After two weeks of mundane life, Abby Wiess called to inform Conor that the NewAge Gaming deal was complete.
Conor let out a sigh of relief. Now, to really begin to change his life. "Thank you, Miss. Wiess. As we discussed, please go ahead and set half in a corporate account for me and leave half as liquid assets. I believe in the near future I will be ready to make some new business decisions so those funds will need to be ready to go."
"Of course, Mr. Brantley. Call on us any time."
***
Saturday
Saturday morning dawned bright. Conor was excited because today was ApaturePhotos Scavenger hunt for the Chamber of Commerce. Hopefully today, Jessica would get a glimpse of what he had been working on for her. When he got dressed, however, she had already left for the mall. He put on his suit and went down as well.
The whole area was a riot of colors and tents. Jessica had really done a good job arranging for vendors to be out and about for this event, and Peter had hired several extra photographers to set up booths around the mall near various murals, statues, and backdrops where people could take photos. He had even brought boxes of props for each site for people to dress up and take fun pictures with.
As Conor toured the various booths, he saw that the Banks family had decided to do their part to assist in the event as well. Several Bank and Trust tents were set up offering food and small give-a-ways. It seemed Nyman wanted to impress Jessica as much as Conor did.
As Conor rounded a corner, he saw Nyman and Jessica at one of the photo booths laughing as they draped props around each other's necks.
Cara wandered by then and walked up to Conor, "Isn't that Jessica?"
"Yea."
"And the guy?" watching Nyman and Jessica laugh and they used various props from the photographer's box.
"Nyman Banks. The second richest family in Jinstain. One of the wealthier families in Bayan province."
"I see. And you are not going to..."
"Debating. Is it worth stopping their fun over jealousy, or would it be better to work on providing a better life for Jess? Which would you choose?"
"Can I say neither? Don't miss the moments of your own life just because they don't want to be a part of it." Cara held up her own camera. "Shall we have our own fun?"
Conor grinned, "I suppose."
Conor watched as Jessica slowly became distracted from her own shoot with Nyman and began watching Cara and him. As they tried various hats and props, Peter took over for the photographer at their station and began directing the shoot, laughing as Cara draped a frilly boa around Conor's neck.
"Who is this?" Jessica demanded, standing in front of Peter's camera.
"Hi, Jess. Cara and I decided to take some photos while we waited for you to finish with Nyman. One more." Conor winked at Peter and tipped his hat in front of his face as Peter snapped the photo.
Cara stretched out her hand, "Hi, I'm Cara. I worked with Conor at the Grizlhut. I love taking photos so when I heard about this event I had to come down! Conor talks about you all the time."
"Does he now?" Jessica looked unconvinced and ignored the outstretched hand.
Conor stepped in, "Come now, Jess. This is all in good fun. Look, the event is a huge success! Everyone is having a good time."
Nyman made his way over then, "Still wearing that stolen suit?"
"Hello, Nyman. Natalia finally tire of your prickly personality, or did you simply lose interest in another one?"
"Ha, well it seems that I am not the only one moving on. Perhaps I will help take care of Jessica here for you" he slid his arm around Jessica's waist.
Cara gawked at the blatant overstep as Conor watched Jessica for a reaction. To his disappointment, she only shrugged out of the embrace when her father made his way over.
"Father! You made it!" she exclaimed, flinging her arms around his neck.
Mr. Cochan responded stiffly as was his custom, "Jess, Nyman. It seems things are going well today. At least traffic is up within the mall. We will see if anyone actually buys anything before we celebrate too much." He glanced around before spotting Conor. "Thinking of new ways to embarrass my family name?"
"No, Mr. Cochan. In fact, I believe Mr. Miros here might just be able to help turn things around. Hopefully between his and Jessica's efforts, this will be a new start for the Cochan Group."
"We wouldn't need a new start if you hadn't tainted our name so spectacularly."
"A wound I will continue to endeavor to repair, Mr. Cochan. Regardless, I see a bright future ahead for the Cochan family."
