Early Saturday morning, Conor rolled out of his bed at Vokrizin. This suite was quite comfortable and he supposed it was a good thing, as it may be more common for him to sleep here if Cynthia ever tried to kick him out of his room again. Tonight was suppose to be the Gala. Conor wondered if perhaps Jess would finally realize how much effort he had been putting in for her and her family business. As he walked down to the parking lot, he looked at his new Sapphire SUV.
"I really shouldn't take that home.... Jess might get ideas..." Conor decided to call a cab to drop him at home, leaving the SUV at Vokrizin for the day.
That evening as he was getting ready, he heard Jess shout.
"Are you ready yet?" Jessica asked, waiting impatiently at the door.
"Just a minute," Conor finished tying his tie and tossed on his tan overcoat. As he stepped out into the main room, his breath caught. Jessica wore in dark burgundy, her off-the-shoulder formal gown flowing just above the ground. "Jess," he stuttered breathlessly.
"What? Too much?" She swished the dress, checking her heels and the hem.
Conor cleared his throat and tried again, "Honey, you are stunning."
Jessica stopped and looked seriously at Conor, assessing, before blushing, a slight smile rising to her face. "Shall we?"
Conor grabbed the keys and they headed down to Jessica's car.
When they arrived at the Gala, Conor held the car door for his wife, giving her a hand stepping out of the car. Then, he handed the keys to a waiting valet. As they walked toward the doors, he took the opportunity to lean in and whisper, "You really look amazing tonight, honey."
Jessica blushed, "We match well." In a quiet tone, she said, "Please don't embarrass me tonight. The whole town is here, or at least anyone who matters."
"Don't worry, I intend to do everything I can to let you shine."
"That's what I am afraid of..." she said under her breath.
The crowd inside was all richly dressed and small groups mingled around high-top tables. This was all of Jinstain's most prominent business people including CEOs, investors, and city council members.
Just then someone tapped a microphone and began introducing important guests. As the list wound down, Conor and Jessica found an empty table near the back to stand beside.
"And our guest of honor tonight, Co-Owner of ApeturePhoto, Mr. Peter Miros, who has been so amazing at advertising all of our local businesses!"
Peter stood and joined the speaker on stage. "Thank you Mr. Banks for organizing this and hosting the Chamber of Commerce this evening."
Conor hissed in Jessica's ear, "You didn't tell me Nyman was tonight's sponsor."
Jessica just slapped his arm, "Drop it, and behave."
On stage, Peter was continuing, "I am thrilled at how Jinstain has opened their arms to my partner and me. We are thrilled that our new company has been able to do so well here and to help so many of you grow together and make all of Jinstain more profitable. And while Mr. Banks felt inclined to name me the guest of honor tonight, it seems we might have another guest here tonight. Miss. Kerrigan Lokir of Dragon Corporation. If you haven't had the chance to meet with her, best do so before all the single men make their play and get disemboweled!" Peter tipped his hat to Kerrigan with a cheeky grin before scampering off the stage.
From where Conor was standing, it seems Kerrigan had taken the jibe in good humor, judging from the smile she wore, though, he noted the increased guards she had with her tonight. Instead of the two who had been with her on High Steet, there were now four that he could see. Tonight she was dressed in a gorgeous red shin-length dress. It had a similar fashion to the one she had worn the last time he had seen her, with twin straps of fabric twining over her left shoulder.
Throughout the evening several people from the mayor's office came over to speak to Jessica about the photo scavenger hunt and how successful it had been. Most were polite to Conor, but only spared him a passing nodded or a simple handshake.
Much to Jessica's pleasure, a gentle tug at her elbow revealed Kerrigan Lokir had come over to chat. "Hello, I understand that you are the daughter of Mr. Cochan, owner of the Cochan malls?"
"Miss. Lokir! Yes! Please, call me Jessica. You have no idea how excited I am to meet you in person."
Kerrigan smiled. "Is that so?"
"Yes, I have heard so much about you. Your ability in the business world is legendary. If I could accomplish half of what you have..."
"You would be a very rich woman," giggled Karigan. "Yes, well, Don't let anyone lie to you. I had plenty of help along the way. But who knows, perhaps we will be able to help each other in the future. I am always on the prowl for new opportunities."
Conor watched Kerrigan circle Jessica from across the table, and felt Celia's consciousness coil tight, almost undetectable. "A generous offer, Miss. Lokir. Though I may wonder what the cost of such a relationship might be. While the Cochan family would certainly welcome the mutually beneficial alliances against certain... adversaries such as EisenGrube Mines, I am sure you can understand our caution knowing your skill at the negotiation table."
"And who might this fine specimen be? He clearly knows the tact needed for this kind of business," purred Kerrigan, sizing up Conor for the first time. A spark lit in her eye, "Have we met before?"
Jessica glanced between Kerrigan and Conor who seemed to have locked onto each other, "This is Conor, my husband. I doubt you would have had reason to meet him, as he doesn't get out much."
