."
Jessica frowned but accepted it.
"Now, I plan to stay the night. Your father is away on business. As for Conor, I am sure he can figure out a place to stay for the night."
"He is likely to be next door playing video games all night. I doubt he will notice."
"Good, well tomorrow, plan to meet me for lunch. We are meeting the ladies auxiliary at the Golden Palace. You really need to do more to curry favor with these women. They are the real power in town, whose husbands have influence and can get our malls contracts and tax breaks. It pays, in the long run, to spend some money on these relationships when the opportunity presents."
"Mom, you know Conor and I are working on a tight budget right now. In a few months, things will likely be better once he has been able to work for a while and we can save some."
"Jessica, these opportunities are valuable, and you need to seize them when they are available. You have no idea how hard I work to provide you the chance to meet these ladies. If you want any future in this town, you will not disappoint me, and you will be on time."
"Yes, mother."