Mr. Cochan glowered at Conor before turning away, muttering under his breath, "It will be brighter once you are out of it." To Jessica, he said, "Jessica, your mother is looking for you near the entrance. Something about people to introduce you to. Best not keep her waiting." He sauntered off into the crowd without a second glance.
Conor scowled after him as Jessica darted off to find her mother. Nyman smirked at him before going pale as he spotted someone behind Conor. Nyman quickly faded into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
Conor looked over his shoulder and spotted a somber figure in the distance. Kelan Benedict stood glowering in his direction while someone Conor believed was the mayor tried to chat with him.
Peter walked over and caught his attention. "If I may, did I hear that this young lady loved photography?"
Cara beamed at Peter, "Yes! I am not very good, but I love taking photos. I am hoping to go to Bayan Academy one day if I can save enough and learn to take photos professionally."
"Is that so?" Peter winked at Conor. "I might know someone who can make that happen for you. In the meantime, how would you feel about starting an internship with me, and learning the ropes? Of course, I wouldn't want to steal you from your current job, so we could work it around that, but my team and I work all over the city."
"Oh, my! Are you for real? That would be amazing!" Cara clapped and practically jumped in the air she was so happy. "Conor did you hear! He said I could work with him!"
Conor chuckled, "Yes, Peter here would be a great teacher."
Cara playfully slapped his arm, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, honest!" Conor winked at Peter, but it was missed, as Peter's whole focus was absorbed with Cara.
"Do you two know each other?" Cara asked, bemusement crossing her face as she caught the wink from Conor.
Peter straightened at that, "Ah, well, without Conor there wouldn't be an ApeturePhoto."
Cara looked hard at Peter, then asked hesitantly, "What do you mean? Conor works like three jobs. What does AperturePhoto have to do with Conor?"
Conor chuckled humorlessly. "Dumb luck and Celia's guidance."
Cara raised an eyebrow.
"Conor here managed to scrape together enough money for me to buy my new equipment and finance the website when I first started. Likely put him behind on bills for a while, but... things are growing fast now! Soon, our young entrepreneur is likely to own the whole town!"
"I don't know about all that," Conor argued. "I am still struggling to pay rent and keep up with Jessica's spending."
Cara looked like she had met a stranger, "You own AperturePhotos? What, working at Grizlhut is just fun and games to you?"
"Cara, it's not like that. I inherited a small sum and might have been nudged to spend most... ok all of it about as soon as I got it. While rash at the time, it may yet pan out if our good friend Peter here can manage the actual business side of things while I slog it out at Jackson's furniture for a while longer. Besides, the company at Grizlhut was decent from what I remember."
Cara reassessed Peter, "Ah, so Conor is just the moneybags, but you are the real artist behind the lens then?"
Conor watched his friends stare at each other for a second, "Ok, I had best go find Jessica before the sparks around here set the grass on fire."
As Conor turned the corner, he felt Celia stir. He looked around at there, in front of the dragon wing mural was the dragoness herself. Kerrigan wore a knee length black dress under a tan overcoat with a plush scarf and sunglasses. A cuteConor's gaze tracked down her figure to knee-high leather boots with buckles up the sides. Edges of her honey brown locks floated on a gentle breeze from under a knitted cap.
Conor hesitantly made his way over keeping an eye out for her guards.
"Hello, miss! Are you enjoying the event today?"
Kerrigan glowered at him. "I finally get a moment alone and the camera guy has stepped off."
"I am no professional but if you would like, I could snap a few for you," offered Conor, holding up his phone.
"Oh, I suppose. Might be the only chance I get today."
Conor helped move her in front of the wings for a perfect shot and smiled as he snapped a photo of the dragoness incarnate, wings spread.
'One day soon, you will spread your wings,' came a gentle caress across his mind.
Conor walked over to show her the photo, "My name is Conor by the way."
"Kerrigan."
Conor leaned in to show her the photo while blocking the glare from the sun.
"Oh, that's a great shot! Thank you. Here text it to me"
Just as Conor was about to hit send four guards came running over like angry hornets.
"My lady! The Prima will not be happy if you were to get hurt or disappear!" they shouted.