Conor cringed as he heard a snide, sarcastic voice from behind him called out loud enough to catch the attention of a few neighboring tables. "Conor, what are you doing here! Figured you would have had a court date by now. I must say, seeing you in cuffs at the precinct that night, it was a sight to be seen! Guess your were able to make bail on your own after all."
"Nyman, shut up. That was over a month ago and you know it was a misunderstanding," snarled Conor.
Jessica looked between them, "Nyman?" looking at Conor, "Conor, what is Nyman talking about? What cuffs?"
Nyman broke out in a bright half-drunk grin as Kerrigan looked on, "Oh, Conor didn't tell you about his drug charges? Yea, I was at the precinct for my uncle, paying bail for some low life. You know family business and all. And in comes Conor, cuffed and tossed in the holding room. Drug charges are what the clerk told me! Trafficking the heavy stuff too! Good thing he got that big wig lawyer to cover for him. Bet that cost you all a couple of dragons..... Hey! That wouldn't be why my mom said your charge card got denied would it Jess?" Nyman stumbled over to Jessica and looked longingly at her, "you are beautiful by the way.... If you ever need some money to get by, the banks always open!" Nyman chuckled and tottered away to find another drink.
Jessica stared after Nyman for a second before turning a burning hatred on Conor. "You said it was all a misunderstanding! You said you were just questioned! You said the lawyer was business-related! Drugs, Conor? Are you fucking kidding me?"
Conor stared dumbly at Jessica for a second trying to process. "What? Jess, I told you what happened. It was a misunderstanding with the police! I was totally innocent!"
"Sure, Conor. That's why you needed bail? It all makes sense now. The late nights, the lack of funds in the account, your inability to hold a job. You were a disappointment then, and a disappointment now." Jessica huffed as she turned to leave.
Conor reached for Jessica "Jess, Honey, please"
"No. You know what, find your own way from here. I'm done." she grabbed a glass of water from the table and tossed it in Conor's face, spun on her heel and stormed out. The crowd around Conor chattered excitedly, pointing and commenting.
"So, how much of that was true?" came a purr from Conor's left.
He was startled as he turned to find Kerrigan standing there. As he took in her face up close for the first time, he noticed her slightly angled features. She had a sharp jawline with a narrow chin, and her eyes had just a slight angle to them that mesmerized Conor. He noticed the tips of her ears may not actually be pointed as he has first thought but actually had a very ornate metal wire that almost looked like a tiny gold and silver dragon looping over the top of each ear, the tail curling along the lower edge of the lobe. Conor had never seen Jewelry so finely crafted.
"Do you plan to stare, or answer my question?" came a bit sharper retort.
"Oh, sorry, Miss Lokir. The outline may ring of truth, but the details lack critical detail. I was indeed framed, and my lawyer, Mr. Nuri of Bayan Law Firm can provide any pertinent details. As for drug use, I have never touched anything other than liquor, and that, only when Jessica is acting like that." he gestured to where his wife had disappeared and then reached for a glass.
"And so, if you disappear all hours, what might an intelligent man be up to?"
"Charity work, if you must know. I work with Celia's Blessing to help whoever we can."
Kerrigan subconsciously recoiled. "Celia's Blessing? And who runs this Charity?"
"Why?" Conor paused, "It's under the firm, Vokrizin."
"Vokrizin? Do you know this word?"
Conor hesitated as he saw the nervous excitement ghost across Kerrigan's face as if she had just stumbled upon some treasure. "Miss, it's a company... here in Jinstain. I am sure Mr. Nuri would know more."
"Vokrizin - Restore Honor. A very interesting name for a company. Makes one wonder whose honor was lost that needed restoring, and who would think to hide it in the dragon tongue," Kerrigan eyed him suspiciously. "Well, Mr. Conor. I am sure I have held you up long enough. I am sure you have plenty to sort out tonight." She turned to mingle with another table but turned back with a sympathetic, "Good luck."
Conor downed the glass of wine in his hand and was about to leave when Nyman made his way back over. "Where is Jessica? Did she leave without you? Don't worry, mate. I will go and comfort her for you."
"Ah friend, I may need you to do just that." Conor laughed, putting his arm around Nyman's shoulders in a friendly gesture and led him to a deserted hall. Nyman suddenly let out an 'oofff' as Conor slammed a fist into Nyman's stomach as hard as he could manage. Nyman grasped the rim of a potted plant and began puking as Conor patted his back, as a waiter passed. "That's it, let it all out."
Once the waiter passed, Conor leaned in, "Stay away from my wife, Nyman. You know what, stay away from me for good measure."
Nyman banks tried to laugh but wheezed instead, "Too late, Brantley. That ship sailed. She was just waiting for you to fuck up publicly again to justify sending you the divorce papers."
Conor slammed a fist into Nyman's kidney. Nyman puked up more liquor before steering, "You will regret that, Brantley."
Another gut-punch had Nyman slumped over near unconscious, as Conor walked out into the bracing winter air, wringing his wrist.
"Taxi!"
"Where to?"
Conor sat back and thought hard. "Dreadnaught Law Firm."