"My lady?" Conor cocked a grin at Kerrigan. Kerrigan smiled at his expression, "Oh, nothing royal like you might be thinking, though the Prima may think of himself that way sometimes. You had best be off before they corner and question you for no good reason."
Just out of sight, Peter smiled down at this camera as he reviewed a photo of Conor and Kerrigan taking notice of the guards, and then both smiling. Their matching tan overcoats and black clothes were a perfect fit. "Save that one for later," as he walked back to find Cara again.
"Celia's blessing to you then, miss. Kerrigan," Conor took Kerigan's hand to kiss it formally, an odd notion even for him. As he did, her grasp in his hand tightened.
"Celia's blessing? You wouldn't be Conor Brantley now would you?" Kerrigan's gaze turned predatory.
Conor felt Celia's consciousness coil close, almost invisible. "why?"
"Rumor has it a Conor Brantley might know something about a missing relic. Rumor has it the Prima would pay dearly to acquire such an artifact." She hissed as her guards neared. She released Conor's hand as he straightened, and Conor quickly turned to leave. Behind him, he heard the guards arrive.
"My lady, the Prima ordered us to ensure your security. He would not be pleased if his intended were harmed."
"I have agreed to no such thing and he would do well to remember that." snapped Kerrigan. "Remember who I am, and whom you serve. Let's go."
Conor watched as Kerrigan stormed off, something about that defiant streak tugging on a memory of a small girl who had visited his mother's temple once a year when he was young. Before he had been sent off to boarding school in Jinstain, that young girl had made the hair of many monks turn gray before their time with her propensity to disappear right under their noses.
***
Kerrigan's pov
Kerrigan rested her head against the car window as her escort rushed her back to Targu province.
"Ma'am, the Prima will be excited to have you back. He has been asking about you ever since you left." One of the dragoons said.
"He just wants to be sure his 'prize' hasn't flown the coup," she retorted.
"He isn't all that bad. Perhaps some romance will form after the wedding."
Kerrigan snorted, "Carter, just the mere thought of that man makes me go dry! Dry like sandpaper. Do you understand? Don't ever talk to me about that old fool."
"Is he really that old?" one dragoon asked.
"He is 47 this year so he is 23 years older than me. Not happening in this lifetime." Kerrigan snarled.
"Well if things with the Prima don't work out, I suppose you still have the Benedict Heir pining after you. I hear he is planning to visit after your return to the temple."
"What? Kelan is coming to the temple?" Kerrigan cursed under her breath. "What the hells is he going to be doing in Targu?"
"I hear the Prima invited him to discuss business. Perhaps he is looking to use the Heir and his opinions of you to help further dragon Corporation."
Kerrigan seethed, "He can keep his hands off my company." She pulled out her phone and fired off a series of messages to her assistant who had stayed behind at Dragon Corporation.
(Alert the team, I want a full dossier on Benedict Corporation. Track every sale. If they are making moves, we counter or outbid them. Block ever move we can. Use the subsidiaries. While I want to be aggressive, I don't want to declare war. Make it look like a hundred different companies are just riding the coattails of the benedicts motions.)
(Yes, Ma'am.)
(Also, look into AperturePhoto. They seem to be going places)
(Sure thing. Several of our subsidiaries are actually already using them for marketing. I will have a complete report shortly. what do you return?)
(In a few hours. We are driving back now.)
(You have a meeting on the books with the Prima tomorrow at 10am. There is also a note about a lunch request with Kelan Benedict right after.)
(I don't have time for Kelan.)
(The prima asked me to clear your schedule for it.)
(Do you work for the Prima or me?)
There was a delay in the response which pissed Kerrigan to no end.
(I serve you, Mr. Lokir.)
(Good, then tell them I regret not being able to make it but I have a company to run.)
Kerrigan spent the long ride back thinking about the scavenger hunt. It had been a long time since she had truly enjoyed herself like that. She looked down at her phone a while later and grinned as she saw the photo of Conor with that hat tipped over his face. What a look indeed. She grinned as she saved the image to her background. it would be one of the few of her genuinely smiling in recent memory.