## Chapter 1 — The Inbound Handoff The first indication that Elisa was coming to stay was a message from her security manager. Reyes read it twice. Not because there was anything wrong with it. Because experience had taught her that anything involving Elisa, the safehouse, and an extended visit deserved a second look. The proposed handoff point was correct. The route was acceptable. The timing was reasonable. The personnel list contained no surprises. Which, in Reyes's experience, was usually when the surprises started. She sent a short confirmation. Approved. I'll handle the inbound transfer personally. A reply appeared almost immediately. Understood. Principal is looking forward to the visit. Reyes stared at the message. Then typed: So am I. She considered it. Deleted it. Sent instead: Confirm departure when ready. Somewhere in Night City, Elisa's security manager was probably smiling. Reyes hoped he wasn't. By the time the armored vehicle arrived at the agreed transfer point, Reyes had already been there long enough to become thoroughly bored. Not careless. Never careless. Just bored. The location was deliberately unremarkable. A neutral stretch of commercial property with several possible approaches, ordinary traffic, and nothing that suggested the people meeting there had any connection to the Watson safehouse. Reyes had checked the surroundings. Then checked them again. Her own vehicle was parked where she could see the transfer without making the meeting unnecessarily conspicuous. She watched the armored vehicle pull in. Right on time. A point in its favor. The security manager emerged first. He surveyed the area with the practiced attention of someone who understood that a quiet transfer was still a transfer. Then he spotted Reyes. He walked over. "Morning." "Morning." "Everything clear?" "Wouldn't be standing here otherwise." He smiled slightly. "Good to see you too." Reyes glanced toward the armored vehicle. "Any changes?" "No." "Medical?" "Nothing." "Schedule?" "Still as agreed." "Communications?" "Clean." Reyes nodded. The manager handed her the transfer details. She reviewed them. No unnecessary questions. No explanations about where Elisa would be staying. Her security manager didn't need that information, and Reyes wasn't going to provide it merely because they knew one another. He understood. That was one of the reasons the arrangement worked. "She's been talking about this weekend," he said. Reyes looked up. "Has she?" "Quite a lot." "Wonderful." "I believe the phrase 'a proper break' was used." "That sounds suspicious." "Several times." Reyes sighed. He looked pleased. "Something funny?" "Not at all." "Good." He hesitated. "One small thing." Reyes waited. "She's in an exceptionally good mood." Reyes closed her eyes for a moment. "Jesus Christ." "Exactly." Elisa emerged from the armored vehicle carrying a small bag and wearing an expression that immediately confirmed every warning Reyes had just received. She spotted her. Her face lit up. "Reyes!" Reyes barely had time to brace herself before Elisa crossed the remaining distance and embraced her. "Hello to you too," Reyes said. Elisa hugged her a little tighter. "I missed you." "Clearly." "You didn't miss me?" "You're interrupting a security transfer." "That's not an answer." "It's the answer you're getting." Elisa laughed. The security manager stood nearby, professionally pretending not to hear. Reyes noticed. Of course she noticed. "You're enjoying this," she told him. "Not remotely." "Liar." "Occupational hazard." Elisa finally released her. Reyes looked her over automatically. No obvious signs of distress. Relaxed posture. Healthy color. A little too much amusement. The last one was probably chronic. "Everything all right?" Reyes asked. "Perfect." "Anything I need to know?" "Only that I'm planning to enjoy myself." "That was already in the threat assessment." Elisa burst out laughing. Her manager looked away. Not quickly enough. Reyes pointed at him. "Don't." "I didn't say anything." "You were thinking loudly." "Sorry." "No, you're not." "No." The actual transfer was completed without difficulty. That was precisely how Reyes liked it. No ceremony. No unnecessary discussion. No ambiguity about responsibility. Elisa's security manager formally released the principal into Reyes's care. Reyes confirmed acceptance. Communications arrangements were checked one final time. The return handoff was acknowledged for Monday, with its precise details to be confirmed through the established secure channel. The manager gave Elisa a brief look. "Enjoy your visit." "I intend to." "Please don't make my job unnecessarily difficult afterward." Elisa smiled sweetly. "I would never." Reyes and the manager looked at one another. Neither said anything. Elisa folded her arms. "Oh, come on." "Ma'am," the manager said carefully, "with respect—" "Don't you start." He smiled. Then stepped back. "She's yours, Reyes." "Temporarily," Reyes said. "Noted." Elisa looked offended. "Honestly. You both talk about me like I'm a dangerous shipment." Reyes picked up her bag. "Shipments usually stay where you put them." "Rude." "Accurate." The security manager returned to his vehicle. Elisa watched him go. Then turned toward Reyes with renewed enthusiasm. "So." "No." "I haven't asked anything yet." "I know." "You don't know what I was going to ask." "That has never improved the odds." Elisa laughed again. Reyes waited until the armored vehicle had departed before moving Elisa toward her own transport. The departure mattered. So did the separation. There was no useful reason for the departing security team to observe Reyes's next route. Elisa understood this perfectly well. She simply found it entertaining to watch Reyes work. "You know," Elisa said as they approached the vehicle, "sometimes I forget how intensely professional you are." "Then I recommend remembering." "I also remember you being considerably less professional in private." Reyes stopped. Very slowly, she turned her head. Elisa smiled. "Something wrong?" "Get in the car." "That bad?" "Elisa." "Yes, darling?" "Car." Elisa laughed and climbed inside. Reyes put the bag away, took the driver's seat, and completed her checks before starting the engine. Elisa watched her in delighted silence. Which lasted approximately twenty seconds. "So. Who's at the safehouse?" Reyes pulled into traffic. "You'll see." "Are Ace and Mai there?" "Yes." "Shammy?" "Yes." "Brenda?" "Probably taking something apart." "At the safehouse?" "Where else?" Elisa grinned. "And Iris?" "Trying to convince Brenda not to take something apart." "Sounds about right." Reyes glanced at her. "You brought everything you need?" "Yes." "No forgotten essentials?" "No." "No sudden requests to stop at six different shops?" "Only if I see something interesting." "Elisa." "I'm joking." Reyes said nothing. Elisa tilted her head. "Mostly." The drive toward Watson was uneventful. Reyes intended to keep it that way. They talked about ordinary things. Elisa asked after friends she hadn't seen recently. Reyes gave concise answers, occasionally adding a dry observation that made Elisa laugh. There was no need to discuss the safehouse's security arrangements in detail. Elisa trusted Reyes. Reyes trusted the people waiting for them. That was enough. Eventually Elisa leaned back in her seat. "It's going to be nice." "What?" "Being with everyone." Reyes glanced at her. Elisa was looking out the window now. Her expression had softened. "No meetings. No people wanting signatures. No security briefings every time I move from one room to another." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "You're currently being transported by a security specialist." "Yes, but you're family." That quieted Reyes. Only briefly. Then she looked back toward the road. "Still a security specialist." Elisa smiled. "Of course." A moment passed. "Reyes?" "Hm?" "Thank you." Reyes kept her eyes on the road. "You're welcome." No joke followed. Neither woman needed one. By the time they reached the safehouse, Elisa's good mood had returned to its usual exuberant levels. Reyes parked in the building's underground parking area. Elisa looked around. "Home sweet home." "Not technically your home." "Don't ruin the moment." Reyes retrieved the bag. They took the internal route toward the stairs. At the upper entrance, Reyes waited for the door to be opened from inside. That was the rule. It remained the rule regardless of who was arriving. A moment later the armored door opened. Mai stood on the other side. She took one look at Elisa. Then smiled. "You're here." Elisa practically launched herself into her arms. "Mai!" Mai laughed and caught her. "Careful." "Missed you." "Missed you too." From somewhere farther inside came Ace's voice. "Is that our favorite corporate disaster?" Elisa immediately called back. "Only if you're my favorite miniature criminal!" Ace appeared around the corner. "Miniature?" Elisa grinned. "Did I stutter?" Ace looked at Mai. "She's been here twelve seconds." Mai sighed. "Fourteen." Reyes stepped inside with the bag. "Good luck." Ace glanced at her. "You're leaving already?" "As soon as I know she's safely inside." Elisa turned. "Leaving?" "Things to do." "Suspicious things?" "Extremely." Ace perked up. "Can I help?" "No." "Rude." "Accurate." Mai took Elisa's bag from Reyes. "I've got this." Reyes nodded. "She's all yours." Elisa folded her arms again. "I am standing right here." "We noticed," Ace said. "You're very loud," Mai added. Elisa looked between them. Then smiled. "Oh, I've missed you two." Ace spread her arms. "Come here, you menace." Elisa went. Reyes stayed just long enough to confirm that the arrival was complete. Elisa was safely inside. The upper door had been secured manually. The household was aware of her presence. There was no unresolved security issue requiring Reyes to remain. Mai caught her near the entrance. "Everything smooth?" "Yes." "Return Monday?" "That's the plan." Mai nodded. "Thanks." Reyes glanced toward the main room, where Ace was already accusing Elisa of bringing expensive trouble into the house. Elisa was accusing Ace of being expensive trouble. Neither appeared likely to concede. Reyes smiled. A small one. "Have fun." Mai followed her glance. "Oh, we will." Reyes looked at her. "That sounded ominous." Mai's smile became considerably less innocent. "Did it?" "Yes." "Good." Reyes shook her head. "You're all impossible." "Love you too." Reyes returned the smile. Then left. Outside, Reyes checked her messages. No problems. No changes. The inbound transfer was complete. The next security responsibility would come Monday. Until then, her time was her own. She stood beside her vehicle for a moment. Then opened a separate contact. Victor. Her appointment was confirmed. Reyes looked at the time. Plenty. She put the agent away and got behind the wheel. There was a certain satisfaction in having all the necessary arrangements completed. No loose ends. No conflicting obligations. Elisa was safe. Her work was done. And somewhere across Night City, another woman was waiting to be brought back into the world. Birgitta. Reyes started the engine. For the first time that morning, she smiled without trying to hide it. --- ## Chapter 2 — Victor Victor looked up when the clinic door opened. Reyes stepped inside. Alone. Walking normally. No blood on her clothes. No visible injuries. Nothing hanging at an angle nature hadn't intended. Victor examined her for another second. Then leaned back in his chair. "Well, I'll be damned." Reyes stopped just inside the doorway. "What?" "You're walking." "Usually." "Without limping." "Also fairly common." "And nobody's carrying you." "Disappointed?" "Deeply." Reyes smiled and closed the door. Victor set aside the diagnostic report he'd been reviewing. "Morning." "Morning, Vic." "Please tell me this is the appointment I actually have in my schedule." "It is." "Good. I was starting to think you people considered appointments a form of creative writing." Reyes approached the treatment chair. "That sounds more like Ace." "Don't get me started." "She been giving you trouble?" "She's been breathing." "Ah." "Exactly." Reyes laughed. Victor pointed toward the chair. "Sit." She did. He looked her over again, this time with considerably more professional attention. "Anything I should know before we start?" "No." "Any new implants?" "No." "Medication changes?" "No." "Unusual reactions since your last procedure?" "No." Victor narrowed his eyes. "Any reason you're answering like you're being interrogated?" "Because you're asking questions." "Medical questions." "Still questions." He sighed. "Christ. You and Ace really do deserve each other." Reyes grinned. "She's worse." "She has you beat on accumulated medical stupidity, I'll give you that." "Comforting." "Not meant to be." He pulled her file onto the nearby display. "All right. Let's have a look at you." The examination was routine. That was the point. Victor checked the relevant tissue, ran a brief diagnostic and reviewed the results of Reyes's previous voice-sculpt procedure. No complications. No unexpected recovery delay. No residual neurological interference. Everything had returned to baseline exactly as expected. He seemed pleased. Reyes noticed. "That good?" "That boring." "Is that a medical term?" "In this clinic? Highest compliment I can give you." He turned the display slightly toward her. "Clean recovery. No tissue irritation. Nothing left over from the last sculpt. You're good for another." "Excellent." "Seven days maximum." "I know." "Continuous." "I know." "And the return to baseline takes roughly twenty-four hours after the sculpt finishes." "I remember." Victor looked at her. "I'm going to tell you anyway." "Figured." "Because you people hear 'seven days' and start treating it like a challenge." Reyes folded her arms. "I don't." "No?" "No." "Want me to call Ace and ask what she'd do with an extra seven days?" "Please don't." "Thought so." He tapped the display. "The new generation has been behaving well. Much cleaner recovery than the older systems. Better stability across longer use, too." "And the others?" Victor gave her a sideways look. "What others?" Reyes smiled. "Come on, Vic." "Reyes." "I'm not asking for their medical files." "Good." "I'm asking whether the system works." "It does." "That was easy." "It usually is when you ask the right question." She laughed. Victor closed the diagnostic display. "Your previous results are a good part of why I'm comfortable using it more widely now." Reyes tilted her head. "Should I feel honored?" "You should feel relieved I didn't have to spend six months fixing it." "That's practically a love letter." "Don't tell anyone. Ruin my reputation." Victor reached for the procedure preparation kit. Reyes watched him work. The movements were familiar. Precise without being theatrical. Victor had never needed to make his competence impressive. He simply knew what he was doing. That was why people trusted him. And why Reyes was comfortable sitting in his chair for a procedure that would temporarily change something as personal as her voice. He checked the system calibration. "Same target profile?" "Yes." "Birgitta." "Birgitta." He glanced at her. "You know, I still think that name sounds like someone who'd tell me my clinic needs better curtains." Reyes smiled brightly. "Oh, darling, it absolutely does." Victor stopped. Looked at her. She was still speaking with her normal voice. But the expression was different. The posture had loosened. Even sitting in the treatment chair, she suddenly looked as though she belonged at the center of a lively conversation instead of at the edge of a security perimeter. Victor pointed at her. "That." "What?" "That thing you just did." Reyes returned to her ordinary expression. "What thing?" "You know exactly what thing." She shrugged. "Practice." "Yeah. Well. It's unsettling." "Successful, then." "Annoyingly." He examined the profile settings. "Higher register. Brighter resonance. Different habitual placement. Same as last time." "Yes." "And don't overdo it afterward. The sculpt provides the voice. You don't need to force anything." "I know." "Good." Victor continued preparing the procedure. For a little while, neither spoke. Then he asked: "Still enjoying it?" Reyes knew what he meant. She could have pretended otherwise. Could have made a joke. Could have given him the sort of answer people offered when they wanted a conversation to end without revealing anything. Instead, she smiled. "Yeah." Victor glanced up. "Yeah?" "A lot." He considered that. Then nodded. "Good." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "That's it?" "What were you expecting?" "I don't know. A lecture?" "About?" "Joytoy work." Victor stared at her. Then looked pointedly at the medical equipment beside him. "Reyes, I'm about to medically alter your vocal apparatus so you can spend the weekend sounding like a cheerful Scandinavian socialite." "Accurate." "I've also treated people who've spent more on decorative cyberware than you probably spent on your first car." "Probably." "And you think I'm going to get moralistic about somebody choosing a profession she enjoys?" Reyes grinned. "When you put it that way." "I usually do." He returned to the calibration. "You're an adult. You're making your own decisions. You're not asking me to approve your social calendar." "Good, because it's getting busy." Victor sighed. "I didn't need to know that." "You asked." "I asked if you were enjoying yourself." "And I answered." "With unnecessary additional information." "Didn't give you any details." "Thank God." Victor finished the preparation and pulled his chair closer. "All right. Medical part." Reyes straightened slightly. He noticed. Good. He preferred that. "The second-generation sculpt is the same system you used before. Same target voice. Same duration characteristics. No reason to expect surprises based on your examination." She nodded. "The modification is temporary. It remains stable through the active period, and once it reaches the end of that period, the return to your ordinary voice happens naturally." "Roughly twenty-four hours." "Exactly." "Any reason to expect it to clear faster this time?" "Not enough to promise you that." "Fair." "Could be a little variation. Bodies aren't clocks." Reyes nodded again. Victor checked her expression. "Any concerns?" "No." "Any questions?" "One." He waited. "Am I still your favorite patient?" Victor looked at her for a long moment. "No." Reyes laughed. "Brutal." "My favorite patient is the one who leaves here without making me regret getting out of bed." "So I still have a chance." "Don't push it." She leaned back. "Ready." Victor nodded. "Then let's do it." The procedure wasn't dramatic. There was no elaborate machinery descending from the ceiling. No ominous lighting. No theatrical countdown. Victor worked with the practiced concentration of someone performing a familiar medical intervention. He monitored the relevant responses throughout. Reyes felt the expected pressure and temporary discomfort as the sculpt took effect. Nothing sharp. Nothing alarming. Just an increasingly strange awareness of a part of her body she normally never had to think about. Victor watched the readings. "Still comfortable?" "Yes." "Any pain?" "No." "Good." A few moments later he adjusted the final parameters. The diagnostic display settled into the expected range. Victor waited. Checked again. Then nodded. "All right." Reyes looked at him. "Done?" "Procedure's complete. Give it a moment." She waited. Victor observed the stabilization. "Try speaking." Reyes opened her mouth. "Testing." The voice that came out was not hers. High. Bright. Warm. Almost musical in its natural liveliness. Reyes smiled. And Birgitta smiled with her. "Oh, that's much better." Victor closed his eyes. "There she is." Birgitta laughed. A completely different laugh from the one Reyes had brought into the clinic. Victor pointed at her. "See? That." "What?" "You know what." "Darling, I haven't the slightest idea." "Jesus Christ." Birgitta beamed at him. "Successful procedure, Doctor." "Unfortunately." She laughed again. He tried to look unimpressed. Failed slightly. Victor ran the final verification. The sculpt held. No unexpected strain. No instability. The target profile was clean. He reviewed the results once more before signing off. "All right. You're good." Birgitta tilted her head. "That's all?" "Unless you've decided to invent a complication." "Not today." "Excellent." He set the display aside. "Normal use. Don't deliberately strain your throat. If anything feels wrong, contact me instead of deciding you can tough it out." "Understood." "And don't confuse the voice remaining active with an obligation to keep using the cover." Birgitta's smile softened slightly. "I won't." "Good." He stood. Reyes—still speaking with Birgitta's voice—rose from the chair. The contrast was absurd enough to make Victor shake his head. "What?" she asked. "Nothing." "Victor." He looked at her. "You're standing there looking exactly like Reyes and sounding like somebody who'd charm my entire waiting room into buying tickets to an art exhibition." She considered that. Then smiled. "Could be profitable." "Out." "Rude." "Medical advice." She laughed. At the clinic door, Reyes stopped. Turned. "Vic?" He looked up from his display. "Yeah?" "Thanks." That one word came out in Birgitta's voice. But the woman behind it was unmistakably Reyes. Victor nodded. "Anytime." She reached for the door. "And Reyes?" She glanced back. "Yeah?" He gave her a small, knowing smile. "Have fun." For a moment she looked almost surprised. Then her expression warmed. "Oh, I intend to." Victor snorted. "That's what worries me." "You're impossible." "Learned from my patients." She opened the door. "See you." "Preferably without injuries." "No promises." "Of course not." The door closed behind her. Victor sat still for a moment. Then looked at the completed medical record. Clean procedure. Stable result. No complications. An unusually cooperative patient. He considered that last part. Then deleted unusually from his private note. No reason to tempt fate. Outside, Reyes took a moment beside her vehicle. The city was moving around her. Traffic. Distant engines. Someone arguing loudly over a delivery. Ordinary Night City noise. She looked at her reflection in the darkened side window. Red hair. Her own face. Her own eyes. Her usual clothes. Reyes. Then she smiled. "Well, hello there." Birgitta answered from her throat. Bright. Warm. Almost scandalously cheerful. Reyes laughed. It sounded completely wrong. And absolutely wonderful. She checked the time. Plenty. The container was waiting. Everything she needed was already there. The face. The contacts. The clothes. The smoked copper-grey hair. An entire carefully maintained identity, ready to be worn again. But that wasn't what made her smile. It was the thought of what came afterward. Panam. Reyes leaned against the vehicle for a moment. She remembered Panam's smile. The unmistakable pleasure in her expression when Birgitta arrived. The way she could be sharp and commanding one moment, unexpectedly gentle the next. And how much Reyes enjoyed seeing both. Tonight wasn't a booking. There would be no client, no negotiated rate, no professional obligation. Just two women who had wanted to see each other again. Reyes looked at her reflection. "Right." Birgitta said it back. She shook her head, smiling. Then got into the vehicle. The engine started. She pulled into traffic and headed toward the anonymous storage yard where Birgitta's other half was waiting. --- ## Chapter 3 — The Container The storage yard was exactly as unremarkable as Reyes remembered. That was one of its better qualities. Rows of steel containers stood behind a weathered perimeter fence, surrounded by warehouses, freight-handling equipment, and the particular industrial ugliness Night City produced when nobody had bothered pretending a place was meant to be attractive. A delivery truck was leaving as Reyes arrived. The driver barely looked at her. Good. She parked in the designated area, checked her surroundings, and got out. Her reflection in the vehicle window still showed a woman with red hair, dark eyes, and a face that anyone who knew Reyes would recognize immediately. Then she spoke. "Lovely afternoon." Birgitta's bright, cheerful voice came out. Reyes winced. "Jesus." Also Birgitta. She shook her head. Victor had warned her that the mismatch would feel strange. Again. He had been right. Again. Somewhere, the man was probably enjoying that fact without even knowing it. Reyes collected her bag and started walking. Two rows down. One turn. Another row of identical doors. And there it was. Her container. No distinctive markings. No elaborate security system advertising that something valuable was hidden inside. Nothing remotely interesting about it. Exactly as intended. Reyes approached, checked the lock, and opened the door. Then stepped inside. The door closed behind her. A small interior light came on. And Reyes smiled. "Hello, Birgitta." The container, being a container, offered no opinion. That was also one of its better qualities. Everything was where she had left it. The narrow bench. The mirror. The clothing rail. The secure storage compartments. The compact shower and washing facilities. Nothing particularly luxurious. Nothing unnecessary. But everything clean, organized, and maintained. Reyes set down her bag. For several seconds she simply looked around. The first time she'd entered this container, she had been preparing an experiment. She'd wanted to know whether she could build a cover convincing enough to fool people who knew her. Whether she could stand beside Mandi, Dalia, Deja, Nova, and Vega without any of them recognizing the woman underneath. Whether she could approach Suzie Q as a stranger and earn a place among the premium joytoys without anyone giving her special treatment. That experiment had worked. Almost embarrassingly well. Sera had recognized her, of course. Reyes still wasn't entirely certain how. She'd done everything correctly. The face had held. The voice had held. The body language had held. Her old habits had been carefully controlled. And Shammy had simply looked at her, waited until nobody else could hear, and quietly informed her that the cover was successful. Reyes smiled at the memory. Successful cover, Reyes. Two words too many for Reyes's professional pride. Exactly enough for her peace of mind. Because Shammy had kept the secret. Not even Panam knew. Especially not Panam. Reyes looked toward the compartment holding Birgitta's face. "All right, sweetheart." She paused. Then laughed. "Great. I'm talking to myself already." Birgitta's voice made the observation sound almost delighted. She began with an inventory. Not because anything was likely to have disappeared. Because Reyes trusted systems that made mistakes obvious. The wardrobe was exactly as she'd left it. Several carefully chosen outfits, each designed around the same visual principle. Expensive. Elegant. Controlled. Almost conservative at first glance. Until somebody paid attention to how the clothes were constructed. Lena had enjoyed that part. Far too much, in Reyes's opinion. The fast-drop mechanisms were practically invisible. The tailoring was excellent. Nothing snagged. Nothing looked cheap. And nothing required the wearer to spend several humiliating minutes fighting her own clothes when she wanted them off. Reyes remembered Lena's expression when she'd demonstrated one particularly elegant fastening system. See? Proper engineering. Brenda would probably have agreed. Then tried to improve it. Reyes shuddered. Some things were best left out of Brenda's reach. She inspected the clothing. No damage. No unexpected wear. Everything ready. Then the shoes. Then the accessories. Then the contacts. Finally, the protected compartment holding Birgitta's face. Reyes opened it. The dermal-conforming mesh rested in its storage unit. It didn't look particularly impressive when it wasn't being worn. That was part of the technology's peculiar brilliance. A carefully maintained piece of material that could turn one recognizable woman into another without the theatrical seams, stiffness, or unnatural movement associated with cheaper systems. Reyes lifted it out. Inspected it. Clean. Intact. Exactly as it should be. She placed it beside the mirror. Then looked at her own reflection. Red hair. Dark brown eyes. The familiar face. The expression that had made more than one nervous corporate executive decide not to finish a sentence. Reyes smiled. Small. Controlled. There she was. She reached for the mesh. "Your turn." The application took patience. Not because it was difficult. Because Reyes refused to rush equipment she expected to rely upon. She prepared the interface, positioned the mesh, and initiated the paired-command sequence. The material settled into place. The sensation was familiar. A subtle pressure. A momentary awareness of the interface conforming to her skin. Then the system stabilized. Reyes waited for confirmation. Only then did she look into the mirror. A different woman looked back. The facial structure was distinctly Scandinavian. The proportions were different enough to defeat casual recognition, yet natural enough that nothing about the face suggested an artificial construction. The cheekbones. The jaw. The expressive mouth. The unfamiliar arrangement of familiar movements. Reyes tilted her head. The woman in the mirror tilted hers. She smiled. So did Birgitta. "Well, hello, gorgeous." The voice matched the face beautifully. Reyes grinned. That was still satisfying. She turned slightly, checking the profile. Then leaned closer. No visible edge. No unnatural movement. She raised her eyebrows. Wrinkled her nose. Smiled again. Everything responded as naturally as it had during the first shift. "Victor, you magnificent bastard." Birgitta sounded scandalously affectionate. Reyes laughed. The contacts came next. Very light brown. Not dramatic. Not glowing. Nothing like Mandie's impossible black eyes or Dalia's reflective emerald gaze. Birgitta didn't need to look like a walking advertisement for advanced cosmetic technology. Her appeal was different. She was supposed to look like a woman who had stepped out of an expensive private club, glanced around, and immediately decided everyone present was potentially interesting. Reyes inserted the contacts and checked their fit. Comfortable. Clear. She blinked several times. Then looked back at the mirror. The transformation was becoming convincing. Different face. Different eyes. Different voice. But the hair was still wrong. Red. Reyes's unmistakable red. She looked at the ChromeLock kit. "Right." Lena had prepared everything in advance. Of course she had. The styling instructions were stored with the kit, but Reyes barely needed them. Birgitta's hair was one of the few deliberately restrained elements in an otherwise spectacularly successful deception. Smoked copper-grey. A color that sat somewhere between warm copper and muted grey without becoming either one completely. Distinctive enough to remember. Not so distinctive that strangers would turn around merely to stare at it. Reyes began the application. ChromeLock V2 wasn't an ordinary temporary dye. Once activated, the color and intended hairstyle would hold through sweat, weather, ordinary washing, sleep, and the assorted indignities of several days spent being an extremely sociable woman. The shape-memory was particularly useful. Reyes had initially considered that part excessive. Then she'd watched Mandi's neon-orange styling recover from a disturbance that should have ruined it. She had changed her mind. Some technology justified its price by saving time. Others justified it by saving Lena from having to murder somebody. ChromeLock V2 managed both. Reyes finished the application and checked the result. Then activated the lock. The smoked copper-grey settled into its intended shape. She ran her fingers through it. Waited. The style returned toward its locked configuration. Reyes smiled. "Still ridiculous." She checked the mirror again. "Still excellent." The clothes came last. Reyes changed out of her ordinary outfit, folded everything carefully, and stored it in the compartment reserved for her real-world belongings. Nothing went onto the floor. Nothing was left carelessly on the bench. She would return here. That certainty was almost comforting. The outfit she chose for tonight was understated by Birgitta's standards. Elegant. Beautifully fitted. Comfortable enough for an evening that had no predetermined end. She wasn't dressing for a client. She wasn't dressing for Jig-Jig. She was going to see Panam. The thought made her pause. Not for the first time. Reyes looked down at the clothing in her hands. Then toward the mirror. There had been several moments over the past few weeks when she'd tried to decide exactly what this arrangement meant. Not professionally. That part was easy. Birgitta was a successful cover. A genuine premium joytoy. A woman who could walk into Lizzie's, take bookings, negotiate with clients, laugh with colleagues, and enjoy herself. Reyes had discovered that she liked all of those things considerably more than she'd anticipated. That was settled. Panam was different. Panam hadn't simply booked Birgitta and forgotten her afterward. She'd wanted to see her again. Not merely as a professional. Not just because of the novelty. She liked Birgitta. And Birgitta— Reyes exhaled. "Yeah." There it was. Birgitta liked Panam too. Rather a lot. Enough that Reyes had spent an unreasonable amount of time looking forward to tonight. Enough that she'd made sure every professional responsibility was handled before going to Victor. Enough that she had chosen this particular outfit twice before deciding it was the right one. Reyes stared at herself. "Oh, that's embarrassing." Birgitta's voice made it sound like a wonderful discovery. She laughed. "Shut up." The reflection remained cheerfully uncooperative. She finished dressing. The outfit settled perfectly. Lena would have approved. That, unfortunately, was no guarantee Lena wouldn't also have made several deeply inappropriate comments. Reyes checked the fast-drop mechanisms. All functioning. Then the shoes. Accessories. Personal items. Finally, the complete silhouette. She stood back from the mirror. The woman looking at her now didn't resemble Reyes. Not in any way that would help someone recognize her. The face was different. The eyes were different. The hair was different. The voice was different. But more importantly, the woman in the mirror occupied the space differently. Reyes let her shoulders relax. Shifted her weight onto one hip. Tilted her head. The change was subtle. And immediate. She smiled. Warm. Open. Inviting. A little wicked. "Darling, you have absolutely no idea how happy I am to see you." She considered the sentence. Too much? Maybe. She tried again. "Hi, gorgeous." Better. Then she stopped. And frowned at herself. What the hell was she doing? Practicing lines? For Panam? Reyes stared. Then covered her face with one hand. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Birgitta sounded positively delighted. She dropped her hand and laughed. Fine. She was looking forward to seeing someone. That was allowed. No law against it. Even Night City hadn't managed to criminalize that particular pleasure. Yet. Reyes checked the time. Plenty. She could leave now and arrive early. Or she could sit down, review her appearance once more, and behave like an idiot for another twenty minutes. She chose a third option. She sat on the bench. And let herself think. About Panam. Not Madame Panam. Not the woman holding five leashes at Lizzie's. Not the increasingly notorious manager who could apparently make very wealthy people lose their ability to count. Just Panam. The woman who sometimes looked at Birgitta as though she were the most interesting thing in the room. The woman whose temper could ignite without warning and disappear just as quickly. The woman who could be commanding in public and unexpectedly gentle in private. Reyes liked that contrast. A lot. And she liked something else. Panam never treated Birgitta like a mystery she needed to solve. She accepted her as the woman she appeared to be. That should have made things simple. It didn't. Reyes knew the truth. Panam didn't. The separation was deliberate. Professionally necessary. Personally complicated. But not something Reyes was going to resolve tonight by blurting out the secret. The cover belonged to her. So did the decision about whether it would ever be revealed. Shammy understood that. Reyes trusted her to keep understanding it. She leaned back against the container wall. For a moment, the thought of Shammy produced another smile. Of all the people who could have recognized her, of course it had been Shammy. The woman probably could have spotted Reyes through a wall. Reyes considered that. Actually, given everything she knew about Shammy, that might not even be a joke. She shook her head. "Impossible woman." Birgitta sounded fond. Because she was. Her agent chimed. Reyes looked down. A message. Panam: You still coming tonight? Reyes stared at it. Then smiled. Oh, absolutely. She typed: Birgitta: Of course, darling. Were you worried? The reply came quickly. Panam: No. Reyes raised an eyebrow. A second message arrived. Panam: Maybe a little. That was enough to make her grin. She answered: Birgitta: Then I'll have to make up for keeping you waiting. Several seconds passed. Then: Panam: You'd better. Reyes laughed. Brightly. Happily. Entirely as Birgitta. She slipped the agent away. "Well, then." She stood. One final check. Nothing forgotten. Nothing unsecured. Nothing that would betray the identity waiting underneath. The real Reyes clothes were safely stored. The medical work was complete. The mesh was stable. The contacts comfortable. ChromeLock locked. Everything ready. She stepped toward the door. Then stopped. Looked back. The narrow bench. The mirror. The storage units. The quiet, anonymous little room where one life was carefully placed aside and another brought forward. The container had done its job again. It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't romantic. It wasn't even particularly comfortable. But it was hers. And there was something deeply satisfying about that. Reyes smiled. No. Birgitta smiled. "See you Sunday." She switched off the light. Opened the door. And stepped outside. The storage yard hadn't changed. Of course it hadn't. Steel containers. Industrial noise. A distant truck reversing. Someone shouting about a missing shipment. All gloriously indifferent to the fact that a completely different woman had just walked out of the same door Reyes had entered. Birgitta locked the container. Checked it. Then checked it again. Some habits weren't worth abandoning. She walked toward the transport connection. Her steps were lighter now. Her posture open. Her expression bright enough that a worker carrying a stack of shipping documents gave her an appreciative second glance. Birgitta noticed. Smiled at him. "Good afternoon." The man nearly dropped the documents. Birgitta kept walking. She was still smiling when she reached the gate. That was the thing. The little moments. The freedom to be openly charming. The pleasure of seeing people respond. Reyes could be sociable when she wanted. But her ordinary life rarely encouraged it. There were always risks. Always angles. Always somebody watching for the wrong reason. Birgitta could simply enjoy being noticed. She didn't owe the world a reason. At the edge of the storage yard, her agent chimed again. Panam: Don't be late. Birgitta laughed. Then answered: Birgitta: Yes, Madame. She looked at the message. Considered it. And added: Birgitta: Looking forward to seeing you, Panam. This time the response took longer. When it arrived, it was short. Panam: Me too. Birgitta read it twice. The smile that followed was quieter. Less performative. More Reyes. For a brief moment, the distinction didn't matter. Then she put the agent away and headed toward Panam's apartment. Tonight there would be no rate. No booking. No client. No performance she was obliged to deliver. Just an evening she genuinely wanted. And a woman who wanted her there. Birgitta couldn't think of a better reason to hurry. --- ## Chapter 4 — Not a Booking Birgitta had one last practical matter to settle before she could see Panam. The car. Reyes had always maintained that the best way to protect a cover identity was to avoid creating unnecessary connections between the things that belonged to it and the things that didn't. Her car belonged to Reyes. Birgitta had absolutely no reason to arrive at Panam's apartment in it. Which meant a small detour. She drove away from the storage yard, taking an ordinary route through Watson before continuing toward the neighborhood where Reyes kept her own apartment. Nothing dramatic. No elaborate counter-surveillance routine. Just a woman driving home. Except that the woman behind the wheel currently had smoked copper-grey hair, very light brown eyes, an entirely different face, and a voice capable of making the most innocent sentence sound like an invitation to trouble. Birgitta caught herself smiling at a traffic light. "Oh, this is going to be fun." The driver in the next lane glanced at her. She smiled at him too. He nearly missed the green light. Birgitta laughed. Apparently, she was getting an early start. She found a perfectly ordinary parking space within comfortable walking distance of Reyes's apartment. Not directly outside. There was no particular reason to make the connection that obvious. She secured the vehicle, collected her small evening bag, and checked that nothing identifying Reyes was visible. Then she walked two blocks before requesting a taxi. The cab arrived a few minutes later. The driver looked her over as she climbed into the back. "Evening, miss." "Good evening, darling." He blinked. Birgitta smiled pleasantly. She gave him Panam's address. "Special occasion?" he asked. "Very." "Birthday?" "No." "Anniversary?" "Not yet." The driver looked at her in the mirror. Birgitta's smile widened. "Just someone I've been looking forward to seeing." He chuckled. "Best kind." "Isn't it?" She settled back as the cab pulled into traffic. Night City slipped past the windows in bright, untidy layers. Neon. Advertising. Traffic. People going somewhere important, somewhere regrettable, or nowhere in particular. Birgitta watched it all with an interest Reyes rarely allowed herself during ordinary workdays. Tonight there was no threat to evaluate. No principal to protect. No operation to coordinate. No reason to calculate how quickly she could reach the nearest exit. She could simply look. That alone felt rather wonderful. Her agent chimed. Panam: Where are you? Birgitta grinned. Birgitta: In a taxi. Panam: I gathered that much. Birgitta: Then why ask, darling? Several seconds passed. Panam: You're enjoying this. Birgitta: Immensely. The next message came almost immediately. Panam: Brat. Birgitta laughed aloud. The driver glanced into the mirror. "Good news?" "Oh, excellent news." He nodded approvingly. "Hope the evening goes well." Birgitta looked at Panam's message again. "So do I." --- Panam had cleaned the apartment. Mostly. The living room looked considerably less like the temporary headquarters of a woman who owned more vehicle parts than matching furniture. The couch was clear. The table had been wiped down. The two mugs in the kitchen had been joined by two actual glasses. There were fresh towels in the bathroom. And the bedroom— Panam looked toward its doorway. Then looked away. She'd changed the sheets. Which was normal. Reasonable. Entirely unremarkable. She checked the time. Again. "Fuck." Her agent chimed. Birgitta: Almost there. Panam stared at it. Then typed: Panam: Door's unlocked. She considered the message. Deleted it. Panam: Let me know when you arrive. Better. Why the hell had she considered leaving the door unlocked? She wasn't running a fucking hotel. A second message appeared. Birgitta: Are you nervous, Madame? Panam closed her eyes. That woman. That impossible, cheerful, shameless woman. She typed: Panam: Keep talking and I'll make you wait outside. The response was immediate. Birgitta: You wouldn't. Panam stared at the screen. Then smiled. "No," she admitted to the empty apartment. "I fucking wouldn't." The taxi stopped outside the building. Birgitta paid, thanked the driver, and stepped out. She looked up. Ordinary apartment building. Ordinary entrance. An address that had become surprisingly important to her. She sent a short message. Birgitta: Here. The reply arrived before she'd finished putting her agent away. Panam: Coming down. Birgitta tilted her head. She hadn't expected that. She waited. A minute later the entrance opened. Panam stepped outside. And for a moment, neither woman spoke. Panam wore comfortable dark trousers and a simple top. Nothing particularly elaborate. Her hair was slightly untidy. Her expression was somewhere between pleased, relieved, and annoyed at herself for being either. Birgitta's smile softened. "Hello, gorgeous." Panam exhaled. "Jesus Christ." Birgitta laughed. "That bad?" "No." Panam stepped closer. Looked at her properly. The face. The eyes. The smoked copper-grey hair. The elegant outfit. Then finally met her gaze. "You look good." Birgitta tilted her head. "Only good?" "Don't start." "Wouldn't dream of it." "You're already doing it." "Yes, darling." Panam shook her head. Then reached for her. Birgitta met her halfway. The embrace was immediate. Warm. Close. And considerably longer than either had intended. Panam's arms tightened around her. Birgitta relaxed against her, one hand settling between Panam's shoulders. Neither spoke. For several seconds there was only the distant noise of traffic and the quiet, unmistakable pleasure of being together again. Then Panam murmured: "Missed you." Birgitta closed her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart." She drew back just enough to look at her. "I missed you too." Panam kissed her. No warning. No preliminary negotiation. Just a kiss that began as a greeting and lingered long enough to make both women forget they were standing outside an apartment building. When they finally separated, Birgitta smiled. "Well." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That was a rather lovely welcome." "You're welcome." "Do I get another?" Panam kissed her again. Birgitta laughed softly against her lips. Somewhere behind them, the building entrance opened. A resident stepped out, took one look at the two women, and quietly chose the other direction. Panam noticed. "Inside." Birgitta grinned. "Yes, Madame." The apartment door closed behind them. Birgitta looked around. Then stopped. Panam watched her. "What?" Birgitta surveyed the room. The clear table. The couch. The glasses. The almost suspicious absence of vehicle parts. "Oh, darling." Panam narrowed her eyes. "What?" "You cleaned." "No, I didn't." Birgitta looked at her. Then at the table. Then back. Panam folded her arms. "All right. A little." "A little?" "Don't make it weird." Birgitta's smile became positively radiant. "You cleaned for me." "Birgitta." "That's adorable." "Keep talking." "Oh, I intend to." Panam groaned. Birgitta stepped closer. Set her evening bag down. Then slipped both arms around Panam's waist. "Thank you." That stopped the argument before it had properly begun. Panam looked at her. "For cleaning?" "For wanting me here." The room grew quiet. Panam's expression softened. Then she rested her hands on Birgitta's hips. "Yeah." Birgitta waited. Panam looked almost embarrassed. "I really wanted you here." Birgitta smiled. "Good." "Good?" "Because I really wanted to come." She kissed Panam. Slowly this time. Without an audience. Without the street noise. Without anything requiring their attention beyond each other. Panam answered with a quiet, pleased sound and pulled her closer. When they finally separated, Panam rested her forehead briefly against Birgitta's. "You're trouble." "Terrible trouble." "I know." "And yet you invited me." "Moment of weakness." Birgitta laughed. "Several messages suggest otherwise." "Shut up." "Make me." Panam kissed her again. They eventually remembered dinner. Mostly because Birgitta's stomach made a rather determined announcement. Panam looked down. Then at her. "Seriously?" Birgitta adopted an expression of immense dignity. "I am a woman of considerable appetites." "Clearly." "Food is one of them." Panam laughed. "Good. I ordered enough." Birgitta raised an eyebrow. "You cooked?" "Don't insult me." "Perish the thought." "There's food in the kitchen." "And you ordered it?" "Yes." "For us?" "Yes." Birgitta beamed. "You're spoiling me." Panam looked at her. "Get used to it." The words came out before she could reconsider them. Birgitta's expression changed. Not dramatically. Just enough. Something warmer appeared behind the bright smile. "I might," she said. Panam held her gaze. Then nodded. "Good." Dinner was excellent. Panam had chosen a selection of dishes rather than attempting to guess precisely what Birgitta would want. That turned out to be wise. Birgitta wanted to try everything. She sampled one dish. Approved. Tried another. Approved more enthusiastically. Then stole a bite from Panam's plate. Panam stared. "Excuse me." Birgitta chewed thoughtfully. "Very good." "That was mine." "Was it?" "You watched me put it there." "Darling, I was admiring your excellent taste." "You stole my food." "Such an ugly accusation." Panam pointed her fork at her. "Do it again." Birgitta smiled. Then deliberately stole another bite. Panam dropped the fork. "Unbelievable." Birgitta laughed so hard she nearly lost the bite. Panam tried to remain offended. Failed. "You're worse than Mandi." Birgitta's laughter faltered for the briefest instant. Not visibly enough to matter. Then she recovered. "Oh?" "Yeah." "Should I be flattered?" "Absolutely not." Birgitta grinned. "Then I shall be." Panam shook her head. "Christ." She reached across the table and took something from Birgitta's plate. Birgitta gasped. "Madame!" "Fair's fair." "You're stealing from your guest." "You started it." Birgitta considered that. Then smiled. "True." They talked for a long time. About ordinary things. About Panam's latest aggravations. About people who apparently believed a delivery deadline was a law of physics that could be rewritten by paying someone to shout at it. About Night City's increasingly absurd social circles. About Birgitta's work. Panam was interested. Genuinely. Not merely because she managed the bookings. She wanted to know what Birgitta enjoyed. What she disliked. Which kinds of clients appealed to her. Whether the work still felt as satisfying as it had in the beginning. Birgitta answered with cheerful frankness. "Still love it." Panam watched her. "Yeah?" "Very much." "Even the difficult ones?" "Some of the difficult ones are the most interesting." "That sounds dangerous." "It can be." Panam's expression sharpened. Birgitta noticed. "Oh, don't give me that look." "What look?" "The one where you start calculating whether you should personally interrogate every client I ever meet." Panam leaned back. "Wouldn't be the worst idea." Birgitta laughed. "No, darling. But it would be rather exhausting." "Depends on the client." "Panam." "What?" Birgitta reached across the table and took her hand. "I know what I'm doing." Panam looked down at their joined hands. Then back at her. "I know." "And I know when to say no." "I know that too." "Then trust me." Panam held her gaze. Finally she nodded. "I do." Birgitta squeezed her hand. "Good." A moment passed. Panam's mouth twitched. "Still reserving the right to dislike your clients." Birgitta burst out laughing. "That, darling, is entirely your privilege." Later, they moved to the couch. Panam brought drinks. Birgitta removed her shoes, tucked her legs beneath herself, and settled comfortably against Panam's side. They talked less now. Not because they'd run out of things to say. Because silence had become comfortable. Panam rested an arm around her. Birgitta leaned into it. For a while they simply enjoyed being close. Eventually Panam spoke. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Why me?" Birgitta lifted her head. "Why you?" "Yeah." Panam looked mildly uncomfortable. Which, Birgitta had discovered, was not a common sight. "You could have anyone you wanted." Birgitta studied her. Then smiled. "Oh, sweetheart." "Don't." "Don't what?" "Do that." "What?" "Make me sound like I'm being ridiculous." Birgitta sat up slightly. "I'm not." Panam looked at her. Birgitta reached for her hand. "May I ask you something in return?" "Sure." "Do you enjoy being with me?" Panam's answer came immediately. "Yes." "Do you look forward to seeing me?" "Yes." "Do I make you laugh?" "Unfortunately." Birgitta grinned. "And do you want me here tonight?" Panam's expression softened. "Very much." Birgitta leaned closer. "Then perhaps we're both here for exactly the same reason." Panam stared at her. For a moment she seemed to be searching for something more complicated to say. Then she laughed quietly. "Fuck." Birgitta smiled. "Such eloquence." "Shut up." "Gladly." She kissed her. The kiss lasted. And when it ended, neither woman moved very far. Panam brushed a strand of smoked copper-grey hair back from Birgitta's face. "You're beautiful." Birgitta smiled. "So are you." "I'm serious." "So am I." Panam studied her for another moment. Then kissed her forehead. Birgitta closed her eyes. That small gesture affected her more than she'd expected. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't particularly sophisticated. It was simply affectionate. Care given without performance. She slipped an arm around Panam and drew her closer. For a while they remained that way. Then Birgitta whispered: "Panam?" "Hm?" "May I stay?" Panam looked at her. The question was almost absurd. The food. The glasses. The freshly changed sheets. The fact that Panam had spent the entire evening looking as though she couldn't believe Birgitta was actually there. "Of course you can." Birgitta smiled. "Until morning?" Panam kissed her. "Until you want to leave." They went to the bedroom together. Not hurriedly. Not because there was a schedule to meet. There was no client waiting. No payment pending. No requirement to make the evening fit into an agreed number of hours. Panam took Birgitta's hand. Birgitta followed. At the bedroom doorway she paused. Panam turned. "What?" Birgitta glanced toward the bed. Then at Panam. "You really did change the sheets." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Birgitta laughed. "Darling, I'm touched." "You're impossible." "Quite." Panam stepped closer. "Are you going to keep making fun of me?" "Probably." "Even now?" Birgitta looked at her. Then smiled. "Especially now." Panam kissed her. The laughter softened into something quieter. Their arms settled around each other. And the evening, which had begun with playful messages and impatient anticipation, became a night spent together without either needing to be anywhere else. Much later, the apartment was quiet. Birgitta lay comfortably beside Panam, one arm resting across her waist. Panam traced an idle pattern along her shoulder. Neither had spoken for several minutes. The city outside continued being Night City. Somewhere a siren sounded. A vehicle passed too quickly. Someone shouted. None of it mattered very much. Panam looked down at her. "Still awake?" "Mm-hm." "Good evening?" Birgitta smiled against her shoulder. "Very." Panam chuckled. "Understatement." "Quite deliberate." Another silence. Then Birgitta lifted her head. "Panam?" "Yeah?" "Thank you." "For what?" "Tonight." Panam frowned slightly. "You don't have to thank me." "I know." Birgitta smiled. "That's why I want to." Panam looked at her for a long moment. Then pulled her close. "Come here." Birgitta settled against her. Warm. Comfortable. Wanted. She closed her eyes. And for once, Reyes had no reason to plan the next move. No need to rehearse an answer. No need to calculate what would happen if somebody asked the wrong question. There would be time for all of that later. Tonight, she could simply be Birgitta. A woman spending the night with someone she cared deeply about. Someone who cared about her. And that was more than enough. --- ## Chapter 5 — The First Click Morning arrived without asking permission. Panam became aware of it gradually. First the light creeping around the bedroom curtains. Then the distant rumble of traffic. Then the unfamiliar sensation of having considerably less blanket than she'd gone to sleep with. She opened one eye. Birgitta had stolen it. Not all of it. Just enough to leave Panam's left shoulder exposed. The woman responsible was sleeping peacefully beside her, smoked copper-grey hair scattered across the pillow, one hand tucked beneath her cheek. Panam stared. Then looked at the blanket. Then back at Birgitta. "You little thief." Birgitta didn't move. Panam tried pulling the blanket back. It resisted. Somehow, Birgitta had managed to wrap herself in enough of it to make retrieval a serious logistical challenge. Panam considered her options. She could pull harder. She could get out of bed. Or— She moved closer, slid an arm around Birgitta's waist, and tucked herself against her back. Much better. Birgitta made a small, contented sound in her sleep. Panam smiled. "Yeah. That's what I thought." She wasn't certain how long they remained that way. Long enough for the light to change. Long enough for Night City to become noisier. Long enough for Panam to decide that getting out of bed was a profoundly overrated activity. Then Birgitta stirred. A small movement. A sleepy breath. Her hand found Panam's arm and rested over it. "Morning," she murmured. Panam kissed the back of her shoulder. "Morning." Birgitta stretched. Slowly. Comfortably. Then turned within Panam's arms until they were facing each other. Her eyes were barely open. Her smile wasn't. "Oh, darling." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You stayed." Panam stared at her. "It's my apartment." Birgitta considered that. Then laughed. "Excellent point." "Also my bed." "Technically." "Technically?" Birgitta looked at the blanket wrapped around herself. Then at Panam. "I appear to have acquired a controlling interest." Panam snorted. "You stole the fucking blanket." "Strategic expansion." "Hostile takeover." "Darling, there was nothing hostile about last night." Panam tried to maintain her expression. Failed. "Jesus Christ." Birgitta smiled. Then kissed her. Not particularly hurried. Not particularly sleepy anymore, either. Panam answered with an arm tightening around her waist. When they separated, Birgitta rested her forehead against Panam's. "Good morning, gorgeous." Panam brushed a stray lock of hair away from her cheek. "Yeah," she said quietly. "It is." Eventually they made it to the kitchen. Birgitta arrived barefoot, wearing one of Panam's shirts over her underwear. Panam noticed. Of course she noticed. "That mine?" Birgitta looked down. "Oh. Is it?" "Birgitta." "Fits rather well." "It's twice your size." "Comfortably spacious." Panam folded her arms. Birgitta smiled. "Would you like it back?" Panam looked her over once more. "No." "How generous." "Keep it." Birgitta's expression softened. "Thank you." Panam turned toward the coffee maker. "You're welcome." Then added, without looking back: "Still want it back eventually." Birgitta laughed. "Of course, darling." She settled onto a kitchen stool and watched Panam prepare coffee. There were few things Reyes enjoyed more than observing people when they believed nothing interesting was happening. Panam was particularly fascinating. At Lizzie's, Madame Panam could make a room full of wealthy idiots reconsider their life choices with one raised eyebrow. At home, she could spend several seconds glaring at a coffee machine because it was taking too long. "Problem?" Birgitta asked. "Machine's being stupid." "Have you tried negotiating?" Panam glanced over her shoulder. "With coffee?" "You've negotiated with worse." "Fair." The machine finally cooperated. Panam poured two mugs. Set one before Birgitta. Then sat opposite her. For a few moments they simply drank. Birgitta closed her eyes appreciatively. "Oh, that's good." "Coffee?" "Coffee." Panam smiled. "Glad you approve." "Your domestic talents continue to amaze me." "Careful." Birgitta grinned over her mug. "Wouldn't dream of anything else." Breakfast was considerably less elaborate than dinner had been. Eggs. Toast. Fruit. A few things Panam had picked up the previous day. Birgitta insisted on helping. Panam initially resisted. Birgitta ignored her. They managed to prepare the meal without setting anything on fire, which Panam considered a success. Birgitta considered the process an opportunity. She stood close enough to brush shoulders. Stole a piece of fruit. Received a suspicious look. Stole another. Then leaned over and kissed Panam's cheek. Panam turned toward her. "Is this going to happen all morning?" Birgitta smiled. "Would you object?" Panam considered. "No." "Excellent." Birgitta stole a third piece. "Hey!" "Sorry, darling." "No, you're not." "Not remotely." They ate at the small table. Panam had begun outlining the practical arrangements for the afternoon. Lizzie's. Suzie Q. The regular crowd. The usual complications that came from combining wealthy clients, independent professionals, and people who had considerably more personality than patience. Birgitta listened. Interested. But she noticed something. Panam kept talking about everyone else. Sera. Mandi. Nova. Vega. Dalia. Deja. Bea. The Moxes. Their schedules. Their preferences. Their clients. Their moods. And occasionally their ability to make Panam's life unnecessarily difficult. "Sounds like you have quite the menagerie," Birgitta observed. Panam looked at her. "Don't start." "Oh, I'm merely admiring your organizational skills." "You're laughing." "Only internally." "Birgitta." She smiled brightly. "All right. A little externally." Panam shook her head. "You're all going to be the death of me." "An exceptionally entertaining death." "Fuck you." Birgitta leaned across the table. "Well, we do have some time." Panam stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "You are absolutely impossible." "So I've been told." "Repeatedly, I imagine." "By people of excellent judgment." After breakfast, Panam began clearing the table. Birgitta helped. They worked comfortably together, passing dishes, rinsing cups, occasionally getting in each other's way. Nothing extraordinary. And that was what made it feel extraordinary. No client. No negotiation. No performance. Just the small domestic choreography of two people who liked being in the same room. Eventually Panam glanced toward the clock. "We should get ready." Birgitta nodded. "Of course." She put the last cup away. Then smiled. "Shower first?" Panam looked at her. "Together?" Birgitta tilted her head. "Would you prefer I submit a formal request?" "Don't you fucking dare." "Three copies? Signed and dated?" Panam caught her around the waist. Birgitta laughed as she was pulled closer. "You're a menace." "An exceptionally clean menace, given the opportunity." Panam kissed her. "Bathroom. Now." "Such charming manners." "Birgitta." "Coming, darling." By the time they emerged from the bathroom, the apartment's mirrors had acquired a respectable amount of condensation and Panam had lost an argument about whether stealing kisses constituted an efficient use of shower time. Birgitta maintained that it did. Panam maintained that she'd been ambushed. Neither seemed particularly unhappy about the outcome. They dressed at an unhurried pace. Panam chose her usual practical clothes. Birgitta retrieved the elegant outfit she'd prepared for the afternoon. Lena's tailoring was as flawless as ever. The fabric settled neatly into place. The fast-drop mechanisms remained invisible. She checked the fit, adjusted one cuff, and inspected the result in the bedroom mirror. Panam appeared behind her. "Looking good." Birgitta met her eyes in the reflection. "Thank you, darling." Panam stepped closer and rested her hands on Birgitta's waist. "Really good." Birgitta smiled. "Careful. We have places to be." "I know." "And people expecting us." "I know." "And Suzie Q will absolutely make comments if we're late." Panam groaned. "Fuck. She will." Birgitta laughed. Then turned and kissed her. "Come on. One last thing." Panam smiled. "Yeah." She knew exactly what Birgitta meant. The box was where Panam always kept it. Not mixed in with ordinary accessories. Not tossed into a drawer. A small storage box, carefully closed, in its familiar place. Panam retrieved it. Birgitta waited beside the bed. She had already taken her leash from her evening bag. It rested loosely in her hands, the hardware polished, the material carefully maintained. Both had been chosen by Panam. The collar. The leash. Not as an interchangeable set. Not simply because the colors matched Birgitta's smoked copper-grey hair. Panam had chosen them for her. For the woman who wore them. For the particular way Birgitta smiled when Panam fastened the collar. For the way her fingers occasionally found the leash afterward, as though quietly appreciating its presence. They'd done this many times. Enough that each knew the other's movements almost before they happened. Enough that they could tease through the entire process if they wanted. But they rarely did. Not during the collar itself. That part belonged to something quieter. Panam placed the box on the bedside table. Birgitta stepped closer. Their eyes met. Panam smiled. "Ready, sweetheart?" Birgitta's expression warmed. "Always, darling." Panam opened the box. The collar rested exactly where she'd left it. She lifted it carefully. Birgitta watched. There was an unmistakable pleasure in her face. Not surprise. Not uncertainty. Recognition. The quiet happiness of seeing something familiar and meaningful return to its proper place. Panam touched the collar lightly between her fingers. Then looked up. "Come here." Birgitta stepped into her arms. Panam kissed her. Slowly. A greeting of sorts, though they'd already spent the entire morning together. Birgitta smiled when their lips parted. "Hello, Owner." Panam's expression softened. "Hello, beautiful." Birgitta turned. Gathered her smoked copper-grey hair away from her neck. And waited. Panam stepped behind her. She rested the collar against Birgitta's neck, adjusted its position, and brought the fastening together. There was no hurry. No audience. No performance for anyone else's benefit. Just the familiar movements of a ritual they both loved. The clasp closed. A soft, precise sound. Birgitta let out a contented breath. Panam's fingers lingered briefly at the back of her neck. "There." Birgitta smiled. Then turned back toward her. "Thank you." Panam brushed her thumb lightly along the collar. "Looks perfect." "Well, you chose it." "Excellent taste." "Impeccable." Panam laughed. Birgitta raised the leash she'd brought with her. Held it out. Panam took it. Again, no explanation was needed. Birgitta knew what came next. So did Panam. She brought the clasp toward the collar's attachment point. Birgitta watched her, smiling. Click. There it was. The tiny sound that had become one of their favorite beginnings. Birgitta closed her eyes for half a second. When she opened them, Panam was smiling at her. "Hello, pet." Birgitta's answering smile was radiant. "Hello, Owner." Panam gave the leash the smallest affectionate lift. Birgitta stepped closer. They kissed. Then Birgitta rested her forehead against Panam's. "Missed that." Panam chuckled. "It's been what, a few days?" "An eternity." "You're dramatic." "Only when the occasion warrants." Panam kissed the tip of her nose. "Good to have you back." Birgitta slipped an arm around her waist. "Good to be back." They remained close for another moment. Then Birgitta glanced toward the box. "You do take good care of it." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do." "I know." "Then why say it?" Birgitta smiled. "Because I like noticing." Panam looked at her. For a moment the usual quick retort didn't arrive. Then she smiled. "Yeah." Birgitta leaned closer. "Besides, darling, you have excellent taste in jewelry." "It's a collar." "A beautiful collar." Panam glanced at it. Then back at her. "On a beautiful woman." Birgitta laughed softly. "Oh, now you're showing off." "Learned from you." "Then I'm an excellent teacher." "Debatable." Birgitta gasped. Panam grinned. And just like that, the quiet ritual returned to their ordinary affectionate nonsense. Exactly as it always did. Panam checked her messages while Birgitta collected her bag. Suzie Q had confirmed they were expected. There were already several other notifications waiting. One from Sera. Two from Mandi. A scheduling question from Nova. And something from Dalia that began with an insult and ended with a demand for better coffee at Lizzie's. Panam stared at the screen. "Of course." Birgitta glanced over. "Trouble?" "Our people." "Ah." Panam typed a reply. Birgitta watched her. "Anything serious?" "No." "Then why do you look like you're preparing to invade a small country?" "Because dealing with this lot requires military discipline." Birgitta smiled. "Darling, I've met them." "Then you understand." "Perfectly." Panam glanced at her. "You fit right in." Birgitta considered that. Then smiled more quietly. "Thank you." Panam looked up. She hadn't meant it as anything particularly significant. Birgitta clearly had heard it differently. Panam slipped her agent away. Stepped closer. And kissed her forehead. "You're welcome." A little later, they stood by the apartment door. Panam had her jacket. Birgitta had her small bag. The leash lay comfortably between them, held loosely in Panam's hand. There was no need to rehearse their understanding. No need to ask Birgitta whether she knew what she'd chosen. No need to explain what Owner and pet meant between them. They'd established that long ago. And every time Birgitta brought her leash, every time Panam opened the box, every time the collar settled into place, they renewed it by choice. Birgitta looked down at the leash. Then up at Panam. "Ready?" Panam grinned. "For you? Never." Birgitta laughed. "Oh, darling." "For Lizzie's? Unfortunately, yes." "Then shall we?" Panam opened the door. "After you." Birgitta stepped into the hallway. Then stopped. Turned. Panam nearly walked into her. "What?" Birgitta grinned. "One thing." "Oh, for fuck's sake." Birgitta leaned closer. "Thank you for last night." Panam's expression changed. The exasperation disappeared. She reached for Birgitta's free hand. "Thank you for coming." Birgitta smiled. "Always a pleasure." Panam narrowed her eyes. "That was deliberate." "Entirely." "Brat." "Yours, apparently." Panam looked at the leash. Then at the smiling woman holding her hand. "Yeah," she said. A small, affectionate smile appeared. "Mine." Birgitta's answering smile was radiant. They headed toward the elevator together. Lizzie's was waiting. So were the others. And somewhere in Watson, a woman named Nadia was about to discover that a quiet afternoon with her artist friend could become considerably more educational than she'd expected. But that was later. For now, Panam and Birgitta had a city to cross. And a very promising weekend ahead of them. --- ## Chapter 6 — Friday Preparations The first sign that Friday was going to be a complicated day was a black thigh-high boot sitting beside the coffee machine. Mai found it at 7:43 in the morning. She stared at it. Then looked toward the living room. "Ace." No answer. "Ace!" From the bedroom came a muffled voice. "What?" "Why is there a boot in my kitchen?" A pause. "Which boot?" Mai closed her eyes. That was not an encouraging answer. "The black one." Another pause. "Oh." Mai waited. Nothing. "Ace!" "Coming!" Shammy appeared first, carrying a mug of coffee and wearing the expression of a woman who had already guessed what was happening. She looked at the boot. Then at Mai. Then back at the boot. "Ah." Mai pointed. "Do you know?" Shammy took a thoughtful sip. "I know there was a boot in the kitchen last night." "And you didn't think to mention it?" "I assumed it was temporary." Mai stared. "Temporary?" "Well, it's still here, so apparently I was wrong." Ace arrived wearing a shirt, shorts, and one sock. One. Mai glanced down. "Where's the other sock?" Ace looked at her feet. Then at Mai. "That's an excellent question." Shammy began laughing. Mai lifted the boot. "And this?" Ace's face lit up. "There it is!" Mai looked at Shammy. Shammy looked back. "Don't," Mai warned. Shammy was already laughing too hard to answer. Ace retrieved the boot and kissed Mai on the cheek. "Thank you, darling." Mai caught her by the shirt before she could escape. "Ace." "Yes, love of my life?" "Why was it beside the coffee machine?" Ace considered. "Honestly?" "Preferably." "I was making coffee." "And?" "I put it down." "And?" "I got distracted." Mai waited. Ace smiled. "Very good coffee." Shammy almost dropped her mug. Mai released Ace's shirt. "Go find your sock." "Yes, ma'am." "And keep your footwear out of the kitchen." Ace saluted with the boot. "Understood." She disappeared into the bedroom. Mai watched her go. Then turned toward Shammy. "Do you ever wonder how we survive?" Shammy smiled. "Constantly." By breakfast, the safehouse was beginning to resemble the opening stages of a very expensive costume disaster. Except, of course, none of the women involved would have appreciated having their cover identities described as costumes. The distinction mattered. A costume made someone look different. A cover made someone be different to the people meeting her. Mandi wasn't merely Ace with orange hair. Dalia wasn't simply Mai with pink dreadlocks. Nova and Vega weren't just Iris and Brenda in glamorous clothing. Bea wasn't Elisa playing dress-up. And Deja— Well. Deja was about to become everyone's favorite reason for making fun of Kiro. If she didn't get them first. Which, given Kiro, was a distinct possibility. Brenda occupied the dining table. Naturally. A small toolkit sat beside her coffee. Iris regarded the arrangement with deep suspicion. "Please tell me you're not dismantling something." "I'm not dismantling something." "Good." "I'm examining it." Iris looked at the open housing. "From the inside?" "That's usually where the interesting parts are." Elisa, sitting opposite them, smiled into her coffee. "I missed this." Iris glanced at her. "Brenda taking things apart?" "Being somewhere nobody expects me to behave like a corporation." Brenda looked up. "We expect you to behave like a menace." Elisa beamed. "Exactly." Iris leaned over to kiss Brenda's cheek. "Your appointment." "I remember." "At Victor's." "I remember that too." "For the voice-sculpt." Brenda set down her tool. "Iris." "Yes, darling?" "Do you intend to remind me what the appointment is for every six minutes?" "Only until you stop trying to repair things before breakfast." "That could take years." Elisa laughed. "Marriage suits you two." Brenda smiled. "Very much." Iris's expression softened. Then she glanced at the toolkit. "Still putting that away before we leave." "Yes, dear." Mai had commandeered one end of the dining table for the day's practical arrangements. Which meant Brenda was now confined to the other end. Brenda regarded this as an unreasonable restriction on scientific progress. Mai regarded it as the minimum necessary condition for the continued existence of their dining table. "All right," Mai announced. "Appointments first. Everything else afterward." Ace appeared with two socks and both boots. Mai noticed. "Progress." "Thank you." "Neither boot in the kitchen." "You're impossible to please." Shammy settled beside Ace. Mai opened the schedule. "Victor's seeing everyone who needs the second-generation sculpt. Individual appointments, staggered through the day." Elisa raised a hand. Mai looked at her. "Yes?" "Does he still hate having the whole group in his waiting room?" "Passionately." Ace grinned. "He sent us an invoice once." Iris looked up. "He what?" "Waiting-room occupancy." Brenda started laughing. Elisa stared. "Did you pay it?" "Of course." Mai closed her eyes. "She thought it was hilarious." "It was hilarious." Shammy nodded solemnly. "Victor may be the only person in Night City capable of billing Ace for being Ace." Ace considered that. "Rogue might manage it." "Rogue would charge significantly more," Brenda observed. That ended any hope of getting through breakfast with dignity. The medical appointments were the least glamorous part of the day. And among the most important. Voice-sculpting was medical work. Not an accessory someone could throw into a handbag. Not a fashion choice Lena could adjust with a styling tool. Victor was responsible for examining each patient, verifying compatibility, applying the established voice profile, and checking the result. The second-generation temporary procedure was familiar now. Reliable. Stable. And still subject to the inconvenient fact that human bodies refused to behave like perfectly predictable machines. The sculpt could remain active for up to seven days. The return to the original voice took approximately twenty-four hours after the sculpt ended. Enough flexibility for the weekend. Not an excuse to skip medical checks. Everyone who needed a modified cover voice had an appointment. Kiro didn't. Deja used Kiro's own voice. That was one of the joys of having planned the identity that way. Ace found it deeply unfair. "Some people get all the conveniences." Kiro, who had just arrived at the safehouse, looked at her. "Some people plan." Ace gasped. "That sounded personal." "It was." Shammy laughed. Mai looked up from the schedule. "Kiro, coffee?" "Please." "Fresh pot." "Excellent." Ace folded her arms. "Nobody offered me coffee." Mai stared at her. "You're drinking it." Ace looked at the mug in her hand. "Oh." Kiro smiled. "Remarkable woman." "Shut up." "Good morning to you too." Kiro had arrived as Kiro. Pale silver-blonde hair. Her own familiar face. Her normal clothes. An overnight bag slung over one shoulder. Nothing about her suggested Deja yet. That would change here. At the safehouse. Where Deja's equipment had always been kept. Kiro had never needed a separate preparation site. The safehouse already offered something better. Privacy. Security. Friends who knew precisely what the equipment was for. And, most importantly, enough room to work without someone asking awkward questions about why a completely different woman had just emerged from a locked room. She set down her bag. Mai handed her coffee. "Everything still where you left it?" "Unless Ace has been reorganizing things." Ace looked offended. "Why does everyone assume I'm responsible for everything?" Brenda didn't look up. "Statistics." Elisa laughed. Kiro took a sip. "Mine's in the storage room." Mai nodded. "Good." Ace looked from one to the other. "See? Nothing to do with me." Mai smiled. "Yet." "Unfair." Kiro went to collect Deja's equipment while the others finished breakfast. The safehouse's storage arrangements were familiar. Practical. Organized enough that things could actually be found. Most of the time. Deja's supplies occupied their own clearly identified storage space. Not because Kiro expected anyone else to mistake them for ordinary household belongings. Because the equipment was valuable, carefully maintained, and intended for repeated use. The reusable face-mesh rested in its protective case. The contacts were stored separately. The ChromeLock V2 supplies were properly sealed. The clothing hung in protective covers. Ivory. Cream. Elegant silhouettes. Beautiful tailoring. Clothes chosen to make the woman wearing them look approachable, expensive, and almost impossibly composed. Until she opened her mouth. Kiro smiled. That was still her favorite part. She checked the mesh. Intact. Clean. Ready. The contacts were in order. The ChromeLock supplies correct. The wardrobe exactly as she'd left it. And the familiar collar and leash were there with the rest of Deja's personal accessories. Kiro touched the collar briefly. Ivory, with dark hardware. Her own choice. Her own terms. Part of her arrangement with Dalia. She smiled again. Then closed the case. There would be time for that later. First she had to become Deja. Ace's appointment with Victor went exactly as well as Victor had feared. Which meant the procedure was medically uneventful and conversationally exhausting. He looked up when she entered. "You're early." Ace smiled. "Good morning, Doctor." Victor narrowed his eyes. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." "Why are you early?" "Because I respect your time." Victor stared at her. Then reached for his agent. Ace blinked. "What are you doing?" "Calling Mai." "Why?" "Because something's clearly happened to you." Ace burst out laughing. Victor sighed. "Sit." She did. He opened her medical record. "Mandi?" "Who else?" "Don't tempt me." He reviewed her previous results. Clean recovery. No residual complications. No unexpected reaction to the second-generation sculpt. Good. He performed the required checks. Ace behaved. Mostly. At one point she asked whether Victor had considered opening a second clinic exclusively for joytoys. He asked whether she'd considered becoming somebody else's patient. She suggested they call it Victor's Voices. He suggested she stop talking. Neither was particularly successful. The procedure itself was routine. Victor monitored the sculpt as it settled. Ace remained cooperative. The readings stayed within the expected range. When the final stabilization was complete, Victor looked up. "All right. Try speaking." Ace opened her mouth. "Hello, gorgeous." Mandi's distinctive cover voice emerged. Victor closed his eyes. "Unfortunately successful." Ace grinned. "You're welcome." "I didn't thank you." "You were thinking it." "I was thinking about retirement." Mandi laughed. Victor completed the final verification. "Normal use. Don't strain it unnecessarily. Contact me if anything feels wrong." "Yes, Vic." "And don't start experimenting with it." "Wouldn't dream of it." Victor looked at her. Ace looked back. Then smiled. "Much." "Out." She laughed all the way to the door. The others came and went according to their appointments. Mai's established Dalia voice. Iris's Nova profile. Brenda's Vega profile. Elisa's Bea voice. Individual examinations. Individual procedures. No improvisation. No crowding Victor's clinic. And no attempt to turn a medical appointment into an afternoon of entertainment. Except Ace had already done that. Victor considered one offender enough. By early afternoon, everyone requiring the procedure had been cleared. They returned to the safehouse in ones and twos. Some still looked entirely ordinary. Some sounded profoundly wrong. Elisa's familiar face accompanied by Bea's higher, brighter voice was particularly unsettling. Brenda stared at her over the dining table. "That's disturbing." Elisa smiled. "Thank you." "I meant it." "So did I." Iris laughed. Mai arrived behind them. "Everyone cleared?" Brenda nodded. "Yes." "Any complications?" "No." "Good." Ace leaned against the doorway. "Victor's in excellent spirits." Mai turned. "What did you do?" "Nothing." "Ace." "He mentioned retirement." Mai closed her eyes. Shammy burst out laughing. Lena arrived carrying a case large enough to make Ace visibly interested. "No," Lena said immediately. Ace blinked. "I haven't said anything." "You're looking." "Am I not allowed?" "Not like that." Shammy laughed. Lena set the case on the table. "ChromeLock supplies. Final checks. Nobody touches the finished styling until I say it's ready." Ace raised a hand. Lena pointed at her. "Especially you." "Persecution." "Experience." Mai smiled. "Coffee?" "Please." "Brenda's table has a clear section." Brenda looked up. "A small section." "Large enough," Mai said. Brenda considered the available space. Then began moving components. Iris watched. "Look at that. Progress." "Don't get used to it." The preparation rooms filled gradually. No single grand transformation. No crowd gathered around one mirror while everybody else waited. People came and went. Borrowed a brush. Asked Lena to check something. Disappeared into a bedroom. Returned with hair halfway through its change. Went back to finish. The safehouse was unusually well suited to this sort of controlled chaos. Six extra bedrooms meant nobody needed to fight for privacy. Two bathrooms meant there would still be arguments about mirrors, but fewer than there might otherwise have been. And Mai, who had appointed herself the unofficial guardian of the day's logistics, kept the operation moving. Mostly. "Whose contacts are these?" "Mine," Iris called. "Then why are they beside the coffee?" "Because Brenda put them there." Brenda looked up. "I did not." "Then Ace did." Ace appeared from the hallway. "Why am I being accused of things again?" Shammy leaned out of the bedroom. "Statistics." Kiro laughed. Ace stared at all of them. "I live among enemies." Mai smiled. "Enemies who love you." "That's the worst kind." Kiro chose one of the extra bedrooms for her transformation. She'd laid out Deja's equipment neatly. The reusable face-mesh. The contacts. The ChromeLock supplies. Her ivory clothing. The carefully selected accessories. Everything familiar. Everything ready. Lena stopped by first. "Want me to check the hair setup?" "Please." Lena examined the materials and the established styling profile. "Same venom green?" Kiro smiled. "Of course." "Good. It suits her." "That's the idea." Lena worked through the preparation, checking the application and the shape-memory configuration. Deja's hair was not ordinary green. Not neon. Not a glowing advertisement for a netrunner with questionable taste. Dark venom green. Nearly black in shadow. Rich green when the light caught it. Controlled. Intentional. A color that made people look twice. Lena finished the lock verification. "Perfect." Kiro examined the result. Then smiled. "Excellent." Lena packed away the tools. "Face-mesh next?" "Yeah." "Call if you need anything." "Thanks." Lena left her to it. Kiro took her time applying the mesh. The interface was familiar. The fitted structure settled into place without difficulty. She waited for stabilization. Then turned toward the mirror. Deja looked back. Softer face. Warmer expression. Different bone structure. An appearance that suggested gentleness without fragility. Kiro tilted her head. Deja did the same. Then she smiled. The woman in the mirror looked sweet. Until she spoke. "Well, aren't you a pretty little disaster." Kiro laughed. Her own voice. Entirely unchanged. That was the beautiful part. Deja didn't need a different sound. She needed a different way of using the one Kiro already possessed. More direct. Less filtered. A lot sharper. And considerably less interested in pretending she hadn't noticed someone's foolishness. She inserted the warm brown-amber contacts. Checked the fit. Comfortable. Natural. Then completed the clothing. Ivory. Cream. Clean, expensive lines. Movement-friendly tailoring. The soft-looking woman in the mirror was now entirely convincing. Kiro studied her. Then smiled. "Hello, trouble." Deja smiled back. A knock came at the door. "Come in." Dalia stepped inside. Hot-pink dreadlocks. Emerald reflective lenses. A flawless face-mesh. Her familiar menthol lollipop. Deja looked her over. "Christ." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Problem, darling?" "You look like a textile factory declared war on good taste." Dalia stared. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, you are going to be unbearable today." "Only today?" "Fair point." Dalia stepped closer. Examined the venom-green hair. Then Deja's face. Then the ivory outfit. "Beautiful." Deja's expression softened slightly. "Thank you." "Seriously." "I know." Dalia smiled. Then noticed the accessories waiting on the bed. Her gaze lingered briefly on the collar and leash. Deja noticed. Of course she did. "Later," she said. Dalia looked back at her. "Later." No further explanation. No public performance. Their arrangement was theirs. And neither felt a need to turn it into a discussion in the middle of preparations. Dalia offered her arm. Deja took it. "Shall we go insult our friends?" Dalia laughed. "Darling, you read my mind." Meanwhile, Iris and Brenda had transformed into Nova and Vega. Chrome-gold. Chrome-brass. Contrasting contact lenses. White Void and Black Void. Different faces. Different voices. Elegant professional identities with no publicly declared family connection whatsoever. They stood before the mirror examining one another. Vega adjusted Nova's sleeve. "Perfect." Nova smiled. "Thank you." Vega checked the fastening. Then looked up. "What?" Nova was watching her. "Nothing." "That's not a nothing face." "I was just thinking." "Dangerous." Nova laughed. "How fortunate I am." Vega's expression warmed. "Because of the outfit?" "Because of the woman fixing it." Vega smiled. Then kissed her. "Flatterer." "Married one, actually." Vega glanced toward the door. "Not outside this room." Nova nodded. "Of course." The distinction mattered. Here, they were wives. At Lizzie's, Nova and Vega were independent professional identities who worked well together. Nobody needed a family history. Nobody was getting one. Vega gave the sleeve one final adjustment. "There." Nova smiled. "Ready?" "Almost." Vega kissed her again. "Now." Elisa stood before another mirror. Bea stared back. Ice-blue bob. Bright red contacts. A different face. A higher, brighter voice. The transformation was as convincing as ever. Elisa examined the result with quiet satisfaction. She had learned long ago that becoming Bea wasn't simply a matter of changing her appearance. The absence of corporate expectations was part of it. No one asking for signatures. No boardroom negotiations. No carefully constructed public statements. No security briefing merely because she wanted to leave a building. Just Bea. A woman who could decide who interested her and what she wanted to do about it. She checked her clothing. Comfortable. Elegant. Exactly right. Then smiled at her reflection. "Hello, darling." Bea's voice answered perfectly. Elisa laughed. Somewhere in Night City, her security manager was enjoying a well-earned day off. His professional responsibility for her had ended at Thursday's handoff. He wouldn't resume it until Monday. For the moment, he was free to spend his time however he pleased. Elisa hoped he enjoyed himself. Rather a lot, actually. She adjusted one earring. Then picked up her bag. Mandi was the last to finish. Not because the process was complicated. Because Ace had spent ten minutes arguing with Lena about the exact placement of one orange lock. "It's perfect," Lena said. Mandi tilted her head. "It's slightly—" "No." "Just a little—" "No." "Could we—" "No." Mandi folded her arms. "You're very inflexible." Lena stared at her. "Your hair has shape-memory." "Exactly." "That is the opposite of inflexible." "Philosophically debatable." Lena closed her eyes. From the doorway came Shammy's laughter. Mandi pointed at her. "Don't." Shammy grinned. "Wasn't going to say anything." "You're laughing." "I know." Lena checked the ChromeLock one final time. Neon orange. Perfect hold. No unwanted movement. Mandi's own face remained uncovered. Black contacts and the changed voice completed the essential physical differences. The rest was Ace's talent for becoming a woman who seemed entirely unrelated to her ordinary self despite having exactly the same face. Lena stepped back. "Done." Mandi looked in the mirror. Smiled. Then turned. "Hello, gorgeous." Shammy smiled back. "Hello, menace." Mandi spread her arms. "Miss me?" "Terribly." "Good answer." The final gathering took place in the main living area. Mai would have called it a readiness check. Mandi called it a fashion show. Dalia declared that a fashion show required better lighting. Deja suggested the entire group required adult supervision. Vega observed that they already had Mai. Mandi pointed out that Mai was currently wearing pink dreadlocks and answering to Dalia. Deja replied that this made the situation worse. Sera listened to the exchange with increasing amusement. They were all here. Mandi. Dalia. Deja. Nova. Vega. Bea. And Sera herself, requiring no face-mesh or voice transformation. The room looked nothing like the household that had eaten breakfast together a few hours earlier. Yet the same personalities remained unmistakable to anyone who knew the truth. Mandi was still incapable of leaving Deja alone. Dalia was still capable of ending an argument with a single look. Nova and Vega still found little reasons to touch one another whenever they thought nobody was watching. Bea looked entirely too pleased with herself. And Shammy— Shammy loved them. Every ridiculous one. "All right," Dalia announced. "Equipment?" A chorus of affirmative answers. "Contacts?" More answers. "ChromeLock?" Lena raised a hand from the couch. "Verified." "Fast-drop?" Vega nodded. "All checked." "Meshes?" "Stable," Nova answered. "Voice-sculpts?" "Victor cleared everyone who needed one," Bea said. Deja raised an eyebrow. "And those of us born with excellent voices?" Mandi grinned. "Tragically underappreciated." Deja smiled sweetly. "Yet somehow still more articulate than you." Vega started laughing. Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Wounded." "Not fatally," Deja said. "Give her time," Dalia added. Sera shook her head. "Children." Six women looked toward her. Sera smiled. "Are we ready?" Mandi raised both arms. "YES!" Dalia sighed. "Unfortunately." There was no financial anxiety hanging over the afternoon. No desperate need to attract clients. No concern about whether the evening would bring in enough eddies to cover rent, equipment, or next month's expenses. That part of their lives had changed. Permanently. The extraordinary corpo event arranged through Madame Panam had seen to that. A hundred-million-eddy social booking had brought eight women into a room full of Night City's wealthiest people. And the privately negotiated arrangements afterward had made the original event fee look almost restrained. Their finances were secure. Their choices were their own. Which was precisely why the weekend mattered. Nobody needed to do this. They wanted to. Mandi wanted the fun. Dalia wanted the work and the game. Deja enjoyed the professional challenge. Nova and Vega loved their chosen arrangement. Bea loved being Bea. And Sera wanted to spend time with her friends. Especially Nadia. Who was about to discover that she knew considerably less about their weekend lives than she imagined. At her studio, Nadia looked up from her work when her agent chimed. Sera: Still coming tonight? Nadia smiled. Nadia: Of course. Why? Sera: Just checking. Nadia: Should I be worried? There was a pause. Sera: No. Nadia stared. Another message arrived. Sera: Probably. Nadia laughed. Nadia: Sera. Sera: What? ❤️ Nadia: You're doing that thing again. Sera: What thing? Nadia: Being suspiciously cheerful. The reply took several seconds. Sera: Wear comfortable shoes. Nadia frowned. Nadia: Why? Sera: You'll see. Nadia set her agent down. "Impossible woman." Then she smiled. Whatever Sera was planning, it would probably be entertaining. Possibly exhausting. Almost certainly unexpected. Nadia returned to her work. She had no idea just how correct all three assumptions would prove. Back at the safehouse, Mandi was standing beside the door. "Can we go now?" Dalia looked at her. "Have you checked your bag?" "Yes." "Really?" "Yes." "Contacts?" "In my eyes." "Agent?" "With me." "Boots?" Mandi looked down. Two boots. Matching. Properly worn. Then she looked back at Dalia. "Are we going to revisit the kitchen incident forever?" Deja appeared beside them. "Probably." Mandi groaned. Vega smiled. "I'd give it a week." Nova shook her head. "Optimistic." Bea adjusted her bag. "Years, darling. Definitely years." Mandi looked at Sera. "Help." Sera smiled brightly. "Oh, sweetheart." Mandi relaxed. Then Sera added: "Did you find your other sock?" The entire room erupted. Mandi stared at her. "You too?" Sera laughed. "Especially me." At last, they began leaving. Not as a single conspicuous group of six extraordinary-looking women marching down Watson's streets. They knew better. Their transport arrangements had already been made. They would arrive at Lizzie's without advertising that they had all come from the same address. The safehouse remained their private home. The covers belonged to a different world. The two worlds could overlap among trusted friends. They did not need to overlap in public. Sera paused near the upper door. Mai—Dalia now—was checking that everyone had what they needed. Ace—Mandi—was making faces behind her back. Deja noticed. Naturally. She made one back. Mandi grinned. Nova and Vega were already discussing something quietly. Bea looked amused by all of it. Sera took in the scene. Then smiled. Her people. Her impossible, affectionate, infuriating people. And tonight, Nadia would meet several of them for what she believed was the first time. Sera couldn't help herself. She laughed. Dalia looked up. "What?" "Nothing." "Shammy." Sera shook her head. "Just looking forward to tonight." Dalia studied her. Then smiled knowingly. "Ah." Mandi looked between them. "What?" "Nothing," Dalia said. "I hate when you do that." Deja patted her shoulder. "You'll survive." "Debatable." Sera opened the door. "Come on, everyone." Mandi grinned. "Adventure?" Sera looked back. "Social minefield." Dalia laughed. Deja smiled. And the first wave of Night City's most dangerously entertaining women headed out into Friday afternoon. --- ## Chapter 7 — Sera's Click Nadia was trying to decide whether an installation needed another light source when her agent chimed. She ignored it. The light was wrong. Not dramatically wrong. Not the sort of wrong that made a piece unusable. The infuriating sort that kept reminding her it could be better. She moved two steps to the left. Looked. Moved back. Looked again. The agent chimed a second time. Nadia sighed. "Whoever you are, this had better be important." She opened the message. Sera: Are you still planning to spend the entire evening arguing with that installation? Nadia smiled immediately. Nadia: It's being difficult. Sera: Have you tried being nice to it? Nadia: I've tried everything short of threatening it with a hammer. Sera: That usually works for Brenda. Nadia laughed. Nadia: Brenda would have rebuilt the lighting controller by now. Sera: And added three functions nobody asked for. Nadia: Four. She's married now. She has responsibilities. A heart appeared. Then another message. Sera: Come see me, beautiful. Nadia looked at the installation. The light was still wrong. It would probably remain wrong tomorrow. Possibly out of spite. Nadia: Where? Sera: Lizzie's. Panam's already here. That settled it. Nadia reached for her jacket. Nadia: Both of you? Sera: Both of us. ❤️ Nadia: Dangerous proposition. Sera: You love dangerous women. Nadia grinned. Nadia: Unfortunately, I do. She sent one last message. Nadia: Coming. Love you. The reply was immediate. Sera: Love you too. Nadia switched off the installation's test lighting. "Tomorrow," she informed it. The installation offered no objection. Coward. Night City was having an ordinary Friday evening. Which meant traffic was terrible, somebody had managed to start a shouting match outside a noodle shop, and a delivery drone was hovering over an intersection with the confused determination of a machine that had received mutually incompatible instructions. Nadia watched it from the cab. The driver swore at the traffic. The drone swore at nobody. Somewhere behind them, a horn began an extended complaint. Nadia smiled. She loved her studio. Loved having a place of her own. Loved the freedom to disappear into her work for hours without anyone demanding an explanation. But there were evenings when she wanted something else. An arm around her waist. A familiar voice near her ear. The particular pleasure of finding Panam in an argumentative mood and watching Shammy make it worse. She hadn't expected her life in Night City to become quite this full. Or quite this complicated. But the complications were good ones. Mostly. She remembered Panam's expression the last time Shammy had proposed a perfectly innocent afternoon together. An expression that had suggested the phrase perfectly innocent was about to become a matter of considerable debate. Nadia laughed softly. The driver glanced in the mirror. "Good evening planned?" "I think so." "Meeting someone?" "Two someones." He raised his eyebrows. Nadia smiled pleasantly. "Very important people." "Ah." He apparently decided that was sufficient information. Wise man. Lizzie's was already lively when she arrived. Music rolled through the room. The lighting shifted across polished surfaces, dark corners, and moving bodies. A Mox near the entrance recognized her. "Nadia." "Hi." "Looking for Sera?" "How did you guess?" The woman grinned. "Wild intuition." Nadia laughed. "She's here?" "Somewhere near the bar." "Thank you." She headed inside. She'd been to Lizzie's before. The place had its own peculiar rhythm, and she liked it. The Moxes were confident. The clientele varied from entertaining to exhausting. And Suzie Q ran the establishment with the kind of practical authority Nadia had learned to admire. There were few dull conversations to be had in a place like this. That alone made it worth visiting. Tonight, however, Nadia wasn't particularly interested in the clientele. She was looking for two women. She spotted Panam first. Of course she did. Panam was standing near the bar, talking to Suzie Q. Her expression suggested someone had recently made an unreasonable request. Possibly several. Nadia smiled. There she was. Then Nadia noticed the woman beside her. Smoked copper-grey hair. An elegant outfit. Beautiful, expressive face. A smile that seemed entirely comfortable with its own existence. She was saying something to Suzie. Suzie laughed. Panam rolled her eyes. The woman laughed too. Nadia's smile widened. Interesting company. She started toward them. Then stopped. There was something hanging from Panam's hand. A narrow length of beautifully finished material. Nadia followed it with her eyes. To the woman's neck. A collar. And a leash. Nadia blinked. Looked again. Yes. Definitely a leash. Panam was holding it. The woman appeared not merely comfortable but positively delighted with the situation. She leaned toward Panam and murmured something. Panam's expression changed. The irritation disappeared. A reluctant smile appeared. The woman kissed her cheek. Panam let her. Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Well," she murmured. She hadn't expected that. Not that Panam was affectionate with another woman. Nadia knew perfectly well that Panam had room in her life for more than one person. But the leash was new. Very new. And interesting. Nadia was still trying to decide whether to approach when someone slipped their arms around her from behind. "Found you." Nadia smiled before she even turned. There was only one woman whose voice sounded quite like that. Only one whose arrival could transform an ordinary moment into something immediately warmer. "Hello, sweetheart." Shammy kissed the side of her neck. "Hello, beautiful." Nadia turned within her arms. There she was. Sera to the art world. Shammy to the people who knew her best. The same impossible woman. The woman Nadia had spent long nights talking with, laughing with, falling asleep beside. One of the people who had made Night City feel like home. Nadia caught her face between her hands. And kissed her. Shammy answered enthusiastically. Her arms tightened around Nadia's waist. Nadia smiled against her lips. The kiss deepened for another moment before they finally separated. Shammy looked entirely too pleased. "Well." Nadia brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. "Well?" "That was a good hello." "I can improve on it." "Can you?" Nadia kissed her again. Shammy laughed softly. When Nadia drew back, she rested her forehead against hers. "Missed you." "Missed you too." "How much?" "Enough to abandon a very stubborn installation." Shammy gasped. "Darling. That's practically a marriage proposal." Nadia laughed. "Don't let Padre hear you." "He'd have the paperwork ready before we finished dessert." "With Rogue as witness?" "Naturally." Nadia shook her head. "God help us." Shammy grinned. "He'd probably decline." They walked toward the bar with their arms around each other. Nadia glanced ahead. "So." Shammy tilted her head. "So?" "Panam has company." "She does." "A rather attractive woman." "Very." Nadia waited. Shammy smiled. Nadia sighed. "Are you going to make me ask?" "Ask what?" Nadia glanced toward Panam's hand. "About the leash." Shammy followed her gaze. Then looked back at Nadia. There was a small, unmistakable spark in her eyes. Nadia knew that spark. Usually it meant Shammy was enjoying a joke Nadia hadn't yet heard. "Oh, no," Nadia said. "What?" "That face." "What face?" "The one that says you're about to be insufferable." Shammy kissed her cheek. "I love you." "That's not a denial." "No." Nadia laughed. "Come on, you menace." Panam looked up as they approached. The change in her expression was immediate. Whatever Suzie had been telling her ceased to matter. "Nadia." Nadia smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Panam stepped toward her. Nadia went into her arms without hesitation. The embrace was tight and familiar. Panam kissed her. Nadia returned it, letting herself enjoy the simple pleasure of being together again. When they separated, Panam kept an arm around her waist. "How's the studio?" "Still standing." "That's encouraging." "One installation is being difficult." "Want me to threaten it?" Nadia laughed. "With what?" "Depends how expensive it is." "Very." "Then I'll threaten it politely." Shammy began laughing. Nadia kissed Panam's cheek. "Thank you, darling. I'll keep the offer in reserve." From behind them, Suzie Q cleared her throat. "Are we charging admission to this reunion?" Panam sighed. "Suzie." "What?" Nadia turned. "Hello, Suzie." "Good evening, Nadia." "Are we in the way?" "Not yet." "Excellent." Suzie smiled. "Give it time." The copper-grey-haired woman was watching with obvious amusement. Panam noticed. "Oh, don't start." The woman lifted her eyebrows. "I haven't said anything, darling." "That's why I'm worried." Nadia smiled. Panam made the introduction. "Nadia, Birgitta." Birgitta stepped forward and offered her hand. "Delighted to meet you." Nadia took it. "Likewise." Birgitta's grip was warm. Her expression open. There was a natural confidence about her that Nadia liked immediately. "You're the artist?" Birgitta asked. "One of them." Birgitta glanced toward Shammy. "Oh, I gathered that. This one has mentioned you." Nadia turned. "Has she?" Shammy smiled innocently. "Only occasionally." Birgitta laughed. "Darling, your definition of occasionally is fascinating." Shammy gave her a look. Birgitta beamed. Nadia grinned. "Good things, I hope." "Excellent things." "Then I suppose I can forgive her." Panam snorted. "Don't make that a habit." Shammy placed a hand over her heart. "Betrayal." Nadia leaned against her. "Terrible people." "All of them," Shammy agreed. Birgitta raised her glass. "Wonderful, aren't we?" They settled near the bar. Panam remained standing beside Birgitta. Nadia took a stool. Shammy stood close enough that Nadia could comfortably rest a hand on her hip. Suzie provided drinks. And for a while the conversation was exactly what Nadia had hoped for. Warm. Funny. Easy. She told Shammy about the installation that had refused to behave. Shammy suggested three possible solutions. One was sensible. One was impractical. The third made Nadia laugh hard enough that she briefly forgot what they'd been discussing. Birgitta proved to be an excellent conversational companion. She listened closely. Asked questions. Made observations that were frequently more perceptive than Nadia expected. Panam contributed when she felt like it. Usually in the form of a blunt opinion that both artists initially objected to and then reluctantly admitted contained a useful point. At one stage Nadia caught her smiling. "What?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "What what?" "You enjoy this." "Enjoy what?" "Listening to us argue about art." Panam folded her arms. "I enjoy it when you finally explain what the hell you're trying to build." Shammy laughed. "She's not wrong." Nadia grinned. "You're supposed to be on my side." "I am." "That didn't sound like it." Shammy kissed her temple. "Creative criticism, sweetheart." "Traitor." Nadia's gaze drifted toward Birgitta again. The collar was beautiful. Ivory wasn't its color. It was something more restrained, chosen to complement her appearance without competing with it. The hardware was polished. The leash matched. And Panam held it with such absentminded familiarity that Nadia almost forgot it was there. Almost. Birgitta noticed the glance. She followed Nadia's gaze and smiled. "Curious?" Nadia gave a small, apologetic laugh. "Am I being obvious?" "Only a little." "Sorry." "Don't be." Birgitta touched the collar with one finger. "Beautiful, isn't it?" "It is." "Panam chose it." Nadia looked toward Panam. "You did?" Panam shrugged. "Yeah." "And the leash?" "That too." Birgitta smiled at her. "She has excellent taste." Panam looked at Birgitta. "You've mentioned that." "Several times." "Several hundred." "Because it's true, darling." Nadia laughed. Panam shook her head, but the affection in her expression was unmistakable. Nadia looked back at the collar. "May I ask what it's for?" Birgitta smiled. "Of course." Panam answered before she could. "It's an arrangement between us." Nadia nodded slowly. "All right." Birgitta tilted her head. "And one I enjoy very much." There was no embarrassment in her voice. No attempt to make it sound more ordinary than it was. Just cheerful certainty. Nadia appreciated that. "Fair enough." She took a drink. Then smiled. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting to find Panam holding somebody's leash tonight." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?" Nadia laughed. "Not remotely." Birgitta looked delighted. "Good answer." Nadia turned toward Panam. "Although now I'm wondering what else you do when I'm not around." Panam's mouth curved. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Shammy suddenly became fascinated by her drink. Nadia noticed. Of course she noticed. She pointed at her. "And you." Shammy looked up. "Me?" "Don't pretend you haven't just enjoyed that question far too much." Shammy grinned. "Never." Nadia shook her head. "Hopeless. Both of you." The conversation moved on. Nadia didn't press. Panam and Birgitta had their own arrangement. They were both adults. Both clearly happy. And Nadia had never believed love meant having to know every detail of somebody else's private life. She was curious, certainly. But curiosity wasn't a demand. That was something she and Shammy understood particularly well. They had built their own relationship around the freedom to remain themselves. Panam belonged in that understanding too. Nadia loved her fierce generosity. Loved the way she could act as though caring about people was a tremendous inconvenience while quietly doing more for them than anyone had asked. And she loved the way Panam sometimes looked at Shammy. Not possessively. Not uncertainly. Simply with the deep warmth of someone who knew exactly how important another person had become. Nadia knew that look. She'd received it herself. She'd also seen it on Shammy's face when Panam arrived somewhere unexpectedly. It made her happy. The three of them weren't competing for a limited supply of affection. They'd learned that a long time ago. Still— Nadia looked at Birgitta's leash. There was definitely something going on here she hadn't encountered before. She smiled to herself. Night City remained educational. A little later, Suzie was called away to deal with a customer who apparently believed that being wealthy exempted him from waiting his turn. Panam watched her go. "He's going to regret that." Birgitta smiled. "Poor man." Nadia looked over. "Poor?" "Terribly." Panam snorted. "He's got it coming." Shammy laughed. Then glanced at her agent. A message had arrived. Nothing urgent. She answered briefly and put it away. Nadia was still considering Birgitta's collar when Shammy touched her arm. "Hey, beautiful." Nadia turned. "Hm?" Shammy's expression was warm. And distinctly mischievous. Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Oh, no." Shammy laughed. "What?" "Something is happening." "Is it?" "That smile." "Again with my smile." "It keeps warning me about things." Panam glanced toward Shammy. Their eyes met. For a moment they shared a look Nadia couldn't interpret. Then Panam smiled. Small. Affectionate. Almost expectant. Nadia looked from one to the other. "What?" Neither answered immediately. Birgitta lowered her glass. She was smiling too. Nadia stared. "Oh, you are all terrible." Shammy leaned forward and kissed her. A slow, affectionate kiss. Nadia responded readily. When Shammy drew back, she stayed close. "Love you." Nadia smiled despite herself. "Love you too." Then she narrowed her eyes again. "Now what are you up to?" Shammy laughed softly. "Just something I want to do." She turned toward Panam. "Owner?" Nadia blinked. The word had come naturally. Affectionately. But it wasn't one she'd heard Shammy use before. Panam's attention shifted fully to her. "Yeah, sweetheart?" Shammy reached into her bag. And took out a leash. Nadia went completely still. For one absurd moment, she wondered whether Shammy had borrowed Birgitta's. Then she looked. No. Different leash. Different finish. Different hardware. And Shammy was holding it with the easy confidence of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. Nadia stared at her. "Sera?" Shammy turned her head. Smiled. "Yes, darling?" Nadia pointed. "What's that?" Shammy glanced down. Then back up. "A leash." "Yes. I can see that." Panam's mouth twitched. Birgitta looked dangerously close to laughing. Nadia kept looking at Shammy. "Why do you have a leash?" Shammy smiled. Then held it out to Panam. "Because it belongs here." Panam accepted it. And Nadia suddenly realized that neither woman was improvising. They knew exactly how this went. Shammy wasn't asking whether Panam would take the leash. Panam wasn't surprised to see it. There was no uncertainty. Just an established ritual Nadia had never witnessed. Shammy turned. Gathered her hair away from her neck. Revealing the collar resting there. Nadia's breath caught. She hadn't noticed it properly beneath Shammy's hair. Now she could see the design. The workmanship. The careful fit. And, most importantly, the point where the leash was meant to attach. Nadia looked at Panam. Panam was smiling. Not laughing. Not teasing. Her expression was quiet and deeply affectionate. She stepped behind Shammy. Shammy tipped her head slightly. Panam brought the clasp toward the collar. Her fingers moved with familiar precision. There was a brief pause as the hardware aligned. Then— Click. The sound was small. Barely audible beneath the music. Nadia heard it perfectly. Shammy turned back toward Panam. Her smile was radiant. "Hello, Owner." Panam touched her cheek. "Hello, pet." Then she drew Shammy into her arms and kissed her. A warm, familiar kiss. One that clearly belonged to the two of them, regardless of who happened to be watching. Shammy smiled against her lips. When they separated, Panam rested her forehead against hers for a moment. "Good to have you back." Shammy's expression softened. "Good to be back." Panam gathered the second leash into her hand. Birgitta stepped closer. Shammy turned toward her with an affectionate smile. And Nadia— Nadia stared. At Shammy. At Panam. At Birgitta. At the two leashes. Then back at Shammy. "Oh." Nobody said anything. Nadia blinked. "Oh." Shammy smiled at her. Nadia opened her mouth. Closed it. Looked at Panam. Then back at Shammy. "OH." Birgitta made a tiny, strangled sound. Panam looked at her. "Don't." Birgitta covered her mouth. Nadia pointed toward Shammy. "You're—" Shammy waited. Nadia pointed toward Panam. "And she's—" Panam raised an eyebrow. Nadia looked at the leashes again. Then took a breath. "You're one of her pets?" Shammy smiled. "Yes." A moment passed. Nadia stared at her. "YOU?" Shammy burst out laughing. Birgitta lost the battle completely. Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia stood up. Not abruptly. Not angrily. More because sitting suddenly seemed completely inadequate to the situation. She looked at Shammy. Then at the collar. Then at Panam's hand. Then at Birgitta. Then back. "Hang on." Shammy was still smiling. Nadia held up a finger. "Hang on." Panam leaned against the bar. "Take your time." Nadia turned toward her. "YOU." Panam blinked. "Me?" "You have a pet." Panam looked at Birgitta. Then at Shammy. "Apparently." Nadia stared. "TWO pets." Birgitta laughed. Shammy's shoulders shook. Nadia looked at her lover. "You." Shammy nodded. "Me." "You're wearing a collar." "Yes." "Panam is holding your leash." "Yes." "And this is something you do?" Shammy smiled. "Yes." Nadia folded her arms. "How long?" Shammy considered. "A while." Nadia closed her eyes. "Of course." Panam started laughing. Nadia pointed at her without looking. "Don't you dare." "I didn't say anything." "You're laughing!" "Yeah." Birgitta leaned against the bar, openly delighted. "Oh, darling. You're taking this beautifully." Nadia opened her eyes. "I'm trying to decide whether I've wandered into an elaborate practical joke." Shammy stepped closer. "It's not a joke." Nadia looked at her. The laughter softened. Shammy's expression was still warm, but there was something genuine beneath the amusement. Nadia knew that expression. She relaxed a little. "I know, sweetheart." Shammy reached for her hand. Nadia took it. And Shammy said simply: "I love this." Nadia glanced at the leash. Then back at her. "This?" "Yes." "Being Panam's pet?" Shammy nodded. "Very much." Nadia looked at Panam. Panam didn't look embarrassed. Or defensive. She simply met Nadia's gaze. "She chooses it." Shammy squeezed Nadia's hand. "Every time." Nadia considered that. Then nodded slowly. "Okay." Shammy smiled. "Okay?" Nadia looked at her for another moment. Then laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." She drew Shammy closer. Kissed her. Held her for a moment. When she finally pulled back, she was smiling. "I thought I knew all your favorite ways of getting into trouble." Shammy grinned. "Apparently not." "Clearly." Another kiss. Then Nadia touched the collar lightly with one fingertip. "Does it make you happy?" Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." Nadia smiled. "Then I'm happy for you." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Nadia looked at Panam. "But I am absolutely going to make fun of both of you." Panam burst out laughing. "Wouldn't expect anything less." Suzy returned at precisely the wrong moment. Or, depending on one's perspective, precisely the right one. She looked at the group. At Nadia. At Shammy. At Panam's two leashes. Then at Birgitta, who was still smiling like a woman who'd just witnessed an exceptionally entertaining stage performance. Suzy stopped. "Oh." Nadia turned toward her. "Suzy." "Yeah?" "Did you know?" Suzy glanced at Shammy. Then at Panam. "About Sera?" "YES." Suzy considered. "Yeah." Nadia stared. "Of course you did." "Kind of part of running the place." Nadia looked at Panam. Then at Shammy. Then back at Suzy. "Is there anybody in this bar who didn't know?" Suzy looked around. "Probably that guy over there." She pointed toward a stranger at the far end of the room. Nadia followed her gesture. "Wonderful." "He'll find out eventually." Panam sighed. "Suzie." "What?" "You're not helping." Suzy smiled. "Wasn't trying to." Shammy burst out laughing again. Nadia covered her face. "Oh, God." Birgitta leaned toward her. "Darling, if it helps, you aren't the first person to be surprised." Nadia lowered her hands. "Was your first time this ridiculous?" Birgitta considered. Then smiled. "Not quite." Panam gave her a look. Birgitta's smile widened. Nadia shook her head. "I have questions." Suzy nodded. "That happens." "A lot of questions." "That happens too." Nadia took a breath. "All right." She looked at Shammy. "Start with one thing." Shammy nodded. "Go ahead." Nadia gestured toward the collar. "Is this just something personal between you and Panam?" Shammy's expression became thoughtful. "Personal, yes." She glanced toward Panam. Then back. "But not only personal." Nadia waited. Panam spoke. "There's a professional side." Nadia looked at her. "Professional?" "At Lizzie's." A pause. Nadia looked at Shammy. Shammy met her gaze. "Sometimes I take clients here." Nadia went very still again. Then slowly turned toward Panam. "Clients?" Panam nodded. "Joytoy work." Nadia stared. Looked at Shammy. Then back at Panam. "YOU'RE KIDDING." Shammy laughed. "No, sweetheart." Nadia stared at her. "You're an artist." "Still am." "You do installations." "Still do." "You have exhibitions." "Yep." Nadia gestured helplessly toward the collar. "And you also—" "Work here sometimes," Shammy finished gently. Nadia let the sentence settle. Then looked at Birgitta. Birgitta raised her glass. "Excellent colleagues, too." Nadia looked back at Shammy. "Well." Shammy smiled. Nadia took another breath. "Well, that's..." She stopped. Searched for a word. Found none. Panam raised an eyebrow. "Unexpected?" Nadia looked at her. Then burst out laughing. "Panam, unexpected is finding out Shammy has a secret collection of antique teapots." Birgitta made another delighted noise. Nadia pointed toward the collar. "This is a whole other category!" Shammy laughed so hard she had to lean against Panam. Suzie shook her head. "She's got a point." The laughter eventually settled. Nadia stood close to Shammy again. Her initial astonishment hadn't disappeared. Not remotely. But something else was taking its place. Curiosity. Real curiosity. She looked at the collar. Then at Panam's hand. Then at Shammy's face. "All right. Help me understand." Panam nodded. "Sure." "You arrange the work?" "With the people who want me to." "And the leash?" Shammy answered. "Part of the arrangement between us." Nadia considered. "Not something clients get to control?" "Never," Panam said firmly. Nadia nodded. "Good." "Clients make offers. I decide which are worth bringing to my people. They decide whether they want to accept." Shammy smiled. "My decision. Every time." Nadia looked at her. "Even if the offer is enormous?" "Especially then," Panam said. Nadia nodded again. That answer mattered. A lot. She knew enough about Night City to understand how easily money could become pressure. And enough about Panam to recognize when her protectiveness had teeth. Nadia looked at the two women. "You enjoy the work?" Shammy's answer was immediate. "Yes." Birgitta smiled. "Very much." Panam watched Nadia. There was no pressure in her expression. No expectation that Nadia should find the whole thing fascinating or desirable herself. Just openness. An invitation to understand something already important to them. Nadia appreciated that. She looked at Shammy. Then smiled. "Well, sweetheart." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You really do keep finding new ways to surprise me." Shammy kissed her. "One of my better qualities." "Debatable." "Still love me?" Nadia slipped both arms around her waist. "Unfortunately, more every day." Shammy's expression softened. "Good." Nadia kissed her again. Then glanced at Panam. "And you." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What about me?" Nadia smiled slowly. "Apparently I'm in love with a woman who's running a highly selective collection of very beautiful troublemakers." Panam laughed. "Sounds about right." Birgitta lifted her drink. "Excellent description." Nadia leaned closer to Panam. "And you never thought to mention it?" Panam gave her a rueful smile. "Guess it never came up." Nadia stared. Then shook her head. "That is the worst excuse I've ever heard." Shammy began laughing again. Nadia pointed at her. "Don't you dare agree. Yours was worse." "Fair." They returned to their drinks. Nadia had more questions, but she didn't insist on asking all of them immediately. There was time. She had an entire evening with the women she loved. And now, apparently, an entirely new aspect of their lives to discover. She settled back against Panam's side. Shammy stood close on the other side, her leash hanging loosely. Birgitta resumed a cheerful argument with Suzy about whether the bar's snack selection was sufficiently ambitious. Panam informed them both that she refused to become involved. Birgitta immediately tried to involve her. Nadia laughed. For several minutes, things almost felt ordinary again. Almost. Then she looked at the two leashes. Smiled. And shook her head. Shammy noticed. "What?" Nadia looked at her. "Nothing." Shammy narrowed her eyes. "That's a suspicious nothing." Nadia leaned closer. "Just thinking." "About?" Nadia kissed her cheek. "How remarkably good you are at keeping a straight face." Shammy smiled. "Practice." "Clearly." Panam chuckled. Nadia looked at her. "Don't look so pleased with yourself." "Can't help it." Nadia laughed. Then she caught something moving near the entrance. A woman had just arrived. Neon-orange hair. Spectacular boots. A grin visible from halfway across the room. She greeted one of the Moxes with the confidence of somebody who had never once considered entering a room quietly. Panam spotted her too. Her expression changed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Birgitta looked toward the entrance. Then laughed. Shammy turned. And immediately smiled. A very particular smile. Nadia knew that smile. She narrowed her eyes. "Sera." "Yes, darling?" "What?" "Nothing." Nadia looked toward the approaching woman again. Then back at her lover. "No." Shammy blinked innocently. "No what?" "That smile again." Panam muttered something under her breath. Birgitta was openly delighted. Nadia stared at all three of them. "Oh, there is more, isn't there?" Shammy leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Maybe." Nadia closed her eyes. For one brief moment, she considered returning to her studio. The installation was difficult. But at least it didn't have secrets. Then she opened her eyes. Looked at the two women she loved. And smiled. "No. Absolutely not." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" Nadia picked up her drink. "If you two think I'm leaving before I find out what else you've been hiding, you're out of your minds." Shammy laughed. Panam grinned. Birgitta raised her glass. "Excellent decision, darling." Nadia looked toward the entrance once more. The orange-haired woman was coming straight toward them. And judging by Panam's expression, she was bringing trouble. Nadia took a sip. "All right." She smiled. "Let's see what happens next." --- ## Chapter 8 — Five The first thing Nadia noticed was the hair. Neon orange. Not merely bright. Not simply unusual. The sort of orange that suggested somebody had taken a perfectly respectable color, fed it several questionable substances, and encouraged it to make terrible decisions. The second thing she noticed was the boots. Black. Thigh-high. Expensive. And worn with the easy confidence of a woman who knew precisely how much attention she was attracting. The third thing— Nadia blinked. Wait. The woman was approaching them with a spectacular grin. And her face— Nadia leaned forward. No. Surely not. The woman smiled at Panam. "Hello, Owner!" Panam closed her eyes. "Jesus Christ." Birgitta laughed. Sera was already grinning. The newcomer looked delighted. "Oh, come on. That's no way to greet your favorite girl." Panam opened her eyes. "My favorite girl?" "Obviously." Birgitta raised one beautifully shaped eyebrow. "Darling, I'm standing right here." The orange-haired woman turned. Her face lit up. "Birgitta!" "Mandi!" They embraced with the sort of enthusiasm normally reserved for people who hadn't seen each other in years. Rather than people who had apparently been expecting to meet that afternoon. Panam watched them. Then looked at Sera. "They're going to be unbearable." Sera smiled. "They already are." Nadia was barely listening. Because she knew that face. She was almost certain of it. And that made absolutely no sense. Mandi released Birgitta and turned toward Sera. "Hello, beautiful." "Hello, menace." "Miss me?" "Terribly." "Good answer." Mandi kissed Sera's cheek. Then spotted Nadia. Her smile widened. "Oh!" Nadia regarded her carefully. Mandi stepped closer. "Well, hello there." "Hello." "I'm Mandi." "Nadia." "Beautiful name." "Thank you." Mandi tilted her head. Black contacts. Completely black. No visible iris. No natural pupils. Combined with the brilliant orange hair, they made her expression almost impossible to interpret conventionally. Except for the smile. That smile was extraordinarily easy to interpret. Trouble. Pure trouble. Mandi looked her over without making any effort to hide her appreciation. "Artist?" Nadia blinked. "Yes." "Another one?" Sera laughed. "Careful." Mandi turned. "What?" "She's my Nadia." Mandi stopped. Looked at Nadia. Then back at Sera. Her expression changed. Just slightly. The mischief remained, but something genuinely warm appeared alongside it. "Oh." Nadia smiled. Mandi turned back. "Well, that explains the smile." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Whose?" "Yours." "Does it?" Mandi grinned. "And hers." Sera slipped an arm around Nadia's waist. "Behave." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Darling, I'm being charming." Panam snorted. "That usually precedes an incident." "Unfair." "Accurate." Birgitta laughed. And Nadia, despite the confusion still building behind her eyes, found herself smiling too. Mandi was wearing a collar. Nadia noticed it when the woman turned toward Panam. Beautifully made. Obviously chosen for her. Not the same design as Sera's. Not the same as Birgitta's. Distinctive. Personal. And Mandi had a leash in her hand. Of course she did. Nadia looked at it. Then toward Panam's hand. Two leashes already. She took a quiet breath. Three? Surely. Mandi stepped in front of Panam. "Owner." Panam gave her a narrow look. "Mandi." Mandi smiled sweetly. "May I?" Panam's expression softened. "Come here, trouble." Mandi offered her leash. Panam took it. There was nothing hesitant about the movement. Nothing ceremonial in the sense of two people trying to remember unfamiliar instructions. They knew. Both of them. Mandi turned, lifting her neon-orange hair away from the attachment point on her collar. Panam moved behind her. A brief, practiced adjustment. Then— Click. Mandi turned back. Her grin was radiant. "Hello, Owner." Panam shook her head. But the affection in her expression was unmistakable. "Hello, brat." Mandi gasped. "Such disrespect." "Earned." "I bring you love, beauty, and endless entertainment." "And headaches." "Those are complimentary." Birgitta burst out laughing. Sera leaned against Nadia, giggling. Panam caught Mandi by the waist and kissed her cheek. "Good to have you." Mandi's expression softened for an instant. "Good to be here." Then she ruined the moment by grinning. "So. Who are we terrorizing first?" Panam groaned. Nadia stared at the third leash. Three. Definitely three. And the evening wasn't even properly underway. "All right," Nadia said. Nobody heard her. Mandi was busy asking Birgitta something about a pair of boots. Panam was answering a message. Sera was laughing. Nadia tried again. "All right!" Four faces turned toward her. She pointed at Panam's hand. "Three." Panam glanced down. Then back up. "Yes?" "Three leashes." "You're observant." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Panam." "What?" "How many?" Panam's expression became suspiciously neutral. "How many what?" Nadia stared. "Oh, don't you start too." Mandi looked interested. "What's happening?" Sera smiled brightly. "Nadia's counting." Mandi blinked. Then looked at Panam. Then at the leashes. Then at Nadia. Her grin widened. "Oh." Birgitta made a delighted little noise. Nadia pointed at Mandi. "No." Mandi blinked innocently. "No what?" "Whatever you're about to do." "Darling, I haven't done anything." "Yet," Panam added. Mandi looked offended. "Owner!" Panam raised an eyebrow. Mandi considered arguing. Decided against it. Mostly. Nadia looked at Sera. "Please." Sera kissed her cheek. "Yes, sweetheart?" "A number." Sera smiled. "Eventually." Nadia closed her eyes. "Goddammit." Mandi laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bag. Suzy Q arrived just in time to enjoy the last part of the exchange. She set a fresh drink in front of Panam. Then looked at Nadia. "Everything okay?" Nadia opened her eyes. "Apparently." Suzy glanced at the leashes. Counted. Then smiled. "Ah." Nadia pointed at her. "Don't." Suzy raised both hands. "Wasn't going to say anything." "Everybody keeps saying that." "Occupational hazard." Mandi leaned toward Suzy. "She's adorable." Nadia turned. "I can hear you." Mandi smiled. "I was counting on it." Suzy laughed. Then looked at Panam. "Everybody coming?" Panam nodded. "Should be." Nadia froze. Everybody? She turned very slowly. "Everybody?" Panam looked at Suzy. Suzy looked at Panam. Sera suddenly became fascinated by her glass. Birgitta covered her mouth. Mandi's grin was almost painful to behold. Nadia folded her arms. "Right." Nobody spoke. "Wonderful." She picked up her drink. "I see how tonight is going to work." Sera kissed her temple. "Love you." Nadia took a sip. "That's doing a lot of work right now." Despite herself, Nadia was enjoying the evening. The revelations were ridiculous. The company was wonderful. And Mandi— Mandi was an absolute menace. Within ten minutes, she'd convinced Birgitta to help her critique a customer's spectacularly unfortunate jacket. Not loudly. Not cruelly. Just an increasingly elaborate argument over whether the garment qualified as clothing or a failed architectural experiment. Sera eventually contributed an opinion about structural integrity. Nadia made the mistake of laughing. Mandi immediately involved her. "Artist's judgment." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "On the jacket?" "Yes." "Do you want a professional assessment?" "Absolutely." Nadia studied the garment across the room. Considered its proportions. Its baffling combination of materials. The unnecessary metallic decoration near one shoulder. Then said: "It looks like somebody designed a chair and lost confidence halfway through." Birgitta made a strangled sound. Sera covered her face. Mandi doubled over laughing. Panam stared at Nadia. Then shook her head. "Oh, great." Nadia turned. "What?" "Another one." "Another what?" "Smartass." Nadia smiled sweetly. "Darling, you knew that about me already." Panam laughed. "Unfortunately." Mandi's face was still bothering her. Not unpleasantly. Simply because the resemblance was impossible to ignore. Nadia had seen Ace plenty of times. At the safehouse. At meals. In conversations that somehow began with entirely ordinary subjects and ended with somebody explaining why Ace should not be allowed near a particular piece of machinery. She knew Ace's face. The shape of her cheeks. The expressive mouth. The way her eyes narrowed when she was about to make trouble. Mandi had that face. Exactly that face. But everything surrounding it was different. The hair. The black contacts. The voice. The posture. The effortless, exaggerated confidence. And, most strangely, the expression. Ace was expressive. Mandi was expressive in a completely different language. Nadia found herself studying her. Mandi noticed. Of course she did. She turned toward Nadia. Smiled. "Something on my face, darling?" Nadia almost laughed. Yes. Ace's entire face. Instead she smiled politely. "Just trying to place you." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Place me?" "You remind me of someone." Mandi's grin became positively wicked. "Do I?" Nadia nodded. "Very much." Mandi leaned closer. "Someone nice, I hope." "Oh, absolutely." "Beautiful?" "Very." "Charming?" Nadia considered. "Frequently." "Troublesome?" "Catastrophically." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Why, darling. I'm flattered." Sera made a suspicious choking noise. Nadia looked toward her. Sera was studying the ceiling. Panam had turned away. Birgitta was smiling into her drink. Nadia narrowed her eyes. Oh, you all know something. But before she could investigate, the entrance drew Panam's attention again. "Here we go," Panam muttered. Nadia turned. Another woman had arrived. Tall. Beautiful. Dressed in an elegant outfit that seemed to catch the light without ever becoming gaudy. Her hair was a carefully controlled chrome-gold. Her eyes— Nadia blinked. White. Entirely white. The effect was striking. Not frightening. Not mechanical in any crude sense. Just deliberately otherworldly. The woman's face was unfamiliar. Her expression calm and quietly confident. She paused near the entrance to exchange a few words with one of the Moxes. Then she spotted Panam. And smiled. "Madame." Panam's expression warmed. "Nova." Nadia looked at Sera. "Nova?" Sera nodded. "Nova." "Another friend?" "Yes." Nadia glanced at the woman's collar. Then toward the leash resting in her hand. She slowly closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Sera began laughing. Nova approached without hurrying. Her manner was distinctly different from Mandi's. Where Mandi arrived as though every room was secretly delighted to see her, Nova seemed perfectly content to let people notice her when they chose. She greeted Birgitta warmly. Then Sera. Mandi attempted to steal an embrace considerably longer than necessary. Nova laughed and disentangled herself. "Hello to you too." "Missed you." "You saw me earlier." Nadia caught that. Earlier. An ordinary enough statement. People met before coming to Lizzie's. Nothing remarkable about it. Still, the way everyone knew one another was becoming fascinating. Nova turned toward Nadia. "And you must be Nadia." Nadia smiled. "I must." "Sera's told me about you." Nadia looked at her lover. "Apparently everybody's been discussing me." Sera grinned. "Only when you're not around." "Comforting." Nova offered her hand. "Nova." "Nadia." "Lovely to meet you." "Likewise." Her handshake was relaxed. Her voice carried an easy warmth. And Nadia noticed the way she looked at Sera. Affection. Recognition. The comfortable familiarity of people who genuinely liked one another. Not a stranger joining an arbitrary professional arrangement. Another member of a very established circle. Nova turned toward Panam. "Owner?" Panam smiled. "Come here, sweetheart." Nova offered her leash. Panam accepted it. Nova turned slightly, moving her chrome-gold hair clear. Panam stepped closer. The clasp found its place. Click. Nova smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam touched her cheek. "Hello, pet." A brief kiss. A warm embrace. Then Nova stepped comfortably beside the others. Four leashes. Panam arranged them in her hand with the same practical confidence she'd displayed when holding two. Nadia stared. "Four." Mandi grinned. "Excellent counting, darling." Nadia looked at her. "Not helping." "Wasn't trying to." There was something almost hypnotic about how ordinary they made it look. Not the collars themselves. Those were anything but ordinary. Beautiful. Individual. Clearly important to their wearers. And the ritual wasn't casual in the sense of meaningless. Each woman approached Panam willingly. Each offered her own leash. Each received the same quiet acknowledgment. The same warmth. But the moment the clasp closed, there was no sudden transformation into a silent, obedient figure. Mandi was still making outrageous remarks. Birgitta was still laughing. Sera was leaning comfortably against Nadia. Nova had already joined a conversation about whether the bar's lighting had been changed since her last visit. Panam simply held the leashes. Sometimes she adjusted her grip. Sometimes she offered a small touch or an affectionate word. Nothing more was demanded. Nadia looked at Shammy. "Can I ask you something?" "Always." Nadia glanced at the four women. "Does it ever get complicated?" Shammy considered. "The leashes?" "The relationships." Shammy's smile softened. "Sometimes." Nadia nodded. "Like everything else." "Pretty much." Nadia looked at Panam. "She seems good at it." Shammy followed her gaze. Panam was currently telling Mandi that if she tried to convince Nova to participate in some idiotic wager, Panam would personally make her regret it. Mandi appeared deeply offended. Nova was laughing. Birgitta looked intrigued. Shammy smiled. "She's very good at it." Nadia leaned against her. "I can see why you like it." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Good." Nadia watched for another moment. Then sighed. "Still can't believe you didn't tell me." Shammy grinned. "Still love me?" Nadia kissed her. "Unfortunately." The next arrival did not go unnoticed. Not because she was loud. Not because she demanded attention. But because she walked into the room with the kind of composure that made attention feel inevitable. Chrome-brass hair. Elegant clothes. Eyes that were entirely black. Not like Mandi's contacts, where the effect emphasized her animated expressions. These were Black Void eyes. A deliberate counterpart to Nova's White Void look. Nadia noticed the visual connection immediately. The newcomer moved with effortless confidence. She glanced across the room. Spotted Nova. A brief smile passed between them. Nothing exaggerated. Nothing that suggested they were anything other than women who knew and liked working together. Then the newcomer turned toward Panam. "Madame." Panam nodded. "Vega." Nadia looked at Sera. Sera looked back. Nadia raised one finger. "Don't." Sera pressed her lips together. "Didn't say anything." "Don't even think it." Sera's shoulders began shaking. Vega greeted the others. A quick exchange with Birgitta. An affectionate greeting for Sera. A dry remark to Mandi that made the orange-haired woman laugh. Then she turned toward Nadia. "Hello." Nadia smiled. "Hello." "Vega." "Nadia." "Sera's Nadia?" Nadia sighed. "Apparently I have a reputation." Vega smiled. "An excellent one." "That's becoming suspicious." "Nothing suspicious about it." Mandi leaned into the conversation. "Oh, darling, there are so many suspicious things about tonight." Panam looked at her. "Mandi." "What?" "Shut up." Mandi grinned. "Yes, Owner." Nadia watched the exchange. Then shook her head. "She does that deliberately." Vega smiled. "Constantly." "Does she ever stop?" Nova answered from beside her. "Occasionally. When she's asleep." Mandi gasped. "Betrayal!" Vega nodded. "Briefly." Birgitta laughed. Nadia couldn't help herself. She joined in. Vega turned toward Panam. "Owner?" Panam gave her a small smile. "Ready?" Vega nodded. "Very." She offered her leash. Panam took it. The ritual was familiar now to Nadia. The offered leash. The turn. The hair moved aside. The little pause as Panam brought the clasp to the collar. And yet Nadia found herself watching as closely as she had the first time. Because each woman did it a little differently. Birgitta with her radiant delight. Sera with warmth and quiet affection. Mandi as though the entire world was another opportunity for mischief. Nova with an almost serene happiness. And Vega— Vega turned with complete confidence. Her expression relaxed. She waited. Panam positioned the clasp. Then— Click. Vega turned back. "Hello, Owner." Panam smiled. "Hello, pet." A kiss. An embrace. The familiar warmth. And then Panam stepped back. Five leashes rested in her hand. Five women stood around her. Birgitta. Sera. Mandi. Nova. Vega. Each different. Each unmistakably herself. Each there because she wanted to be. Nadia stared. Then stared some more. "Oh, my God." Mandi started laughing. For several seconds, nobody attempted to explain anything. There was no point. Nadia looked at Panam's hand. Counted again. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Then looked at the women attached to them. Then at Panam. Then at Shammy. Who was smiling. Naturally. Nadia took a slow breath. "Five." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Yeah." "Five." "Still five." Nadia pointed at Sera. "You're one." Sera nodded. "Yes." She pointed at Birgitta. "You're two." Birgitta smiled. "Apparently." "Mandi." Mandi spread her arms. "Present!" "Nova." Nova inclined her head. "Hello again." "Vega." Vega smiled. Nadia lowered her hand. Then stared at Panam. "FIVE." Panam folded her arms as well as she could while keeping the leashes comfortably arranged. "Got a problem with the number?" Nadia opened her mouth. Closed it. Then burst out laughing. "No!" Panam smiled. "Good." "I just—" Nadia looked around. "Five?" Mandi grinned. "She's stuck." Birgitta laughed. Nova covered her smile. Vega looked delighted. Sera moved closer to Nadia. "Sweetheart?" Nadia turned. "What?" Shammy kissed her cheek. "Doing okay?" Nadia regarded her. Very carefully. "Ask me again after I've counted to six." Shammy burst out laughing. Panam groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Suzy Q had been watching from behind the bar. Not staring. Not interfering. Just paying enough attention to know exactly when the evening became entertaining. Which was frequently. She glanced at Nadia. Then at Panam. Then at the five women. Then back at Nadia. Without a word, she turned toward the bottles. Selected a particularly good whiskey. And took out a large glass. Not a tasting glass. Not the sort of glass used for a polite little measure. A large glass. Nadia noticed. "Suzy?" Suzy poured. Generously. Then added a little more. Panam watched. Raised an eyebrow. "Jesus, Suzy." Suzy didn't look up. "Professional judgment." Mandi made an appreciative noise. Birgitta smiled. Sera was already laughing again. Suzy set the glass in front of Nadia. Then looked her straight in the eye. "You look like you need this one. On the house." Nadia stared at the whiskey. Then at Suzy. Then at Panam's five leashes. Then at Shammy. She picked up the glass. "Thank you." Suzy nodded solemnly. "You're welcome." Nadia took a sip. Stopped. Looked at the glass. Then took another. "Oh, that's excellent." Suzy smiled. "I know." Mandi leaned toward her. "Can I have one?" "No." "Why?" "You haven't earned it." Mandi looked offended. "Have you seen what I've been through?" Suzy stared at her. "Mandi." "What?" "You've been here fifteen minutes." "Emotionally devastating fifteen minutes." Nova began laughing. Vega shook her head. Birgitta leaned against Panam, smiling. Nadia lifted her glass again. "I think I like this place." Suzy grinned. "That's what I keep telling people." Panam finally had all five of her pets together. And, judging by her expression, she was already reconsidering several life decisions. Not the women. Never the women. Just the practical consequences of gathering five accomplished, confident, relentlessly mischievous people in one place. Mandi was talking to Birgitta. Nova had joined Vega. Sera was leaning against Nadia, one arm around her waist. And everybody appeared entirely too pleased with themselves. Panam looked at Suzy. "Tell me we've got a quiet evening." Suzy stared. Then laughed. Panam sighed. "Yeah. Thought so." Mandi looked over. "Owner?" Panam closed her eyes. "What?" "I love you." Panam opened one eye. "That's suspicious." Mandi grinned. "Can I help it if I'm affectionate?" "Apparently not." Birgitta smiled. "She is rather delightful." "Don't encourage her." "Too late, darling." Nova raised her drink. "To a quiet evening." Vega smiled. "May it remain hypothetical." Sera laughed. Nadia lifted her enormous whiskey. "I'll drink to that." The glasses met. Panam looked around the group. And despite herself, smiled. Five. All five. Exactly where they wanted to be. Nadia watched them for a while. Not merely the leashes. Not even the collars. The women themselves. Their warmth. Their confidence. The way they knew one another. The easy affection. The complete absence of shame. She had expected an evening with her two lovers. Perhaps some art conversation. A drink or two. Possibly an argument with Panam about the practicalities of lighting an installation. Instead, she had discovered an entire part of their lives she hadn't known existed. And the more she watched, the less strange it seemed. Unusual? Certainly. Complicated? Almost definitely. But wrong? No. There was nothing wrong about watching people enjoy something they had chosen freely. Nadia took another sip of whiskey. Then looked at Shammy. "Sweetheart?" Shammy smiled. "Yes?" "Five." Shammy laughed. "Yes, darling." Nadia considered. Then leaned over and kissed her. "You're unbelievable." Shammy answered the kiss happily. When they separated, Nadia smiled. "Love you." "Love you too." Nadia glanced toward Panam. Panam caught her eye. Smiled. Nadia beckoned her closer. Panam stepped toward her, bringing the leashes along loosely. "What?" Nadia slipped a hand around her waist. Then kissed her. Panam answered with a pleased little sound. When they separated, Nadia smiled against her lips. "And you." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "You're absolutely impossible." Panam grinned. "Yeah?" Nadia kissed her again. "Love you anyway." Panam's expression softened. "Love you too." Behind them, Mandi made an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, that's disgustingly adorable." Birgitta laughed. Vega glanced toward Nova. Nova smiled. Suzy shook her head. "Honestly. You people." Panam looked over Nadia's shoulder. "What?" Suzy raised both hands. "Nothing." Mandi grinned. "She's doing that thing again." "What thing?" Nadia asked. "Judging us." Suzy stared at Mandi. "Somebody has to." Eventually the group began to spread out a little. Not separating entirely. Just returning to the ordinary movement of a busy bar. Nova and Vega found a comfortable place near the lounge. Birgitta stopped to speak with a Mox. Mandi became involved in a conversation with a customer whose expression suggested he had no idea what he'd just gotten himself into. Panam remained near enough to keep track of everybody without hovering. And Sera stayed beside Nadia. For a few minutes they simply watched the room together. Nadia rested her head lightly against Shammy's shoulder. "Well." Shammy smiled. "Well?" "That's quite a family you've got." Shammy's expression warmed. "Yeah." Nadia watched Panam exchange a few words with Suzy. Then glanced toward Mandi. Something about the woman still bothered her. Not negatively. Just— That face. Nadia frowned. Shammy noticed. "What?" Nadia nodded toward the orange-haired woman. "Mandi." "What about her?" Nadia hesitated. Then looked at Shammy. "She reminds me of someone." Shammy's expression remained perfectly innocent. "Does she?" Nadia studied her. "Yes." "Who?" Nadia looked back. Mandi had turned slightly. Her face was clearly visible in the shifting light. The same nose. The same mouth. The same distinctive facial structure. And when she laughed— Nadia almost dropped her glass. "Oh, come on." Shammy pressed her lips together. Nadia turned slowly. "Sera." "Yes, beautiful?" "Don't." Shammy blinked. "Don't what?" "Whatever you're doing with your face." "I'm smiling." "You're hiding something." Shammy considered that. Then gave her a completely innocent kiss. Nadia stared. "That doesn't work anymore." "Are you sure?" Nadia kissed her back. Then narrowed her eyes. "Mostly." Shammy laughed. Nadia looked toward Mandi again. She was smiling at Birgitta now. And there was simply no denying it. The resemblance was extraordinary. Nadia knew that face. She knew it. Finally she set down her whiskey. "Right." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?" "To ask a question." Shammy glanced toward Mandi. Then smiled. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia pointed at her. "Not one word." Shammy raised both hands. "Wouldn't dream of it." Nadia stared. Then shook her head. "You're the worst." "Love you too." Nadia took one more look at Mandi. Then headed toward her. Because either Night City had produced the most astonishing coincidence she'd ever encountered— Or someone had a very interesting explanation to offer. --- ## Chapter 9 — The Second Cousin Mandi was explaining to Birgitta why the phrase responsible adult was fundamentally incompatible with an enjoyable Friday evening when Nadia arrived beside them. "Excuse me." Mandi turned. Her face lit up. "Hello again, gorgeous." Nadia folded her arms. "We need to talk." Birgitta looked from one woman to the other. Then smiled. "Oh, this sounds promising." Mandi tilted her head. "Have I done something wrong?" "Not yet." "Well, that's disappointing." Nadia studied her. Up close, the resemblance was even worse. The shape of her face. Her nose. The small, distinctive movements around her mouth. Even the way one eyebrow rose slightly higher than the other. Nadia knew those features. She'd seen them across the safehouse dining table, usually while Ace was explaining why something that had just gone wrong was technically somebody else's fault. But the woman in front of her had neon-orange hair, entirely black eyes, a voice Nadia had never heard before, and an expression of such extravagantly cheerful mischief that the resemblance somehow became more difficult to process. Which was ridiculous. Because she was looking at the same damn face. "All right," Nadia said. Mandi smiled. "All right?" "Who are you?" "Mandi." "I got that part." "Good. We're making progress." Birgitta made a suspicious noise into her drink. Nadia ignored her. "Mandi what?" "Just Mandi, professionally." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Professionally." "Yes." "Right." Mandi waited with an expression of perfect innocence. Nadia pointed toward her face. "Has anybody ever told you that you look exactly like someone else?" Mandi's eyes widened. Then her entire expression brightened. "Oh!" Birgitta closed her eyes. A small smile appeared. Nadia caught it. Oh, you know. Mandi leaned forward. "Let me guess." Nadia waited. Mandi smiled. "Short woman? Quite pretty? Unreasonable amounts of trouble?" Nadia stared. "Yes." "Excellent taste in women?" "Apparently." "Possibly a little too enthusiastic about making everyone else's lives interesting?" "That's putting it mildly." Mandi clasped her hands together. "Ah! Another one who knows my second cousin." Silence. Birgitta looked at the ceiling. Nadia looked at Mandi. Then at Birgitta. Then back at Mandi. "Your what?" "Second cousin." Nadia took a breath. "Second cousin." "Yes." "As in family." "Traditionally, yes." Nadia stared at her. Mandi smiled back. Perfectly. Infuriatingly. Nadia turned toward Birgitta. "Is she serious?" Birgitta considered the question. "I think she's enjoying herself." "That wasn't what I asked." "No," Birgitta agreed pleasantly. "It wasn't." Nadia looked back at Mandi. "You're related to Ace." Mandi nodded. "Indeed." "Ace Watanabe." "The very one." Nadia made a helpless gesture toward her face. "You look identical." "Excellent family genetics." "Second cousins don't generally look identical." Mandi lifted one finger. "Generally." "That's not an explanation." "It's a statistical observation." "That's not even a very good statistical observation!" Birgitta laughed. Mandi looked pleased. "You're an artist, aren't you?" "Yes." "Then surely you understand that nature occasionally produces a masterpiece twice." Nadia stared. Then laughed despite herself. "Oh, you are absolutely related to her." Mandi beamed. "Thank you." "That was not a compliment." "In my family, it is." Nadia put a hand over her face. This was impossible. Completely impossible. Except— Night City was full of body modification. Faces could be copied. Appearances could be altered. Identity was not always as straightforward as it appeared. And yet Nadia knew that face. She knew Ace. Could this actually be— No. Surely not. But the more Mandi spoke, the more she sounded like precisely the kind of person Ace would introduce as a relative. Possibly while laughing so hard she couldn't finish the introduction. Nadia lowered her hand. "Does Ace know you're doing this?" Mandi blinked. "Doing what?" "This." She gestured at Mandi's entire appearance. Mandi looked down at herself. Then back up. "Looking fabulous?" Birgitta began laughing again. Nadia sighed. "Working here." "Ah." Mandi's smile remained perfectly calm. "We don't discuss each other's professional lives in detail." "Convenient." "Healthy boundaries, gorgeous." "Very convenient." "Those too." At the bar, Panam had noticed the conversation. She watched Nadia lean closer to Mandi. Watched Mandi deliver a line with theatrical sincerity. Watched Birgitta dissolve into laughter. Panam sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Shammy appeared beside her. "What's happening?" Panam nodded toward the others. "Your girlfriend's interrogating Mandi." Shammy looked. Her face lit up. "Oh, this is going to be good." Panam turned toward her. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." "Of course you are." Shammy rested a hand on Panam's arm. "Should we rescue her?" "Which one?" Shammy considered. "Good question." Panam glanced toward Nadia. "She's not stupid." "Nobody said she was." "She knows what she's looking at." Shammy nodded. "She does." "And Mandi?" Shammy smiled. "Mandi's having the time of her life." Panam closed her eyes. "Naturally." Shammy slipped an arm around her waist. Panam looked down at her. "What?" "Nothing." "You're smiling." "I like watching you try not to laugh." "I'm not laughing." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Not yet." Panam glanced toward Nadia again. Mandi had apparently said something so outrageous that Nadia was now standing with both hands on her hips. Panam's mouth twitched. Shammy grinned. "There." "Shut up." "Love you." Panam turned toward her and kissed her. "Love you too, trouble." "Show me your profile," Nadia demanded. Mandi raised an eyebrow. "My what?" "Your professional profile." "Trying to book me?" Nadia nearly choked. "No!" "Shame." "Mandi." "Although I should warn you, darling, I'm very selective." Birgitta rested her forehead against one hand. Nadia drew a slow breath. "I'm not asking to book you." "Understood." "I'm trying to establish whether you genuinely exist." Mandi considered. Then held out her hand. Nadia looked at it. "What?" "Shake it." "Why?" "Existence test." Nadia stared. Mandi wiggled her fingers. "Come on. Very scientific." Nadia took her hand. Mandi squeezed it lightly. "See? Completely real." Nadia laughed. "That's your evidence?" "Empirical observation." "You're impossible." "Family trait." That did it. Nadia started laughing properly. She released Mandi's hand and shook her head. "You really are exactly like her." Mandi looked genuinely touched. "That's one of the nicest things anyone's said to me tonight." Birgitta lifted her glass. "Don't encourage her." Nadia turned toward her. "You've been encouraging her this entire time!" "I've been observing." "With a drink." "Essential research equipment." Nadia laughed harder. Mandi leaned comfortably against the bar. She looked Nadia over again, this time with a little less theatrical mischief and considerably more genuine interest. "So. You know Ace?" "Yes." "Well?" "Quite well." Mandi smiled. "Good." Nadia tilted her head. "Good?" "My cousin doesn't let just anybody into her life." Something in the answer caught Nadia's attention. For the first time, Mandi wasn't making a joke. Not entirely. There was warmth beneath the words. A genuine affection for the person they were discussing. Nadia softened. "She's wonderful." Mandi's smile changed. Smaller. More personal. "Yeah." A brief pause. "She really is." Nadia watched her. For one moment, the resemblance felt less like a puzzle and more like something strangely familiar. Then Mandi ruined it. "Terrible taste in practical footwear storage, though." Nadia blinked. "What?" Mandi waved one hand. "Family gossip." Birgitta nearly dropped her glass. Nadia stared. Then remembered Ace's remarkable ability to misplace anything that wasn't currently attached to her body. She laughed. "Oh, God." Mandi grinned. "See? You really do know her." Nadia's amusement gradually settled into something more thoughtful. She looked at the collar around Mandi's neck. Then toward Panam, who was standing only a short distance away. The leash arrangement was still new to Nadia. Not unwelcome. Not frightening. But full of details she didn't understand. Mandi noticed the change in her attention. "Questions?" Nadia smiled. "Several hundred." "Excellent. I like curious women." "You're going to regret saying that." "Almost certainly." Nadia glanced at the collar. "Do you enjoy this?" Mandi followed her gaze. Then smiled. "Very much." "Working here?" "That too." Nadia nodded. "And Panam?" Mandi's expression softened immediately. "Oh, absolutely." The answer was warm enough that Nadia looked at her more closely. Mandi glanced toward Panam. There was no theatrical performance now. Just uncomplicated affection. "She's rather extraordinary, our Madame." Nadia smiled. "I know." Mandi looked back. "Of course you do." The words were gentle. And for a moment they shared something Nadia hadn't expected to find with a woman she'd only just met. An understanding. Different relationships. Different kinds of love. The same appreciation for Panam. Nadia looked at Mandi's collar again. Then smiled. "I'm glad you're happy." Mandi's expression brightened. "Thank you, gorgeous." She tilted her head. "Although I should warn you, if you start being sweet to me, I may become completely unbearable." Nadia laughed. "Become?" Birgitta nearly applauded. Mandi pressed a hand to her chest. "Wounded." "Good." "She's vicious." Birgitta smiled. "Isn't she wonderful?" A customer approached while they were still laughing. Well dressed. Middle-aged. Expensive watch. The careful confidence of someone who had been to Lizzie's before and understood that the bar was not a place where money automatically made people interesting. He gave Birgitta a polite nod. Then looked at Mandi. "Evening." Mandi turned. "Hello, handsome." He smiled. "Working tonight?" "Yes." Nadia glanced at her. The answer had been immediate. Natural. No change in Mandi's confidence. No elaborate shift into some artificial professional persona. She was already that woman. The customer looked interested. "Could we talk?" Mandi smiled. "Of course." He moved a little closer. "About a booking?" "Possibly." Nadia watched. Mandi's manner remained easy, but there was a difference now. She was paying attention. Not merely flirting. Listening. Assessing. The man made a brief, discreet inquiry about availability. Mandi answered without hesitation. Then, when the conversation turned toward rates, she smiled and nodded toward Panam. "That's a conversation you'll want to have with Madame." The man followed her gaze. "Panam?" "Exactly." He smiled. "Understood." There was no annoyance. No argument. He knew the arrangement. "Would you mind if I spoke with her?" "Not at all." Mandi offered him another smile. "But don't mistake a conversation with Madame for a promise from me." His expression became serious. "I wouldn't." "Good." She gestured toward Panam. "Then go and make yourself interesting." He laughed. "That sounds expensive." Mandi grinned. "Darling, boring men are expensive too. Just in a completely different way." The man laughed again. Then thanked her and approached Panam. Nadia watched him go. Then turned back toward Mandi. "That was interesting." Mandi smiled. "Was it?" "You didn't tell him a price." "Not my department." "Even though it's your booking?" "Potential booking." Nadia nodded. "Right." Mandi leaned one elbow against the bar. "Madame handles the financial negotiations for us. She makes sure people understand what they're asking for and whether their offers deserve anyone's attention." "And then?" "Then I decide whether I want the client." Nadia considered that. "Even after Panam approves the offer?" "Especially then." "And if you don't?" Mandi shrugged. "Then I don't." Birgitta nodded. "Simple as that." Nadia looked at them. It was a simple answer. And that simplicity mattered. She knew what financial pressure could do to people's choices. She also knew that the women standing before her didn't appear to be under any such pressure. There was no urgency in Mandi's manner. No anxiety. No desperate interest in securing the next booking. Just the relaxed confidence of someone doing work she genuinely liked. Nadia smiled. "I think I understand." Mandi grinned. "Careful. Understanding is addictive." Birgitta lifted her glass. "Especially around here." Panam joined them a moment later. The customer had apparently given her enough information to begin a proper discussion. Her expression suggested she was reserving judgment. Which, Nadia was discovering, was probably the most favorable outcome most people could expect from Madame Panam's initial assessment. "Mandi." Mandi turned. "Owner?" "Your gentleman's interested." "I gathered." "He understands the arrangement." "Good." Panam studied her. "Want me to continue?" Mandi considered. Then glanced toward the man, who had returned to a nearby table. "Maybe." Panam waited. "Let me talk to him a little more first." Panam nodded. "Fine." No argument. No sales pitch. No suggestion that an interested customer represented an opportunity too valuable to lose. Just one woman asking another what she wanted. Nadia appreciated the exchange more than she could explain. Mandi smiled at Panam. "Thank you." Panam touched her cheek. "Always." Then she glanced at Nadia. "Having fun?" Nadia folded her arms. "Your friend is a menace." Panam looked at Mandi. Mandi smiled angelically. Panam sighed. "Yeah. I know." Nadia leaned closer. "And apparently related to Ace." Panam went very still. For exactly one second. Then she turned toward Mandi. "Is that what we're doing?" Mandi's expression brightened. "Oh! Nadia knows my second cousin." Panam closed her eyes. "Of course she does." Birgitta burst out laughing. Nadia looked between them. Panam was clearly accustomed to this explanation. That didn't make it any more convincing. Nadia narrowed her eyes. "You believe her?" Panam opened her eyes. Looked at Mandi. Then at Nadia. And answered with magnificent dryness. "I believe she enjoys telling people that." Mandi gasped. "Owner!" Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You're undermining my family history." "Your family history is doing fine on its own." Birgitta covered her mouth. Nadia laughed. It was impossible not to. Shammy found them shortly afterward. She approached Nadia from behind, slipped an arm around her waist, and kissed her shoulder. "Having fun?" Nadia turned into her embrace. "Oh, sweetheart." Shammy smiled. "That good?" "You have no idea." There was a brief pause. Then Shammy looked toward Mandi. "Ah." Mandi waved cheerfully. "Hello, beautiful." Shammy smiled. "Hello, trouble." Nadia caught her lover's face between her hands. "Don't." Shammy blinked. "What?" "That expression." "What expression?" "The one you're wearing right now." Shammy attempted innocence. It was spectacularly unsuccessful. Nadia kissed her. A long, warm kiss that left Shammy visibly pleased when they parted. Then Nadia smiled. "Now." Shammy tilted her head. "Now?" "Tell me what you know about Mandi." Mandi began laughing. Panam looked toward the ceiling. Birgitta took another drink. Shammy regarded Nadia with affectionate amusement. "What would you like to know?" Nadia gestured toward Mandi. "She claims to be Ace's second cousin." Shammy nodded solemnly. "Does she?" "Don't." "Don't what?" "Use that tone." Shammy smiled. "She's a very interesting woman." Nadia stared. "That's all?" "Very talented, too." "Sera!" "What?" Mandi nearly doubled over. Nadia pointed toward her. "She's got Ace's entire face!" Shammy looked at Mandi. Considered. Then nodded. "Remarkable resemblance." Nadia stared at her lover in disbelief. Shammy's mouth twitched. Nadia leaned closer. Lowered her voice. "You're enjoying this far too much." Shammy brushed a kiss against her cheek. "Maybe a little." "You're hiding something." Shammy didn't answer immediately. Instead, she rested her hands on Nadia's waist. Her expression softened. "Nadia." Something in her tone made Nadia pay attention. "Yes?" "Whatever Mandi chooses to tell people about herself, that's hers to tell." Nadia considered that. Shammy continued gently. "You can tease her. God knows she'll tease you back. But you don't need to solve her." Nadia looked at Mandi. The orange-haired woman had moved a little aside with Birgitta and was now animatedly explaining something involving a customer, two drinks, and what appeared to be a very unfortunate misunderstanding about shoes. Nadia smiled. Then looked back at Shammy. "You're right." Shammy kissed her forehead. "I know." Nadia laughed. "Don't get smug." "Too late." Nadia drew her closer. Kissed her again. And let the question rest. For now. They eventually found a little space at the bar. Nadia sat with Shammy beside her. Panam joined them when she could, occasionally answering messages or checking on the other women. The room continued its ordinary Friday rhythm. Music. Laughter. Negotiations. Small reunions. Flirtation. Professionals working. Friends enjoying themselves. At one point Mandi passed them carrying a drink. She stopped beside Nadia. "Still suspicious?" Nadia looked up. "Extremely." Mandi smiled. "Excellent." "Doesn't that bother you?" "Not remotely." Nadia studied her. Then smiled. "You know, I like you." Mandi's expression warmed. "Good." "You're completely impossible." "Also true." "And one day I'm going to work out exactly what's going on." Mandi considered that. Then leaned closer. "Darling, I hope you do." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Of course." Mandi's smile became positively wicked. "Just make sure you enjoy the mystery while you've got it." She kissed Nadia's cheek. Lightly. Affectionately. Then continued toward Birgitta. Nadia watched her go. For several seconds she said nothing. Then she turned toward Shammy. "She's Ace." Shammy sipped her drink. "Is she?" Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Sera." "Yes, sweetheart?" "You are the worst." Shammy smiled. "One of your favorites, though." Nadia tried to remain annoyed. Failed. She leaned over and kissed her. "Unfortunately." Panam returned a few minutes later. Nadia reached for her hand. Panam looked down. Then allowed herself to be drawn closer. "What?" Nadia smiled. "Nothing." Panam raised an eyebrow. "That's suspicious." "Apparently I'm learning from excellent teachers." Shammy laughed. Panam leaned down and kissed Nadia. Nadia answered warmly, one hand sliding up to rest against Panam's neck. When they separated, Panam smiled. "You're getting dangerous." "Getting?" Panam laughed. "Fair point." Nadia glanced toward Mandi again. Then back at Panam. "Does everyone here have a secret?" Panam considered. "Probably." "Wonderful." "You got a problem with secrets?" Nadia thought about the question. Then shook her head. "No." Panam waited. "Not really." Nadia smiled. "I just hadn't expected to encounter quite so many before dinner." Shammy laughed. Panam brushed a strand of hair away from Nadia's face. "Welcome to Lizzie's." Nadia leaned against her. "Apparently." Across the room, Mandi had returned to speaking with the gentleman who'd approached her earlier. The conversation seemed pleasant. He said something. She laughed. Then shook her head. Not rudely. Not dismissively. Simply declining whatever he'd suggested. The man nodded. They exchanged a few more words. Then parted with friendly smiles. Panam noticed. She didn't intervene. She didn't need to. Mandi made her own decisions. That was the arrangement. Nadia watched the small exchange with interest. "Didn't work out?" Panam glanced over. "Apparently not." "Will you ask why?" "If Mandi wants to tell me." Nadia nodded. Something about that answer settled comfortably into place. The collars weren't contracts. The leashes weren't substitutes for consent. Panam's involvement didn't take away anyone's ability to choose. If anything, the structure existed to make those choices easier. Nadia rested her head against Panam's shoulder. "You're good at this." Panam looked at her. "At what?" "Looking after them." Panam shrugged. "Somebody has to." Shammy smiled. Nadia lifted her head. "No." Panam raised an eyebrow. "No?" Nadia kissed her cheek. "You want to." Panam looked away. "Oh, fuck off." Nadia laughed. Shammy leaned in from the other side. "She does." Panam pointed at her. "Don't start." Shammy smiled. "Love you." Panam sighed. Then pulled both women closer. "Yeah." She kissed Shammy. Then Nadia. "Love you too." Mandi eventually returned to the group. She was carrying a small plate of snacks. Birgitta followed, looking delighted. Nadia glanced at the plate. "Those for everybody?" Mandi looked down. Then up. "Technically." "Technically?" "I haven't decided how generous I'm feeling." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Mandi." Mandi sighed. "Fine." She offered the plate. Nadia took something. Then smiled sweetly. "Thank you, cousin." Mandi froze. Birgitta burst out laughing. Shammy made a delighted little noise. Panam closed her eyes. Mandi slowly turned toward Nadia. "Excuse me?" Nadia smiled. "Well, you're Ace's second cousin." "Yes." "And Ace is a friend of mine." "Yes." "So I thought I'd be friendly." Mandi stared. Nadia took another snack. "Problem?" For one glorious moment, Mandi appeared to have no answer. Then she grinned. "Oh, I like you." Nadia laughed. "Good." Mandi leaned closer. "You're dangerous." "Been told." "By my cousin, perhaps?" Nadia smiled. "Frequently." Mandi laughed. And just like that, the absurdity became something they could both enjoy. Nadia didn't receive a confession. Mandi didn't provide one. But the little game had acquired another willing participant. One who was more than capable of playing back. At the far end of the bar, Dalia appeared beside Deja. Hot-pink dreadlocks. Dark venom-green hair. Two completely different expressions of expensive trouble. Dalia surveyed the group. Then fixed her attention on Mandi. "Darling." Mandi turned. "Oh, no." Dalia smiled. "What have you been doing?" "Nothing." Deja raised an eyebrow. "Statistically unlikely." Birgitta laughed. Nadia looked at the newcomers with immediate interest. Dalia glanced toward her. Then smiled. "And who's this?" Shammy slipped an affectionate arm around Nadia's waist. "This is Nadia." Dalia's expression brightened. "Oh!" Deja smiled. "Finally." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Finally?" Dalia stepped closer. "Darling, we've heard wonderful things." Nadia slowly turned toward Shammy. Shammy smiled. Perfectly innocent. Again. Nadia sighed. "Of course you have." Mandi grinned. "Oh, she's going to fit right in." Deja looked Nadia over. Then at Mandi. Then at Panam, who was still holding her five leashes with the composure of a woman who had somehow agreed to supervise a traveling circus. Deja's mouth curved. "Poor woman." Panam glanced at her. "Which one?" Deja considered. "All of them." Dalia laughed. And Nadia, looking around at the people she'd met in the last hour, began laughing too. Five leashes. A mysterious second cousin. Two women who looked as though they'd been designed by artists with very different opinions about subtlety. And the two lovers who had somehow neglected to mention any of this beforehand. Nadia raised her glass. "Well." Shammy smiled. "Well?" Nadia looked toward Panam. Then Dalia. Then Deja. Then finally Mandi. "I think I'm going to need another evening to understand this one." Dalia's smile widened. "Sweetheart, we're only getting started." Panam groaned. Mandi laughed. Deja looked delighted. And somewhere behind the bar, Suzy Q was already preparing herself for the next round of entirely predictable trouble. --- ## Chapter 10 — Make Me a Believable Offer "Well," Nadia said, surveying the gathering around the bar, "I suppose that's everyone." Dalia laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia turned toward her. "What?" "Never say that at Lizzie's." Deja nodded solemnly. "It's practically an invitation." As if summoned by the remark, Suzy Q glanced toward the entrance. Her expression brightened. "Ah. There she is." Panam followed her gaze. Then grinned. "About fucking time." Nadia looked. And immediately understood why people were turning their heads. The woman entering Lizzie's had an ice-blue bob, striking red eyes, and an outfit that managed to be elegant, expensive, and thoroughly unsuitable for anyone hoping to pass unnoticed. She walked without hurry. Every movement seemed considered, but nothing about her felt stiff or rehearsed. She was beautiful. She knew it. And unlike Mandi, who treated attention as an invitation to start trouble, this woman appeared perfectly content to let the room come to its own conclusions. Dalia lifted a hand. "Bea!" The woman spotted her. Smiled. And changed course toward the group. Mandi watched her approach. "Oh, there goes the neighborhood." Bea reached them just in time to hear it. "Darling, I thought that happened when you arrived." Birgitta burst out laughing. Mandi pressed a hand to her chest. "Betrayal. From my own beloved colleague." Bea kissed her cheek. "Consider it a public service." Then she embraced Dalia. A proper embrace, warm and familiar. "Hello, gorgeous." "Hello yourself." Bea stepped back to examine her. "Pink dreadlocks again?" Dalia turned her head, letting the vivid strands swing. "They're spectacular." "They are." "Naturally." Bea laughed. Then looked at Deja. "And you." Deja smiled. "Me." "Absolutely stunning." "You're sweet." "Occasionally." Deja leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Nadia watched the greetings with growing amusement. Apparently everyone here already knew everyone else. Except her. Which was beginning to feel like a statistically remarkable achievement. Shammy slipped an arm around her waist. "Bea, this is Nadia." Bea turned. Her red eyes settled on Nadia. For a brief moment, her expression became particularly attentive. Then she smiled. "How wonderful to meet you." Nadia offered her hand. "Likewise." Bea took it. Her touch was warm, unhurried. "An artist, I hear." Nadia glanced at Shammy. "Does anybody at this bar not know that?" Bea laughed. "Information travels." "Apparently faster than I do." "Fortunately, darling, your reputation is excellent." Nadia smiled. "That's reassuring." Bea's gaze moved briefly toward Shammy's arm around Nadia's waist. Then returned to Nadia's face. "And you seem to have excellent taste in company." Nadia laughed. "That much I can confirm." Panam made a small, skeptical noise. Bea turned toward her. "Oh, don't be modest, Madame." "Wasn't planning to." "Good. It doesn't suit you." Panam grinned. "Good to see you too, Bea." Nadia was still trying to sort out the evening's increasingly complicated social arrangements. Five women wore collars attached to leashes in Panam's hand. Deja wore a collar too, but her leash belonged to Dalia. And Bea— Nadia looked at Bea's neck. No collar. No leash. No apparent interest in joining the cluster around Panam. Bea caught the glance. "Questions?" Nadia laughed. "That seems to be my principal occupation tonight." "Then by all means." Nadia gestured discreetly toward Panam. "Are you part of her group?" Bea smiled. "No, darling. I'm independent." "Ah." "Dalia and Deja too." Nadia glanced toward the two women. Dalia was adjusting the fall of Deja's ivory jacket with the sort of fondly possessive attention that made Deja smile. "Even with the leash?" "That," Bea said, "is their own arrangement." Dalia looked up. "An excellent arrangement." Deja lifted her chin. "Very." Dalia reached for her hand. Deja stepped closer, and Dalia kissed her with unmistakable affection. Nadia smiled. "Right." Bea leaned closer. "At Lizzie's, darling, there's a considerable difference between wearing a collar and being one of Madame's pets." Nadia considered that. Then nodded toward Panam. "So she negotiates for those five." "Exactly." "And you negotiate for yourself." Bea smiled. "Among other things." There was just enough mischief in the answer to make Nadia laugh. She was beginning to like Bea. Quite a lot. A man approached Panam. He was perhaps fifty, elegantly dressed, and carried himself with the comfortable assurance of somebody familiar with the establishment. He didn't stop to proposition any of the women. Instead, he waited until Panam finished speaking with Suzy. "Madame." Panam turned. "Evening." "Good to see you." "Likewise." His gaze moved toward the five women, then returned to Panam. "Would you have a moment?" "Depends what you want." He smiled. "Business." Panam studied him. Then gestured toward a quieter section of the bar. "Talk." Nadia watched them move. Shammy leaned closer. "First lesson." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "In what?" "How Madame does business." "Oh, I'm definitely interested." Panam didn't lead the man away from the group so much as position them where they could speak without needing to raise their voices. Nadia could still hear occasional fragments. "Who are you interested in?" "Vega." "What sort of evening?" "Conversation, company, a little privacy." "How long?" They spoke for another minute. Panam listened closely. Asked another question. Then another. At one point the man said something that made her shake her head. Not angrily. Simply correcting him. The man nodded. They continued. Nadia turned toward Shammy. "She's thorough." Shammy smiled. "Very." "Is she always like that?" "Darling, that's Panam being polite." Nadia laughed. Eventually Panam returned. "Vega?" Vega looked up. "Owner?" "Got someone interested." Vega glanced toward the man. Recognized him, apparently. Her smile was friendly. "Oh." Panam gave her the essentials of the proposed booking. No private details beyond what Vega needed to make a decision. No grand sales pitch. No assumption that an acceptable customer and a potentially acceptable offer meant anything was settled. Vega considered. Then shook her head. "Not tonight." Panam nodded. "Okay." That was it. No persuasion. No request for justification. Panam returned to the customer. Nadia watched the short exchange. The man listened. Then nodded. He looked disappointed, but not offended. After a brief conversation, he thanked Panam and returned to his table. Nadia turned toward Vega. "That simple?" Vega smiled. "That simple." "You didn't even tell her why." "I didn't need to." Panam returned in time to hear the last sentence. "Damn right." Nadia smiled at her. "You really don't negotiate the decision." Panam shrugged. "Why would I?" "Some people would." "Then some people shouldn't be doing my job." There was no hesitation in her voice. Nadia reached for her hand. Panam accepted it. Nadia squeezed once. "Good answer." Panam's expression softened. "Yeah?" "Very." Panam leaned down and kissed her. Nadia answered warmly. Behind them, Mandi sighed. "God, they're adorable." Dalia glanced at her. "You're jealous." Mandi grinned. "Of course. Nobody's kissing me." Birgitta leaned over and kissed her cheek. "There." Mandi considered. "Better." It wasn't long before the next approach. This one started with Birgitta. A younger man stopped beside her, smiling with the eager confidence of somebody who had mistaken an expensive jacket for a personality. "Evening." Birgitta smiled. "Good evening, darling." He looked at her collar. Then toward Panam. "Working?" "Yes." His smile widened. "Excellent." Birgitta waited. He glanced at the other women. "Are you all available?" Birgitta's expression remained pleasant. "We're all capable of answering for ourselves." "Right, right." He laughed. Then looked at her again. "So how much?" Birgitta smiled. "That question goes to Madame Panam." He followed her gaze. Then frowned. "Seriously?" "Quite." "Can't you just tell me?" "No, darling." He looked again at Panam. Five leashes. Five women. A very composed woman holding them. "Seems unnecessarily complicated." Birgitta's smile didn't move. "Then perhaps the arrangement isn't for you." He glanced toward Mandi. "What about her?" Mandi looked up. "Me?" "Yeah. You working?" "Sometimes." "How much?" Mandi nodded toward Panam. "Same answer." He frowned. "Seriously, is there a menu or something?" From behind him came Panam's voice. "No." The man turned. Panam stood a few steps away. Her expression wasn't hostile. It was considerably worse. It was unimpressed. He attempted a smile. "Hey. Just trying to find out what this costs." Panam looked at him. "Then start by telling me what you actually want." He glanced toward the five women. "Something fun." Panam waited. He shifted. "With one of them." "Which one?" "Does it matter?" Panam folded her arms. "To them? Yeah." He laughed awkwardly. "Look, I'm flexible." "Congratulations." Mandi made a tiny noise. Dalia bit her lip. Nadia watched with fascination. The man tried again. "So what's the cheapest option?" Panam stared at him. A full second passed. Then another. "No." He blinked. "No?" "No." "I haven't even made an offer." "Exactly." He looked confused. Panam's voice remained level. "You don't know who you want, what kind of evening you're asking for, or what these women might enjoy. You do know you want the cheapest option. That's not an interesting starting point." The man's expression tightened. "You're seriously turning down money?" "I'm turning down you." A brief silence followed. Not because Panam had raised her voice. She hadn't. That was what made the answer land. The man looked toward Birgitta. She offered a polite, almost sympathetic smile. "Have a lovely evening, darling." He stood there another moment. Then shrugged and walked away. Panam watched him go. "Next." Mandi burst out laughing. Nadia stepped closer. "That was brutal." Panam glanced at her. "Was it?" "Quite." "He wanted honesty." "Did he?" "He got it." Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Fair." Shammy rested a hand on Nadia's lower back. "She's gentler when somebody genuinely doesn't know how the system works." Panam shrugged. "Questions are fine. Acting like you can shop for a person by finding the lowest number isn't." Birgitta nodded. "Perfectly reasonable." Mandi raised a finger. "I'd like to add that I am an exceptionally expensive bargain." Panam turned toward her. "Mandi." "What?" "Don't." "But it's true." Deja glanced at Dalia. "Is it?" Dalia considered. "Depends how much trouble the buyer wants." Mandi looked delighted. "Exactly!" Nadia laughed. And Panam, despite herself, smiled. Bea had taken a stool at the bar. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, talking to Suzy while occasionally watching the room. She looked perfectly relaxed. No urgency. No restlessness. Nadia drifted toward her while Shammy became involved in an enthusiastic discussion with Nova about a new installation idea. "Mind if I join you?" Bea smiled. "Please do." Nadia settled beside her. For a moment they watched a customer attempt to impress Deja. He appeared to be doing reasonably well until Deja said something that left him laughing helplessly. Dalia was nearby. Her fingers rested lightly around the end of Deja's leash. Bea followed Nadia's gaze. "Having an interesting evening?" Nadia laughed. "That's putting it mildly." "First time seeing the full arrangement?" "Very much so." Bea smiled. "Quite a sight." "It is." Nadia watched Panam. She was speaking quietly with Suzy now, checking something on her agent. Her five pets were free to converse, mingle, and enjoy themselves within the comfortable reach of their shared arrangements. "She's good with them," Nadia said. "Exceptional." "You sound certain." Bea looked at her. "I am." Nadia considered that. Then smiled. "And you prefer doing things yourself?" "Yes." "Why?" Bea thought for a moment. "Different temperament. Different pleasures." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Pleasures?" Bea's smile turned distinctly mischievous. "Darling, there are quite a few things I enjoy about this profession." Something in the way she said it made Nadia's cheeks warm. Not embarrassingly. Just enough to notice. Bea noticed too. But didn't exploit it. Instead, she shifted slightly toward her. "Do you find it strange?" Nadia considered. "The work?" "Yes." "Not really." "Interesting." "Surprising, certainly. Especially discovering that Sera does it." Bea's smile softened. "She's wonderful at making people feel welcome." Nadia laughed. "That she is." "And you?" "Me?" "Do you like being surprised?" Nadia looked at her. The red eyes were striking up close. Not severe. Almost hypnotically attentive. And Bea had a way of making a question sound like a private invitation without actually demanding an answer. Nadia smiled. "Sometimes." Bea's expression warmed. "Good." Then she picked up her drink. And, mercifully, let the conversation return to safer ground. A few minutes later, an elegantly dressed woman approached Bea. "Excuse me." Bea turned. "Hello." "Working tonight?" "Yes, darling." The woman smiled. "I was hoping we might have a conversation." Bea glanced at Nadia. "Would you excuse me?" Nadia nodded. "Of course." Bea stood. Smoothed her dress. Then offered the visitor her arm. "Shall we?" They moved toward a quieter corner. No Madame. No referral. No intermediary. Bea's own decision. Nadia watched them go with interest. Then Suzy spoke from behind the bar. "She's good." Nadia turned. "Bea?" "Very." "At negotiations?" Suzie smiled. "At knowing exactly what she wants." Nadia looked back. Bea was laughing at something the woman had said. Then leaning closer to hear her answer. Across the room, Dalia was conducting a negotiation of her own. Or rather, deciding whether she wanted one. A sharply dressed customer had approached Deja. The woman listened politely. Smiled. Then glanced toward Dalia. Dalia joined them. There was a brief exchange. A question. A clarification. And then Dalia smiled in a manner Nadia was beginning to recognize. It was the sort of smile that suggested somebody was about to discover whether they possessed both sufficient money and sufficient imagination. The customer said something. Dalia laughed. Then replied. "Sweetheart, you can certainly ask. But you're going to have to make it interesting." Deja leaned closer to Dalia. Murmured something. Dalia's eyes brightened. "Oh, that's wicked." Deja smiled. "I have my moments." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Darling, you have entire afternoons." Nadia laughed softly. They were unmistakably enjoying themselves. Whatever the customer had proposed, Dalia and Deja were discussing it with each other first. Not merely calculating a price. Deciding whether the evening sounded appealing. The difference mattered. Then a new customer arrived. A man in a carefully tailored dark jacket. Older than Mandi. Younger than Panam had probably expected. He moved confidently but without swagger, greeted Suzy by name, and asked whether Madame was available. Suzy glanced toward Panam. Then nodded. "She's right there." The man approached. Waited until Panam finished speaking with Birgitta. Then smiled. "Madame." Panam turned. "Evening." "May I ask about your availability tonight?" "Mine?" "Your ladies'." Panam studied him. "What kind of booking?" He explained. Briefly. Clearly. Without unnecessary performance. Panam listened. Asked him to clarify one point. He did. Then she asked which woman interested him. His gaze moved toward Nova. Nova was standing beside Vega, laughing quietly at something she'd said. "The woman with the white eyes." Panam followed his gaze. "Nova." "Yes." "Why her?" He hesitated. Not from embarrassment. Apparently considering the question seriously. "She's beautiful." Panam waited. "And?" He smiled slightly. "And I liked the way she listened to that couple a few minutes ago. She seemed genuinely interested in what they were saying." Panam regarded him. "Good observation." "Thank you." "What sort of evening are you looking for?" He answered. Panam asked more questions. Some direct. Some almost disconcertingly personal. The man didn't seem offended. Nadia, watching from nearby, recognized the process now. Panam wasn't just assessing whether he could afford the evening. She was deciding whether the proposed encounter might be worth bringing to Nova at all. Eventually the man asked about price. Panam named no fixed rate. Instead she outlined what the conversation would require. The man considered. Then gave an opening offer. Panam looked at him. Her expression didn't change. "Make me a believable offer." From several feet away came a sharp voice. "THAT'S MY LINE!" Every head turned. Dalia stood beside Deja. One hand on her hip. The other holding Deja's leash. Her expression was magnificent. Outrage. Indignation. Betrayal. And absolute delight at having an excuse to make a scene. Panam slowly turned. "What?" Dalia pointed at her. "That's. My. Line." Panam blinked. Then grinned. "Is it?" "YES!" Mandi began laughing. Birgitta covered her mouth. Shammy bent forward, shaking with laughter. Deja looked as though she'd been expecting this moment for years. Panam folded her arms. "It's a sentence, Dalia." "It's my sentence!" "Didn't see a copyright notice." Dalia gasped. "You shameless thief." Panam laughed. "Works, though." "Of course it works! I perfected it!" Nova was laughing now too. Vega shook her head. Nadia looked between Panam and Dalia. Then burst out laughing. The customer, remarkably, took the interruption in stride. He glanced toward Dalia. Then back at Panam. "Should I make another offer?" Panam grinned. "Please." Dalia pointed again. "I heard that." Panam didn't bother turning. "Good." The man offered a different figure. Not dramatically higher. But accompanied by a more specific proposal. Panam listened. Then nodded. "Better." "Good enough?" "Good enough to ask her." He smiled. "Fair." Panam gestured toward a nearby seat. "Have a drink. I'll talk to Nova." He thanked her. And went. Nadia watched Panam approach Nova. She spoke quietly. Nova listened. Asked a question. Panam answered. Nova glanced toward the man. He was waiting patiently. Not staring at her. Not waving. Not trying to force her attention. Nova considered. Then said something that made Panam nod. Panam returned to the customer. A brief exchange followed. Then she gestured toward Nova. The man approached. Nova greeted him with a smile. They began talking. Just talking. Nadia watched them for a moment. Then looked at Shammy. "That one's going differently." Shammy smiled. "Yes." "You think she'll take him?" "Ask Nova." Nadia laughed. "Right." Shammy slipped an arm around her waist. "You're learning." Nadia turned toward her. Then kissed her. "Apparently." The kiss lingered. Shammy's hands settled comfortably at Nadia's hips. For a few seconds, the noise of the bar receded beneath the simple pleasure of being close. When they finally separated, Nadia smiled against her lips. "Still a menace." Shammy brushed her nose against hers. "Your menace." "One of them." "Good answer." Panam returned a moment later. Nadia caught her hand. "Come here." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Because I want you." Panam's expression warmed. "Well, when you put it like that." Nadia drew her close. Their kiss was unhurried. Panam's free hand settled against Nadia's back, pulling her nearer. Nadia slipped her fingers into Panam's hair. She loved how quickly the woman's professional severity could melt when nobody was asking her to make a decision. Loved the warmth beneath the formidable exterior. Loved knowing that beneath the titles, the money, the arguments, and the reputation, Panam was still the woman who could hold her in a quiet apartment and make the rest of Night City disappear. When they separated, Nadia kept her close. "Busy night?" Panam smiled. "Getting there." "Having fun?" "Some." "Only some?" Panam glanced toward Mandi. Mandi was trying to persuade Birgitta that a nearby customer deserved a lesson in the social uses of extravagant footwear. Panam sighed. "Ask me again later." Nadia laughed. Then glanced toward the five leashes. "You know, I thought you'd spend the whole evening marching them around." Panam looked genuinely offended. "Why the fuck would I do that?" Nadia grinned. "Because I had absolutely no idea how any of this worked an hour ago." "Fair." Panam brushed a thumb along Nadia's cheek. "They've got their own lives, sweetheart. I'm not here to run every second of them." "I can see that." "And they're not here to perform obedience for an audience." Nadia nodded. "Good." Panam smiled. "Don't worry. You'll see plenty of interesting things tonight." Nadia laughed. "Somehow I believe you." At the far end of the room, Bea returned from her conversation. Alone. She looked perfectly content. Suzy raised an eyebrow as Bea approached. "Well?" Bea smiled. "Charming woman." "And?" "Not quite what I wanted this evening." Suzy nodded. No fuss. No disappointment. Bea ordered another drink. Then turned toward Nadia. "Enjoying your education?" Nadia smiled. "Immensely." "Excellent." Dalia joined them. Still looking theatrically offended. Bea glanced at her. "Something happened?" Dalia pointed toward Panam. "That woman is stealing my intellectual property." Bea looked at Panam. Panam raised her glass. Dalia glared. Bea considered. "Have you filed a complaint?" "I intend to." "With whom?" "Everybody." Bea smiled. "Ambitious." Deja stepped up behind Dalia, slipping an arm around her waist. "She's been very brave." Dalia leaned back against her. "Thank you, darling." "Through terrible adversity." "Exactly." Bea laughed. Nadia shook her head. "You people are impossible." Dalia smiled. "Darling, we're delightful." "Debatable." "Ah. You've been spending too much time with Mandi." From across the room came an outraged cry. "I HEARD THAT!" Panam closed her eyes. Suzy laughed. And Nadia decided that, whatever else happened tonight, she would never again regard a quiet evening at the studio as the obvious superior choice. Nova was still speaking with her prospective client. Vega stood nearby, occasionally contributing when Nova invited her into the conversation. The man seemed perfectly comfortable with that. At one point he said something that made Nova laugh. Not politely. Genuinely. Nadia noticed. So did Panam. Panam's expression became thoughtful. She didn't interrupt. Didn't hurry them. She simply watched long enough to see that Nova was enjoying herself. Then turned back to her other responsibilities. A woman approached Birgitta. A different man asked Mandi whether she was available. Someone spoke directly to Dalia. Deja drew a compliment that made her smile. Bea received an appreciative glance from a customer passing the bar. And Nadia began to recognize the underlying rhythm. An approach. A conversation. A possibility. Sometimes a laugh. Sometimes a refusal. Sometimes an offer worth discussing. Panam filtered the people who came to her. Her pets answered for themselves when approached directly. And the independent women handled their own arrangements. Nothing was automatic. Nobody was guaranteed anything. The money might be spectacular. But desire was still personal. Suzy leaned toward Nadia. "Well?" Nadia turned. "Well what?" "Still think you've seen everything?" Nadia laughed. "Not even remotely." "Good." Suzy glanced toward Nova. Then toward Mandi, whose attention had drifted toward a striking stranger near the lounge. Her smile widened. "Because I suspect your friends are about to make the evening even more entertaining." Nadia followed her gaze. Mandi was watching the stranger with unmistakable interest. Not professionally, exactly. Something more spontaneous. A spark. An idea. A temptation. Nadia had learned enough about Mandi to recognize the expression. "Oh, dear." Suzy nodded. "Yeah." Across the bar, Dalia noticed the same thing. Her eyes narrowed. Then she grinned. "Well, well." Deja looked. Then smiled. "Oh, that's going to be interesting." Panam glanced over. Saw Mandi. Saw the stranger. And muttered: "Not again." Nadia turned toward her. "Not again?" Panam sighed. Shammy laughed softly. Dalia looked delighted. And Mandi— Mandi smiled at the stranger. A slow, appreciative smile. The kind that promised something nobody had yet negotiated. Nadia lifted her glass. "God help us." Panam glanced at her. "Don't count on it." And Lizzie's Friday evening rolled merrily onward. --- ## Chapter 11 — Nova's First Client Nova liked men who listened. It was an underrated quality. Particularly at Lizzie's, where a remarkable number of otherwise intelligent people seemed to believe that approaching a beautiful woman required them to demonstrate how many words they could produce without pausing for breath. The gentleman sitting opposite her had avoided that mistake. So far. He was well dressed, pleasant-looking, and sufficiently comfortable in his own skin that he didn't appear to be performing for anyone. His earlier conversation with Madame Panam had apparently gone well. That, by itself, meant something. Madame's filtering process was famously unforgiving. Nova had seen men with considerably more money and considerably less judgment leave Lizzie's without so much as a sympathetic glance from one of her pets. This man, however, had passed the initial inspection. Now came the interesting part. Whether Nova actually liked him. "So," she said, settling comfortably into her chair, "tell me something." He smiled. "Anything." "Why me?" He looked at her. Not at her outfit. Not at her figure. At her face. "Would you believe me if I said your eyes?" Nova smiled. "I'd believe you noticed them." He laughed. "Fair." She waited. He considered the question again. "You're beautiful. Obviously." "Thank you." "But that's hardly unusual in this room." Nova raised an eyebrow. "Careful. You're surrounded by women who'd take that as a compliment." "Good. It was intended as one." She laughed. He smiled. "Actually, I noticed you listening to somebody earlier." Nova tilted her head. "Listening?" "Two customers were arguing about something. You asked a question, and they both stopped talking long enough to think." Nova remembered. A woman and her companion had been trying to settle a disagreement over whether they should spend their anniversary in Night City or leave town for a few days. Nova had suggested asking what they actually wanted to do together. An apparently revolutionary concept. "You saw that?" "I did." "And it impressed you?" "It interested me." Nova leaned back slightly. "Go on." He smiled. "You seemed genuinely curious about them. I thought you might be interesting to talk to." Nova considered him. Then smiled. "That's a much better answer than the eyes." "I was hoping you'd think so." Vega sat a short distance away. Not intruding. Not pretending to be invisible. Simply enjoying a drink and occasionally joining the conversation when invited. Nova knew that expression. Vega was entertained. And perhaps a little more than entertained. She'd been watching the gentleman carefully since his arrival. Not suspiciously. She was simply interested in the possibility developing in front of her. Nova glanced toward her. "Any observations?" Vega looked up. "Several." The gentleman laughed. "Should I be worried?" "Not yet." Nova smiled. "That's encouraging." Vega set down her glass. "You haven't asked Nova what she enjoys." The man blinked. Then turned toward Nova. "You're right." He considered. "What do you enjoy?" Nova looked at Vega. Vega smiled innocently. Nova laughed. "Oh, she's going to be insufferable about that." "Am I?" Vega asked. "Completely." The gentleman looked between them. "You know each other well." "We work together quite some time," Nova said. Vega nodded. "And she's very good at what she does." Nova smiled. "Thank you." "Although occasionally rather modest." "Don't push it." Vega laughed. The man looked delighted. "All right. I'm beginning to understand why this place has its reputation." Nova leaned forward. "Good. Then let's talk about what kind of evening you're actually hoping for." It turned out to be a much more interesting conversation than Nova had expected. The man wasn't looking for spectacle. He didn't have an elaborate list of demands. He wasn't interested in purchasing the illusion that he could command anything merely because he could afford it. He wanted an enjoyable private encounter with a woman who genuinely wanted to be there. Which, to Nova's mind, was an excellent place to begin. They talked about preferences. About boundaries. About the difference between enthusiasm and performance. The man answered her questions without becoming defensive. He asked his own. And when Nova told him there were things she liked and others she didn't, he listened. Actually listened. By the time Panam returned, Nova had made up her mind. Mostly. "Well?" Panam asked. Nova smiled. "Promising." Panam looked at the gentleman. "That's better than you usually get on the first round." He laughed. "I'll take it." Panam turned back toward Nova. "You interested?" "Yes." "Any conditions?" Nova glanced toward Vega. Then smiled. "One." Vega lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nova regarded her. "Would you like to watch?" The gentleman went very quiet. Vega's expression changed. Not with surprise. With interest. She set down her glass. "Are you asking?" "I am." Vega considered. Then looked at the gentleman. "Would you be comfortable with that?" He took a moment. "With you watching?" "Yes." "Just watching?" Vega smiled. "Exactly." His expression became thoughtful. Then a little amused. "I wasn't expecting that." Nova laughed. "Neither were we, when we first discussed the idea." Panam folded her arms. "All right. Before anybody starts making assumptions, let's get something clear." The man looked at her. Panam gestured toward Vega. "She's not part of your booking. You don't get access to her. She's there because Nova invited her and because she wants to be there." "Understood." "She can leave whenever she wants." "Of course." "And Nova can change her mind about the whole thing." He nodded. "Naturally." Panam studied him for another moment. Then looked at Vega. "Your call." Vega considered Nova. The white eyes. The familiar smile. The unmistakable delight beneath her professional composure. "Yes," she said. Nova smiled. "Good." Vega returned the smile. "Very good." Panam handled the final arrangement. She reviewed what the gentleman had requested, confirmed the agreed terms, and made sure the presence of an observer was understood by everybody involved. There was no ambiguity about the booking. It was for Nova. Vega would be present only as an invited observer. No participation. No implied invitation. No entitlement. The man accepted the conditions without argument. Panam regarded him for another moment. Then turned toward Nova. "Happy?" Nova nodded. "Very." "Then enjoy yourself." Nova smiled. "Planning to." Panam touched her cheek. A brief, affectionate gesture. Then she released Nova's leash. The clasp opened with a soft metallic sound. Nova accepted it and coiled it neatly. "Thank you, Owner." Panam smiled. "Have fun, sweetheart." Vega stood. Panam glanced at her. "You too." Vega's smile turned wicked. "Oh, I intend to." Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Nadia had watched the final conversation from the bar. She hadn't tried to listen to every word. But she'd seen enough to understand the outcome. Nova was leaving with the gentleman. Vega was going with them. And Panam had just unclipped Nova's leash. Nadia turned toward Sera. "Both of them?" Sera smiled. "Nova has the booking." "And Vega?" "Invited observer." Nadia considered. Then raised an eyebrow. "Oh." Sera laughed softly. "Yes." Nadia looked toward Vega. The woman was smiling. Not merely pleased. Anticipatory. Nadia took another sip of whiskey. "Well." Sera kissed her cheek. "Learning things?" "Quite a few." Panam returned to the bar in time to hear that. "Good things, I hope." Nadia drew her closer. "Very interesting things." Panam smiled. "That's Lizzie's." Nadia kissed her. Then glanced toward the departing trio. "Nova looked happy." Panam followed her gaze. "She is." "And Vega?" Panam snorted. "Vega's going to have a wonderful time." Sera laughed. Nadia smiled. She was beginning to understand that joytoy work at Lizzie's involved rather more variations than she'd initially imagined. --- The private suite was quiet. Not silent. The music from the main bar existed as a distant pulse, faint enough to disappear when nobody was listening for it. Soft amber lighting warmed the room. Comfortable seating occupied one side. A spacious bed stood beyond a low partition. There was a small refreshment area and a discreet control panel for lighting, privacy, and communication with staff. Nova knew the suite. She liked it. It didn't try too hard. Some of Lizzie's more elaborate rooms were spectacular, but she preferred spaces where a person could relax without feeling obliged to admire the architecture. She stepped inside first. The gentleman followed. Vega came last. Nova turned toward the man. "Comfortable?" He looked around. "Very." "Good." She gestured toward the seating area. "Let's make ourselves at home." Vega selected a comfortable chair near the edge of the room. It offered an unobstructed view without placing her directly in the center of things. Nova noticed. Of course she did. Vega looked up. "What?" "Nothing." "That's a suspicious nothing." Nova smiled. "You're enjoying yourself already." Vega crossed her legs. "Immensely." The gentleman laughed. "I have a feeling I'm about to become very self-conscious." Nova turned toward him. "Would you rather she wasn't here?" He considered. Then shook his head. "No." "Certain?" "Yes." Nova studied his expression. Then nodded. "Good." She stepped closer. "Because I'm not interested in an evening where anybody feels pressured to pretend." He smiled. "Neither am I." "Excellent." They began with conversation. Nova was in no hurry. She liked discovering how a person moved from polite confidence into genuine ease. Sometimes that took time. Sometimes a surprisingly small gesture was enough. With this man, it was laughter. He told her about a disastrous business dinner at which a supposedly sophisticated guest had spent twenty minutes arguing with an automated wine steward. Nova laughed. Vega contributed a dry observation about the wisdom of debating beverages with machinery. The gentleman laughed harder. And the awkwardness evaporated. Eventually Nova reached for his hand. He looked at her. She smiled. "May I?" He nodded. "Please." Her fingers closed around his. Warm. Steady. A little nervous now, despite his earlier confidence. Nova liked that. Not because she wanted him uncertain. Because the nervousness felt genuine. She moved closer. He watched her face. Then her mouth. Nova smiled. "Something on your mind?" "Several things." "Start with one." "I'd like to kiss you." Nova's expression warmed. "Good." She leaned closer. "Because I'd like that too." The first kiss was gentle. An invitation rather than a declaration. He answered carefully. His hand settled at her waist. Nova let the moment develop, enjoying the simple warmth of another person discovering that affection didn't need to be hurried. She drew back just enough to see his expression. He smiled. "That was nice." Nova laughed softly. "Nice?" "Very nice." She raised an eyebrow. "Such extravagance." He chuckled. "I can try again." "Please do." This time the kiss lasted longer. His hand moved to her back. Nova slipped her arms around his shoulders. And when he drew her a little closer, she went willingly. There was a sincerity to his touch she appreciated. No attempt to prove anything. No rush to turn every gesture into the next. Just an attractive man, a woman who found him appealing, and the growing pleasure of discovering how well they responded to each other. Nova's smile lingered against his lips. "Better." He laughed. "High praise." "Don't let it go to your head." From the chair came Vega's voice. "Too late." Nova glanced over her shoulder. Vega was smiling. The gentleman laughed. "She's going to make this difficult, isn't she?" Nova grinned. "Darling, she's going to make this interesting." As the evening developed, Nova found herself increasingly pleased with the choice she'd made. He was attentive. Responsive. And, perhaps most importantly, capable of laughing at himself. That became particularly useful when they moved from the seating area toward the bed. He paused. Nova noticed. "What?" He looked briefly embarrassed. "There's something I should probably mention." Nova tilted her head. "Go on." He hesitated. Then smiled ruefully. "I've occasionally been told I'm a little more than people expect." Nova regarded him for a moment. Then her eyes brightened with amusement. "Oh?" He laughed. "That's one way to put it." She stepped closer. Placed both hands against his chest. "Then I suppose we'd better make sure neither of us gets carried away." "Agreed." Nova kissed him. "And if I want you to slow down, you will." "Immediately." "Good." Vega, watching from her chair, raised one eyebrow. "Excellent policy." Nova turned. "Nobody asked you." Vega smiled sweetly. "I'm offering professional support." The gentleman laughed. Nova shook her head. "Terrible colleague." "Very supportive colleague." "Insufferable colleague." Vega lifted her glass. "All of the above." The teasing relaxed him. Nova could feel the change. The nervousness gave way to a more comfortable confidence. He touched her cheek. She leaned into his hand. Then kissed his palm. "See?" she murmured. "What?" "Nothing to be worried about." He smiled. "You're very good at making someone feel comfortable." Nova looked pleased. "Thank you." "I mean it." "I know." She drew him toward the bed. "Come here." They settled together, facing one another. For a while they simply kissed. Nova enjoyed the increasing familiarity of his hands. The way he paused when she drew closer. The quiet, pleased sound he made when she kissed the side of his neck. She smiled against his skin. "Having a good evening?" "Exceptionally." "Good." He brushed his fingers along her cheek. "And you?" Nova answered by drawing him into another kiss. Then, when she finally let him breathe, she smiled. "Exceptionally." Vega watched. She had chosen this role with her eyes open. She wasn't here to interrupt. Wasn't waiting for an invitation to join them. And certainly wasn't treating the gentleman as somebody who had somehow acquired rights to her attention merely by accepting her presence. What interested her was Nova. The ease with which she moved. Her confidence. The moments of mischief between tenderness. The pleasure on her face when the man responded to something she liked. Vega knew that Nova could be both thoughtful and delightfully wicked. Watching her enjoy the encounter was its own pleasure. Nova glanced toward her. Caught her gaze. A small smile passed between them. Vega returned it. Then Nova turned back to the gentleman. "Still comfortable?" He nodded. "Very." "Would you like us to continue?" "Yes." She smiled. "So would I." Nova guided the pace. Not rigidly. Not as though the encounter were a performance with required steps. She simply paid attention to what felt good, to what he enjoyed, and to the moments when slowing down made everything better. They undressed without hurry, exchanging smiles and occasional kisses. When Nova finally saw the full extent of what he'd warned her about, her eyebrows rose. Then she laughed softly. "Well, well, well." He looked almost apologetic. "I did mention it." "You did." She stepped closer. Kissed him. "And I appreciate a man who gives fair warning." He laughed. Nova touched his cheek. "Remember what we agreed?" "Of course." "Good." Her expression softened. "Now stop worrying about impressing me." He smiled. "What should I worry about?" She drew him close. "Enjoying yourself." The tenderness between them grew naturally. Nova liked his willingness to follow her lead. She liked the way he checked her expression instead of assuming every smile meant the same thing. And she liked being able to tell him, without awkwardness, when she wanted a different pace or a moment simply to enjoy being held. His answers were always immediate. No argument. No wounded pride. Only attention. As their intimacy deepened, Nova found herself relaxing into the encounter with genuine pleasure. She kissed him. Held him close. Let herself enjoy the warmth of his body and the affection in his touch. There were moments when she laughed softly against his shoulder, and others when she closed her eyes and concentrated entirely on how good it felt to be wanted by someone she also wanted. Vega watched from her chair. Quiet now. Her earlier teasing had given way to a warmer expression. The gentleman was treating Nova well. Nova was clearly enjoying herself. And the simple pleasure of seeing that left Vega smiling. At one point Nova reached for the man's hand. Held it. Then brought it to her cheek. He smiled at her. She returned the smile. And kissed him again. Afterward, Nova remained close to him. His arm rested comfortably around her shoulders. Her head lay against his chest. Neither seemed interested in rushing back into ordinary conversation. He brushed a strand of chrome-gold hair away from her face. Nova looked up. "All right?" He smiled. "More than." "Good." "And you?" She stretched contentedly. Then kissed his shoulder. "Very." He laughed quietly. "I was a little nervous." "I noticed." "Did I make a fool of myself?" Nova lifted her head. "No." "Not even a little?" She considered. "Well, there was that moment when you nearly apologized for being attractive." He groaned. "Oh, God." Nova laughed. "Darling, don't do that again." He smiled. "I'll try not to." She settled against him once more. "Good." From across the room came Vega's voice. "For the record, you did very well." The gentleman lifted his head. "Oh." Vega smiled. "Thought you should know." He looked genuinely pleased. "Thank you." Nova turned toward her. "You've been suspiciously quiet." Vega raised an eyebrow. "I was occupied." Nova smiled. "With?" "Appreciating the view." The gentleman laughed. Nova shook her head. "Shameless." "Entirely." They spent a little more time together. Not because the clock demanded it. Because the atmosphere was pleasant, and Nova enjoyed talking to him. He asked about her interests. She told him about music she liked, restaurants she disliked, and the frustrating tendency of some customers to treat a professional conversation as a competitive sport. He laughed. Then asked Vega whether she found the work equally entertaining. Vega smiled. "Frequently." "Do you often watch?" "Sometimes." "Does it change the experience?" "For whom?" He considered. "Everyone, I suppose." Vega nodded. "Of course." Nova smiled. "But that isn't always a bad thing." "No," he said. "It isn't." Vega looked at Nova. "Sometimes it's precisely what makes an evening memorable." Nova returned her smile. "Exactly." The gentleman looked between them. Then nodded. "I'm glad you were here." Vega smiled warmly. "So am I." There was nothing awkward about the answer. And, importantly, he didn't interpret it as an invitation to ask for anything further. He understood the arrangement. Nova appreciated that too. When the booking ended, Nova accompanied him to the suite door. He took her hand. "Thank you." She smiled. "You're welcome." "I had a wonderful evening." "So did I." He hesitated. Then leaned forward slightly. Nova met him halfway. One final kiss. Warm. Unhurried. Then she stepped back. "Take care of yourself." "You too." He looked toward Vega. "And thank you." Vega inclined her head. "My pleasure." He smiled. Then left. The door closed quietly behind him. For a moment, Nova remained standing where she was. Then she turned. Vega was smiling at her. Nova raised an eyebrow. "What?" Vega leaned back in her chair. "Well." Nova laughed. "Well?" "That was lovely." Nova smiled. "Wasn't it?" Vega nodded. "Very." Nova walked over. Sat beside her. Then leaned against her shoulder. Vega slipped an arm around her. No audience now. No customer. No reason to maintain the professional distance they'd observed throughout the booking. Vega kissed her temple. "Happy?" Nova smiled. "Very." "Good." Nova tilted her head. "Enjoy yourself?" Vega's smile became distinctly wicked. "Immensely." Nova laughed. "I could tell." "Could you?" "Darling." Vega kissed her. Nova answered happily. When they separated, Vega brushed a hand along her cheek. "You were wonderful." Nova's expression softened. "Thank you." "I mean it." Nova kissed her again. "I know." They stayed close for another moment. Then Nova glanced toward the suite door. "Think Madame's going to ask for a report?" Vega laughed. "Almost certainly." Nova sighed theatrically. "Terrible woman." "Very." "Demanding." "Extremely." "Protective." Vega smiled. "Always." Nova stood and offered her hand. "Come on." Vega took it. "Back downstairs?" Nova grinned. "Let's go see what trouble everybody else has managed to find." By the time they returned to the main floor, the bar had grown noticeably busier. Music rolled through the room. Customers gathered around tables. Moxes moved confidently among the crowds. And somewhere near the bar, Mandi was laughing so hard she had to support herself against Birgitta. Nova glanced at Vega. "Well." Vega smiled. "Looks like we missed something." "At Lizzie's?" "Apparently." Panam spotted them. Her expression warmed immediately. "Hey." Nova smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam looked at her. Then at Vega. Then back. "Good?" Nova's smile widened. "Very." Panam nodded. "Glad to hear it." Vega leaned closer. "Exceptionally good company." Panam raised an eyebrow. "That so?" Nova laughed. "Don't start." Panam grinned. "Wasn't going to." Nova gave her a look. Panam's expression softened. "Seriously. You're both happy?" "Yes," Nova said. Vega nodded. "Very." Panam reached for Nova's leash. Nova offered it. The clasp found her collar. Click. Panam touched her cheek. "Welcome back, sweetheart." Nova smiled. "Thank you, Owner." Nadia was watching. Again. By now she'd stopped pretending otherwise. Nova had returned looking radiant. Vega looked equally pleased. And Panam's first concern had been whether they'd enjoyed themselves. Not whether the customer had. Not whether he'd left an extravagant tip. Not whether the evening had produced some particularly impressive financial result. Whether they were happy. Nadia looked at Sera. Sera smiled. "What?" Nadia shook her head. "Nothing." Sera raised an eyebrow. "That usually means something." Nadia slipped her arm around her. "I think I'm beginning to understand why you like this place." Sera's expression softened. "Yeah?" Nadia nodded. "Yeah." She kissed her. Sera answered with a pleased little sound and drew her closer. When they separated, Nadia glanced toward Nova and Vega. Then toward Panam. "And apparently the first booking went rather well." Sera smiled. "Looks that way." Panam came over. Nadia reached for her. Panam stepped into her embrace. "What's that smile for?" Nadia kissed her cheek. "You're very good at your job." Panam snorted. "Somebody has to be." Nadia laughed. Then kissed her properly. Panam returned the kiss, her free hand settling against Nadia's waist. When they separated, Sera was grinning. Panam looked at her. "What?" "Nothing, Owner." Panam narrowed her eyes. Sera smiled sweetly. Nadia burst out laughing. At the other end of the bar, Dalia had noticed Nova's return. And more importantly, the expression on Vega's face. She raised an eyebrow. Then smiled. "Oh, darling." Vega turned. "Dalia." "Enjoy yourself?" "Very much." Dalia glanced at Nova. Then back. "And Nova?" Nova laughed. "Also very much." Dalia's smile widened. "Excellent." Deja leaned against her shoulder. "Successful evening, then." Nova smiled. "I'd say so." Dalia raised her glass. "To professional satisfaction." Vega laughed. "To excellent company." Nova lifted her own drink. "And good judgment." Panam, overhearing, raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome." Mandi turned. "Oh, look. Madame's fishing for compliments." Panam stared at her. "Mandi." "What?" "Don't." Mandi grinned. "Love you, Owner." Panam sighed. "Yeah, yeah." Birgitta laughed. Nadia raised her glass. "To Madame." Sera smiled. "To Madame." Nova and Vega joined them. Then Deja. Then Dalia. Finally Mandi, who made a great show of sighing. "Fine." She raised her drink. "To our ridiculously competent Owner." Panam shook her head. But she was smiling. A few minutes later, Mandi's attention drifted again toward the lounge. A particular stranger had been occupying her thoughts for some time. They were attractive. Interesting. And, to Mandi's considerable delight, apparently interested in her too. She watched them for another moment. Then smiled. Not the exaggerated grin she wore when planning some outrageous public joke. Something quieter. More personal. Dalia noticed immediately. "Oh, no." Deja followed her gaze. Then smiled. "Oh, yes." Panam looked up. "What now?" Dalia nodded toward Mandi. "Your troublemaker's found something interesting." Panam watched her. Then sighed. "Of course she has." Mandi turned toward them. "What?" Panam folded her arms. "Nothing." Mandi narrowed her black eyes. "Why are you all looking at me?" Dalia smiled sweetly. "Darling, we're simply admiring your professional dedication." Mandi laughed. "Professional?" She glanced back toward the stranger. Then toward Panam. Her grin returned. "Oh, sweetheart." Dalia tilted her head. "Yes?" Mandi smiled. "I don't think this one's going to involve any money at all." Dalia closed her eyes. Deja began laughing. Panam muttered something very unflattering. And Suzy Q, who had heard enough of the exchange to recognize what was coming, leaned against the bar with the resigned expression of a woman watching an extremely familiar disaster approach. Nadia looked toward Sera. "What?" Sera kissed her cheek. "You're about to discover another one of Mandi's hobbies." Nadia sighed. "Of course I am." Mandi looked toward Panam. Then smiled. "Owner?" Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." --- ## Chapter 12 — Ask Suzy Q Panam knew that smile. Unfortunately. She knew it rather well. And right now, it was spreading across Mandi's face with the slow, unmistakable confidence of a woman who had just discovered something she wanted. Not a client. Not an offer. Not even an opportunity to make an outrageous amount of money. Just a man. A rather attractive man, admittedly. Dark hair, a little grey at the temples. Well dressed without looking as though he'd spent the entire afternoon arguing with a mirror. Relaxed, attentive, and apparently quite capable of entertaining himself. He was sitting in one of the booths along the lounge wall. Alone. For the moment. Mandi had noticed him nearly fifteen minutes earlier. Panam had noticed Mandi noticing him approximately fourteen minutes and fifty seconds earlier. And Dalia— Dalia was about to become insufferable. "Mandi." Mandi turned. "Yes, Owner?" Panam glanced toward the booth. "No." Mandi blinked. "Excuse me?" "No." "Darling, I haven't asked anything!" "Don't need to." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "This is discrimination." "Experience." "Terrible excuse." "Very reliable excuse." Birgitta began laughing. Sera leaned against Panam's shoulder, smiling. Nadia looked between them. "What?" Panam sighed. "She's found something." Nadia followed her gaze. Saw the man. Then looked back at Mandi. "Oh." Mandi smiled brightly. "Oh?" Nadia laughed. "Nothing." "You're all terrible." From behind them came Dalia's voice. "Darling, we're only trying to protect the local economy." Mandi closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Deja burst out laughing. Dalia approached with Deja beside her, the ivory-clad woman looking entirely too pleased with whatever her companion was about to say. "Let me guess," Dalia began. Mandi stared at her. "No." "You've spotted a handsome stranger." "No." "You'd like to get to know him." "Absolutely not." "And you're about to abandon all professional standards in pursuit of recreational entertainment." Mandi considered. Then smiled. "Well, when you put it like that..." Dalia pointed at her. "I KNEW IT!" Panam started laughing. Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Darling, perhaps we should let her ask first." Dalia turned. "Why?" "Because otherwise she might actually behave." A moment passed. Panam looked at Deja. Then began laughing harder. Mandi grinned. "Oh, I like that." Dalia closed her eyes. "My own pet. Betraying me." Deja smiled sweetly. "With love, Owner." "That makes it worse." Mandi turned back to Panam. This time, the mischief softened. "Owner?" Panam looked at her properly. "Yeah, sweetheart?" "May I have my leash?" Panam studied her. "Work?" "No." "Booking?" "No." "You know him?" "Not yet." Panam glanced toward the booth again. The man was speaking with a passing Mox. He thanked her for something, smiled, and returned his attention to the room. Mandi watched him. And Panam watched Mandi. There was genuine interest there. Not merely another joke. Panam knew the difference. "You really want him?" Mandi nodded. "Yes." Simple. Immediate. Panam's expression softened. "Then go see whether he wants you too." Mandi's smile became radiant. She stepped closer and kissed Panam. "Love you." "Love you too." Panam reached for the clasp at Mandi's collar. Click. She gathered the loosened leash and placed it in Mandi's hand. "Have fun, sweetheart." Mandi grinned. "Planning to." Panam narrowed her eyes. "And don't make me regret it." Mandi looked positively angelic. "Owner!" Panam sighed. "Go." Dalia watched Mandi walk away. Then slowly shook her head. "Zero." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Zero eddies." "She hasn't even reached him yet." "Do you want to make a bet?" Panam grinned. "Not against you about Mandi." Deja laughed. Dalia gestured dramatically toward the departing woman. "One of Lizzie's most desirable professionals, and she's wandering off to provide complimentary entertainment!" Panam took a drink. "Yep." "Do you understand what she's worth?" "Very much." "And you're just letting her—" Panam interrupted with a smile. "Dalia." "What?" "She's happy." Dalia stopped. Looked toward Mandi. Then sighed. "Oh, I know." Deja slipped an arm around her waist. "That's why you're smiling." "I am not smiling." "You are." "Professional distress." "Of course, darling." Panam laughed. Mandi didn't go directly to the booth. First, she stopped at the bar. Suzy Q saw her coming. And immediately became suspicious. "Whatever it is, no." Mandi stared. "WHY does everybody keep saying that?" "Because you're smiling." "Am I not allowed to smile?" "Not like that." Mandi leaned against the counter. "Suzy, darling." Suzy folded her arms. "Here we go." "May I ask a tiny favor?" "How tiny?" "Microscopic." "That's usually the expensive kind." Mandi grinned. Suzy followed her gaze. The man. The booth. The rather unmistakable interest on Mandi's face. "Oh." Mandi smiled. "Oh?" Suzy studied her. "Working?" "No." "Booking?" "No." "Then what?" Mandi looked back toward the man. He caught her gaze. Smiled. She smiled in return. Then turned back to Suzy. "Personal interest." Suzy shook her head. "Naturally." "Is that booth reserved?" "Not at the moment." "Wonderful." Suzy raised a finger. "Mandi." "Yes?" "Don't turn my floor into a circus." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Darling, I would never." Suzy stared. Mandi smiled. Suzy continued staring. Eventually Mandi sighed. "Fine. A small circus." "MANDI." Mandi laughed. "All right! I'll behave." Suzy looked entirely unconvinced. "Why do I feel like those words are going to cost me something?" Mandi leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Because you love me." "That's not an answer." "Excellent answer." Suzy watched her leave. Then muttered: "God help that man." The man looked up as Mandi approached. She'd already decided she liked his smile. Up close, she liked it even more. "Hello." He smiled. "Hello." "May I?" She gestured toward the empty seat. "Please." Mandi slid into the booth opposite him. Not beside him. Not yet. She wanted to talk first. And she wanted to see his face when he realized that this conversation wasn't going to proceed quite the way he'd expected. He looked at her with appreciative curiosity. "Do we know each other?" "Not yet." "Should we?" Mandi grinned. "I certainly hope so." He laughed. Good. Very good. "What should I call you?" "Mandi." "Just Mandi?" "Professionally." He nodded. "Fair enough." "And you?" He introduced himself. Mandi repeated the name once, trying its sound. Then smiled. "Nice to meet you." "The pleasure's mine." "Oh, darling." She leaned forward slightly. "We haven't established that yet." He burst out laughing. Mandi decided she was going to enjoy this immensely. He turned out to be interesting. Genuinely interesting. Not a man who believed a costly jacket made him fascinating. Not somebody who needed to explain the importance of his career before allowing another person to speak. He had opinions. Some of them rather sharp. He listened. He asked questions. And, most importantly, he could laugh at himself. Mandi liked him more with every passing minute. They spoke about the city. About people. About the astonishing things that could go wrong during what ought to have been a perfectly ordinary working day. He told her about a meeting that had deteriorated into a forty-minute argument over whether an autonomous delivery vehicle counted as an employee. Mandi almost choked on her drink. "And?" "And apparently it depends on which department is being charged for it." "Oh, that's magnificent." "It was a nightmare." "Darling, those things aren't mutually exclusive." He laughed. Then looked at her. "You're trouble, aren't you?" Mandi smiled. "An extraordinary amount." "I thought so." "Disappointed?" "Quite the opposite." Mandi's grin widened. Oh, excellent. Eventually he glanced at her collar. "And that?" Mandi touched it. "What about it?" "I noticed somebody holding your leash earlier." "Ah." "Your partner?" "One of the important women in my life." He considered. "All right." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?" "Should there be more?" She smiled. "No." "Then just like that." Another good answer. "And you work here?" "Yes." "Tonight?" Mandi looked at him for a moment. Then shook her head. "Not right now." He considered. "Off duty?" "On a little personal adventure." He smiled. "And I'm the adventure?" Mandi leaned forward. "If you're interested." He met her gaze. "I am." That answer pleased her enormously. At the bar, Nadia glanced toward the booth. Mandi was laughing. The man was laughing. And the distance across the table had become noticeably smaller. Nadia smiled. "She's having fun." Sera followed her gaze. "Definitely." Panam glanced over. Then nodded. "Good." Dalia made a noise. Panam turned. "What?" "Nothing." "Dalia." "Professional despair." Deja began laughing. Nadia looked at her. "Does she always do this?" Dalia considered. "Which part?" "The spontaneous flirting." "Oh, constantly." Panam shook her head. "Not constantly." Dalia pointed at her. "Don't defend her." "She's not doing anything wrong." "THAT'S NOT THE POINT." Nadia laughed. Sera leaned closer and kissed her cheek. "You're going to enjoy this." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Sera smiled. "Just a feeling." Mandi reached across the table. Touched the man's hand. He looked down at her fingers. Then back up. She smiled. "May I ask you something?" "Anything." "Would you like to kiss me?" He considered for approximately half a second. "Very much." "Excellent." She rose. Moved around the curved seat. And settled beside him. He turned toward her. Mandi took his face gently between her hands. Then kissed him. The first kiss was warm and exploratory. Nothing hurried. He answered with an easy confidence she appreciated. When she drew back, he was smiling. "Well." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That was wonderful." She laughed. "Good answer." He touched her cheek. "May I try again?" "Please." This time he kissed her. Mandi slipped an arm around his shoulders. Let herself lean into him. And discovered she liked the feel of being held by him just as much as she'd liked his smile. When they separated, she rested her forehead briefly against his. "Hello again." He laughed. "Hello." The music shifted. A slow, rolling beat. Mandi listened for a moment. Then smiled. Oh. Perfect. The man noticed the change. "What?" She tilted her head. "Ever had a lapdance?" He laughed softly. "Yes." "Good one?" "A few." "Only a few?" He smiled. "Do you have a better offer?" Mandi's eyes brightened. "Oh, darling." She rose from the seat. Turned toward him. And placed both hands lightly on his shoulders. "I might." He looked up at her. "Should I be nervous?" "Probably." He laughed. "Excellent." Mandi smiled. Then, more quietly: "Before we get carried away, can I ask something?" "Of course." She leaned closer. Spoke softly enough that only he could hear. What she proposed was more intimate than a lapdance, and she made certain he understood that she was asking rather than assuming. He listened. His expression changed. Interest. Surprise. Then a smile. "You're serious." "Completely." He glanced briefly at the room. Then back at her. "And you're comfortable with that?" "Yes." He considered the question carefully. Then answered. "So am I." Mandi's smile softened. "Good." He touched her hand. "And if either of us changes their mind?" "We stop." He nodded. "Agreed." Mandi kissed him. "Excellent man." She settled into his lap facing him. The booth's high back concealed much of their lower bodies from the room. The table hid the rest. From the main floor, Mandi appeared to be giving an attractive man a private lapdance. Which was exactly the impression she intended. She rested her hands on his shoulders. He placed his at her waist. For a moment they simply looked at one another. Then she smiled. "Hello." He laughed. "Again?" "I like saying hello." "I noticed." Mandi kissed him. He answered eagerly. She drew back just far enough to smile against his mouth. "Comfortable?" "Very." "Good." Another kiss. Longer this time. His fingers moved gently against her back. Mandi rested her forehead against his. And for a moment, the mischief gave way to something surprisingly tender. She liked this man. Really liked him. Not because he'd bought anything. He hadn't. Not because he had some special claim to her attention. He didn't. She simply wanted to be here. With him. Outside the booth, Friday continued without interruption. Drinks passed across the bar. Customers talked. Somebody laughed loudly enough to draw a few disapproving looks. A Mox crossed the lounge carrying a tray. Nobody found anything remarkable about the orange-haired woman enjoying a lapdance with a handsome stranger. Inside the booth, Mandi and the man had moved beyond dancing. They were having sex, hidden from the room by the booth's layout and the outward appearance of their affectionate dance. Mandi drew him into another kiss. For a moment her playful expression disappeared. She closed her eyes, and a quiet sigh escaped her. He held her close. When she opened her eyes again, he was watching her with such warmth that she smiled. "There." He kissed her. Mandi answered willingly. Then rested her forehead against his. "Still okay?" He nodded. "Very." "And you still like me?" He laughed softly. "More than ever." Mandi's grin returned. "Excellent." He brushed his thumb along her cheek. "And you?" She kissed his nose. "Darling, I'm having a spectacular evening." The music continued. Mandi kept close to him. They kissed often. Sometimes one of them smiled halfway through, and the other laughed. Sometimes they simply held each other's gaze. The public dance remained understated, its small gestures giving no reason for anyone across the room to suspect what was happening. That was the game. And Mandi loved the shared secret. She caught him glancing toward the room once. "Hey." He returned his attention to her. "What?" She smiled. "You're supposed to be looking at me." He laughed. "I was checking whether anybody noticed." "Darling." She kissed him. "You're doing beautifully." He smiled. "High praise." "Don't let it go to your head." He laughed again. Then touched her cheek. "You're extraordinary." For once, Mandi didn't answer with a joke. She smiled. And kissed him. Dalia glanced toward the booth. Then stopped. Looked again. Narrowed her eyes. Deja noticed. "What?" Dalia gestured. "Look at her." Deja followed her gaze. Mandi was sitting in the man's lap. Kissing him. Occasionally smiling. A perfectly plausible lapdance. Deja raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Dalia stared. "She's enjoying herself." Deja laughed. "That does happen, darling." "Far too much." Panam turned. "What's happening now?" Dalia pointed toward the booth. "Your favorite disaster." Panam looked. Mandi was leaning close to the man. He said something. She laughed and kissed him again. Panam shook her head. "Looks happy." Dalia closed her eyes. "That's what everybody keeps saying!" Sera began laughing. Nadia studied the scene. Then smiled. "Well, she does." Dalia turned. "Oh, don't you start too." Nadia raised her hands. "Just an observation." Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Perhaps we should leave her alone." Panam nodded. "Best idea I've heard all evening." Dalia sighed. "Nobody in this establishment respects the revenue stream." At the booth, Mandi was beginning to appreciate another thing about the man. He didn't confuse confidence with control. When she wanted a pause, he gave her one. When she asked him to hold her close, he did. And when she teased him, he answered without trying to win. She found that unexpectedly attractive. At one point she stopped to brush a kiss against his forehead. He looked up. "What?" "Nothing." He smiled. "That sounds suspicious." "Learned from terrible people." He laughed. "Friends?" "Family, mostly." "Sounds entertaining." "You have no idea." She rested against him for a moment. He held her. Then she looked up again. "Can I tell you something?" "Please." "I'm very glad I came over." His expression softened. "So am I." She smiled. "Good." They kissed again. And for a little while neither had any interest in speaking. Later, the closeness between them settled into a gentler affection. Mandi rested her head against his shoulder. He brushed her orange hair away from her face. She laughed softly. "What?" He smiled. "Just trying to imagine you with a different hair color." Mandi looked offended. "Different?" "Hard, I know." "Darling, this is a masterpiece." "I believe you." "Created by professionals." "I'm sure." "At tremendous expense." "Naturally." She narrowed her eyes. "You're teasing me." He smiled. "Learning from an expert." Mandi laughed. Then kissed him. "Very good." Eventually she shifted from his lap to sit beside him. The change was unhurried. Comfortable. He reached for his water. Mandi watched him. Then laughed. He turned. "What?" "Nothing." "Mandi." She grinned. "Just wondering whether you're going to remember anything we talked about before." He considered. "Logistics." "Very good." "Automated deliveries." "Excellent." "And a rather remarkable woman who apparently finds it impossible to enter a room without causing trouble." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Darling." He smiled. "Did I do well?" She kissed him. "Exceptionally." They sat together a little longer. Talking. Laughing. Enjoying the curious ease that had developed between them. Finally he looked at her. "Would you like to meet again?" Mandi considered. Then smiled. "Yes." "Really?" "Really." He laughed softly. "I was hoping you'd say that." Mandi touched his cheek. "Good." She kissed him once more. Then rose. "Come on, handsome." "Where?" "Back to civilization." He laughed. "Is that what we're calling the rest of Lizzie's?" Mandi looked toward the bar. At Panam. At Dalia. At Birgitta. At the others. Then grinned. "On second thought, perhaps civilization is overstating things." Suzy spotted them as they approached the main floor. Mandi's hair was not quite as immaculate as before. Her smile was considerably more satisfied. The man beside her appeared delighted. Suzy looked at the pair. Then at the booth. Then back. "Enjoy yourselves?" Mandi smiled. "Very much." "Good." Suzy narrowed her eyes. "Everything all right over there?" "Perfectly." Suzy studied her. Mandi smiled sweetly. "Darling, have I ever given you reason to doubt me?" Suzy stared. Mandi sighed. "Fine. Don't answer that." The man laughed. Suzy shook her head. "Go on." Mandi blew her a kiss. "You're wonderful." "Go." They stopped a little before Panam's group. The man took Mandi's hand. "Thank you." Mandi smiled. "You're welcome." "I mean it." "I know." He leaned closer. She met him halfway. A warm kiss. One that lingered long enough to make Dalia, watching from a few steps away, roll her eyes. Then they separated. "See you again?" he asked. Mandi smiled. "I'd like that." "Good." He squeezed her hand. Then returned to the bar. Mandi watched him go. Her smile remained. When she finally turned around, Panam was looking directly at her. Oh. That expression. Mandi grinned. "Hello, Owner." Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Mandi laughed. "Miss me?" "Unfortunately." She approached. Offered her leash. Panam accepted it. The clasp found its familiar place. Click. Mandi leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Panam's expression softened. "Good time?" Mandi smiled. "Wonderful." "Good." Panam brushed a hand along her face. Then handed her a glass of water. "Drink." Mandi laughed. "Yes, Owner." She took a long sip. And discovered Dalia watching. Magnificently. "Well." Mandi looked up. "Dalia." "Mandi." "Lovely evening, isn't it?" Dalia folded her arms. "Darling." "Yes?" "How much?" Mandi blinked. "How much what?" Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, don't you dare." Mandi looked innocent. Panam started smiling. Deja noticed. Immediately became suspicious. Bea, sitting nearby, lifted an eyebrow. Nadia looked between them. Sera leaned against Panam, already laughing softly. Dalia pointed toward the booth. "How. Many. Eddies?" Mandi looked at the ceiling. Thought for a moment. Then smiled. "Zero." Dalia opened her eyes. "ZERO?" "Not one." Panam burst out laughing. Deja covered her mouth. Bea looked delighted. Dalia stared at Mandi. "You spent all that time with him!" Mandi nodded. "Yes." "For nothing!" Mandi considered. Then tilted her head. "Well, I wouldn't say nothing." Dalia made a strangled noise. Mandi took another sip of water. Dalia pointed at her again. "Darling, you could have charged a fortune!" "Probably." "And instead you gave him a free evening!" Mandi smiled. "An excellent evening." "THAT MAKES IT WORSE!" Panam laughed harder. Nadia had begun laughing too. Deja leaned against Dalia's shoulder. "She's going to give herself a headache." Bea smiled. "Quite possibly." Mandi watched Dalia for a moment. Calm. Radiant. Thoroughly satisfied. Then she set down her water. Looked directly at Dalia. And asked, with perfect composure: "Do you want to taste how fun that was?" Silence. Absolute. Spectacular. Silence. Dalia froze. Deja's mouth fell open. Bea stared. Nadia blinked. Sera buried her face against Panam's shoulder. And Panam— Panam tried. She genuinely tried. For perhaps half a second. Then she doubled over laughing. "OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Deja made a strangled sound. Bea almost dropped her glass. Nadia was laughing so hard she had to lean against the bar. Mandi calmly picked up her water. Dalia opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Nothing. Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Darling?" Dalia pointed at her. Still nothing. Finally— "YOU—" Mandi smiled. "Yes?" Dalia took a breath. Then another. "Sweetheart, I asked for a financial report, not a fucking tasting menu!" That finished them. Panam was laughing helplessly. Deja had both arms around Dalia, partly to comfort her and partly because she could no longer stand steadily. Bea was bent over the bar. Nadia had tears in her eyes. Sera managed to lift her head just long enough to look at Mandi before collapsing into fresh laughter. And Mandi— Mandi stood perfectly still. Smiling. Waiting. Dalia stared. "You absolute menace." Mandi nodded. "Thank you." "THAT WAS NOT A COMPLIMENT." "From you, darling, it always is." Panam made a helpless noise. Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Sweetheart?" Dalia closed her eyes. "What?" "I think you lost the audit." Dalia looked at Mandi. Then at Panam. Then at Deja. And finally at Bea, who was still trying to recover. "I hate every single one of you." Mandi stepped forward and kissed her cheek. "Love you too." Dalia opened one eye. "Don't." Mandi grinned. "Don't what?" "Offer me anything." Another explosion of laughter. Suzy Q watched from behind the bar. She hadn't heard the original remark. Only the aftermath. Which was probably fortunate. She looked at Panam. Then Dalia. Then Mandi. Then the entire group, which had apparently suffered a collective failure of composure. Suzy sighed. "What did she do?" Panam tried to answer. Failed. Mandi smiled. "Nothing, darling." Suzy narrowed her eyes. "That answer again." Dalia found enough breath to point at Mandi. "Don't ask." Suzy considered. Then nodded. "Right." She reached for another glass. "Anybody need water?" Everybody pointed at Dalia. Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck all of you." Mandi smiled into her own glass. Completely. Shamelessly. Delightedly satisfied. And the most expensive part of her evening had been two glasses of water. --- ## Chapter 13 — Zero Eddies Dalia had a problem. A serious problem. A problem of such staggering professional magnitude that she was beginning to question whether Night City had any remaining standards at all. The problem was currently standing beside Madame Panam. Drinking water. Smiling. And looking so outrageously satisfied with herself that Dalia briefly considered filing a formal complaint with somebody. Anybody. Preferably somebody with a financial background. Unfortunately, the problem was named Mandi. Which made professional intervention spectacularly unlikely to succeed. Dalia folded her arms. "No." Mandi looked up. "Hello again, darling." "No." "Are we having this conversation again?" "We are absolutely having this conversation again." Panam sighed. "Oh, Jesus." Deja leaned against Dalia's shoulder. "Sweetheart, you've been having this conversation for ten minutes." "And?" "And I don't think you're winning." Mandi grinned. "She's not." Dalia pointed at her. "YOU." Mandi blinked innocently. "Me?" "Yes, you." "Darling, if you're about to ask for another tasting—" "MANDI!" Panam nearly spilled her drink. Suzy Q had heard enough. She approached with the expression of a woman who had spent the evening managing clients, employees, bookings, complaints, and one particularly persistent man who believed that tipping generously entitled him to offer unsolicited advice about the music. The last thing she needed was another crisis. Unfortunately, Dalia was pointing at Mandi. Again. "What's wrong now?" Dalia turned toward her. "Suzy." Suzy closed her eyes. "No." "I haven't asked anything." "Nobody ever has when they say my name like that." Mandi laughed. Dalia gestured toward her. "This woman." Suzy looked at Mandi. Mandi smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." "What did you do?" "Absolutely nothing." Dalia made a strangled noise. Suzy considered. Then nodded. "Right." She turned toward Dalia. "And?" "She spent an absurd amount of time with a perfectly attractive man." "Okay." "Had an absolutely spectacular evening." "Good for her." "And earned nothing!" Suzy blinked. Looked at Mandi. Then at Dalia. Then back at Mandi. "Personal?" Mandi nodded cheerfully. "Entirely." Suzy turned back toward Dalia. "Then what's the problem?" Dalia stared. Mandi began laughing. Panam leaned against the bar. Deja rested her forehead against Dalia's shoulder. Suzy looked around. "Seriously." Dalia opened her mouth. Closed it. Then pointed at Mandi again. "The principle!" Suzy sighed. "Of course." Mandi finished her water. Then set down the glass. "Darling." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "What?" "Can I ask you something?" "No." "Excellent." Mandi leaned comfortably against Panam. "How much did you earn the last time you kissed Deja?" Silence. Deja lifted her head. Dalia stared. "Excuse me?" "Simple question." "That's not—" "Did you invoice her?" Deja's expression changed. Slowly. Dangerously. A smile appeared. Oh. This was going to be good. Mandi continued. "Was there a booking agreement? A negotiated fee? Did you have her sign a receipt?" Dalia pointed at her. "Don't." Mandi looked toward Deja. "Has she been charging you, darling?" Deja considered. Then shook her head. "Not once." Mandi gasped. "OUTRAGEOUS." Panam burst out laughing. Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck you." "Darling, that's usually free too." Bea almost choked on her drink. Deja slipped both arms around Dalia's waist. "Actually..." Dalia opened one eye. "No." Deja smiled. "What?" "Whatever you're thinking." "Well, I was wondering..." Mandi leaned forward. "Yes?" Deja tilted her head. "If affection is supposed to be profitable, perhaps Dalia owes me back pay." Panam laughed harder. Mandi's mouth fell open. Then she looked absolutely delighted. "OH, I LIKE YOU." Dalia turned slowly toward Deja. "Sweetheart." Deja smiled. "Owner." "You're supposed to be on my side." "I am." "THAT IS NOT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE." Deja kissed her cheek. "Darling, I adore you." Dalia's expression softened automatically. Then Deja added: "But your accounting practices are terrible." Mandi doubled over. Suzy shook her head. "I'm going back to work." She made it three steps before Bea called after her. "Could you bring us another round? I suspect this audit may take a while." Suzy didn't turn. "You're all paying for it." Mandi waved. "Apparently somebody has to!" Nadia had been watching the whole exchange with growing delight. She'd arrived at Lizzie's expecting to spend a pleasant evening with Sera and Panam. She had succeeded. Technically. But apparently the evening also included five leashed joytoys, a mysteriously familiar woman with neon-orange hair, a collection of independent professionals, and a completely deranged argument about the economics of pleasure. Night City was proving exceptionally generous with its surprises. She leaned toward Sera. "Are they always like this?" Sera watched Dalia attempt to regain control of the conversation. Then smiled. "Not always." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Sometimes they're worse." Nadia burst out laughing. Sera drew her closer and kissed her cheek. Nadia turned into the affection, catching her lover's face gently between her hands. "You knew exactly what kind of evening you were inviting me into." Sera's smile was entirely unrepentant. "I suspected." "Suspected?" "Strongly." Nadia kissed her. "Menace." "Your menace." "One of them." Sera's expression warmed. "Good answer." Panam glanced toward them. "Am I being discussed?" Nadia smiled. "Constantly." "Should I be worried?" "Very." Panam leaned closer. Nadia met her halfway, enjoying a kiss that was warm enough to make Mandi interrupt her interrogation of Dalia. "Oh, look!" Panam drew back. "What?" Mandi pointed. "Another unpaid transaction!" Dalia made a noise of pure despair. "ENOUGH!" Mandi blinked. Dalia stood with both hands on her hips. Her hot-pink dreadlocks caught the light as she turned toward the entire group. "Everybody shut up." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Good luck." Dalia ignored her. "I would like to establish something." Mandi nodded solemnly. "Very professional." Dalia pointed at her. "ONE MORE WORD." Mandi mimed closing her mouth. Deja began laughing. Dalia drew a breath. "Of course people can have private lives." Panam nodded. "Good." "And of course nobody needs to charge for personal intimacy." "Excellent," Bea murmured. "And of course Mandi is perfectly entitled to pursue any consenting adult she finds attractive." Mandi smiled. Dalia glared. "BUT." Panam closed her eyes. "There it is." Dalia continued. "There is something fundamentally offensive about watching a woman with Mand​​i's professional market value wander off with a stranger and return looking as though she's just won the lottery, while the establishment receives precisely zero eddies!" Mandi considered. Then raised one finger. Dalia pointed at her. "NO." Mandi lowered it. A moment passed. Then Deja looked at Dalia. "Sweetheart?" Dalia sighed. "What?" "Isn't returning happy worth something?" That stopped her. Not dramatically. Just enough. Dalia turned toward Deja. The teasing remained in Deja's expression, but the question was genuine. Dalia studied her. Then smiled. "Of course it is." Deja kissed her. Dalia answered warmly, her hands settling at Deja's waist. For a few seconds, the argument stopped being important. Mandi watched them. Smiled. Then said: "How much?" Dalia broke the kiss. "OH, FUCK OFF!" The entire group collapsed into laughter again. Panam finally managed to speak. "Mandi." Mandi turned. "Yes, Owner?" "Come here." Mandi stepped closer. Panam caught her gently by the chin. Looked into those completely black eyes. Then smiled. "Did you have fun?" Mandi's expression softened. "Very much." "Did he treat you well?" "Beautifully." "Any regrets?" Mandi shook her head. "None." Panam kissed her forehead. "Then I'm happy." Mandi smiled. "Thank you, Owner." She leaned against Panam for a moment. The contact was comfortable and familiar. Panam's hand rested against her back. And Nadia, watching them, saw something that had been present all evening. Madame Panam could be ferocious when protecting her pets. Brutal when rejecting a customer. Almost terrifying when deciding whether somebody's offer deserved attention. But with her people? She was gentle in ways that didn't require announcing themselves. Nadia smiled. She knew that side of Panam intimately. It was wonderful seeing other people receive it too. Then Dalia spoke. "Well, that was touching." Panam looked up. "Dalia." "What?" "Leave her alone." Dalia grinned. "Darling, I'm only beginning." Bea set down her glass. "Oh, I think we've approached this from entirely the wrong direction." Dalia turned. "Finally. A reasonable woman." Bea smiled. "Don't get excited." Mandi grinned. Panam looked suspicious. Bea regarded Dalia thoughtfully. "The problem, as I understand it, is that Mandi has committed an act of extraordinary personal satisfaction without creating an associated financial record." Dalia pointed at her. "Exactly." Bea nodded. "Very troubling." "THANK YOU." Bea continued. "However, since the activity was private, voluntary, and entirely unrelated to a professional booking, there was no revenue to record." Dalia's smile faltered. Mandi started grinning. Bea lifted one finger. "Therefore, the accounting is already correct." Silence. Dalia stared at her. Bea smiled sweetly. "Zero eddies." Mandi burst out laughing. Panam bent forward. Deja covered her face. Nadia had to put down her drink. Dalia stared at Bea in disbelief. "You too?" Bea leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Darling, somebody had to reconcile the books." Dalia slowly sat down. Deja settled beside her. Mandi looked almost concerned. Almost. "Darling?" Dalia stared into the distance. "Don't." "Are you all right?" "No." "Would you like another drink?" "No." "Perhaps a financial consultant?" "MANDI!" Mandi laughed. Dalia shook her head. Then, despite herself, smiled. Because the truth was that she wasn't actually upset. Not about money. Not about the man. Not about anything that had happened in the booth. She knew exactly why Mandi had done it. And she understood the pleasure of wanting someone simply because they were desirable. Some of Dalia's favorite memories had nothing whatsoever to do with negotiated prices. The outrage was a game. A very enjoyable game. One that became better every time Mandi provided new material. Deja leaned closer. "You're smiling." Dalia sighed. "I know." "Having fun?" "Against my better judgment." Deja kissed her temple. "Good." Dalia turned and caught her mouth in a longer kiss. Deja answered with a delighted little hum. When they separated, Dalia rested her forehead against hers. "You're an absolute menace." Deja smiled. "Learned from you." Dalia laughed. "Unfortunately." Mandi watched them. Then glanced toward Panam. Panam was looking at her with unmistakable amusement. "What?" Mandi smiled. "Nothing, Owner." "That's suspicious." "Terribly." Panam drew her closer. Mandi went willingly, settling against her side. For a moment they watched Dalia and Deja together. Then Panam looked down. "You really liked him?" Mandi nodded. "Yes." "Think you'll see him again?" "Hope so." Panam smiled. "Good." Mandi considered. Then looked toward the booth she'd occupied. The man was gone now. Not an unhappy departure. Simply the ordinary ending of a pleasant encounter. She'd enjoyed him. He'd enjoyed her. They'd exchanged contact details. There might be another evening. Or there might not. Mandi was comfortable with either possibility. She smiled. Panam noticed. "What?" Mandi looked up. "I think I'll keep doing that." Panam stared. "Doing what?" "Following my instincts." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Mandi laughed. "Owner!" "Please tell me you're occasionally going to accept paying clients too." Mandi considered. Then smiled. "Depends." Panam opened one eye. "On?" "Whether they're interesting." Panam sighed. "Fair." Mandi kissed her cheek. "Love you." "Love you too, sweetheart." Suzy returned with another round. She stopped in front of Dalia. Looked at her. Then at Mandi. Then back. "Are we finished?" Dalia sighed. "Apparently." Suzy nodded. "Good." She began distributing drinks. Mandi raised one finger. "Actually—" Suzy didn't even look at her. "No." Mandi laughed. "I was only going to say thank you." Suzy glanced up. "Oh." "For the water earlier." Suzy's expression softened. "You're welcome." Mandi smiled. "And for having such excellent booths." Suzy stopped. Very slowly. She looked at Mandi. Then toward the lounge. Then back. "Mandi." Mandi smiled. "Yes?" Suzy narrowed her eyes. "Do I want to know?" Mandi considered. Then shook her head. "Probably not." Suzy stared. Mandi sipped her drink. Suzy turned toward Panam. "Your pet." Panam nodded. "Unfortunately." "Your problem." "Apparently." Suzy pointed toward Mandi. "Keep an eye on her." Panam sighed. "I have five." Suzy considered. Then smiled. "Good luck." She walked away. Mandi watched her go. Then looked toward Panam. "She likes me." Panam laughed. "God help us." The next approach came from a woman who looked to be in her thirties. Confident. Well dressed. Beautiful smile. She stopped beside Dalia. "Excuse me." Dalia turned. And in an instant, the exaggerated professional despair disappeared. Not the warmth. Not the mischief. Only the performance of being a woman personally wronged by Mand​​i's romantic enthusiasm. "Hello, darling." The woman smiled. "Working tonight?" Dalia returned the smile. "I am." Her gaze moved briefly toward Deja. Then back. "Interested in something particular?" "Possibly." Dalia leaned forward a little. "Tell me." The woman glanced toward Deja's collar. Then at the leash resting in Dalia's hand. "Would it be possible to ask about both of you?" Dalia smiled. "Of course you can ask." Deja turned toward the woman. Her expression was curious. Open. But not presumptive. The woman explained what she had in mind. Dalia listened. Asked a question. Then another. Deja contributed one of her own. The woman answered. Nadia watched from nearby. It was fascinating how quickly the two independent professionals moved into a conversation that was both relaxed and carefully attentive. They were friendly. Flirtatious. But neither allowed the woman to assume anything. Eventually the discussion turned toward an offer. Dalia smiled. The smile Nadia was beginning to recognize. Oh. That smile. "Well, darling." The woman waited. Dalia leaned forward. "Make me a believable offer." Panam burst out laughing. Mandi looked delighted. Bea smiled into her glass. Dalia turned. Pointed at Panam. "THAT IS HOW IT'S DONE!" Panam raised both hands. "Didn't say anything!" "You were thinking it!" "Probably." The prospective client laughed. Deja leaned toward her. "Don't worry. This is normal." The woman looked between Dalia and Panam. Then smiled. "Good to know." The negotiation continued. Dalia asked for a more specific proposal. The woman provided one. Deja considered it. Then leaned toward Dalia and murmured something. Dalia's expression brightened. "Oh, now that is interesting." The woman raised an eyebrow. "Good interesting?" Deja smiled. "Potentially." Dalia turned back. "All right. Let's discuss what you actually want." The woman nodded. They talked. Not hurriedly. Not with the desperate atmosphere of people trying to close a deal. Just three adults deciding whether a proposed encounter sounded enjoyable to everybody involved. Eventually Deja shook her head. "Not quite what I'm looking for tonight." The woman nodded immediately. "Understood." Dalia smiled. "Would you still be interested in speaking with me separately?" The woman considered. Then smiled. "Yes." Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Have fun, darling." Dalia touched her face. "Always." The conversation continued between Dalia and the prospective client. Deja remained nearby, content to enjoy her drink. There was no disappointment in her expression. She'd been asked. She'd considered. She'd declined. Exactly as she wanted. Nadia smiled. Another example of how the arrangements worked. Not in theory. In practice. Mandi watched the negotiation. Then looked at Panam. "Owner?" Panam sighed. "What?" "Can I ask you a serious question?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "That would be new." Mandi laughed. Then smiled. "If I wanted to work later, would you be upset?" Panam blinked. "Why would I be upset?" "Because I already had my fun." Panam studied her. Then smiled. "Sweetheart, I don't have a daily entertainment allowance for you." Mandi grinned. "Shame." "Your decision whether you want a client." "I know." "And if you do, you tell me." Mandi nodded. "Of course." Panam touched her cheek. "You can have a personal life and a professional life without asking me which one's more important." Mandi's expression softened. "Thank you." Panam kissed her forehead. "You're welcome." Mandi hugged her. Properly. And for a moment her usual barrage of jokes stopped. She rested her cheek against Panam's shoulder. Panam held her close. Then whispered: "Still think you're a financial disaster, though." Mandi burst out laughing. "OWNER!" Nadia had been watching the exchange. She looked at Sera. Then at Panam. Then at Mandi. There was something wonderfully absurd about the whole thing. These people treated extraordinary money as an ordinary professional consideration. They negotiated outrageous offers with complete confidence. They understood the value of their time, attention, and pleasure. And yet nobody had tried to persuade Mandi that the man she'd chosen should have become a customer. Dalia's theatrics were precisely that. Theatrics. The affection beneath them was obvious. Nadia smiled. Sera noticed. "What?" Nadia shook her head. "Nothing." Sera narrowed her eyes. "That answer again." Nadia laughed. "Fine." She turned toward her lover. "I like your friends." Sera's expression warmed. "Yeah?" "Very much." "Even Mandi?" Nadia glanced toward the orange-haired woman, who was currently explaining to Bea that financial independence ought to include the freedom to make spectacularly irresponsible decisions. Nadia laughed. "Especially Mandi." Sera grinned. "She's quite something." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "She really is." They kissed. Warmly. Nadia drew Sera closer, letting herself enjoy the familiar shape of her lover's smile when they separated. "Love you." Sera touched her cheek. "Love you too." Bea approached them a moment later. Her ice-blue hair was immaculate. Her red eyes caught the light. And she was smiling in that quietly confident way Nadia was beginning to find especially attractive. "Am I interrupting?" Nadia smiled. "Not at all." Bea looked toward the group. "Have we recovered from the financial catastrophe?" Sera laughed. "Mostly." Bea nodded solemnly. "Excellent." Nadia looked at her. "You know, I think you're the only person here who can talk about this without laughing." Bea smiled. "Darling, I have extraordinary self-control." From behind them came Dalia's voice. "LIAR!" Bea closed her eyes. Sera burst out laughing. Nadia grinned. Bea turned. "Dalia." Dalia waved from the bar. "Love you!" Bea smiled. "Love you too, menace." Nadia laughed. Then Bea looked back at her. Her expression softened. "Having a good evening?" Nadia nodded. "A remarkably good one." "I'm glad." Bea's gaze lingered on her for a moment. Something thoughtful passed through her expression. Not a demand. Not even a question. Just interest. Nadia noticed. And found herself smiling back. Then Suzy called Bea's name from the bar. Bea turned. "Yes?" "Someone asking for you." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Already?" Suzy nodded. "By name." Bea's smile widened. "Well." She looked back at Nadia. "Excuse me, darling." Nadia smiled. "Of course." Bea kissed her cheek. Then turned toward the bar. Nadia watched her go. Sera leaned closer. "What?" Nadia blinked. "Nothing." Sera smiled. "Suspicious." Nadia laughed. "Apparently I'm getting a reputation." Sera kissed her temple. "Oh, beautiful." Nadia turned. "What?" Sera grinned. "You've only just begun." Across the room, Dalia had finally completed her conversation. The woman she'd been speaking with appeared satisfied. So did Dalia. There would be another conversation later. Perhaps a booking. Perhaps not. Nothing had been decided prematurely. Deja returned to Dalia's side. Dalia drew her close. Kissed her. Then glanced toward Mandi. Mandi was still leaning comfortably against Panam. Drinking water. Looking outrageously pleased with herself. Dalia considered. Then smiled. "Oh, darling." Deja raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I've decided something." Deja looked suspicious. "Should I be worried?" "Probably." "What?" Dalia nodded toward Mandi. "I'm going to make that woman suffer." Deja laughed. "Professionally?" Dalia smiled. "Socially." Panam overheard. Looked up. Then grinned. "Good luck." Mandi turned. "What?" Dalia smiled sweetly. "Nothing, gorgeous." Mandi narrowed her eyes. "Oh, no." Deja burst out laughing. Dalia kissed her cheek. "Darling, revenge is an art." Mandi grinned. "Then you should ask Nadia for lessons." Nadia looked over. "Leave me out of this!" Sera laughed. Panam shook her head. And Dalia, finally, began laughing too. Because Mandi had just given her another wonderful reason to keep teasing her. And somewhere beneath all the outrage, Dalia was genuinely delighted that her impossible friend had enjoyed herself. That didn't mean she intended to let her forget the zero eddies. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. And certainly not before breakfast. --- ## Chapter 14 — The Boss's Day Off Suzy Q had been having a perfectly reasonable Friday. By Lizzie's standards. Three customers had complained about prices. Two had complained about waiting. One had complained that a joytoy he'd approached wasn't interested in him. Suzie had explained, with remarkable patience, that none of those circumstances constituted an emergency. Then she'd watched Dalia spend ten minutes prosecuting Mandi for the financial crime of having fun without charging admission. That had improved the evening considerably. Now another customer stood at the bar. This one was different. Polite. Patient. Familiar. And asking for Bea. Suzie's expression remained professional. "She's here." The man smiled. "Good." "Want me to ask her?" "Please." Suzie glanced toward the group. Bea was talking to Nadia and Sera. Ice-blue hair. Red eyes. Perfect composure. Suzie caught her attention. "Bea?" Bea looked over. "Yes, darling?" "Someone asking for you." Bea smiled. "Already?" Then she saw him. And stopped. Not visibly enough for the customer to notice. But Suzie noticed. Of course she did. The tiny pause. The immediate recognition. And the smile that appeared afterward. Oh. Him. Suzie looked down at her terminal. Maintaining a straight face was becoming an increasingly important professional skill. --- Bea crossed the room. Not quickly. She had no reason to hurry. The man watched her approach with a smile that grew warmer the closer she came. He was dressed casually. Or at least as casually as somebody with his particular professional habits seemed capable of managing. Dark jacket. Clean shirt. Comfortable trousers. No visible tactical equipment. No earpiece. No colleagues. And, most importantly, no responsibility for anyone else's safety. Bea noticed that last part immediately. It suited him. "Well," she said. He smiled. "Hello, Bea." "Hello, handsome." She stopped in front of him. Looked him over. Then raised an eyebrow. "You're looking suspiciously relaxed." He laughed quietly. "Working on it." "Are you?" "Trying." "Good. It suits you." He smiled. "Thank you." Bea touched his arm. A familiar gesture. One she didn't need to think about. "I'm glad to see you." The answer was immediate. "Likewise." There was warmth in his expression. Not the guarded professional courtesy Elisa saw during security briefings. Something Bea had discovered on their previous encounters. A man who could set down his responsibilities long enough to enjoy another person's company. He glanced toward the bar. "Busy?" "Very." "Bad time?" Bea smiled. "For you?" She let the question hang. Then stepped closer. "No." His smile widened. Across the room, Mandi had gone suspiciously quiet. Dalia noticed first. Naturally. "Mandi." No answer. "Mandi." The orange-haired woman slowly turned. Dalia followed her gaze. Saw Bea. Saw the man. And stopped. "Oh." Mandi's grin arrived. Magnificent. Deja looked. Then made the mistake of taking a drink. She nearly choked. Dalia turned toward her. "Careful, sweetheart." Deja swallowed. Pointed discreetly. Dalia nodded. "I saw." Mandi leaned closer. "Well, well, well." Dalia pointed at her. "Not. One. Word." Mandi blinked innocently. "Darling, I haven't said anything." "You were going to." "Naturally." Panam glanced over. "What now?" Dalia nodded toward the bar. Panam followed her gaze. Then looked at Bea. Then at the man. Her mouth twitched. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Mandi started laughing. Quietly. Which was considerably more suspicious than her usual laughter. Nadia looked between them. "What?" Sera slipped an arm around her waist. "Nothing, beautiful." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "That answer again." Sera kissed her cheek. "Unfortunately." Nadia looked toward Bea. The ice-blue-haired woman was smiling at her visitor. He looked pleased to see her. Nothing particularly mysterious about that. Nadia shrugged. "Returning customer?" Dalia answered immediately. "Apparently." Mandi made a tiny noise. Dalia turned. "Mandi." "What?" "Don't." Mandi held up both hands. Perfect innocence. Terrible acting. At the bar, Bea was enjoying herself. The absurdity was still there. Naturally. It would probably never disappear completely. She knew who this man was. Knew how his working days usually went. Knew the astonishing amount of responsibility he carried. And knew he'd handed Elisa into Reyes's protection at the agreed transfer point on Thursday. He had no idea where Reyes had taken her. That was deliberate. The security arrangement had been completed exactly as planned. And now the man responsible for organizing Elisa's protection had appeared at Lizzie's, during his own vacation, to spend an evening with Bea. Again. Night City remained wonderfully ridiculous. "So," Bea said. He raised an eyebrow. "So?" "Tell me something." "All right." "Are you actually off duty?" He laughed. "Completely." "Not pretending?" "No." "Not about to receive a call and disappear for three hours?" "Not unless something genuinely extraordinary happens." Bea smiled. "And your time off?" "Until Monday." She nodded. "Excellent." He considered her expression. "Why excellent?" "Because you might finally discover how to relax." He laughed. "With your assistance?" Bea tilted her head. "Possibly." His smile grew warmer. "I was hoping you'd say that." She leaned comfortably against the bar. "Working tonight?" he asked. "Yes." "Available?" "Depends." "On?" "Whether I like the offer." He smiled. "Fair." Bea studied him. The familiar face. The familiar patience. The little shift in his expression whenever he thought she might be teasing him. She liked those things. And she liked the fact that she no longer had to wonder whether their attraction would survive an hour alone together. It had. More than once. "How long?" she asked. "An hour?" "To start?" He smiled. "If we both want more." Bea laughed softly. "You're learning." "I try." "Very well." Then she named her rate. "Twenty-five thousand." No hesitation. No need to explain the number. He nodded. "Accepted." Bea smiled. "You don't negotiate much." "Not when I know what I'm getting." She raised an eyebrow. "Careful, darling." He laughed. "That sounded arrogant." "A little." "Let me try again." "Please." He looked at her. "I enjoyed our previous evenings. I'd like another one, if you would." Bea's expression softened. "Much better." "And?" She reached for his hand. "Yes." Suzy handled the booking without ceremony. One hour. Twenty-five thousand eddies. Private room. Standard boundaries, subject to whatever Bea and her client agreed between themselves. The man used the same booking identity he'd used previously. Suzy didn't ask unnecessary questions. Bea confirmed her acceptance personally. Payment cleared. Clean. Simple. Suzy checked the room schedule. "Available now." "Perfect," Bea said. Suzy looked directly at her. "All good?" Bea met her gaze. "Very." Suzy nodded. Then, with an almost imperceptible movement at the corner of her mouth: "Enjoy yourself." Bea narrowed her eyes. "Planning to." Suzy returned to her terminal. Professional. Composed. An absolute menace. They passed close to Dalia's group on their way toward the private rooms. That was unfortunate. Or perhaps inevitable. Mandi looked up. Bea saw the black eyes. The orange hair. The expression of a woman who had just been handed enough material to ruin an entire breakfast. Bea narrowed her eyes. Mandi smiled. Perfectly. "Good evening." Bea's smile became dangerous. "Mandi." "Enjoying your shift?" "Immensely." "Wonderful." The security manager glanced between them. "Friends?" Bea answered immediately. "Sometimes." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Wounded." Deja turned away. Dalia took a very careful sip of her drink. Bea looked directly at her. Dalia met her gaze. Then smiled. Sweetly. I know. Bea's answering look promised consequences. Dalia's smile widened. The man remained completely unaware of the conversation taking place without words. "Shall we?" he asked. Bea turned toward him. Her expression warmed immediately. "Yes, darling." She slipped her arm through his. And continued toward the corridor. Behind them, Mandi leaned against Dalia. "That," she whispered, "is magnificent." Dalia nodded. "Not one word near the client." "Of course." "Or Nadia." Mandi's smile faded into something more serious. "Obviously." They exchanged a look. Cover discipline mattered. Whatever they might say later, they wouldn't expose Bea. Then Mandi's grin returned. Dalia groaned. "Oh, you're going to be unbearable at breakfast." "Darling." Mandi kissed her cheek. "I intend to be unforgettable." --- The private suite was comfortable. Warm lighting. A sofa near the window. A bed farther inside. A small refreshment area. And enough quiet to make the music from the main floor feel distant. The man entered behind Bea. Paused. Looked around. Bea noticed. Naturally. She closed the door. "You know," she said, "there's nobody hiding behind the curtains." He turned. "What?" "You're checking the room." He smiled ruefully. "Sorry." "Don't apologize." She stepped closer. "But you're on vacation." "I know." "Then perhaps you could stop preparing for an ambush." He laughed. "Occupational habit." "So I've noticed." He looked at her. A question passed briefly across his face. Bea caught herself. Not because she'd said anything especially revealing. Plenty of attentive people could recognize a security professional. But familiarity was dangerous when two entirely separate identities knew the same man. She smiled. "Darling, you checked the door, the windows, and the room's corners before you even looked at the sofa." He laughed. "That obvious?" "Terribly." "Bad habit?" "Not necessarily." She reached for his hand. "Just one you don't need tonight." He looked at her. Then nodded. "Fair." They settled on the sofa. For a little while they talked. Not about Elisa. Not about security operations. Not about anything that might bring his professional life too close to Bea's carefully separate existence. He told her about a restaurant he'd discovered. An atrocious film he'd attempted to watch. And the particular pleasure of waking up on Friday morning without a schedule somebody else could modify. Bea listened. Smiled. Asked questions. He seemed more relaxed with every answer. Eventually she tilted her head. "Tell me something." He looked at her. "Yes?" "What made you come here tonight?" He smiled. "Isn't that obvious?" "I'd like to hear you say it." He considered. Then answered simply. "I wanted to see you." Bea's expression softened. "Good." "And I thought you might like to see me." "Very confident." "Was I wrong?" She looked at him. Then moved closer. "No." His hand settled against hers. Bea leaned in. Their kiss was immediate. Warm. Familiar. No awkward first attempt. No cautious discovery of whether attraction existed. They already knew. And knowing made the reunion sweeter. He kissed her again. Bea answered with quiet pleasure. Her hand found the back of his neck. His rested at her waist. For a moment they simply enjoyed recognizing one another. Then she drew back. "Still nervous?" He smiled. "A little." "About what?" "Whether I remembered you correctly." Bea raised an eyebrow. "And?" "Apparently I did." She laughed softly. "Good answer." He brushed a thumb along her cheek. "I remembered that too." "What?" "That you say that when you're pleased." Bea stopped. Then smiled. "Oh." He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "You're observant." "Occasionally." She kissed him. Longer. When they separated, she rested her forehead against his. "Very observant." Familiarity didn't mean they skipped the important conversation. Bea asked about his boundaries. He asked about hers. They confirmed what had worked previously and whether either wanted something different tonight. The conversation was easy. Direct. Occasionally punctuated by laughter. At one point he asked whether she wanted him to stop analyzing every answer. Bea grinned. "Darling, that's going to be a challenge." "For both of us?" "Especially for you." He laughed. Then grew a little more serious. "If you want anything to change, tell me." "I will." "And if you want to stop—" "I'll tell you." He nodded. "Good." Bea touched his cheek. "Same applies to you." "Of course." She smiled. "Excellent." Then kissed him again. It was remarkably easy to be close to him. Bea appreciated that. He wasn't performing confidence. He didn't mistake paying for an evening for permission to stop listening. And he remembered details. Small things. The way she liked to be held. How she preferred to be approached. The particular expression she wore when she was about to laugh. At one point he anticipated a kiss she hadn't yet asked for. Bea smiled as their lips met. When they separated, she narrowed her eyes. "Showing off?" He laughed. "Maybe." "Very unprofessional." "I'm on vacation." That made her laugh properly. "Oh, now you're learning." He drew her a little closer. She went willingly. The warmth between them grew. Not because either needed to force the evening toward some predetermined destination. Because they liked one another. Because their previous meetings had left something worth returning to. And because Bea found herself enjoying the rare experience of watching this particular man let his professional caution fall away. They moved from the sofa when Bea suggested somewhere more comfortable. He stood. Offered his hand. She took it. Then pulled him close enough for another kiss before allowing either of them to go farther. "You're distracting me," he murmured. Bea smiled. "Am I?" "Very effectively." "Good." He laughed. Then kissed her again. The affection between them grew into an intimate encounter, unhurried and fully mutual. Bea enjoyed his attentiveness, the familiar warmth of his kisses, and the freedom to express what she wanted without having to explain herself twice. There was nothing awkward about the recognition between them. They already knew how to make each other comfortable. Still, he checked in when it mattered. She answered clearly. And when she asked him to slow down, he did. Without hesitation. Bea smiled at him. "Thank you." He touched her cheek. "Always." Something in the answer pleased her more than she expected. She kissed him again. Later, they lay close together. Bea's ice-blue hair was delightfully disordered. His arm rested around her shoulders. And the expression on his face was so thoroughly relaxed that she briefly considered taking a photograph. Not that she would. No recordings. That was one of their boundaries. But the temptation was there. Elisa saw this man professionally composed almost every time they met. Bea was discovering that he could look entirely different when he stopped worrying about other people's schedules. She smiled. He noticed. "What?" "Nothing." "That's not true." "How do you know?" "Experience." Bea laughed. "With me?" "Yes." She lifted her head. "Really?" He smiled. "You have a very distinctive expression when you're about to say something outrageous." Bea stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, darling." "What?" "You're getting much too good at this." He brushed his fingers along her cheek. "Is that bad?" "No." She kissed him. "Not at all." They remained together for a while. Talking. Exchanging occasional kisses. Enjoying the comfortable ease that followed an evening both had genuinely wanted. Bea asked whether he'd managed to forget about work. He considered. Then smiled. "For a while." "Progress." "Significant progress." She laughed. "Excellent." He looked at her. "And you?" "Me?" "Enjoy yourself?" Bea studied him. There was no entitlement in the question. No request for a performance review. He genuinely wanted to know. She smiled. "Very much." His expression softened. "Good." Bea leaned forward and kissed him. Then rested against his shoulder. For a moment she considered the absurdity again. He had organized Elisa's safe transfer the previous day. Now he was spending part of his vacation with Bea, entirely unaware of the relationship between those two women. And the most extraordinary part? Bea wasn't enjoying the encounter because of the secret. That was funny. Spectacularly funny. But she liked the man himself. His patience. His unexpected humor. The way he listened. The way he treated her choices as something to respect rather than negotiate around. Those were the reasons she'd welcomed him back. And they had nothing to do with Elisa's security arrangements. Eventually he glanced at the time. "Almost up." Bea sighed theatrically. "Terrible." He smiled. "Could we extend?" She considered. Really considered. Then shook her head. "Not tonight." He nodded immediately. "Understood." "No dramatic disappointment?" "Would it help?" Bea laughed. "Probably not." "Then I'll behave." She leaned closer. "An excellent decision." He kissed her. Bea answered warmly. Then touched his cheek. "Ask me another time." His smile widened. "Another booking?" "Possibly." "This weekend?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Enjoying your vacation?" "Rather." She laughed. "Then enjoy the rest of it too." He considered her expression. Then nodded. "I will." She smiled. "Good." No promise. No reservation. Just a possibility both of them clearly liked. They dressed without hurry. Bea checked her hair. ChromeLock V2 had already begun restoring the carefully designed shape of her bob. She watched the familiar process in the mirror. The man stood nearby. Smiling. "What?" He shook his head. "Nothing." "Suspicious." "Just thinking." "About?" "How different you are from most people I meet." Bea turned. "Oh?" He nodded. "You don't seem to need anyone's approval." She considered that. Then smiled. "That's because I don't." He laughed. "Fair." She stepped closer. "But I do enjoy appreciation." "That much I remember." "Then perhaps you should demonstrate." He kissed her. Bea smiled against his mouth. "Excellent." They returned to the main floor together. Suzy looked up as they approached. She saw the relaxed expression on the man's face. Then Bea's smile. One brief glance. Professional. Enough. "Everything good?" Bea nodded. "Very." The man smiled. "Thank you." Suzy returned the smile. "You're welcome." He turned toward Bea. "Thank you." She touched his arm. "Come back when you feel like asking." "I might." "Good." He leaned closer. One final kiss. Brief. Warm. Then he stepped away. "Enjoy your evening, Bea." "You too, darling." She watched him head toward the exit. He paused once to thank a Mox who held the door for another customer. Then disappeared into Night City. Off duty. On vacation. And completely unaware that he'd just spent another very enjoyable hour with his own employer. Bea looked toward the ceiling. Oh, this is going to be a terrible breakfast. "Well." Bea closed her eyes. Of course. Mandi. She turned. The orange-haired woman stood beside Dalia and Deja. Smiling. Far too much. "Hello, Mandi." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Bea." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Enjoy your evening?" Bea smiled. "Very much." Deja covered her mouth. Mandi leaned closer. "Did he?" Bea's expression became dangerous. "Mandi." "What?" "Don't." Mandi blinked. "Darling, I'm merely concerned about customer satisfaction." Dalia snorted. Deja made a strangled noise. Bea stared at all three. Then smiled very slowly. "Oh, I see." Mandi tilted her head. "See what?" "That we're doing this." Dalia laughed. "Darling, you started it by accepting the booking." Bea folded her arms. "And?" Dalia smiled. "And apparently he's a repeat customer." Bea's expression remained perfectly composed. "An excellent one." Mandi's grin widened. "Oh, really?" "Yes." Deja was beginning to lose the battle against laughter. Bea glanced toward her. "Sweetheart, if you injure yourself laughing, I'm not carrying you home." Deja leaned against Dalia. "Understood." Mandi opened her mouth. Bea lifted one finger. "Think very carefully." Mandi closed it. For approximately two seconds. Then smiled. "Sunday?" Bea stared. Dalia burst out laughing. Nadia approached with Sera. She looked at the group. Then at Bea. "Good booking?" Bea turned toward her. And immediately relaxed. "Very." Nadia smiled. "I'm glad." "Thank you, darling." Nadia glanced at Mandi. Then Dalia. Then Deja, who was still trying not to laugh. She narrowed her eyes. "Am I missing something?" Mandi inhaled. Bea turned toward her. Mandi exhaled. Without speaking. Sera slipped an arm around Nadia. "Several things, probably." Nadia looked at her. "More secrets?" Sera kissed her cheek. "Somebody else's stories, beautiful." Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Fair enough." Bea's expression softened. She liked that answer. A lot. Nadia smiled at her. "You look happy." Bea glanced toward the door. Then back. "I am." "Good." Nadia reached for Sera's hand. "Come on, sweetheart. I think I owe Panam another drink." Sera laughed. "Panam rarely needs encouragement." They walked toward the bar together. No suspicion. No cover leak. Just two women enjoying their Friday. Bea watched them go. Then slowly turned back toward Mandi. "Not. One. Word." Mandi held up both hands. "Wouldn't dream of it." Dalia laughed. Bea narrowed her eyes. "And I mean it." Mandi's expression changed. The amusement remained, but she nodded. "Of course." There. A real answer. Bea accepted it. Then Mandi smiled again. "But breakfast—" "MANDI!" Suzy saved them. Or at least interrupted the proceedings long enough for Bea to recover her composure. "Bea." Bea turned. "Yes?" "Water." Suzie handed her a glass. Bea accepted it. "Thank you." "Want food?" "Not yet." "Break?" Bea considered. Then nodded. "Ten minutes." "Take them." Suzy glanced at the others. "Preferably without an audience." Dalia smiled. "Darling, we're simply being supportive." Suzy stared. "You're being a nuisance." Mandi gasped. "Such cruelty." Suzy ignored her. Bea laughed. Then took her water to a quieter seat. Not because she was exhausted. Not because anything had gone wrong. She simply wanted a few minutes to settle. To enjoy the warmth that still lingered. And to appreciate the slightly ridiculous fact that her favorite recurring professional complication had just made another booking worthwhile. Panam joined her after a moment. Not carrying Bea's leash. Bea didn't have one. And despite Dalia's increasingly elaborate jokes about competing establishments, Bea remained entirely independent. Panam knew that. Respected it. She sat beside her. "Good evening?" Bea smiled. "Very." Panam glanced toward the exit. Then back. "Same gentleman?" "Yes." Panam nodded. "Thought so." Bea took a drink. A brief silence followed. Then Panam asked: "You okay?" Bea looked at her. The question was simple. Genuine. No teasing. No hidden meaning. She smiled. "Very much." Panam's expression softened. "Good." Bea leaned back. Then looked toward Dalia and Mandi. Both were laughing at something Deja had said. "Oh, they're going to be unbearable." Panam followed her gaze. "Yep." Bea sighed. "Monday breakfast is going to be a massacre." Panam laughed. "Probably." Bea considered that. Then smiled. "Worth it." Panam looked at her. Saw the expression. Then grinned. "That good?" Bea's smile widened. "Darling." Panam burst out laughing. Across the bar, Dalia had finally regained enough composure to consider what had happened. She looked toward Bea. Then toward the door. Then back at Mandi. "Well." Mandi smiled. "Well?" "At least somebody around here knows how to make money." Mandi gasped. "Oh, you bitch." Dalia grinned. "Twenty-five thousand." Mandi looked wounded. "Darling." "One hour." "Mmm." "A professional booking." Mandi folded her arms. "And?" Dalia smiled sweetly. "Zero eddies." Mandi stared. Then laughed. "Oh, you're never going to let that go." "Never." Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Your professional standards are recovering." Dalia sighed happily. "At last." Mandi leaned closer. Then whispered something that made Dalia's eyebrows climb. Dalia turned toward her. Slowly. "Darling." Mandi smiled. "Yes?" "If you say one more thing about tasting—" Mandi burst out laughing. Deja joined her. Dalia tried to look offended. Failed. Then caught Mandi by the waist and kissed her. Properly. Warmly. With considerably more affection than her ongoing financial prosecution might have suggested. When they separated, Mandi was smiling. Dalia touched her cheek. "Still love you, you impossible disaster." Mandi's expression softened. "Love you too." A brief pause. Then Mandi added: "Still zero." Dalia closed her eyes. "OH, FUCK OFF!" Bea heard the shout from her seat. Looked over. Saw Mandi laughing against Dalia's shoulder. Saw Deja trying to regain her composure. Saw Panam watching them with affectionate exasperation. And smiled. She liked these people. Loved some of them. Trusted all the ones who mattered. Enough to build another life beside the one most of the world knew. A life where she could be Bea. Where nobody needed to salute her. Where a professional appointment could become genuinely pleasurable without acquiring impossible consequences. And where her own security manager could turn up on vacation, pay twenty-five thousand eddies, enjoy himself thoroughly, and leave without knowing he'd spent the evening with Elisa. She took another sip of water. Her smile widened. Oh, yes. Monday breakfast was going to be magnificent. But first? She had the rest of Friday. And a whole weekend ahead. --- ## Chapter 15 — Another Working Day Saturday at Lizzie's began with a minor catastrophe. Not an actual catastrophe. Nothing involving weapons, damaged equipment, emergency services, or the Mox. Something considerably worse. Dalia had discovered that Mandi was smiling. Again. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Mandi turned toward her. "Good evening, darling." "No." "Such hostility." "I know that smile." "Do you?" "Yes." Mandi tilted her head. "Which one?" Dalia stared at her. Mandi's grin widened. "Darling, I have several." Deja, standing beside Dalia with her ivory outfit immaculate and her venom-green hair catching the lights, began laughing. Dalia pointed at Mandi. "Not another free fucking adventure." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Such language!" "MANDI." Panam passed behind them. "She's been here four minutes, Dalia." "That's four minutes of warning signs." Panam glanced at Mandi. Mandi smiled brilliantly. Panam sighed. "Okay. Fair." --- Saturday was already busy. Not yet the full crush that usually arrived later, when Night City's collective judgment began dissolving under music, alcohol, and expensive promises. But busy enough. Several booths were occupied. The dance floor had begun filling. A pair of Moxes were directing customers away from a temporarily closed section near the rear of the lounge. Suzy Q was standing behind the bar, patiently explaining to a customer that no, paying twice the advertised price did not entitle him to move ahead of an existing reservation. The man appeared disappointed. Suzy appeared spectacularly uninterested in his disappointment. "Next." The customer considered arguing. Then looked at Suzy. Apparently thought better of it. And left. Mandi watched him go. "Such a warm welcome." Suzy looked up. "Mandi." "Suzy." "Working tonight?" Mandi grinned. "Planning to." Suzy considered. "Actual work?" Dalia threw both hands into the air. "THANK YOU!" Suzy closed her eyes. "Oh, God. You're still doing that?" Dalia pointed at Mandi. "Zero." Mandi laughed. Panam walked past them. "Can we please have one evening where that number isn't shouted across my bar?" Suzy turned toward her. "Your bar?" Panam stopped. Looked at Suzy. Then smiled. "Your magnificent establishment." "Better." Nadia arrived beside Sera a little later. Not uncertain this time. Not quite comfortable, either. But the bewilderment that had accompanied her first encounter with Madame Panam's Stable had become something more interesting. Curiosity. Sera held her hand as they entered the main lounge. Nadia looked around. "Busier." "Saturday," Sera said. "Apparently." "You okay?" Nadia smiled. "Yes." Sera studied her. "Really?" Nadia turned toward her. Then kissed her. A warm, lingering kiss that made Sera smile before they had quite separated. "Really." Sera brushed her thumb along Nadia's cheek. "Good." Nadia looked toward Panam. Their other lover was speaking with Birgitta near the bar. One hand rested comfortably against the copper-grey-haired woman's waist. Birgitta smiled at something Panam said. Then leaned in to kiss her. Nadia watched for a moment. There was still something intriguing about the familiarity between them. The easy affection. The way neither seemed to be performing a relationship for anybody watching. They looked like people who knew one another well. Nadia liked that. Even if she didn't understand every part of it yet. Sera followed her gaze. "Come on." They approached. Panam saw them and immediately smiled. "There you are." Nadia leaned forward and kissed her. "Miss me?" "Obviously." Sera laughed. Panam kissed her next. Then regarded both women with affectionate satisfaction. "Ready for another evening of nonsense?" Nadia glanced toward Mandi. Who was already arguing with Dalia. "Apparently we're right on schedule." Panam laughed. The first serious booking inquiry came before eight. A woman approached Madame Panam while Mandi, Nova, Vega, Sera, and Birgitta were gathered nearby. She was elegant. Confident. And had clearly spent enough time at Lizzie's to understand how things worked. "Madame." Panam smiled. "Evening." "Working?" "Always depends who's asking." The woman laughed. "Fair." Her gaze moved briefly across the five women. Then settled on Vega. Vega met her eyes. Smiled. Interested enough to listen. Panam noticed. Of course she did. "What are you looking for?" "Company. Conversation first. Something private if we get along." Panam nodded. "For how long?" "Two hours." "Anything particular?" The woman explained. Nothing especially unusual. Nothing complicated. Panam listened. Asked a few questions. Then looked toward Vega. "Interested?" Vega considered the woman. Then smiled. "Potentially." Panam turned back. "Make me a believable offer." From somewhere behind them came Dalia's voice. "THAT'S MY FUCKING LINE!" The woman blinked. Vega burst out laughing. Panam closed her eyes. Mandi nearly folded in half. Suzy shouted from the bar: "DALIA, LET HER WORK!" Dalia called back: "THEN TELL HER TO STOP STEALING MY MATERIAL!" Nadia stared. Then started laughing so hard that Sera had to catch her around the waist. Panam looked toward Dalia. "Twenty percent royalties?" Dalia pointed. "THIRTY!" "Robbery." "Intellectual property!" Suzy shook her head. "Jesus Christ." The customer was laughing now too. Panam turned back. "Sorry. Family business." Vega smiled at the woman. "Don't worry. It gets worse." The negotiation took another few minutes. Panam named her price after hearing the woman's proposal. The woman considered. Countered once. Panam refused the lower figure without any particular drama. The customer thought about it. Then accepted the original rate. Panam turned toward Vega. "The offer's yours." Vega looked at the woman. "One more question." "Of course." They exchanged a few words. Vega considered the answer. Then nodded. "Yes." The woman smiled. "Excellent." Panam reached for Vega's leash. "Come here, sweetheart." Vega stepped closer. Panam touched her cheek. "Good?" "Very." "Then enjoy yourself." A kiss. A quiet smile. Click. Panam unclipped the leash and placed it in Vega's hand. Vega kissed her cheek. "See you later, Madame." "Looking forward to it." The woman waited while Vega collected her things. Then they walked toward the private-room corridor together. No spectacle. No announcement. One ordinary booking. Nadia watched them go. Then looked at Panam. "That was remarkably straightforward." Panam shrugged. "Most of them are." Mandi laughed. "Provided nobody steals Dalia's catchphrase." "MANDI!" Nova watched Vega disappear into the corridor. Then returned her attention to the room. Mandi leaned closer. "Good customer." Nova nodded. "Seemed nice." "Vega liked her." "Apparently." Mandi smiled. Nova caught the expression. "What?" "Nothing." "That is never nothing." Mandi laughed. Nova shook her head. "Go find somebody to annoy." "Darling, I'm surrounded by possibilities." Nova glanced toward Panam. "Owner?" Panam looked over. "Yeah?" "Permission to throw her into the canal?" Panam considered. "After her next booking." Mandi gasped. "BETRAYAL!" Nova laughed. Their conversation remained light. Two colleagues teasing one another. Nothing in it suggested the private lives behind their carefully maintained identities. Nadia, meanwhile, was beginning to recognize the rhythms of the room. People worked. Waited. Talked. Accepted. Declined. And, occasionally, threatened to throw Mandi into a canal. Apparently that last one was a recurring occupational hazard. Bea was having an entirely different Saturday. A woman in a beautifully tailored green jacket had approached her near the bar. They'd talked for almost twenty minutes. The conversation had been enjoyable. The woman was witty. Attractive. Confident. And interested in Bea. Unfortunately, the arrangement she wanted wasn't one Bea particularly fancied. Bea listened. Asked one clarifying question. Then shook her head. "No, darling." The woman nodded. "Fair enough." "No offense." "None taken." Bea smiled. "Good." They continued talking for another few minutes. Not because either expected the answer to change. Because they'd been enjoying the conversation before it became professional. Eventually the woman excused herself. Bea watched her go. Then turned toward Dalia. Who was smiling. "What?" Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Nothing." Bea folded her arms. "Dalia." "Darling, you're allowed to say no." "I know." "Just appreciating your impeccable professional judgment." Bea smiled. "Thank you." Dalia leaned closer. "Also, twenty-five thousand." Bea closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck you." Deja started laughing. Mandi, several steps away, looked over. "Did somebody say twenty-five thousand?" Bea pointed at her. "GO AWAY." Mandi grinned. "Zero!" Dalia covered her face. At nine, Mandi got her first paying client of the evening. It began with a conversation. Of course. A man approached her near the edge of the lounge. Not somebody she'd met before. Interesting face. Quick smile. And an amusingly direct opening. "Working?" Mandi turned. Smiled. "Possibly." He laughed. "Good start." "Depends whether you improve it." He raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a challenge." "Darling, everything interesting is a challenge." They talked. He was charming. Not devastatingly so. Not somebody Mandi felt an overwhelming personal attraction toward. But pleasant. Respectful. And clear about what he wanted. She found herself interested enough to continue. Eventually he asked about rates. Mandi smiled. "That part belongs to Madame." He looked toward Panam. "Shall we?" "After you." Panam listened to the proposal. Asked her usual questions. The man answered without hesitation. There were no unusual demands. No attempts to bargain for something Mandi hadn't offered. Panam named the price. He accepted. Then Panam turned toward Mandi. "Your call." Mandi considered. Looked at the man again. Then smiled. "Yes." Panam nodded. "Good." She reached for Mandi's leash. Mandi stepped closer. The teasing disappeared for a moment. Not because she was nervous. Because this small ritual mattered. Panam touched her cheek. "You comfortable?" Mandi nodded. "Very." "Then go have fun, sweetheart." Mandi kissed her. "Thank you, Owner." Click. The leash came free. Panam handed it over. Mandi took the man's hand. "Come on, handsome." He smiled. "Lead the way." Mandi grinned. "Oh, darling. I certainly intend to." The booking was a good one. Not extraordinary. Not the sort of encounter that would become a legendary story over breakfast. Just two adults who liked one another enough to enjoy the time they'd agreed to share. Mandi discovered he was funnier in private. Less polished. More willing to laugh when something didn't go exactly as expected. She liked that. He was attentive. He listened. And when the conversation turned into affection, he proved equally comfortable letting her set the pace. They kissed. Spent time together. Enjoyed the intimacy they'd both chosen. And afterward, when the first excitement had settled, he lay beside her with an expression of profound satisfaction. Mandi looked at him. Smiled. "Well?" He laughed. "Well?" "Enjoy yourself?" "Very much." "Excellent." "And you?" Mandi considered. Then smiled honestly. "Yes." He looked pleased. Not smug. Just pleased. She liked that too. They talked a little longer. Shared another kiss. And when the booking concluded, he thanked her without behaving as though money entitled him to anything beyond what they'd agreed. Mandi smiled. "You're welcome." A good client. An enjoyable hour. And this time, unquestionably, a professional booking. Dalia would be insufferable. Mandi returned to the main lounge carrying her leash. Panam noticed her almost immediately. She was in the middle of a conversation, but Mandi didn't interrupt. She waited nearby. Panam finished, excused herself, and turned toward her. "There you are." Mandi smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam came closer. Not joking yet. Not asking about money. "How'd it go?" "Good." Panam studied her face. "Good good?" Mandi smiled. "Very good." "Anything uncomfortable?" "No." "Anything you want to talk about?" Mandi considered. Then shook her head. "Nothing worrying." Panam nodded. "Okay." She touched Mandi's cheek. "Come here." Mandi stepped into her arms. Panam held her. Not a quick congratulatory squeeze. A proper embrace. Warm. Steady. Long enough that Mandi stopped performing for the rest of the room and simply rested against her. Panam kissed her temple. "How're you feeling?" Mandi breathed out. "Happy." "Good." Another kiss. Then Panam drew back far enough to look at her. "Thirsty?" "A little." "Hungry?" Mandi considered. "Actually, yes." Panam smiled. "Thought so." She accepted Mandi's leash. Click. Then led her toward a quieter corner near the bar. "Sit." Mandi laughed. "Yes, Owner." Panam ordered water and something substantial to eat. When both arrived, she stayed beside Mandi while she drank and began eating. No one hurried her. No one suggested she should immediately return to work. Panam listened while Mandi told her about the client. Not every detail. Only the things Mandi wanted to share. The funny ones. The pleasant ones. The reason she'd liked him. Panam smiled. "Sounds like a good booking." "It was." "Want a break?" Mandi looked at her plate. Then at Panam. "Maybe a little one." Panam kissed her forehead. "Take it." Mandi's expression softened. "Love you." "Love you too, sweetheart." Dalia approached several minutes later. Carrying another glass of water. She stopped when she saw Mandi eating. Then looked at Panam. "All good?" Panam nodded. "Very." Dalia's expression softened immediately. "Good." She sat beside Mandi. Slipped an arm around her waist. And kissed her. Not theatrically. Not for an audience. A familiar, loving kiss that Mandi answered without hesitation. When they separated, Dalia brushed an orange strand away from Mandi's forehead. "Happy, gorgeous?" Mandi smiled. "Yes." Dalia kissed her again. "Good." For several seconds they sat close together. Then Mandi looked at her. "Oh, darling." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "What?" "I made money." Dalia closed her eyes. Panam sighed. "Oh, here we go." Mandi smiled brightly. "Actual money." Dalia looked toward the ceiling. "Thank fuck." "And I enjoyed myself." "Excellent." "And I still enjoyed yesterday." Dalia slowly turned. Mandi grinned. "Just saying." Dalia caught her chin. Looked directly into those entirely black eyes. Then kissed her. Properly. When she drew back, she smiled. "Sweetheart, I'll still be teasing you about that when we're both eighty." Mandi laughed. "Promise?" "Absolutely." Mandi leaned against her shoulder. "Love you." Dalia kissed her hair. "Love you too, you impossible woman." Nadia had noticed the reunion. Not because she was deliberately watching every moment of the Stables' work. But because Panam's behavior had changed so completely. During negotiations, Madame was sharp. Direct. Sometimes merciless. She could reduce an arrogant customer to silence with a single raised eyebrow. But when Mandi returned? The entire emphasis shifted. The booking was finished. The customer was gone. And Mandi became the center of Panam's attention. Nadia looked at Sera. "Does she always do that?" Sera followed her gaze. "Do what?" "Take care of them afterward." Sera smiled. "Yes." Nadia considered. "Every time?" "Every time." She looked toward Panam again. Mandi was eating. Dalia had an arm around her. Panam sat nearby, clearly in no hurry. Nadia smiled. "I like that." Sera touched her cheek. "So do I." Nadia leaned closer. Their kiss was gentle. Then she looked toward Panam again. "She really is something." Sera laughed softly. "Tell me about it." Birgitta's first booking of the evening was quieter. A returning customer approached her while Panam was speaking with Suzy. They knew one another. Not intimately enough to skip the conversation. But well enough that the first few minutes were comfortable. Birgitta listened. Asked what the customer wanted tonight. Then smiled. "Possibly." He nodded. "Shall we speak with Madame?" "Let's." Panam joined them. He explained his proposal. She considered. Asked for a more specific account of his expectations. He provided one. Panam named a price. He accepted. Then she turned toward Birgitta. "Interested, sweetheart?" Birgitta smiled. "Yes." Panam's expression softened. "Good." She drew Birgitta close. A kiss. A gentle touch against her face. And the familiar clasp opening beneath her fingers. Click. Birgitta accepted her leash. "See you later, Madame." Panam smiled. "Take care, beautiful." The two walked toward the private rooms. And nobody paid them any special attention. Because this was Saturday. And at Lizzie's, people had work to do. A little later, Nadia found herself talking with Suzy. Not formally. Not about booking anything. Just leaning against the bar while the other woman had a relatively quiet moment. "Does it ever get boring?" Suzy looked up. "What?" "Working here." Suzy considered. Then laughed. "Sometimes." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Darling, sometimes it's nothing but somebody arguing about a reservation and somebody else asking where the toilets are." Nadia laughed. "I suppose." "Then occasionally something genuinely interesting happens." Nadia looked toward Mandi. Suzy followed her gaze. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia burst out laughing. "I wasn't going to say anything." "Nobody ever is." Nadia smiled. Then looked around. "I think I expected the work to be more dramatic." Suzy shrugged. "Most good work isn't." Nadia considered that. Suzy continued. "Customers come in. People talk. Somebody says yes. Somebody says no. Rooms get used. Rooms get cleaned. People eat. Everybody complains about the music." "Do they?" "Constantly." Nadia laughed. Suzy glanced toward the lounge. "And every now and then somebody decides to create a completely unnecessary financial controversy." Nadia grinned. "Zero eddies?" Suzy closed her eyes. "Don't." Vega returned before Birgitta. Her customer accompanied her as far as the edge of the lounge. They exchanged a few pleasant words. A brief goodbye. Then the woman departed. Vega looked toward Panam. Panam was already coming to meet her. "Hey, sweetheart." Vega smiled. "Hello, Madame." "Good booking?" "Very." Panam studied her. "Everything okay?" Vega nodded. "Yes." "Want to tell me about it?" Vega smiled. "A little." Panam drew closer. Vega stepped into her arms. They embraced. Panam kissed her cheek. Then her temple. Vega rested against her for a few moments. The confident professional expression softened into something quieter. Panam noticed. "Hey." Vega looked up. "Yeah?" "You can relax." Vega smiled. "I know." Panam kissed her. "Good." Click. Her leash returned to its place. Panam took her to sit down. Water first. Then a question about food. Vega wanted something small. Panam arranged it. They talked. A good customer. An enjoyable conversation. A booking that had gone exactly as agreed. Panam listened without interrupting. When Vega finished, Panam smiled. "Sounds like you chose well." Vega nodded. "I did." "Good girl." Vega's expression warmed. She leaned against Panam again. And accepted another kiss. Nova came over a little later. Not rushing. Just checking on her colleague. "Everything good?" Vega looked up. "Very." Nova smiled. "Good." The words were simple. The exchange ordinary. Neither woman revealed anything about the private relationship they maintained outside their cover identities. Panam looked at Nova. "Any interesting offers?" Nova shook her head. "Not yet." "Want a break?" Nova smiled. "I'm fine." "Okay." Panam reached up to touch her cheek. Nova leaned into the familiar affection. Then kissed her owner. A quick, warm kiss. "Thank you." Panam smiled. "Anytime, sweetheart." Nadia watched from farther down the bar. Nobody here seemed to think affection required an explanation. She was beginning to appreciate that. Birgitta returned later. Her customer said goodbye near the corridor. She smiled. Thanked him. Then walked toward Panam. The change in her expression was subtle. But unmistakable. She looked pleased. A little tired. And very glad to see the woman waiting for her. Panam reached for her immediately. "Come here, sweetheart." Birgitta stepped into her embrace. Panam held her. Kissed her cheek. Then rested her forehead against hers. "Good?" Birgitta smiled. "Yes." "Everything okay?" "Everything." Panam studied her for another moment. "Need anything?" Birgitta considered. "Water." "Done." "And maybe a few minutes." Panam smiled. "You've got them." Click. The leash was secured again. Panam guided her to a quieter seat. Ordered water. Then sat beside her. Birgitta leaned against her shoulder. Panam wrapped an arm around her. No joke. No hurry. Just the familiar closeness of two women who enjoyed being together. Sera approached after a while. Saw them. Smiled. "Good evening?" Birgitta looked up. "Very." Sera kissed her cheek. "Glad." Panam brushed a hand along Birgitta's arm. "She wants a little break." "Then I'll leave you two alone." Birgitta caught Sera's hand briefly. "Thank you." Sera smiled. And returned to Nadia. Nadia looked at her as she approached. "All good?" Sera nodded. "Yes." She slipped an arm around Nadia. Nadia welcomed her close. For a moment they stood together watching the room. Then Nadia spoke. "Can I ask something?" "Of course." "Do the clients understand that Panam takes care of everyone like that?" Sera considered. "Some probably do." "And the others?" "They see whatever they see." Nadia nodded. Sera touched her cheek. "What are you thinking?" Nadia smiled. "That there's a lot happening here that you wouldn't understand from the outside." Sera's expression softened. "Yeah." Nadia looked at her. "And that I like seeing you happy." Sera smiled. "I am." Nadia kissed her. "Good." Then Sera laughed. "What?" Nadia tilted her head. "I was just thinking." "About?" "How spectacularly strange my life has become." Sera laughed. "Any regrets?" Nadia looked toward Panam. Then back at her. "Not one." By eleven, Lizzie's had reached its familiar Saturday rhythm. The music was louder. The lounge fuller. The private rooms operating steadily. Some customers wanted company. Some wanted to dance. Some wanted to sit and talk. Some wanted things none of the professionals on duty particularly fancied providing. Those customers received polite refusals. Occasionally very firm ones. Nobody seemed inclined to argue. At least not within Lisa's hearing. The Mox maintained the room. Suzy maintained the operation. And Madame Panam continued doing what she did best. Listening. Negotiating. Rejecting nonsense. Making offers. And taking care of her people. One customer approached Panam with a proposal that sounded perfectly reasonable until he explained the last condition. Panam stared at him. "No." He blinked. "But—" "No." "I haven't finished." "You finished enough." Mandi covered her mouth. The man looked confused. "I thought—" "That's the problem." He stared. Panam folded her arms. "Try somebody else with a different request. Or go enjoy the bar." He considered. Then nodded. "Fair." And left. Mandi looked at Panam. "Owner?" Panam sighed. "What?" "That was almost disappointingly polite." Panam raised an eyebrow. "He listened." "Terrible." "Utterly." Mandi grinned. Panam laughed. Then kissed her forehead. "Go find something useful to do." "Yes, Owner." Mandi wandered toward Dalia. Panam watched her go. Then muttered: "That was probably a mistake." Dalia was speaking with a customer when Mandi approached. Mandi stopped at a respectful distance. Waited. Dalia noticed her. Raised one eyebrow. Mandi smiled. No interruption. No teasing. Not while Dalia was working. The customer finished explaining a question about availability. Dalia considered. Then answered. They agreed to speak again later. Only after the customer departed did Mandi approach. "Hello, darling." Dalia smiled. "Hello, menace." Mandi slipped an arm around her waist. Dalia leaned into the embrace. They kissed. Warmly. Comfortably. Not the exaggerated performance their arguments might have suggested. When they separated, Dalia brushed a hand through Mandi's orange hair. "How're you feeling?" Mandi smiled. "Wonderful." "Still?" "Yes." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Good." Mandi looked at her. "Darling?" "Hmm?" "Do you really mind?" Dalia studied her. Then smiled. "The zero eddies?" Mandi nodded. Dalia laughed softly. "No, sweetheart." Mandi's expression warmed. "I know." Dalia caught her chin. "But that doesn't mean I'll ever stop teasing you." Mandi grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way." They kissed again. Then Dalia smiled. "Besides." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You made an actual booking tonight." Mandi laughed. "Yes." Dalia nodded solemnly. "Progress." Mandi groaned. "OH, FUCK YOU." Dalia's grin widened. "After work, darling." Close to midnight, Suzy finally found thirty seconds to lean against the counter. Panam approached. "Surviving?" Suzy looked at her. "Barely." "Need help?" "No." "Drink?" "Coffee." Panam raised an eyebrow. "At midnight?" Suzy stared. "Do you have any idea what time I'm leaving?" Panam laughed. "Fair." Suzy looked around the room. Birgitta was talking with a customer. Nova and Vega were near the lounge. Mandi was sitting beside Dalia, laughing at something Deja had said. Bea had just concluded a conversation at the far end of the bar. Sera and Nadia were together near Panam's usual spot. Everything was functioning. Not perfectly. Lizzie's never functioned perfectly. But well enough. Suzy nodded toward the room. "Good Saturday." Panam followed her gaze. "Yeah." "No major problems." "Yet." "Don't." Panam smiled. Suzy looked toward Mandi. "Especially that one." Panam sighed. "Which one?" Suzy stared. Panam grinned. "Okay. Fair." Nadia found herself growing comfortable with the ordinary details. Not the astonishing money. Not the collars. Not even the private rooms. Those were the things that attracted attention. But she was starting to notice everything around them. The way Suzy remembered who had been waiting. How Lisa positioned her people without drawing attention. How a returning professional could sit down for water and nobody treated the pause as lost revenue. How Dalia could become sharply professional in one conversation, then collapse into affectionate laughter with Mandi and Deja in the next. How Panam's five pets approached her with complete confidence that their answers mattered. Yes. No. Not now. Maybe later. Those words seemed to carry more practical weight than any number of grand declarations. Nadia considered that. Then looked at Sera. Her lover was leaning comfortably against Panam, one arm around the other woman's waist. Panam looked tired. Happy. And entirely at home. Nadia approached. "Room for one more?" Panam smiled. "Always." Nadia stepped between them. Sera kissed her cheek. Panam kissed her mouth. Nadia laughed softly. "Hello." "Hello, beautiful," Panam replied. Sera leaned closer. "Having fun?" Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Even with all this?" Nadia looked around. The noise. The people. The negotiations. The occasional eruption of laughter from Mandi's direction. Then back at her lovers. "Especially with all this." Panam's expression softened. She kissed Nadia again. Sera rested her cheek against Nadia's shoulder. For a little while they watched the room together. Three women. Three very different lives. And a relationship that was beginning to acquire its own familiar habits. Saturday wasn't finished. There would be more customers. More conversations. More offers. More yeses. More noes. Another round of drinks. Somebody would undoubtedly say something unforgivably stupid. Dalia would probably threaten Mandi with financial counseling. Mandi would certainly deserve it. And somewhere behind the bar, Suzy Q would continue making the entire impossible operation function. Nadia looked toward the private-room corridor. Then toward Bea, who was smiling as she spoke with another customer. She watched for a moment. Curious. Not about anybody's private identity. Not about secrets she hadn't been offered. About the work itself. About the confidence. The choices. And the possibility that there were aspects of the life she'd once viewed entirely from the outside that she hadn't yet understood. Sera noticed her expression. But didn't ask. Panam kissed Nadia's temple. And Nadia smiled. Because she was enjoying learning. And for now, that was enough. --- ## Chapter 16 — Familiar Strangers Sera was getting restless. Nadia noticed it first. Not because Sera was complaining. She wasn't. Not because she was bored. She certainly wasn't. But the silver-white strands of her hair had begun rising into a small, distinctly opinionated halo. Nadia watched them for a moment. Then smiled. "Something on your mind, sweetheart?" Sera turned. "What?" "Your hair." Sera glanced upward. "Oh." Panam followed Nadia's gaze. Then laughed. "What's going on in that beautiful head?" Sera looked toward the lounge. "Nothing terrible." "That's reassuring." "I'm just thinking." Panam narrowed her eyes. "That sounds less reassuring." Nadia laughed. Sera smiled at both of them. Then looked back toward the crowded room. "I think I'd like to find somebody interesting." Panam's expression changed. Not surprise. Interest. "Oh?" Sera nodded. "Someone I actually want to spend time with." Nadia tilted her head. "Professionally?" "Possibly." Panam smiled. "Then go find her." Sera looked at her. "That easy?" Panam laughed. "Sweetheart, you know how this works." Sera grinned. "Yes, Owner." Nadia leaned closer and kissed her. "See anyone?" Sera considered the room. Then stopped. "Oh." Panam followed her gaze. A woman was sitting alone near the lounge. Short dark hair. A beautifully tailored jacket. An almost empty drink. And the expression of somebody who had discovered something amusing about the room but hadn't yet decided whether to share it. Sera watched her for several seconds. Nadia smiled. "Her?" Sera nodded. "Her." Panam kissed her cheek. "Go have fun, beautiful." Sera kissed Panam. Then Nadia. And headed toward the woman. Behind her, Nadia watched with a distinctly pleased expression. Panam noticed. "What?" Nadia smiled. "She's gorgeous when she knows what she wants." Panam laughed. "Yeah. She really fucking is." The woman noticed Sera approaching. Recognition came first. Then surprise. Then a smile. "Well." Sera stopped beside the table. "Hello." "Hello." "May I join you?" The woman glanced at the empty seat. Then back at Sera. "Please." Sera sat. For a moment they regarded one another. Then the woman smiled. "You're Sera." "Yes." "The artist." "Among other things." "I've seen your work." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully you survived." The woman laughed. "Barely." "Oh?" "Your installation with the suspended glass structures. I spent twenty minutes trying to work out why it made me so uncomfortable." Sera leaned forward. "Did you?" "Eventually." "And?" The woman considered. "Because I kept waiting for something to break." Sera smiled. "Interesting." "But nothing did." "No." "And that was worse." Sera burst out laughing. The woman looked pleased. "I take it that wasn't an entirely stupid interpretation?" "Not remotely." "Good." Sera studied her. "What made you decide the structures weren't actually going to break?" The woman smiled. "Because after about ten minutes I realized you'd engineered them far too carefully." Sera's eyebrows rose. "Oh." "And then I started thinking about how much work you'd done to make something look dangerous without actually making it dangerous." Sera leaned back. Slowly. A smile spreading across her face. "Well, fuck." The woman laughed. "Good fuck or bad fuck?" "Very good fuck." That settled something. Sera liked her. A lot. They talked about art. Properly. Not the kind of conversation in which somebody praised an artist's work because they thought admiration might purchase attention. The woman disagreed with Sera twice. Made her laugh three times. And offered one interpretation of a piece that Sera had never considered. That last one was particularly attractive. Eventually the conversation moved away from exhibitions. The woman had spent years working with restoration teams. Not as an artist herself. As somebody who understood that keeping a work intact could require as much imagination as creating it. Sera found that fascinating. "Do you ever get tired of people telling you how something was originally supposed to look?" The woman laughed. "Constantly." "Good." "Good?" "I was beginning to worry you were reasonable." "Absolutely not." Sera smiled. "Excellent." The woman regarded her. Then glanced toward Sera's collar. "And tonight?" Sera touched it. "What about tonight?" "Are you here as an artist?" Sera considered. Then smiled. "No." The woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh." "Among other things, remember?" The woman's smile widened. "I do." Sera leaned a little closer. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Have you been looking at me because you recognize me?" The woman considered. "At first." "And now?" She met Sera's gaze. "Now I'm looking at you because I like talking to you." Sera smiled. There. That was the answer she'd wanted. At the bar, Mandi was watching. Naturally. Dalia noticed. Naturally. "Something interesting?" Mandi grinned. "Sera." Dalia followed her gaze. The silver-haired artist was laughing with a dark-haired woman. "Oh." Deja looked over. "Good for her." Mandi nodded. "Very." Dalia considered the pair. Then smiled. "Well, that's going to become expensive." Mandi glanced at her. "Darling, you say that like it's a bad thing." Dalia turned. Slowly. "Sweetheart." Mandi smiled innocently. "Yes?" "You are the last woman in Night City who gets to lecture me about revenue." Deja burst out laughing. Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Still?" "Forever." Panam passed behind them. "Are we doing this again?" Dalia smiled. "Zero eddies." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Back at the table, the woman was looking at Sera with undisguised interest. "May I ask something personal?" Sera smiled. "You can ask." "Are you working tonight?" "Yes." The woman glanced toward Panam. Then back. "And would you consider a booking?" Sera didn't answer immediately. She studied the woman. The smile. The intelligence. The way she'd spoken to her without either worshipping her reputation or pretending not to recognize it. She was attracted. Genuinely. And curious about what spending time alone together might be like. "Yes," Sera said. The woman's expression warmed. "Really?" Sera nodded. "Really." Then she smiled. "But you're going to have to make an offer." The woman glanced toward Panam. "To Madame?" "Yes." "All right." Sera rose. The woman stood beside her. Sera offered her hand. "Come on." The woman accepted it. "Gladly." Panam saw them approaching. One look at Sera's expression told her quite a lot. The artist was smiling. Her halo had risen another inch. And the woman holding her hand looked entirely delighted. Panam grinned. "Well, hello." Sera stepped closer. "Owner." Panam kissed her. "Found somebody interesting?" "Very." The woman smiled. "Good evening, Madame." Panam looked at her. "Evening." Then back at Sera. "You approached her?" Sera nodded. "Yes." Panam understood immediately. This wasn't a prospective customer paying five million eddies for the privilege of a first private conversation with the artist. Sera had chosen to approach this woman herself. The conversation had already happened because Sera wanted it to happen. That removed the initial conversation fee from the equation. It didn't turn the artist's time into an ordinary booking. Panam turned toward the woman. "So. What are you hoping for?" The woman explained. Private time with Sera. Conversation. Affection and intimacy, if they both wanted it. Nothing public. No recordings. No special demands. Panam listened carefully. Asked about the duration. The woman answered. Sera added what she wanted from the arrangement. Panam listened to her too. Then she regarded the prospective customer. "All right." The woman waited. Panam smiled. "Make me a believable offer." From several meters away came an outraged voice. "THAT'S MY FUCKING LINE!" Panam closed her eyes. Sera burst out laughing. The woman blinked. Dalia was pointing accusingly from the bar. "YOU KEEP STEALING IT!" Panam looked over. "Invoice me!" "I FUCKING WILL!" Suzy Q shouted from behind the counter: "DALIA! SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO RUN A CLUB!" Dalia called back: "THEN TELL HER TO STOP COMMITTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT!" Mandi was laughing so hard she had to lean against Deja. The woman looked at Sera. Sera smiled. "Family." The woman considered the scene. Then laughed. "I see." Panam sighed. "Unfortunately." The woman turned back toward Madame. Then made her offer. Sixty million eddies. Panam's expression didn't change. She considered the amount. Then the woman. "That's a serious offer." "It was intended to be." "Good." Panam asked a few additional questions. Not because she thought the woman was trying to deceive anyone. Because a serious offer deserved serious attention. Duration. Privacy. Expectations. Whether the woman understood that no price purchased Sera's consent in advance. She did. And she didn't seem remotely offended by being asked. Panam liked that. Finally, she turned toward Sera. "The offer's yours, beautiful." Sera considered. Not the money alone. That was considerable. But it was not what had attracted her to the woman in the first place. She looked at her prospective customer. The woman smiled. No pressure. No impatience. Just an invitation. Sera's expression warmed. "Yes." Panam nodded. "You're certain?" "Very." Panam smiled. "Then it's settled." Payment was arranged. The booking was confirmed. And the woman looked at Sera with unmistakable pleasure. "I'm glad." Sera laughed softly. "So am I." Nadia approached before they left. Not because she needed to supervise anything. Because Sera had caught her eye. Nadia smiled. "Well?" Sera turned toward her. "I found someone." "I noticed." Sera leaned closer. Their kiss was warm and familiar. Nadia held her face gently afterward. "Happy?" Sera nodded. "Very." "Then have a wonderful time, sweetheart." Sera smiled. "Love you." "Love you too." Panam reached for Sera's leash. "Come here, beautiful." Sera stepped into her embrace. Panam kissed her. Then touched her cheek. "Anything you want to change before you go?" Sera shook her head. "No." "All good?" "Yes, Owner." Panam smiled. "Have fun." Click. She unclipped the leash and placed it in Sera's hand. Sera kissed her again. "Thank you." "Always, sweetheart." The woman waited without intruding on the familiar affection. Then Sera turned toward her. "Shall we?" The woman offered her hand. "Please." They walked toward the private rooms together. Nadia watched them go. Panam slipped an arm around her waist. "Okay?" Nadia turned. Smiled. "Of course." Panam kissed her. Nadia answered warmly. Then laughed. "What?" Panam raised an eyebrow. Nadia shook her head. "I'm beginning to understand why she's so fond of this." Panam grinned. "Which part?" Nadia considered. "All of it, apparently." The private suite was quiet. Comfortable. And considerably less interesting than the woman Sera had brought into it. Sera set down her leash. The woman looked around briefly. Then turned back. "Well." Sera smiled. "Well?" "I'm beginning to think this was an excellent decision." "Beginning?" The woman laughed. "You're demanding." "Sometimes." Sera stepped closer. "Can I kiss you?" The answer was immediate. "Please." Sera rested a hand against the woman's cheek. Then kissed her. The response was warm. Confident. And entirely without hesitation. Sera drew back just far enough to look at her. "Oh." The woman smiled. "Oh?" Sera laughed softly. "That was very good." "I was hoping you'd say that." Sera kissed her again. Their earlier conversation had already given them something to build on. They liked one another. They knew it. And neither had any interest in pretending otherwise. They settled together on the sofa. Talked for a while. Kissed. Laughed. Then gradually allowed the affection between them to become more intimate. Sera appreciated the woman's confidence. Especially because it didn't become presumption. She asked before crossing an unfamiliar boundary. Listened when Sera answered. And seemed genuinely interested in Sera's enjoyment rather than treating her fame as something purchased with the booking. At one point Sera's hair rose. Considerably. The woman stopped. Looked upward. Then began laughing. "Oh, that's magnificent." Sera closed her eyes. "Please don't encourage it." "Does that happen often?" "More than I'd like." The woman touched one floating silver-white strand. It curled away from her fingers. She laughed again. "You're extraordinary." Sera opened one eye. "You're enjoying this far too much." "Absolutely." Sera caught her hand. Kissed her palm. Then smiled. "Come here." The woman leaned closer. Sera kissed her. And whatever she'd been about to say about the hair disappeared into shared laughter. Later, the woman rested comfortably beside Sera. Their fingers remained intertwined. The atmosphere had become quieter. Not awkward. Not uncertain. Simply warm. Sera was looking at her with genuine affection. "Good evening?" The woman smiled. "Exceptionally good." Sera laughed softly. "Good." "And you?" Sera considered. Then nodded. "Very." The woman touched her cheek. "I'm glad." Sera leaned into the touch. She liked that. The absence of any need to perform satisfaction. They both knew whether they'd enjoyed themselves. And they had. The woman smiled. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Would you consider seeing me again?" Sera studied her. Then smiled. "Perhaps." "Through Madame?" "Yes." The woman nodded. "I'll remember." Sera kissed her. "Good." When they eventually returned to the lounge, their goodbye was affectionate rather than theatrical. The woman thanked her. Sera thanked her in return. And they parted with a final smile. Panam was waiting near the bar. Not hovering. Simply aware that Sera's booking had ended. When she saw the artist approaching, her expression softened immediately. "There you are, beautiful." Sera smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam opened her arms. Sera stepped straight into them. Panam held her. A proper embrace. Long enough that Sera stopped paying attention to the noise around them. She rested against Panam's shoulder. Panam kissed her hair. "How're you doing?" Sera smiled. "Very well." "Everything okay?" "Everything." "Anything you want to talk about?" Sera considered. Then nodded. "A little." Panam drew back. Touched her cheek. "Good." Sera offered her leash. Panam accepted it. Click. Then kissed her again. "Come on. Let's get you comfortable." Nadia joined them at a quieter table. Sera settled between her lovers. Panam ordered tea. Nadia found something for Sera to eat. And neither woman attempted to turn the aftercare into an interrogation. They stayed close. Sera drank. Ate a little. Then began talking about the woman she'd met. Not the private details of their encounter. The things that had made it special. The conversation. The humor. The astonishingly perceptive interpretation of her glass installation. Nadia listened with growing interest. "She noticed the structural engineering?" Sera nodded. "Immediately." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "That's impressive." "It was." Panam smiled. "Sounds like you found somebody who could keep up with you." Sera laughed. "She certainly tried." Nadia kissed her temple. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Sera turned toward her. Their kiss was gentle. Then a little longer. When they separated, Sera smiled. "Thank you." Nadia touched her cheek. "You're welcome." Panam rested a hand against Sera's back. "Tired?" "A little." "Want to stop working?" Sera considered. Then nodded. "For now." Panam kissed her forehead. "Done." No argument. No reminder of how valuable another booking might be. No attempt to persuade her to make herself available again. Sera had enjoyed her evening. Now she wanted to rest. That was enough. A little later, Sera stood. Nadia looked up. "Where to?" "Somewhere quieter." Nadia smiled. "Mind company?" Sera offered her hand. "I'd love it." Panam rose too. Sera kissed her. "Coming?" Panam glanced toward the lounge. Customers were waiting. Birgitta was speaking with a prospective client. Mandi appeared to be tormenting Dalia. Panam sighed. "Not yet, beautiful." Sera smiled. "Later." "Absolutely." Nadia kissed Panam. "Don't let Mandi start a riot." Panam laughed. "I make no promises." Sera glanced at the leash between them. "Owner?" Panam smiled. "Right. Come here." She released the clasp and gathered Sera's leash into her hand. Click. "Off duty, sweetheart." Sera kissed her. "Love you." "Love you too." Nadia caught Sera's hand. The two women headed upstairs to a quiet room away from the main floor. Panam watched them go. Smiled. And returned to work. --- Nova was having an unexpectedly entertaining conversation. The man sitting opposite her had begun by asking whether she liked music. A reasonable question. Then he'd explained that he worked with sound systems. Also reasonable. Then he'd confessed that he'd once accidentally replaced an executive's carefully prepared presentation soundtrack with a recording of somebody's extremely enthusiastic snoring. Nova stared. "Accidentally?" He nodded. "Technically." "Technically?" "The file names were similar." Nova narrowed her eyes. "How similar?" He considered. "Not very." She burst out laughing. "Oh, you're terrible." "I've been told." "Did you get fired?" "No." "How?" "The executive laughed harder than anyone else." Nova stared. Then laughed again. "All right. I like you." He smiled. "That's encouraging." "Don't get smug." "Wouldn't dream of it." He looked entirely smug. Nova liked that too. They'd been talking for almost twenty minutes. He was attractive in a way Nova hadn't noticed immediately. Not because of his clothes. Not because of some extraordinary physical feature. Because he was comfortable with himself. He could laugh. Listen. And admit when he didn't know something. Nova appreciated that. Eventually he glanced at her collar. "Madame Panam?" Nova nodded. "Yes." "Would you be interested in a booking?" She considered him. Then smiled. "Possibly." He explained what he wanted. Private time. Conversation. Affection. An intimate encounter, if they both remained interested. Nothing elaborate. Nova listened. Asked a few questions. He answered directly. She smiled. "That sounds interesting." His expression brightened. "Really?" "Really." "Then how much?" Nova laughed. "Oh, darling." He raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You're asking the wrong woman." He glanced toward Panam. "Madame?" "Madame." "Does she set the price?" Nova's smile widened. "No." He looked surprised. Nova leaned closer. "She asks you to make an offer." He considered. "Interesting." "Very." "And you decide whether to accept?" "Exactly." He smiled. "Then I'd like to make one." Nova offered her hand. "Let's find Madame." Panam noticed them approaching. Nova was smiling. The man beside her was smiling. And neither appeared particularly nervous. Good start. "Evening," Panam said. "Good evening, Madame." Nova stepped closer. "Owner." Panam kissed her cheek. "Found somebody interesting, sweetheart?" "Yes." "Good." Panam turned toward the man. "Tell me what you're looking for." He explained. An hour in private. No elaborate scenario. No special demands. He wanted to spend time with Nova because he'd enjoyed talking to her, found her attractive, and hoped she might enjoy his company too. Panam listened. Then asked: "Anything specific you expect her to do?" He shook his head. "Nothing she doesn't want to." "Recording?" "No." "Anyone else involved?" "No." "Anything unusual?" He considered. "Does telling terrible jokes count?" Nova burst out laughing. Panam looked at her. Nova nodded. "Unfortunately, yes." The man smiled. Panam shook her head. "Christ. Another comedian." Nova grinned. "He's actually funny." Panam looked at her. "That sounds dangerous." "Very." Then Panam turned back toward the man. "All right." He straightened slightly. She folded her arms. And smiled. "Make me a believable offer." The man didn't answer immediately. That interested Panam. Some clients threw out the first number that came into their heads. Others tried to be clever. This one considered. Really considered. He looked at Nova. Then at Panam. Finally he named his offer. "Seventy-five thousand eddies. One hour." Panam studied him. No reaction. No immediate acceptance. "Why seventy-five?" He looked surprised. "Does the reason matter?" "To me? Yes." He considered. Then answered. "Because I can afford it. Because her time is valuable. And because I'd rather make a serious offer than waste everyone's evening trying to bargain." Panam's expression changed. Slightly. Not quite a smile. But close. "Better answer than I usually get." He laughed softly. "I'll take that." Panam wasn't finished. "You understand the price doesn't buy you a particular performance?" "Yes." "Doesn't entitle you to anything she hasn't agreed to?" "Yes." "And if she decides the booking isn't for her?" "Then she declines." Panam nodded. "Good." Then she turned toward Nova. "Sweetheart." Nova stepped closer. Panam touched her cheek. "Seventy-five thousand for one hour. Private. Standard boundaries. Nothing unusual." Nova looked at the man. He smiled. Waited. She considered. Not the figure alone. The man. Their conversation. His humor. The fact that he'd listened carefully when she explained how Madame worked. Then Nova smiled. "I accept." The man's expression brightened. "Wonderful." Panam nodded. "Then we have a booking." Payment was arranged. Confirmed. And only then did Panam reach for Nova's leash. "Come here, beautiful." Nova stepped into her arms. Panam held her close. Kissed her. Then drew back enough to look into her white eyes. "Comfortable?" Nova nodded. "Very." "Anything you want changed?" "No." "You sure?" Nova smiled. "Owner." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I like him." Panam laughed. "Good." Nova kissed her. Panam touched her cheek. "Then go have a wonderful time." Click. The leash came free. Panam placed it in Nova's hand. "See you afterward, sweetheart." "Yes, Owner." As they passed Vega, Nova caught her colleague's eye. They exchanged a brief smile. Nothing more. Vega remained near Panam. Nova continued toward the private rooms with her customer. --- At the bar, Dalia had heard the entire negotiation. Of course she had. She looked at Panam. Panam looked back. Dalia smiled. "Well." Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Nicely done." "Thank you." Dalia took a sip. Then narrowed her eyes. "Although I'd appreciate it if you stopped using my line." Panam laughed. "Your line?" "My line." "Didn't hear you trademark it." "I will." Mandi leaned against Dalia's shoulder. "Darling, perhaps you should charge royalties." Dalia smiled. "Excellent idea." Panam sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Deja raised an eyebrow. "How much?" Dalia looked toward the ceiling. Considered. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." Mandi collapsed into laughter. Panam pointed at her. "THAT'S CHEATING!" Dalia grinned. "Intellectual property, darling." --- The man looked around the private suite. Then smiled. "Nice." Nova laughed. "You sound surprised." "Not surprised. Relieved." "Why?" He looked at the sofa. "Comfortable furniture." Nova burst out laughing. "High standards?" "Getting older." "Oh, for fuck's sake." He grinned. "Apparently honesty isn't always attractive." Nova stepped closer. "Depends who's listening." He smiled. "And?" She rested her hands lightly against his chest. "I'm listening." He looked at her. Then glanced at her mouth. Nova noticed. Naturally. She smiled. "Want to kiss me?" "Very much." "Then ask." He laughed softly. "May I?" Nova kissed him. The answer, apparently, didn't need another sentence. He was a good kisser. Nova discovered that immediately. Not hurried. Not uncertain. And particularly good at knowing when a kiss was becoming a conversation of its own. When they separated, he smiled. "Well." Nova raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That was considerably better than my presentation." She burst out laughing. "Oh, darling." He grinned. "Low standard?" "Appallingly." Nova caught his face gently between her hands. "Try again." He did. This time she didn't laugh until afterward. Then she drew him toward the sofa. "Come on." They settled together. Talked. Kissed. And gradually let the familiarity they'd developed in the lounge become something more intimate. Nova liked his attentiveness. He liked her confidence. When either wanted to pause, they did. When something amused them, they laughed. And neither seemed particularly interested in pretending that two adults enjoying themselves needed to behave like carefully rehearsed performers. At one point he made another appalling joke. Nova covered her face. "Oh, you're hopeless." He laughed. "Yet here we are." She lowered her hands. Looked at him. Then smiled. "Yes." She kissed him. "Here we are." Later, they rested together. Nova's white eyes caught the soft light as she lifted her head. He looked at her. Smiled. "Good evening?" She considered. Then nodded. "Very." "I'm glad." "And you?" He laughed. "I think I've established that." Nova raised an eyebrow. "Have you?" "Would you like a detailed presentation?" She stared. Then burst out laughing. "Absolutely not." "With sound effects?" "NO!" He grinned. Nova caught his face between her hands. Kissed him. Then rested her forehead against his. "You are a disaster." "Apparently." "A very enjoyable disaster." His smile softened. "Thank you." They remained close for a while longer. Not rushing to reassemble themselves the instant their intimate time was finished. Nova enjoyed that too. The ordinary warmth afterward. The freedom to talk about something ridiculous. The way he listened when she said she was getting thirsty and immediately offered to fetch water. A good customer. Another one. And a reminder that she genuinely liked this work. --- When Nova returned to the lounge, Panam noticed her immediately. She excused herself from the conversation she'd been having. Then approached. "Hello, sweetheart." Nova smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam touched her cheek. "How'd it go?" "Very well." "Everything okay?" Nova nodded. "Yes." Panam studied her. "Really?" Nova laughed softly. "Really." "Good." Panam opened her arms. Nova stepped into them. Rested against her. Panam held her. Kissed her temple. Then her forehead. No rush. No immediate questions about whether she wanted another booking. Nova closed her eyes for a moment. Enjoying the familiar warmth. Then Panam whispered: "You feel good?" Nova nodded. "Very." "Want to tell me about him?" Nova smiled. "Oh, Owner." Panam laughed. "What?" "He was hilarious." "Yeah?" "Absolutely ridiculous." Panam smiled. "Tell me." Nova began with the presentation story. Panam was laughing before she reached the end. "Jesus Christ." Nova grinned. "Exactly." Panam kissed her. "Sounds like you picked well." "I did." Nova offered her leash. Panam accepted it. Click. Then guided her toward a quieter seat. "Water?" "Please." "Hungry?" "A little." Panam nodded. "Done." Water arrived first. Food shortly afterward. Panam sat beside Nova while she drank and ate. The conversation continued. Not an interview. Not a report. Just Nova telling somebody she loved about an evening she'd enjoyed. Eventually Vega approached. "Everything good?" Nova looked up. Smiled. "Very." Vega returned the smile. "Good." Panam regarded both women affectionately. Then touched Nova's cheek. "Want to keep working?" Nova considered. "After a break." Panam kissed her forehead. "Take your time." Nova smiled. "Thank you, Owner." It was close to midnight when Mira and Della arrived. Mira came through the entrance first. She looked around. Took in the music. The lighting. The dancers. The people. Then smiled. "Oh, fuck yes." Della followed. Paused beside her. And looked at the room with considerably more discretion. For approximately three seconds. Then she grinned. "Well." Mira turned. "Well?" "This looks promising." "Doesn't it?" Della laughed. "Behave." Mira looked offended. "Darling." "No." "I haven't done anything." "Yet." Mira smiled. "Exactly." They approached the bar. Suzy Q noticed them. "Evening." Mira leaned against the counter. "Hello, gorgeous." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "Drinks?" Della laughed. "Straight to business. I like her." Suzy smiled. "Good. What are you having?" They ordered. Then began surveying the room. Mira spotted Dalia first. That was hardly surprising. Hot-pink dreadlocks. An exceptionally confident smile. A woman in ivory standing close beside her. And an orange-haired woman currently laughing at something the two of them had said. Mira smiled. "Oh." Della followed her gaze. "What?" "Her." Della looked toward Dalia. Then nodded. "Excellent taste." "Naturally." Della studied the group. "Interesting company too." Mira grinned. "Very." Neither recognized the women. Dalia's face-mesh did its job. Deja's did too. Their eyes, hair and altered appearances belonged to the professional identities they were wearing. Mandi was a more delicate case. She didn't use a face-mesh. Her own features remained beneath the black contact lenses, neon-orange hair and altered voice. Mira looked at her. For a moment, something flickered. A resemblance. Perhaps. Then Mandi laughed. The voice was entirely unfamiliar. Mira shook her head. Coincidence. Night City was full of faces that resembled other faces. Della turned toward the other end of the bar. And stopped. "Oh." Mira glanced at her. "What?" Della nodded toward Bea. Ice-blue bob. Red eyes. An elegant outfit. A posture that practically dared the room to underestimate her. Mira grinned. "Oh, darling." Della smiled. "Exactly." --- Mandi noticed them. And nearly lost her composure. Mira. Della. Oh, this was going to be interesting. She hadn't expected either woman at Lizzie's. And she certainly hadn't expected Mira to look directly toward Dalia with that particular smile. Mandi took a slow drink. Dalia noticed. "What?" Mandi turned. "Darling?" "That expression." "What expression?" "The one that means you're about to cause trouble." Mandi smiled. "Not tonight." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Really." Deja looked suspicious. Mandi leaned closer and kissed Dalia. A warm, familiar kiss. Dalia answered immediately. When they separated, Mandi smiled. "Love you." Dalia touched her cheek. "Love you too." Then narrowed her eyes. "You're still hiding something." Mandi grinned. "Professional discretion." Dalia laughed. "Oh, that's rich." Mira approached a few minutes later. Dalia saw her coming. And smiled. Mira stopped in front of her. "Hello." Dalia leaned comfortably against the bar. "Hello, gorgeous." Mira laughed. "Oh, I like you already." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Fast judgment." "Usually accurate." "Darling, that's a dangerous habit." "One of many." Dalia grinned. "Excellent." Mira glanced toward Deja. Then at the collar and leash. Then back at Dalia. "Working?" Dalia smiled. "Yes." "And your beautiful companion?" Deja smiled. "Also working." Mira raised an eyebrow. "Interesting." Dalia's grin widened. "Possibly." Mira laughed. "Oh, you're going to be trouble." Dalia leaned forward. "Sweetheart, I certainly hope so." Mandi quietly turned away. Because watching Mira flirt with Dalia without recognizing Mai beneath the cover was almost more entertainment than she could safely handle. Della approached Bea. Bea noticed her coming. Looked her over. Then smiled. "Hello." Della returned the smile. "Hello yourself." "Can I help you?" "Possibly." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Promising start." Della laughed. "I'm Della." "Bea." "Pleasure." "Potentially." Della stared. Then laughed again. "Oh, you're dangerous." Bea smiled. "Occasionally." Della took the seat beside her. Not too close. Close enough to make her interest obvious. "Working tonight?" Bea nodded. "Yes." Della smiled. "Good." "And you?" "Considering my options." Bea tilted her head. "Enjoying the view?" "Very much." Bea laughed softly. "Well, darling, tell me what interests you." --- Mira was having a spectacular time. Dalia was sharp. Funny. Confident. And entirely capable of returning every flirtatious remark with interest. Deja contributed occasionally. Usually with such devastating timing that Mira had to stop and laugh. At one point Mira looked directly at her. "You're trouble too." Deja smiled. "I try." Dalia laughed. "Darling, she doesn't have to try." Mira grinned. "Even better." Then her gaze moved toward Mandi again. Black eyes. Orange hair. A very familiar shape to her smile. Mira hesitated. Mandi noticed. Of course. She smiled. "Something wrong?" Mira tilted her head. "Have we met?" Mandi's expression remained perfectly composed. "I don't believe so." Mira considered. "You remind me of somebody." Mandi grinned. "Hopefully somebody interesting." Mira laughed. "Oh, absolutely." "Then I'm flattered." Mira shook her head. The resemblance was strange. But the voice was wrong. The eyes. The whole presentation. And the woman she was reminded of was certainly not somebody Mira expected to find standing in a joytoy collar at Lizzie's. She smiled. "Sorry. My mistake." Mandi nodded. "No offense taken." Dalia watched the exchange. Curious. But didn't interrupt. Mira turned back toward her. "Now. Where were we?" Dalia smiled. "Getting acquainted, gorgeous." Mira laughed. "Right." Della was discovering that Bea had opinions. Strong ones. Several of which Della agreed with. And a few she found entertainingly wrong. They talked about music. Travel. Night City. The pleasures of an evening without any particular obligations. Bea asked questions. Della answered. Neither was in a hurry. Eventually Della glanced toward Mira. Who appeared to be having an equally enjoyable conversation. She smiled. "Looks like my friend found somebody interesting." Bea followed her gaze. Saw Dalia. Then Mira. Her mouth twitched. "Apparently." Della looked back at her. "Would you mind if I thought about a booking?" Bea shook her head. "Not at all." "Good." Della smiled. "Because I'm interested." Bea returned the smile. "So am I." Nothing was agreed yet. That was fine. They were enjoying the conversation. There was no reason to hurry it. From her seat near the bar, Nova watched the newcomers. Not particularly suspicious. Just interested. Mira and Della had brought a different sort of energy into the room. Both were confident. Both evidently accustomed to getting along with people. And both were plainly enjoying themselves. Vega approached Nova. "Rested?" Nova smiled. "Very." "Good." They exchanged a brief look. Not long enough to attract attention. Just long enough to communicate something familiar. Then Vega turned toward Panam. "Owner?" Panam looked up. "Yeah, sweetheart?" "Could I get another water?" Panam smiled. "Of course." She reached for the nearest server. Nova looked back toward Dalia. Mira was laughing. Mandi stood nearby. Smiling. A little too much. Nova narrowed her eyes. Oh. Something was happening. She didn't know what. But she knew that expression on Mandi's face. And it was rarely associated with an entirely uneventful evening. --- Upstairs, Sera and Nadia were enjoying the quiet. Sera sat comfortably beside her lover. Shoes off. Hair finally behaving. Mostly. Nadia had one arm around her. The other held a warm drink. Sera leaned against her shoulder. "Better?" Nadia asked. Sera smiled. "Much." "Good." Nadia kissed her forehead. Sera tilted her head. Caught the next kiss properly. Then smiled. "What?" Nadia looked amused. "Nothing." "Suspicious." Nadia laughed. "You're beautiful." Sera's expression softened. "So are you." They remained close. No customer waiting. No negotiation. No expectation that Sera had to be interesting for anyone. She'd had a wonderful booking. Panam had taken care of her afterward. And now she was sitting beside another woman she loved. Nadia touched her cheek. "Happy?" Sera nodded. "Very." "Good." Sera looked at her. Then smiled. "You know, I really liked her." "I noticed." "She was clever." "I noticed that too." Sera laughed. "Did you?" "Sweetheart, your hair practically formed a chandelier." Sera groaned. "Oh, God." Nadia burst out laughing. Then kissed her. "Love you." Sera smiled against her mouth. "Love you too." Downstairs, Mandi looked from Mira to Della. Then toward Bea. Then back at Dalia. Her grin grew steadily more dangerous. Panam noticed. Naturally. "Mandi." Mandi turned. "Yes, Owner?" Panam narrowed her eyes. "What are you plotting?" "Nothing." "That was too fast." Mandi laughed. "Darling, I'm behaving beautifully." Panam studied her. Then glanced toward the two newcomers. Mira was laughing with Dalia. Della was speaking with Bea. Everything appeared perfectly ordinary. Panam looked back at Mandi. "Any particular reason you're looking so pleased?" Mandi smiled. "Saturday." Panam sighed. "That explains absolutely nothing." "Doesn't it?" "No." Mandi kissed her cheek. "Love you, Owner." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Mandi laughed. Panam opened one eye. "Please tell me you're not going to cause a diplomatic incident." Mandi considered. Then grinned. "Not intentionally." "MANDI." Mandi laughed harder. At the bar, Dalia was listening to Mira explain exactly why she'd come to Lizzie's. Bea was having a similarly interesting conversation with Della. Both encounters remained professional. Both women retained complete freedom to accept or decline anything that might be proposed. And neither of the two visitors had recognized the familiar faces concealed beneath the carefully prepared covers. Not Dalia. Not Bea. Not Deja. Not Nova or Vega. Not even Mandi, whose disguise relied on the remarkable transformation created by her hair, eyes, voice, and manner. Upstairs, Sera remained happily occupied with Nadia, entirely outside the newcomers' sight. For now, the identities were safe. Mandi glanced toward Dalia. Then toward Mira. Her smile widened. Oh, this was going to be spectacular. She raised her water toward Panam. "To Saturday, Owner." Panam stared at her. Then shook her head. "Whatever the fuck you're planning, sweetheart, I hope it's worth the trouble." Mandi smiled. "Darling." She took a drink. "With these two?" Panam raised an eyebrow. Mandi's grin became positively radiant. "Almost certainly." --- ## Chapter 17 — Two Very Interesting Bookings Mira had a problem. A gorgeous problem. With hot-pink dreadlocks, green eyes, and a smile that suggested she could dismantle a woman's composure faster than most people could undo a jacket. The problem was currently leaning against the bar. Smiling at her. And apparently enjoying every second of their conversation. Mira was beginning to suspect she might be in trouble. Excellent. She liked trouble. Especially when it looked like this. "So," Mira said. Dalia raised an eyebrow. "So?" "Tell me something." "That depends on the question." "Do you always flirt like this?" Dalia considered. "Like what?" "Like you're trying to get somebody arrested for public indecency." Dalia laughed. A proper laugh. Warm, whiskey-rough, and thoroughly delighted. "Sweetheart, if I were trying to get you arrested, we'd already have a much more interesting audience." Mira stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck. You're dangerous." Dalia smiled. "Only to people who enjoy it." Mira leaned closer. "Well, that's unfortunate." "Why?" "Because I'm having a wonderful time." "Then we're both in trouble." Deja watched the exchange with undisguised appreciation. Dalia noticed. Of course she did. "Something amusing, sweetheart?" Deja smiled. "Several things." "Such as?" "Your new friend." Mira turned toward her. "Oh?" Deja regarded her. "You're very confident." Mira grinned. "Usually." "And Dalia likes that." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Do I?" Deja looked at her. "Darling." Dalia laughed. Mira smiled at them both. "And what do you like?" Deja considered. "People who know when to listen." Mira nodded thoughtfully. "Good quality." "Very." "And do I qualify?" Deja tilted her head. "You're improving." Mira threw her head back and laughed. Dalia kissed Deja's cheek. "That's my girl." Deja smiled. "I do try, Owner." Mira looked at the two women. Then shook her head. "Jesus Christ. You two are going to ruin me." Dalia leaned closer. "Financially?" Mira grinned. "Among other possibilities." Across the bar, Della was discovering a different problem. Bea. Ice-blue hair. Red eyes. An expression of composed amusement that grew more attractive every time Della attempted to unsettle her. Unfortunately, unsettling Bea was proving remarkably difficult. "So," Della said. Bea looked up. "Yes?" "Are you always this calm?" "Not always." "When aren't you?" Bea smiled. "When somebody gives me a compelling reason." Della laughed. "And what constitutes compelling?" "Surprise me." Della leaned forward. "Well, that's a dangerous invitation." Bea's smile widened. "Only if you're easily intimidated." Della considered. Then nodded. "I like you." "Excellent judgment." "Modest, too." "Among my many virtues." Della burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Bea looked delighted. "Something wrong?" "No." "Good." "I'm beginning to think you could talk me into almost anything." Bea's expression changed slightly. The humor remained. But something firmer appeared beneath it. "Almost anything?" Della caught the distinction. Then smiled. "Anything I actually want." Bea nodded. "Much better." Della raised her glass. "To properly negotiated trouble." Bea touched her own glass against it. "Now you're speaking my language." Mandi had a spectacular view of both conversations. Unfortunately, she also had a serious problem. She wanted to laugh. Very badly. Not her usual laugh. Not the delighted cackle that accompanied one of Dalia's more outrageous remarks. The sort of laughter that required sitting down before her knees stopped functioning. Because Mira and Della were two women she knew extremely well. They had spent time together on Aureate II. In Washington. In company considerably more intimate than the current polite bar conversations suggested. Mira knew Mai. Della knew Elisa. Both knew Ace. Neither had the faintest idea who was standing in front of them. And Mandi could not say a fucking word. She leaned against Panam. Panam glanced down. "What's wrong with you?" Mandi smiled. "Nothing, Owner." "That's the third time you've said that." "Consistency is a virtue." "Not when you look like you're about to explode." Mandi pressed her lips together. Panam narrowed her eyes. "Mandi." Mandi shook her head. "Can't." "Can't what?" "Explain." Panam considered. Then looked toward Dalia and Bea. The two conversations were proceeding beautifully. Nothing obviously wrong. She looked back. "Cover business?" Mandi nodded. Panam understood. Immediately. "Then don't." Mandi smiled with obvious relief. "Thank you." Panam kissed her forehead. "You're welcome." A brief pause. Then Panam added: "But if you start laughing like a fucking hyena, I'm making you sit outside." Mandi lost it. Quietly. Against Panam's shoulder. Mira finally decided she'd done enough talking. Not because the conversation had become boring. Quite the opposite. But because the attraction had become increasingly difficult to ignore. She set down her glass. "Dalia." Dalia turned toward her. "Mira." "Working?" Dalia smiled. "Still." "And available?" "That depends." "On?" "What you're proposing." Mira regarded her. Then smiled. "An hour. Private. No complicated games. Just two women enjoying each other's company." Dalia considered. "Anything specific?" Mira's smile grew mischievous. "Several things." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to elaborate?" "Privately." Dalia laughed. "Sweetheart, that's not how negotiations work." Mira leaned closer. "Then ask." And Dalia did. Directly. Without embarrassment. Mira answered with equal frankness. The resulting conversation was frank enough that Deja eventually raised one eyebrow. "Oh." Mira looked at her. "What?" Deja smiled. "You're ambitious." Mira grinned. "Is that bad?" "Not necessarily." Dalia studied Mira for a moment. Then smiled. "All right." Mira waited. Dalia leaned closer. "Make me a believable offer." Mira laughed. "Oh, I like that." "Good." She considered. Then named a figure. Dalia raised one eyebrow. "Interesting." "Good interesting?" "Not quite convincing interesting." Mira grinned. "Oh, we're negotiating." "We certainly are." "Counteroffer?" Dalia considered. Then named a higher figure. Mira looked at her. Then smiled. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." "That much is obvious." Mira thought for another moment. Then nodded. "Accepted." Dalia's smile widened. "Excellent." They discussed the final terms. Duration. Privacy. Boundaries. What each wanted. What neither wanted. Mira listened carefully. So did Dalia. When they'd finished, Dalia regarded her. "Still interested?" Mira laughed. "More than ever." Dalia smiled. "So am I." Payment cleared. And Mira looked positively delighted. "Well, fuck." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I think I've just made an excellent investment." Dalia laughed. "Darling, you haven't even seen the returns." Mira nearly choked. Deja leaned closer. "Enjoy yourself, Owner." Dalia turned toward her. Her smile softened. "Come here, sweetheart." Deja stepped into her arms. Dalia kissed her. Not a hurried peck. A warm, familiar kiss that left Deja smiling when they separated. Then Dalia reached for the clasp on Deja's collar. Click. The leash came free. Dalia placed it in Deja's hand. "I'm going to be occupied." "I noticed." Dalia laughed. "Behave." Deja smiled angelically. "Of course." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "That's worrying." Deja kissed her again. "Go have fun." "I intend to." Mandi approached close enough to offer Dalia a kiss of her own without pulling away from Panam. Dalia accepted it immediately. Their kiss carried considerably more familiarity than anything she'd exchanged with Mira so far. When they separated, Mandi smiled. "Have a wonderful time, gorgeous." Dalia touched her cheek. "Love you." "Love you too." Then Mandi leaned closer. "Try not to bankrupt the poor woman." Dalia burst out laughing. Mira looked between them. "Should I be concerned?" Dalia took her hand. "Far too late, sweetheart." At the opposite end of the bar, Della had reached her own decision. "Bea." Bea turned. "Yes?" "I'd like to book you." Bea smiled. "I was hoping you might." Della laughed. "Really?" "Yes." "Well, that's flattering." "Intentionally." Della looked at her. "One hour?" "To begin with?" Della grinned. "You've been talking to dangerous people." "Darling, I work here." "Fair." Bea discussed the arrangement with her. The conversation was straightforward. Della wanted privacy. Affection. An intimate encounter if they both continued to want it. Bea listened. Asked what she needed to know. Then smiled. "All right." Della raised an eyebrow. "All right?" "Twenty-five thousand." Della considered. Then smiled. "Accepted." Bea's expression warmed. "Good." "No elaborate negotiation?" "Did you want one?" Della laughed. "Not particularly." "Then why waste a perfectly good evening?" Della grinned. "Oh, you're going to be fun." Bea smiled. "I certainly hope so." They registered the booking with Suzy Q. She looked at the two women. Then at the confirmation. "One hour?" Bea nodded. "Yes." "Room preference?" "Quiet." Suzy checked the availability. Then selected one. "Done." She looked directly at Bea. "Everything okay?" Bea smiled. "Perfectly." Suzy nodded. Then turned toward Della. "Enjoy your evening." Della grinned. "Planning to." As they moved away, Bea glanced briefly toward Mandi. The orange-haired menace was watching. Of course. Bea narrowed her eyes. Mandi placed a hand over her heart. Wouldn't dream of it. Bea's expression answered: You absolutely fucking would. But Mandi didn't speak. Cover discipline. Even she understood when the joke had to remain private. Mira walked beside Dalia toward the private suites. She was enjoying the anticipation. Dalia noticed. "Smiling about something?" Mira turned. "Yes." "Care to share?" "I'm trying to decide whether you're always this outrageous." Dalia considered. "Not always." "Really?" "Sometimes I'm asleep." Mira burst out laughing. "Oh, you bitch." Dalia grinned. "You're welcome." At the door, Mira stopped. Looked at her. Then asked: "One more question." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Go on." "Are you genuinely interested?" Dalia's expression changed. The teasing softened. "Yes." Mira studied her. "Not just being professional?" Dalia smiled. "Sweetheart, I can be professional without pretending to like somebody." Mira's expression warmed. "And you like me?" Dalia stepped closer. "I do." That was enough. Mira kissed her. Right there in the corridor. Dalia answered immediately. When they separated, Mira smiled. "Good." Dalia laughed. "Now who's impatient?" "Me. Obviously." "Excellent." She opened the door. "After you." The suite was comfortably furnished. Mira glanced around. Then looked at Dalia. "Nice." Dalia smiled. "Planning to inspect the furniture?" "Only if it disappoints me." "Terribly demanding." "I've been told." Dalia stepped closer. "Come here." Mira turned. Their second kiss was different. No corridor. No audience. No need to perform composure for passing customers. Mira rested her hands at Dalia's waist. Dalia caught her face gently. The kiss deepened into something warmer and more certain. When they separated, Mira breathed out a laugh. "Well, fuck." Dalia smiled. "That seems to be your favorite expression." "At the moment? Yes." "Good." Mira touched her cheek. "You're gorgeous." Dalia laughed softly. "Tell me something I don't know." Mira grinned. "You're also a spectacular pain in the ass." Dalia burst out laughing. "Oh, I like you." "Excellent. I was getting worried." "Clearly." Then Dalia kissed her again. Mira liked her confidence. Really liked it. Dalia didn't hesitate when she wanted affection. Didn't make a game of avoiding a kiss she'd already decided she wanted. And she didn't confuse flirtation with permission. When something needed asking, she asked. When Mira answered, she listened. It made everything easier. And considerably more attractive. They settled together on the sofa. Talked. Kissed. Laughed when Mira made an appalling joke. Then gradually let the intimacy grow. Dalia enjoyed Mira's directness. Her warmth. The way she smiled as though discovering an entirely new reason to be pleased with her evening. At one point Mira caught Dalia's hand and held it. Dalia looked at her. "What?" Mira smiled. "Nothing." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "That answer is usually trouble." "Then you're in excellent company." Dalia laughed. Mira drew her closer. Their kiss lingered. And the humor between them settled into genuine affection. The attraction was real. So was the booking. Neither fact diminished the other. They spent their agreed time together as consenting adults who found one another thoroughly appealing. There was intimacy, warmth, and occasional laughter when one of them said something outrageous at precisely the wrong moment. Dalia discovered that Mira could be unexpectedly gentle beneath her formidable confidence. Mira discovered that Dalia's wicked mouth was quite capable of tenderness. And both enjoyed the discovery. At one point Mira rested her forehead against Dalia's. "You know something?" Dalia smiled. "What?" "I'm very glad I came over." "So am I." Mira looked at her. "Really?" Dalia kissed her. "Really." The answer pleased Mira more than she'd expected. She drew Dalia closer. And Dalia went willingly. --- In another suite, Della was making a similar discovery. Bea was different in private. Not unrecognizable. Not transformed into some entirely new personality. But less guarded. The composure remained. So did the sharp humor. Yet there was an ease to her when she no longer needed to monitor the room around them. Della liked it. "You know," she said. Bea raised an eyebrow. "That sounds ominous." "I haven't said anything yet." "Which is exactly why I'm worried." Della laughed. Then looked at her. "You're even prettier up close." Bea smiled. "Flattery?" "Observation." "Professional?" "Very." Bea laughed. "Terrible answer." Della stepped closer. "Can I improve it?" "Please." Della kissed her. Bea answered warmly. When they separated, she smiled. "Much better." They talked first. Not because either was reluctant. Because they were enjoying themselves. Della had a wonderfully irreverent way of describing people. Bea could answer almost anything without losing her composure. Together, that became a rather dangerous combination. At one point Della made a remark so outrageous that Bea stopped. Looked at her. Then began laughing. Properly. Della stared. "Oh." Bea recovered. "What?" "That." "What?" "Your laugh." Bea raised an eyebrow. Della smiled. "I like it." For a moment Bea's expression softened. "Thank you." Della touched her cheek. "You're welcome." Then Bea leaned forward and kissed her. Not to silence her. Not to escape the compliment. Because she wanted to. Della welcomed the affection. Very much. Their closeness grew naturally. Bea liked Della's confidence. Della liked Bea's attentiveness. Neither needed a complicated performance. They could ask. Answer. Laugh. Kiss. And enjoy the attraction that had developed so quickly between them. At one point Della rested her forehead against Bea's. "Comfortable?" Bea smiled. "Very." "Good." "And you?" Della laughed softly. "Darling, I'm beginning to think twenty-five thousand was a bargain." Bea stared. Then laughed. "Oh, don't tell Dalia." Della raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Bea smiled. "She'll start charging admission to the negotiations." Della burst out laughing. "Fuck. I like her too." Bea's smile warmed. "So do I." The remark was simple. Entirely safe. Della had no reason to suspect that the affection behind it extended beyond professional friendship. And Bea had no intention of providing one. --- Later, the intimacy between them settled into a comfortable stillness. Della lay close beside Bea. One arm around her. Bea rested against her shoulder. Neither was in any hurry to start making jokes again. Eventually Della kissed her forehead. Bea smiled. "Something on your mind?" Della considered. "Yes." "Oh?" "You're very good company." Bea laughed softly. "High praise." "I mean it." Bea lifted her head. Met her eyes. Then smiled. "Thank you." Della brushed a strand of ice-blue hair away from her face. "You're welcome." They kissed. Warmly. Without urgency. Then Della sighed. "Well." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "I think I'm going to remember this evening." Bea smiled. "So am I." Mira, meanwhile, was discovering that Dalia could make even ordinary conversation sound scandalous. They'd moved into the comfortable aftermath of their encounter. Both relaxed. Both pleased. Mira was sitting beside her, one arm around her shoulders. Dalia had accepted the arrangement without complaint. "Tell me something," Mira said. Dalia looked up. "Again?" "I ask excellent questions." "You certainly ask a lot of them." Mira laughed. "Are you always this difficult?" Dalia considered. "Only with people I like." "Then I'm honored." "You should be." Mira kissed her. Dalia answered. Then smiled. "You're very pleased with yourself." Mira grinned. "Extremely." "Good." They remained close for another moment. Then Mira glanced at the clock. "Unfortunately, I think we're running out of time." Dalia followed her gaze. "Apparently." Mira sighed. "Terrible business." Dalia laughed. "Absolutely." Mira looked at her. "Would you take another booking from me?" Dalia considered. Then smiled. "Perhaps." Mira raised an eyebrow. "That's not a no." "No." "Good." Dalia touched her cheek. "Ask properly next time." Mira smiled. "Through you?" "Through me." "Not Madame?" Dalia laughed. "Darling, she's already stealing my catchphrase. I'm not giving her my business too." Mira burst out laughing. Della wasn't particularly eager to leave Bea either. Unfortunately, the booking had a conclusion. They both knew it. And neither had any intention of pretending otherwise. Della straightened her jacket. Bea checked her hair. ChromeLock V2 had already begun restoring the precise shape of her bob. Della watched. Then laughed. "What?" "Your hair." Bea looked at her reflection. "Yes?" "It's fixing itself." "Mostly." "That's ridiculous." "Terribly convenient." Della grinned. "Can you teach mine to do that?" Bea laughed. "Darling, that's a conversation for a very expensive stylist." Della looked at her. Then smiled. "I might have to book you again just to get the recommendation." Bea raised an eyebrow. "That would be a spectacularly inefficient use of your money." Della laughed. "Possibly." Then she stepped closer. "But I might find other reasons." Bea smiled. "I suspect you could." They kissed once more. A warm goodbye. And then returned to the lounge together. Mira and Dalia emerged a few minutes later. Mira looked very pleased. Dalia looked equally pleased. And Deja, who noticed them returning, immediately smiled. She approached. "Hello, Owner." Dalia's expression softened. "Hello, sweetheart." Deja slipped into her arms. Dalia kissed her. Held her close. Then looked at her properly. "Enjoy yourself while I was gone?" Deja smiled. "Very much." "Good." Mira watched the exchange. There was something appealing about the easy affection between them. Then Dalia turned back toward her. "Thank you for a wonderful booking." Mira smiled. "Thank you." They kissed. Briefly. Warmly. No attempt to pretend the encounter had created obligations neither had offered. Then Mira stepped back. "I'll see you around." Dalia smiled. "Perhaps." Mira laughed. "Still making me work for it." "Naturally." Mira grinned. And headed toward the bar. Dalia turned back to Deja. "Come here." Deja offered her leash. Dalia accepted it. Click. The familiar clasp settled into place. Deja kissed her cheek. "Good booking?" Dalia smiled. "Very." "Anything you need?" Dalia considered. "Water." "Done." "And a kiss." Deja laughed. "Greedy." "Terribly." Deja kissed her. Dalia answered with obvious pleasure. Then Mandi approached with Panam. Mandi had been watching. Of course. Dalia saw her coming. "Oh, no." Mandi smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Dalia laughed. "Hello, menace." Mandi leaned in. Their kiss was familiar and affectionate. When they separated, she touched Dalia's cheek. "Happy?" Dalia nodded. "Very." "Good." For a moment neither joked. Mandi simply held her. Dalia leaned into the embrace. Then Mandi whispered: "Still charging more than me, apparently." Dalia burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you!" Mandi grinned. "Darling, you know I love you." Dalia kissed her again. "Unfortunately." At the bar, Suzy checked on Bea. "Everything okay?" Bea smiled. "Very." "Need anything?" "Water." "Done." Suzy passed her a glass. Then regarded her. "Break?" Bea considered. "Ten minutes." "Take them." Della was still nearby. She smiled. "Thank you again." Bea turned toward her. "You're welcome." Della touched her arm. "I meant what I said." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Which part?" Della laughed. "That I'd like to see you again." Bea's expression warmed. "Then ask." Della smiled. "I will." One final kiss. Then Della went to find Mira. Bea watched her leave. The smile on her face lingered. Well. That had been unexpectedly delightful. --- Mira and Della met near the bar. Both stopped. Looked at one another. Then began smiling. "Oh," Mira said. Della raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Mira folded her arms. "Don't." Della laughed. "I haven't said anything." "You were going to." "Naturally." Mira looked her over. Then grinned. "Good evening?" Della smiled. "Very." Mira nodded. "Same." A pause. Then Della tilted her head. "So." Mira narrowed her eyes. "No." "Was she worth it?" Mira laughed. "Oh, fuck yes." Della burst out laughing. "Good." Mira looked at her. "And yours?" Della's smile became radiant. "Absolutely." They touched glasses. Two very happy women. Two excellent bookings. And not the slightest idea that they'd spent the evening with people they already knew. Bea approached Dalia a little later. Both women had taken a break. Dalia had water. Bea had water. Deja sat beside Dalia, leaning comfortably against her shoulder. Mandi was nearby with Panam. Bea looked at Dalia. Dalia looked back. For a moment neither spoke. Then Bea smiled. "Well." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "Interesting Saturday." Dalia laughed softly. "Very." Bea took a drink. Then glanced toward Mira and Della. They were laughing together. Entirely oblivious. Bea shook her head. "Unbelievable." Dalia grinned. "Darling, you have no idea." Bea turned. Looked at her. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, I think I have some idea." Mandi made a tiny noise. Both women turned toward her. Mandi looked innocent. Utterly. Magnificently. Unconvincingly innocent. Dalia pointed at her. "Don't." Mandi held up her hands. "I said nothing!" Bea narrowed her eyes. "Keep it that way." Mandi smiled. "Professional discretion." Dalia laughed. Bea closed her eyes. "Oh, that's going to become your favorite excuse, isn't it?" Mandi considered. Then grinned. "Probably." Nadia and Sera had remained upstairs while the two visitors enjoyed their bookings. Neither was involved in the negotiations. Neither needed to be. Downstairs, the remaining members of the group were behaving with unusual discretion. Unusual for Mandi, at least. She watched Mira and Della finish their drinks. Watched them laugh. Watched them exchange a few words with Suzy. Then watched them leave together. Neither looked back with recognition. Neither knew what had happened beyond the two enjoyable bookings they'd chosen. The covers had held. Completely. Mandi breathed out. Panam noticed. "Everything okay?" Mandi smiled. "Everything, Owner." Panam studied her. Then nodded. "Good." Mandi leaned closer and kissed her. Panam answered warmly. When they separated, she touched Mandi's cheek. "You're being remarkably quiet." Mandi grinned. "Enjoy it while it lasts." Panam groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Dalia watched the entrance close behind Mira and Della. Then turned toward Bea. Their eyes met. And both women began smiling. Bea spoke first. "That was a very good booking." Dalia nodded. "Mine too." Mandi looked between them. Then covered her mouth. Dalia narrowed her eyes. "Mandi." Mandi shook her head. Still smiling. Still silent. Bea raised an eyebrow. "Well. That's a first." Panam laughed. "What?" Dalia pointed toward Mandi. "She's actually keeping her mouth shut." Panam looked impressed. "Should we call Victor?" Mandi burst out laughing. "OWNER!" Dalia leaned closer. Kissed her. Then smiled against her mouth. "Love you, gorgeous." Mandi's expression softened. "Love you too." Bea watched them. Then shook her head. A smile still on her face. She liked this life. The work. The choices. The unexpected connections. The affectionate chaos of people who knew her well enough to tease her mercilessly. And the extraordinary satisfaction of knowing that the woman who had just enjoyed an intimate hour with Bea had absolutely no idea she knew Elisa. Not a clue. Bea picked up her water. Dalia raised her glass toward her. Bea answered the gesture. Mandi grinned. Panam looked between them. Then sighed. "Somebody's going to explain this to me eventually." Dalia smiled. "Perhaps." Bea laughed. "Not tonight." Mandi leaned against Panam's shoulder. And whispered: "Trust me, Owner." Panam narrowed her eyes. Mandi's grin widened. "Monday breakfast is going to be fucking magnificent." --- ## Chapter 18 — The Woman Nova Chose Deja had reached a conclusion. A rather irritating conclusion, actually. She was being wasted. Not professionally. She had been enjoying herself. Not socially. Her friends were providing more entertainment than any sane person could reasonably demand. And certainly not romantically, because Dalia had been making sure she felt thoroughly appreciated. But there was only so much time a woman could spend watching other people negotiate spectacular bookings before she began wondering why she wasn't doing the same. Deja looked at the glass in her hand. Then at Dalia. Then at Mandi. Who was still smiling about something. Probably Mira and Della. Possibly yesterday's zero-eddie adventure. Almost certainly something Dalia would object to. Deja sighed. Dalia noticed immediately. "Something wrong, sweetheart?" "No." "Sure?" "Quite." Deja looked toward the lounge. Then back at her owner. "Although I'm beginning to suspect you've been keeping me as decorative furniture." Dalia blinked. Mandi turned. Panam raised an eyebrow. Deja smiled pleasantly. "Very expensive furniture, admittedly." Silence. Then Mandi exploded. "OH, FUCK!" Dalia stared at her. "Excuse me?" Deja tilted her head. "Would you prefer ornamental companion?" Panam burst out laughing. Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, you absolute bitch." Deja kissed her cheek. "Love you too, Owner." Dalia recovered. Eventually. She rested a hand against Deja's waist and studied her properly. "You want to work?" Deja nodded. "I do." "Your own booking?" "Preferably." Dalia smiled. "Then find somebody." Deja glanced toward the lounge. "I've been considering it." Mandi leaned closer. "Oh?" Deja looked at her. "Yes." "Anyone interesting?" "Possibly." Dalia followed her gaze. A man stood near the end of the bar, watching the room with an expression of quiet amusement. He wasn't spectacularly dressed. He didn't look wealthy enough to purchase a minor corporation on impulse. But there was something appealing about him. Relaxed posture. Intelligent eyes. And a smile that suggested he wasn't particularly interested in impressing people. Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Him?" Deja nodded. Mandi considered. "Not bad." Deja glanced at her. "Thank you for your expert assessment of a man you haven't spoken to." Mandi grinned. "Anytime, gorgeous." Deja returned her attention to Dalia. "May I have my leash?" Dalia's expression softened. "Of course." She drew Deja close. Kissed her. Then touched her cheek. "Want to approach him yourself?" "Yes." "Good." Dalia reached for the clasp. Click. She placed the leash in Deja's hand. "Go see whether he's worth your time, sweetheart." Deja smiled. "Love you." "Love you too." Mandi watched her depart. Then turned toward Dalia. "She's going to eat him alive." Dalia smiled. "Only if he asks nicely." Panam nearly spilled her drink. The man saw Deja approaching. His eyes moved over her ivory outfit. The venom-dark hair. The warm amber eyes. Then returned to her face. He smiled. "Hello." Deja stopped in front of him. "Hello." A pause. He waited. Deja regarded him thoughtfully. "You're either very patient or very bad at starting conversations." He laughed. "Little of both." "Promising." "Is it?" "Depends on whether you improve." He grinned. "Well, this is going well." Deja smiled. The expression was warm enough to be disarming. The words that followed weren't. "You've been looking at me for twenty minutes. I thought I'd save you from another twenty of pretending to admire the lighting." He stared. Then laughed properly. "Oh, shit." "Exactly." "Was I that obvious?" "Painfully." He looked at her. Then smiled. "All right. You caught me." "Excellent. What happens next?" He considered. "May I buy you a drink?" Deja's smile widened. "See? Improvement." His name was Adrian. He worked with architectural restoration systems. Not an artist. Not an engineer in the conventional sense. Somebody whose job involved making obsolete buildings function without destroying the things that made them worth preserving. Deja found that interesting. More interesting than she'd expected. He liked his work. He was capable of explaining it without delivering an unsolicited lecture. And he could answer a question directly. That was particularly attractive. "So," Adrian said eventually. "So?" "You work here?" "Sometimes." "Working tonight?" "Considering it." He smiled. "Could I interest you?" Deja studied him. "You might." "What would help?" "Tell me what you're looking for." He answered. No theatrical demands. No attempt to impress her with an extravagant fantasy. He wanted an evening with a woman he found attractive. Conversation. Affection. Privacy. And the possibility of discovering whether they enjoyed one another beyond the bar. Deja listened. Then asked another question. He answered. And another. Again, a straightforward answer. Finally he smiled. "Am I being interviewed?" Deja considered. "Yes." He laughed. "For what position?" She looked at him with an expression of absolute sweetness. "Potentially an extremely enjoyable one." Adrian stared. Then laughed so hard he had to put his drink down. Deja decided she liked him. At the bar, Dalia was watching. Not anxiously. Not because she doubted Deja's judgment. Because she loved watching her work. Especially the moment when somebody discovered that the gentle-looking woman in ivory had a mouth sharp enough to cut armored glass. Adrian was laughing. Deja was smiling. Mandi leaned closer. "Looks promising." Dalia nodded. "It does." Panam glanced toward them. "Your girl's doing well." Dalia smiled. "She is." Mandi tilted her head. "Proud?" Dalia looked at her. "Very." No joke. No performance. Just the answer. Mandi smiled. Then kissed Dalia's cheek. "Good." Deja returned with Adrian several minutes later. She approached Dalia directly. "Owner." Dalia smiled. "Hello, sweetheart." Deja leaned in for a kiss. Dalia welcomed her. When they separated, Deja turned toward Adrian. "This is Dalia." He smiled. "Pleasure." Dalia regarded him. "Potentially." Deja closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Adrian burst out laughing. Dalia grinned. "What?" "Nothing, Owner." Deja looked at Adrian. "She's normally worse." Dalia placed a hand over her heart. "Betrayal." "Accuracy." Adrian laughed again. Then looked at Dalia's hand. The one holding the structure Deja had chosen. He considered. "Do I negotiate with you?" Deja answered before Dalia could. "No." He turned. She smiled. "You negotiate with me." Dalia's expression warmed. Adrian nodded. "Understood." Deja continued. "Dalia is my owner. She's not my accountant." Mandi made a strangled noise. Dalia stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart. I fucking adore you." Deja kissed her. "I know." The negotiation was entirely Deja's. Adrian explained what he wanted. Deja explained what she was prepared to offer. He asked about the price. She named it. One hundred and twenty thousand eddies for two hours. Adrian considered. Then smiled. "All right." Deja raised an eyebrow. "That easy?" "Would you prefer an argument?" "Not particularly." "Then accepted." She smiled. "Good." Dalia watched without interfering. Deja handled the conversation herself. Checked the terms. Asked whether he wanted anything they hadn't discussed. Made clear that anything beyond their agreement required a new conversation. Adrian listened. Then nodded. "Works for me." Deja considered him. Finally she smiled. "Then it works for me too." Payment was arranged. Suzy confirmed the room. And Deja turned toward Dalia. "Owner?" Dalia stepped closer. Touched her cheek. "Happy?" "Very." "Anything you want changed?" "No." Dalia kissed her. Long enough that Adrian politely looked away. When they separated, Deja's expression had softened considerably. Dalia brushed a strand of dark green hair away from her face. "Have a wonderful time, sweetheart." Deja smiled. "Planning to." She turned toward Adrian. "Come on." He offered his arm. Deja accepted it. As they walked away, Dalia called after her: "Try not to bankrupt the man!" Deja didn't turn. She simply raised one hand. And extended her middle finger. Mandi collapsed against Panam. "OH, I LOVE HER!" --- The private suite was comfortable. Adrian looked around. Then smiled. "Nice." Deja placed her handbag beside the sofa. "You're easily impressed." "Only by good design." She turned. "Careful. That almost sounded charming." He laughed. "Is that allowed?" "Occasionally." She approached. Stopped in front of him. Then looked directly into his eyes. "Before anything else, one question." "Of course." "Are you always this polite?" Adrian considered. "Usually." "How unfortunate." He laughed. "Why?" Deja smiled. "Because I'm going to enjoy making you forget a few manners." His expression changed. Surprise. Interest. And then laughter. "Oh, you're dangerous." Deja stepped closer. "Darling, you have no fucking idea." Their first kiss was gentle. Which surprised Adrian. Not because he'd expected roughness. Because everything Deja had said suggested the sort of woman who might kiss somebody as though she'd just won an argument. Instead, she touched his cheek. Drew him closer. And kissed him with unhurried affection. When they separated, he smiled. "Well." Deja raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That was lovely." She considered. Then kissed him again. Longer. He answered warmly. When they separated, Deja smiled. "Better than the lighting?" He burst out laughing. "Considerably." "Excellent." They sat together. Talked. Kissed again. Adrian discovered that Deja enjoyed being held close. Deja discovered that Adrian could make her laugh without trying too hard. And both found the combination increasingly appealing. At one point Adrian looked at her. "Can I ask something?" "Of course." "Do people underestimate you?" Deja considered. "Constantly." "Because of how you look?" "Usually." He smiled. "Must be annoying." "Sometimes." "And other times?" She looked at him with those warm amber eyes. "Other times I get to watch their faces when they discover their mistake." Adrian laughed. "Like mine?" "Exactly like yours." He grinned. "I deserved that." "Yes." She kissed him. "And you're taking it remarkably well." They drew closer. The evening became more intimate, their early teasing giving way to a quieter kind of attention. Deja enjoyed the fact that Adrian listened without making her repeat herself. She liked his warmth. His steady affection. And the way he smiled whenever she surprised him. For her, this was the satisfying part of professional work. Not the price. Not the costume. Not the collar waiting to be clipped back into place afterward. The encounter itself. Discovering another person. Finding attraction. Making something enjoyable together. Later, Adrian sat beside her with a thoroughly contented expression. Deja was leaning against his shoulder. Her dark green hair had fallen slightly out of its careful arrangement. She made no immediate attempt to correct it. He looked down at her. "Well." Deja opened one eye. "Again?" He laughed. "Sorry." "Terrible conversational habit." "I'll work on it." "Please do." He smiled. Then grew more thoughtful. "Thank you." Deja lifted her head. "For what?" "For being exactly who you are." She considered that. Then smiled. "That's an unusually good answer." "I've been practicing." She kissed him. "Keep practicing." He laughed softly. They remained together for a while. Talking. Enjoying the comfortable warmth of an encounter that had gone better than either expected. Eventually Deja sat up. Looked at the time. Then at him. "Well." Adrian raised an eyebrow. She closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." He burst out laughing. "Terrible habit?" "Apparently contagious." Deja returned to the lounge looking extremely pleased. Not triumphant. Not performing satisfaction for the audience. Just happy. Dalia saw her immediately. Her expression softened. Deja approached. Stopped. Then smiled. "Hello, Owner." Dalia opened her arms. "Come here, sweetheart." Deja stepped into the embrace. Dalia held her. Properly. One hand settled against her back. The other touched her hair. Deja rested her head against Dalia's shoulder. For a while neither spoke. Dalia kissed her temple. "How're you feeling?" Deja smiled. "Wonderful." "Anything uncomfortable?" "No." "Anything you want to talk about?" Deja considered. Then laughed softly. "Several things." Dalia smiled. "Good." She drew back enough to look at her. "Thirsty?" "Very." "Hungry?" "Possibly." Dalia kissed her again. "Then you're not going anywhere until we've fixed both." Deja's expression warmed. "Yes, Owner." Click. Dalia secured the leash. Then guided Deja toward a quieter seat. Water arrived. Food followed. Dalia sat beside her. And listened. Deja told her about Adrian. The conversation. The terrible opening line. The fact that he'd been unexpectedly funny. And how much she'd enjoyed making him laugh. Dalia smiled. "Sounds like you picked well." "I did." "Would you take him again?" Deja considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Good." Mandi approached a little later. Saw Deja eating. Then looked at Dalia. "Everything okay?" Dalia nodded. "Very." Mandi smiled. "Good." She sat beside them. Deja regarded her. Then smiled sweetly. "Before you ask, yes, I actually charged him." Mandi stared. Dalia burst out laughing. "Oh, you bitch." Deja took a drink. "Learned from the best." Mandi looked offended. "Darling!" Deja raised an eyebrow. "What?" "That was unnecessarily cruel." Deja smiled. "Accurate, though." Dalia kissed her hair. "That's my girl." --- Nova, meanwhile, had noticed a woman. And hadn't been able to stop looking. Not because the woman was trying to attract attention. Quite the opposite. She was sitting near the lounge, reading something on her agent while the world continued around her. Short auburn hair. An elegant dark dress. A face that was beautiful in a way Nova found immediately appealing. Then the woman looked up. Their eyes met. She smiled. Nova smiled back. The woman returned to her agent. Nova watched for another moment. Then turned toward Vega. "Well." Vega followed her gaze. "Oh." Nova raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Vega smiled. "She's beautiful." "Yes." "Going to talk to her?" Nova considered. Then nodded. "I think so." Vega grinned. "Want company?" Nova looked at her. Then smiled. "Maybe later." Vega raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nova's smile became more deliberate. "Depends how the conversation goes." The woman noticed Nova approaching. Looked up. Then smiled. "Hello." Nova smiled back. "Hello." "Can I help you?" "Possibly." The woman laughed softly. "Promising." Nova gestured toward the empty chair. "May I?" "Please." Nova sat. They introduced themselves. The woman's name was Celeste. She was visiting Night City for several days. Not her first visit. Not her favorite city. But apparently becoming a more interesting one. Nova smiled. "Why?" Celeste looked at her. Then smiled. "Recent developments." Nova laughed. "Oh, that's a good answer." "I thought so." They talked. Not particularly about work. About places. People. The ridiculous things visitors were told about Night City. Eventually Celeste glanced toward Nova's collar. "Working tonight?" Nova nodded. "Yes." Celeste considered. Then smiled. "Would you be interested in a booking?" Nova studied her. The attractive face. The easy smile. The sense of humor. Then nodded. "Yes." Celeste's expression brightened. "Good." Nova leaned closer. "Although I have a question." "Ask." "Would you mind if someone accompanied us?" Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Someone?" "An observer." Celeste considered. Nova continued. "She wouldn't participate. She'd simply be present, if you're comfortable with that." Celeste looked interested. "Someone you know?" "Very well." "Professional?" "Yes." Celeste smiled. "Would I meet her first?" "Of course." "Then let's talk." Vega approached when Nova called her over. She was smiling. Not theatrically. Just curious. "Hello." Celeste looked up. Then smiled. "Oh." Vega raised an eyebrow. "Good oh?" Celeste laughed. "Very." Nova grinned. "Celeste, this is Vega." "Pleasure." "Likewise." Nova explained. Vega was her professional partner. They sometimes worked together. Tonight, Nova wanted Vega present as an observer. Nothing more. Celeste asked a few questions. Vega answered directly. No participation. No expectation that she would join the booking physically. And if any of the three women became uncomfortable, the arrangement would change or end. Celeste considered. Then smiled. "I'd be interested." Nova looked at Vega. Vega smiled. "So would I." Nova's expression brightened. "Good." Then she turned toward Celeste. "Let's find Madame." Panam listened to the proposal. Carefully. The client was interested in Nova. Vega would accompany them. As an observer. Not a participant. Panam asked for specifics. Celeste answered. Nova clarified what she wanted. Vega confirmed her own limits. Panam looked at all three women. Then nodded. "All right." Celeste waited. Panam smiled. "Make me a believable offer." Celeste considered. Then named her figure. "Two hundred thousand eddies. Two hours. Both women's time included." Panam studied her. No immediate answer. Then: "You understand Vega isn't participating?" "Yes." "And you're paying for her presence, not for permission to persuade her?" Celeste smiled. "Exactly." Panam considered. Then looked toward Nova. Nova's expression was unmistakable. Interested. Very interested. Panam looked back at Celeste. "That's an offer worth discussing." They settled the remaining details. Privacy. No recordings. No additional participants. The arrangement could end if any of them wanted it to. Then Panam turned toward Vega. "Interested, sweetheart?" Vega nodded. "Yes." Panam looked at Nova. "And you?" Nova met Celeste's eyes. Then smiled. "Very." Panam nodded. "Then we have an arrangement." Payment cleared. Panam approached Vega first. "Come here, sweetheart." Vega stepped into her arms. Panam kissed her. Then touched her cheek. "Comfortable?" "Yes, Owner." "Anything you want changed?" "No." Panam smiled. "Good." Click. Vega's leash came free. Panam handed it to her. Then turned toward Nova. "Your turn, beautiful." Nova approached. Panam drew her close. Kissed her warmly. "Happy?" Nova smiled. "Very." Panam studied her. Then smiled too. "Thought so." Click. Nova's leash came free. Panam placed it in her hand. Then touched both women's cheeks. "Enjoy yourselves." Vega smiled. "Thank you, Owner." Nova kissed Panam once more. "Love you." "Love you too, sweetheart." Then Nova turned toward Celeste. "Shall we?" Celeste offered her hand. "Gladly." --- The suite was comfortable. Celeste looked around. Then smiled. "Well." Nova laughed. "Well?" "This is going to be interesting." Vega leaned against the wall. "That's generally the idea." Celeste laughed. Then turned toward Nova. "May I kiss you?" Nova smiled. "Please." Celeste stepped closer. Their first kiss was gentle. Exploratory. Then warmer. Nova's hand settled against Celeste's cheek. Celeste drew her a little closer. When they separated, Nova was smiling. "Oh." Celeste laughed softly. "Oh?" Nova kissed her again. Vega watched from her chair. Quietly. Without interrupting. She liked seeing Nova happy. And Nova was very clearly enjoying herself. Celeste turned out to be an excellent conversationalist. Which Nova had already suspected. But she was also wonderfully direct. She didn't pretend Vega wasn't present. Didn't try to make the observer uncomfortable. Instead, after another kiss, she looked toward her. "Am I doing all right?" Vega raised an eyebrow. Nova burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Celeste smiled. "What?" Vega considered. Then answered calmly. "I'd say Nova's expression is a fairly reliable indicator." Celeste looked back. Nova grinned. "Very reliable." Celeste laughed. Then kissed her. "Good." Vega settled more comfortably into her seat. Her role was clear. She was there because Nova had wanted her there. Celeste had agreed. And Vega herself enjoyed observing without becoming part of the encounter. That was enough. Nova and Celeste spent the next part of the booking becoming more comfortable together. There were kisses. Affection. Moments of quiet conversation. And the growing certainty that they genuinely liked one another. Celeste was attentive. Nova was increasingly relaxed. And Vega, observing from her chair, found herself smiling more often than she'd expected. At one point Nova looked toward her. Their eyes met. A brief smile passed between them. Celeste noticed. "Everything all right?" Nova turned back. "Very." Celeste smiled. "Good." Then Nova drew her closer. The encounter became intimate, with Celeste and Nova sharing the affection and sexual closeness they'd agreed upon. Vega remained an observer throughout. She didn't join them. Didn't touch either woman. And didn't allow her presence to become something Celeste hadn't agreed to. For Nova, the arrangement worked beautifully. She enjoyed Celeste. And she enjoyed knowing Vega was there. The two things coexisted without requiring explanation. Later, Nova rested close to Celeste. Vega was still nearby. Reading something on her agent. Celeste looked toward her. Then laughed softly. "What?" Vega looked up. "Nothing." Celeste smiled. "You're very calm." Vega considered. "Occupational skill." Nova burst out laughing. "Oh, bullshit." Vega raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Nova grinned. "You're enjoying yourself." Vega smiled. "Possibly." Celeste laughed. "Good." She turned toward Nova. "Have you enjoyed yourself?" Nova looked at her. Then smiled. "Very much." Celeste's expression warmed. "I'm glad." Nova kissed her. "Me too." They remained close for a while. Talking. Occasionally laughing. Enjoying the warmth of an encounter that had developed exactly as they wanted. Eventually Celeste looked toward Vega again. "Thank you for coming." Vega smiled. "You're welcome." Celeste considered. Then laughed. "I suspect that's a sentence I should phrase more carefully." Nova collapsed into laughter. Vega closed her eyes. Then smiled sweetly. "Darling, I chose not to comment." Celeste laughed harder. When the booking ended, all three women returned to the lounge together. Celeste thanked Nova. Then Vega. Both women smiled. Their goodbyes were warm. Uncomplicated. And entirely free of awkwardness. Celeste departed looking thoroughly pleased. Nova watched her go. Then turned toward Panam. Panam was already approaching. "Hello, beautiful." Nova stepped straight into her arms. "Hello, Owner." Panam held her. Kissed her cheek. Then rested her forehead against hers. "Good?" Nova nodded. "Very." "Everything okay?" "Everything." Panam smiled. "Wonderful." Nova offered her leash. Click. Panam secured it. Then turned toward Vega. "Come here, sweetheart." Vega approached. Panam kissed her. Held her close. "How about you?" Vega smiled. "Wonderful." "Comfortable the whole time?" "Yes." Panam touched her cheek. "Good." Vega offered her leash. Click. Panam secured it. Then drew both women closer. "Water?" Two immediate nods. Panam laughed. "Thought so." They settled together. Water first. Then food. Panam stayed with them. Nova talked about Celeste. About how attractive she'd found her. How funny. How unexpectedly easy it had been to enjoy the arrangement with Vega present. Vega listened. Occasionally contributed. And eventually leaned against Panam. "Good evening, Owner." Panam kissed her hair. "Sounds like it." Nova smiled. "Very." Panam looked at both of them. "Want to work more?" Nova considered. Then shook her head. "Not tonight." Vega nodded. "Same." Panam smiled. "Then you're done." No argument. No reminder of waiting customers. She kissed Nova. Then Vega. And settled between them while they finished their food. Deja had been watching from across the bar. Dalia noticed. "Something interesting?" Deja smiled. "Several things." Dalia followed her gaze. Nova and Vega sat close to Panam, relaxed and happy. "Good bookings." Deja nodded. "Very." Then she turned toward Dalia. "Owner?" "Yes, sweetheart?" Deja considered. Then smiled. "I'd like to do this more often." Dalia studied her. "Work?" "Yes." "Your own bookings?" "Yes." Dalia smiled. "Then you should." Deja leaned closer. Kissed her. Not hurriedly. Not for an audience. A warm, affectionate kiss that left Dalia smiling when they separated. "Thank you," Deja whispered. Dalia touched her cheek. "For what?" "For letting me discover that I enjoy this." Dalia's expression softened. "Sweetheart, you did the discovering." Deja smiled. "Yes." Dalia kissed her forehead. "And I'm proud of you." Deja rested against her. For a moment she said nothing. Then: "Good." Dalia laughed softly. "Good?" Deja looked up. "Because I was beginning to suspect I'd need to invoice you for emotional support." Dalia burst out laughing. "Oh, you absolute bitch." Deja smiled. "Soft face." Dalia grinned. "Sharp mouth." They kissed again. Mandi approached with Panam. She looked at Deja. Then Dalia. Then smiled. "Well." Deja raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "Apparently our little furniture problem has been resolved." Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus." Deja smiled sweetly. "Yes." Mandi grinned. "Happy?" "Very." "Good booking?" "Excellent." Mandi looked delighted. "Wonderful." Deja took a sip of water. Then added calmly: "And unlike certain people, I managed to generate revenue." Silence. Dalia stared. Panam covered her mouth. Mandi blinked. Once. Twice. Then burst out laughing. "OH, YOU FUCKING MENACE!" Deja smiled. "Thank you." Dalia leaned against the bar. Laughing helplessly. Panam shook her head. "She's getting worse." Deja looked at her. "Better, Owner. The word is better." Dalia lost it completely. Nadia and Sera returned from upstairs a little later. Sera immediately noticed that everybody was laughing. She looked at Panam. "What happened?" Panam shook her head. "Deja." Sera turned. Deja smiled. "Hello." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Should I ask?" Mandi opened her mouth. Deja lifted one finger. Mandi closed it. Nadia stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, I like you." Deja smiled. "Excellent judgment." Sera laughed. Panam kissed her cheek. "Good rest?" Sera nodded. "Wonderful." Nadia slipped an arm around Panam. Then kissed her. "Miss us?" "Obviously." Sera leaned closer. Panam welcomed her into the embrace. Three women. Warm. Happy. Entirely comfortable together. Nadia looked toward Deja again. The ivory-clad woman was talking with Dalia. Smiling. Laughing. Clearly pleased about something. Nadia smiled. "She had a good evening?" Panam nodded. "Very." Nadia considered. Then looked around the room. Nova and Vega resting. Mandi laughing. Bea talking with Suzy. Birgitta enjoying a quiet drink. Dalia and Deja exchanging affectionate kisses between increasingly outrageous remarks. And Sera leaning comfortably against Panam. Nadia smiled. She was beginning to understand that the appeal of this work wasn't limited to the money. Or the costumes. Or even the attention. There was something else. The satisfaction of choosing. Of discovering. Of doing something because you genuinely wanted to. She watched Deja laugh. Then turned toward Sera. "Sweetheart?" Sera looked at her. "Yes?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Nothing." Sera narrowed her eyes. "That's suspicious." Nadia laughed. "Probably." Panam looked between them. "Oh, great." Nadia kissed her. "What?" Panam sighed. "Another one thinking." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia smiled. And said absolutely nothing. --- ## Chapter 19 — Professional Curiosity Nadia had discovered something unexpected about Lizzie's. It wasn't particularly difficult to find somebody attractive. That part was easy. Night City had no shortage of beautiful people, and the women currently occupying Madame Panam's corner of the lounge were doing a spectacular job of proving it. No. The interesting part was watching what happened after somebody became interested. Sometimes it led to a conversation. Sometimes to a booking. Sometimes to a very polite refusal. And occasionally to something so outrageously funny that Nadia wondered whether anybody involved was actually capable of taking their profession seriously. Then she'd watch them handle a customer. And realize that they took it very seriously indeed. Just not themselves. That distinction was becoming increasingly fascinating. Deja was sitting beside Dalia, happily demolishing a plate of something that had apparently offended her by being delicious. Mandi watched. "So." Deja didn't look up. "No." Mandi blinked. "I haven't asked anything." "You're about to." Dalia laughed. Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Darling, I'm wounded." Deja swallowed. "How unfortunate." Panam burst out laughing. Mandi stared. "You know, I liked you better when you were quiet." Deja finally looked up. Her warm amber eyes were innocent. Her smile was gentle. "Then you should have enjoyed it while it lasted." Dalia nearly choked on her drink. Nadia laughed. She couldn't help it. The contrast was magnificent. Deja looked like somebody who ought to be patiently explaining a difficult piece of technology to a frightened customer. Instead, she'd apparently decided to use that patience to murder Mandi's dignity one sentence at a time. Mandi leaned forward. "One question." Deja sighed. "Fine." "Was your booking good?" Deja's expression changed. Not dramatically. Just enough. "Very." Mandi smiled. "Excellent." And for a brief moment, all the teasing disappeared. Mandi reached across the table and squeezed Deja's hand. "I'm glad, sweetheart." Deja smiled back. "Thank you." Then Mandi added: "And you got paid." Deja closed her eyes. Dalia groaned. Panam laughed. Nadia shook her head. "Oh, for fuck's sake, Mandi." Mandi looked delighted. "See? Even Nadia understands!" Deja took another bite. Then said, perfectly calmly: "I'm beginning to suspect that the zero eddies bothers you more than it bothers anybody else." Mandi stared. Dalia covered her face. Panam leaned against the table. And Nadia laughed so hard that Sera, returning from the bar, stopped to investigate. "What happened?" Panam pointed at Deja. Sera looked at her. Deja smiled sweetly. "Professional development." Sera burst out laughing. A little later, Nadia found herself beside Deja at the bar. Dalia was talking with Suzy Q. Mandi had wandered off with Panam. Sera was occupied with somebody who wanted to discuss an upcoming exhibition. For the first time that evening, Nadia had Deja more or less to herself. She smiled. "Can I ask you something?" Deja turned. "Of course." "Do you really enjoy it?" Deja considered. "The work?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Deja looked toward the lounge. Then back. "I do." "Even with strangers?" "Especially interesting strangers." Nadia smiled. "That's a rather important distinction." "It is." Deja took a sip of water. Then considered the question more carefully. "I enjoy meeting people. I enjoy discovering whether there's genuine attraction. And I enjoy the professional side of it." "The negotiating?" "Among other things." Nadia laughed. "You're good at that." "Thank you." "Did you always know you would be?" Deja shook her head. "No." That interested Nadia. "Really?" "Really." Deja glanced toward Dalia. Her expression softened. "I knew I liked the collar. I knew I liked the arrangement with Dalia. I knew I liked being wanted." She turned back. "But none of those things told me whether I'd enjoy working." Nadia listened. "So you tried it." "Yes." "And?" Deja smiled. "Turns out I do." Nadia considered. "That sounds almost suspiciously simple." Deja laughed. "The decision was simple. Learning how to be good at it wasn't." "Oh?" "There's rather a lot happening during a booking that has nothing to do with taking your clothes off." Nadia raised an eyebrow. Deja smiled. "Attention. Pacing. Communication. Knowing when somebody is enjoying themselves and when they're merely trying to be agreeable." She paused. "And occasionally knowing when somebody needs to shut the fuck up." Nadia burst out laughing. "Does that happen often?" "Less often than you'd think." "Really?" Deja considered. "Although that may be because I generally beat them to it." Nadia laughed again. Dalia returned halfway through the conversation. She slipped an arm around Deja's waist. Kissed her cheek. Then looked at Nadia. "What are we discussing?" Deja smiled. "Professional development." Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Nadia laughed. "She was explaining what she enjoys about the work." Dalia's expression softened. "Oh." Deja looked at her. "Apparently I'm quite good at it." Dalia kissed her. "You are, sweetheart." Deja smiled. Then added: "And apparently my owner is exceptionally good at looking decorative while I do all the actual work." Dalia stared. Nadia burst out laughing. "YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Deja kissed Dalia's cheek. "Love you, Owner." Dalia drew her closer. "You're lucky I adore you." "I know." Then Deja looked toward Nadia. "See? Excellent working conditions." Nadia nearly fell off her stool. Across the room, Panam was having a different sort of conversation. A prospective customer had approached Mandi. He was polite. Attractive. And clearly serious about booking her. Mandi had listened. Smiled. Then brought him to Panam. Nadia noticed the interaction from a distance. The man explained what he wanted. Panam asked questions. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." Nadia heard the familiar phrase. This time, fortunately, Dalia didn't. The customer considered. Named a figure. Panam listened. Asked whether he was flexible about the duration. He was. They discussed the arrangement. Nothing particularly dramatic. Then Panam turned toward Mandi. "Interested, beautiful?" Mandi considered. Really considered. Then smiled apologetically at the customer. "Actually, no." The man looked surprised. Only briefly. "All right." Mandi touched his arm. "You're lovely company, darling. I'm just done working for tonight." He smiled. "Fair enough." Panam nodded. "Then that's settled." No argument. No pressure. No attempt to convince Mandi that the money was worth another booking. The man thanked them. Mandi thanked him. And the entire exchange ended. Just like that. Panam turned toward Mandi. "Come here, sweetheart." Mandi stepped into her arms. Panam kissed her. Not ceremonially. Not because something needed confirming. Simply because Mandi was there. Mandi answered with obvious affection. When they separated, she grinned. "Did I disappoint your financial ambitions, Owner?" Panam laughed. "Terribly." "Shall I apologize?" "Absolutely not." Mandi kissed her again. "Love you." "Love you too, beautiful." Then Panam caught sight of Vega passing nearby. "Hey, sweetheart." Vega turned. Panam reached out, caught her hand, and drew her close enough for a quick kiss. Vega smiled. "Hello, Owner." "Having fun?" "Immensely." "Good." Vega continued toward the bar. Panam returned her attention to Mandi. As though absolutely nothing unusual had happened. Nadia watched the exchange. And smiled. She'd noticed that about Panam. The spontaneous affection. The way a woman could simply pass within reach and find herself being kissed. No announcement. No ceremony. No particular reason. Just love, expressed whenever Panam felt like expressing it. It was rather beautiful. Sera appeared beside Nadia a few minutes later. "You're thinking." Nadia smiled. "Apparently everybody can tell." Sera laughed. "Your face does become very serious." "Does it?" "Terribly." Nadia turned toward her. Sera slipped an arm around her waist. Kissed her. Then smiled. "What are you thinking about?" Nadia considered. "The work." Sera's expression warmed. "Oh?" "Not just yours." "Everybody's?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Sera looked around. Then back at her. "Interesting subject." "Very." Nadia hesitated. Then asked: "Was your booking earlier really that enjoyable?" Sera smiled. "Yes." "The woman?" "Wonderful." Nadia's expression softened. "I'm glad." Sera leaned into her. "So am I." Nadia considered. "Sixty million eddies." Sera laughed. "Yes." "That's rather a lot of money." "It is." "Did that make it feel different?" Sera thought about the question. Then shook her head. "Not in the way you mean." Nadia waited. Sera continued. "I liked her before there was any offer." "Yes." "I chose to speak with her." "Yes." "And if I'd stopped liking her during the conversation, there wouldn't have been a booking." Nadia nodded. Sera smiled. "The money didn't create the attraction." "It just made the arrangement worthwhile?" "Professionally, yes." Nadia considered that. Then smiled. "Interesting." Sera laughed. "You're doing it again." "What?" "That face." Nadia kissed her. "Shut up." Sera grinned. "Make me." Nadia kissed her again. Longer. Sera's halo began rising. Nadia drew back. Looked upward. Then smiled. "Ah." Sera closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck off." Nadia burst out laughing. They settled onto a quieter sofa. Sera curled comfortably against Nadia. The music was softer here. The bar was still visible. So was Panam. She was speaking with Birgitta. The copper-grey-haired woman laughed at something Panam said. Panam kissed her. Birgitta returned the affection with a dazzling smile. Then leaned close to whisper something. Panam threw her head back and laughed. Nadia watched. "She loves them." Sera followed her gaze. Then smiled. "Yes." "All of them?" "Yes." Nadia looked at her. "And you." Sera laughed. "Especially me." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Modest." "Not even remotely." Nadia kissed her forehead. "Good." They watched Panam for a little while. Eventually Nadia asked: "Do you think she ever gets tired?" Sera considered. "Of the work?" "Of taking care of everybody." Sera smiled. "Of course." Nadia turned. "Really?" "She's human, sweetheart." Nadia laughed softly. "Occasionally difficult to remember." "Tell me about it." Sera looked toward Panam again. "She takes care of people because she wants to. But she also needs people who take care of her." Nadia smiled. "Like us?" Sera kissed her. "Exactly like us." An hour later, Nadia was standing near Suzy Q's end of the bar. She'd intended to order something. Instead, she found herself watching the room again. Suzy noticed. Naturally. "Something interesting?" Nadia smiled. "Apparently." Suzy followed her gaze. Several customers were talking with the working women. One booking was being arranged. Another had just ended. A third conversation looked likely to remain exactly that. Suzy poured Nadia's drink. "First time watching a proper working weekend?" Nadia nodded. "More or less." Suzy smiled. "Thought so." "That obvious?" "You're studying everybody like you're going to write a dissertation." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, God." Suzy leaned against the counter. "What's the thesis?" Nadia considered. "I haven't figured it out yet." "Good." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "Means you're actually paying attention." Nadia smiled. Suzy glanced toward the lounge. "People come in here expecting all sorts of things." "Such as?" "Some expect a fantasy. Some expect a transaction with a pretty face attached. Some just want somebody to talk to." She shrugged. "Some are decent. Some are assholes. Some are surprisingly decent assholes." Nadia laughed. "And your job?" "Keeping the decent ones comfortable and the assholes manageable." "Does that work?" Suzy grinned. "Most nights." Nadia looked around. "It's more complicated than I expected." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "Sex work?" Nadia nodded. Suzy laughed. "Sweetheart, anything involving people is complicated." "Fair." "And anything involving people who think money makes them interesting is twice as complicated." Nadia laughed again. Suzy pushed her drink across the bar. Then smiled. "But you want to know what it's like from their side?" Nadia looked toward Panam's group. "Yes." "Then ask them." "I have." Suzy smiled. "And?" Nadia considered. "Every answer makes me more curious." Suzy laughed. "Then you're talking to the right people." Bea arrived at the bar shortly afterward. Nadia noticed her immediately. Ice-blue hair. Red eyes. A smile that looked as though it had already heard three terrible jokes and was considering whether to forgive any of them. Bea ordered water. Suzy handed it over. Then looked toward Nadia. "You two know each other?" Bea turned. Smiled. "We've met." Nadia smiled back. "Hello, Bea." "Hello, gorgeous." Suzy shook her head. "Well, that's my cue to find something useful to do." Bea laughed. "Don't let us interrupt your incredibly demanding social life." Suzy pointed at her. "Careful." Bea smiled sweetly. "Always." Suzy walked away. Nadia laughed. "Does everybody tease her?" Bea considered. "Only the people she likes." "That many?" "Oh, darling. Lizzie's would be terribly quiet otherwise." Nadia smiled. Bea took a sip of water. Then regarded her more carefully. "You're watching." Nadia blinked. "What?" "The room." "Oh." "You've been watching all evening." Nadia laughed softly. "Apparently I'm not very subtle." Bea smiled. "Depends what you're trying to hide." Nadia considered that. Then looked at her. "Professional curiosity." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Now there's a phrase with possibilities." Nadia laughed. "I suppose there is." "Are you considering working?" Nadia hesitated. Then shrugged. "I don't know." Bea nodded. No dramatic reaction. No sudden enthusiasm. Just a nod. "Fair answer." Nadia looked surprised. "That's it?" Bea smiled. "What did you expect?" "I don't know. Advice?" Bea considered. "All right." Nadia waited. Bea leaned closer. "Don't do it because somebody else enjoys it." Nadia nodded. "That's sensible." "And don't decide you hate it because somebody else has a bad experience." "Also sensible." Bea smiled. "Most importantly, don't let anybody turn your curiosity into a decision before you're ready." Nadia studied her. Then smiled. "You're rather good at this." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Giving advice?" "Making complicated things sound simple." Bea laughed. "Oh, sweetheart. They aren't simple." "Then?" "Sometimes the answer is." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "I like that." "So do I." There was something about Bea. Nadia couldn't quite identify it. Not simply that she was attractive. She certainly was. Not merely that she was intelligent. That was obvious within minutes. It was the combination. The confidence. The irreverence. The way she could deliver an appallingly blunt observation with the composure of somebody discussing the weather. And the way that confidence didn't seem to require anybody else's submission. Bea was simply comfortable being Bea. Nadia found that appealing. Very appealing. Bea noticed her expression. Of course. "Something on your mind?" Nadia laughed. "Several things." "Want to share?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Not yet." Bea nodded. "Fair enough." She didn't push. Instead, she raised her glass. "To unanswered questions." Nadia touched her drink against it. "To unanswered questions." They drank. Then Bea smiled. "And occasionally very enjoyable answers." Nadia laughed. "You're terrible." "Frequently." A little later, Nova and Vega joined them. Nova looked at Nadia. Then Bea. Then smiled. "Oh?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Don't start." Nova grinned. "I haven't said anything." "Your face did." Vega leaned against the bar. "That's becoming a recurring professional hazard." Nadia laughed. Nova looked at her. "Having fun?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Good." Vega studied Bea. Then smiled. "Working?" Bea shook her head. "Taking a break." Nova grinned. "Shame." Bea looked at her. "Why?" "I was about to ask whether you'd accept a booking from me." Bea stared. Vega closed her eyes. Nadia burst out laughing. Bea considered. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." From across the room came Dalia's voice. "OH, FUCK OFF!" Mandi collapsed into laughter. Panam covered her face. Suzy shouted: "CAN WE HAVE FIVE FUCKING MINUTES WITHOUT THAT SENTENCE?" Bea raised her water. "Apparently not." Nova was laughing too hard to answer. Vega shook her head. "God, I love this place." Nadia laughed until her sides hurt. The laughter eventually settled. Mostly. Nova and Vega returned to Panam. Bea remained with Nadia. For a while they simply talked. About Night City. Art. The strange ways people built lives for themselves. Nadia told Bea a little about her studio. Not the address. Not anything sensitive. Just the work. What she wanted to create. Why having a permanent place in Night City mattered to her. Bea listened carefully. Asked thoughtful questions. And, to Nadia's surprise, understood rather a lot about the practical side of building something independent. They disagreed about one aspect of funding an artistic project. Nadia defended her position. Bea challenged it. Neither became irritated. If anything, Nadia enjoyed the conversation more. Eventually she laughed. "You're stubborn." Bea smiled. "Occupational requirement." "Really?" "No. Personal failing." Nadia burst out laughing. Bea grinned. "See? Honesty." Nadia shook her head. "You're impossible." "Occasionally." Panam passed them on her way toward the lounge. Bea glanced up. "Madame." Panam stopped. "Bea." "Behaving?" Panam laughed. "Me?" "Yes." "Never." Nadia smiled. Panam leaned closer and kissed her cheek. "Everything good, sweetheart?" Nadia nodded. "Very." Panam smiled. Then looked at Bea. "Giving her trouble?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Naturally." "Good." Panam kissed Nadia once more. Then continued toward Mandi. Bea watched her go. Smiling. Nadia followed her gaze. "She really is extraordinary." Bea nodded. "Yes." "You know her well?" "Well enough." Nadia smiled. "That sounds like an understatement." Bea laughed. "Possibly." She took another sip. Then regarded Nadia. "May I ask you something?" Nadia turned. "Of course." "Are you curious about working?" Nadia considered. "Yes." Bea nodded. "Or about being a customer?" Nadia stopped. That was different. She hadn't expected the question. Bea watched her. Not pushing. Just waiting. Nadia looked down at her glass. Then back at Bea. "I hadn't really separated the two." Bea smiled. "Most people don't." Nadia considered. "That's interesting." "It can be." A pause. Then Bea added: "And you don't have to know the answer tonight." Nadia smiled. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Sera found Nadia a little later. Bea was still at the bar. The three women greeted one another warmly. Sera kissed Nadia. Then leaned against her. "Having fun?" Nadia smiled. "Very." Bea raised an eyebrow. "She's been asking interesting questions." Sera looked at Nadia. "Oh?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently I'm becoming predictable." Sera grinned. "Only when you're curious." Bea smiled. "Then she's extremely predictable." Nadia closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck both of you." Sera burst out laughing. Bea looked delighted. "There's the spirit." Nadia shook her head. Then smiled at Bea. "Thank you for the conversation." Bea touched her arm. "Anytime." Sera slipped her hand into Nadia's. "Coming?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." She turned toward Bea one last time. Bea smiled. Nadia smiled back. Then followed Sera. They found Panam sitting in a quieter corner. Mandi was beside her. Birgitta had taken the other chair. Panam looked up when Sera and Nadia approached. Her face softened. "Hello, beautiful." Sera smiled. "Hello, Owner." Panam reached for her. Sera stepped close. Their kiss was immediate and familiar. Then Panam caught Nadia's hand. Drew her closer. Kissed her too. Nadia laughed softly. "What?" Panam smiled. "Nothing." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious." Sera laughed. Panam grinned. "You're both gorgeous. Am I supposed to ignore that?" Mandi leaned against her shoulder. "Apparently we're dealing with a woman of very poor self-control." Panam turned. Kissed her. Mandi smiled. Then Panam looked back at Nadia. "Now. What were you thinking about?" Nadia stared. "How did you know?" Panam laughed. "Sweetheart, you've been studying this place like you intend to purchase it." Mandi grinned. "Or redesign it." Sera smiled. "Or write a dissertation." Nadia groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Birgitta laughed. "Welcome to the family." Nadia looked at her. Then smiled. "Thank you." They talked for a while. Not about bookings. Not initially. About the studio. An upcoming installation. The sort of ordinary things that filled their lives between professional adventures. But Nadia kept returning to what she'd watched. The way Deja had handled her customer. The ease with which Nova and Vega had arranged their unusual booking. The way Mandi had declined an entirely reasonable offer. And the absence of any resentment when she did. Eventually Panam noticed the pattern. She set down her glass. "Nadia." Nadia looked up. "Yes?" "Ask." Nadia blinked. "Ask what?" "Whatever's been crawling around in your head for the last three hours." Mandi laughed. Sera smiled. Nadia considered. Then looked at Panam. "How do you know somebody is ready for this work?" Panam thought about it. Then shrugged. "I don't." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Really." Panam leaned back. "I can tell whether somebody understands the practical side. Whether they're comfortable saying no. Whether they know what they're agreeing to." She looked toward Mandi. Then Birgitta. Then Sera. "But whether they actually enjoy it?" Panam shook her head. "That's theirs to discover." Nadia considered. "And if they don't?" "Then they don't." "That simple?" Panam smiled. "Sweetheart, I don't need anybody working who doesn't want to." Mandi kissed her cheek. Panam smiled. Then continued. "And nobody owes me a booking because I happen to love them." Nadia's expression softened. Sera leaned closer and kissed her temple. "See?" Nadia smiled. "Yes." A little later, Birgitta excused herself to speak with Suzy. Mandi wandered off to find Dalia. Sera remained tucked against Panam's side. Nadia sat opposite them. Thinking. Panam watched her. Then smiled. "Another question?" Nadia laughed. "Several." "Pick one." Nadia considered. Then looked toward the bar. Bea was talking with Suzy. Laughing at something. The blue hair caught the light. The red eyes were unmistakable even from a distance. Nadia watched her for a moment. Then turned back. "Can somebody learn about the work by being a customer?" Panam considered. Then smiled. "Of course." Sera looked at Nadia. Not surprised. Not alarmed. Just interested. "Thinking about it?" Nadia hesitated. Then nodded. "Perhaps." Panam didn't immediately offer suggestions. Didn't propose a booking. Didn't start listing prices or available partners. She simply asked: "What would you want to learn?" Nadia considered. That was a much better question. "Whether I enjoy the experience when I'm not simply watching it." Panam nodded. "Good reason." Sera smiled. "And whether you like the person?" Nadia glanced toward the bar again. Then looked back. "Yes." Panam followed her gaze. Saw Bea. Then returned her attention to Nadia. An amused smile appeared. But she didn't comment. Sera noticed too. She leaned closer to Nadia. Kissed her cheek. "Well." Nadia laughed. "Don't." Sera smiled. "I didn't say anything." "You were going to." "Possibly." Panam laughed. Nadia shook her head. "You two are impossible." Sera kissed her again. "Love you." Nadia smiled. "Love you too." Later, as the working night began winding toward its quieter hours, Nadia found herself near the bar again. Bea was still there. Talking. Laughing. Perfectly at ease. Nadia watched for a moment. Not hiding it this time. Bea looked up. Their eyes met. Bea smiled. Nadia smiled back. Then Bea raised her glass. A small gesture. An invitation to acknowledge the moment. Nadia returned it. No booking. No agreement. No decision. Not yet. But the question that had been following her around all evening had finally changed shape. It was no longer simply whether she might enjoy professional work. There was another question. A much more immediate one. And for the first time, Nadia had a fairly good idea whom she wanted to ask. --- ## Chapter 20 — A Question for Bea Bea had noticed Nadia looking at her. Several times. At first, she'd assumed it was ordinary curiosity. That would have been perfectly understandable. Nadia was new to Lizzie's professional world, and she'd been watching everything with the intense interest of an artist discovering an unfamiliar medium. But something had changed. Earlier in the evening, Nadia had looked at the room. Now she was looking at Bea. And that was a considerably more interesting development. Bea took a sip of water. Then smiled to herself. Well, well. Nadia, meanwhile, had decided that thinking was becoming a nuisance. She'd done quite enough of it. She'd watched Deja negotiate a booking. Watched Nova and Vega return from an arrangement they'd clearly enjoyed. Talked with Suzy Q. Talked with Sera. Talked with Panam. And spent a thoroughly enjoyable stretch of the evening talking with Bea. The conclusion should have been obvious. Unfortunately, Nadia had reached several conclusions. One was that she found Bea attractive. Very attractive. Another was that she genuinely enjoyed her company. The third was that she'd rather like to discover what happened when they weren't standing at opposite sides of a bar. The fourth was slightly more complicated. She had absolutely no idea how to ask. Which was ridiculous. Nadia was a grown woman. An artist. Perfectly capable of negotiating contracts, defending her work and telling a gallery representative exactly what she thought of an idiotic exhibition proposal. And now she was standing in Lizzie's, wondering how to ask an attractive woman whether she'd like to spend an hour together. For fuck's sake. Sera found her near the edge of the lounge. "You're doing it again." Nadia turned. "Doing what?" "Thinking so hard I can practically hear it." Nadia laughed. "Is that becoming irritating?" "Terribly." Sera slipped an arm around her waist. Nadia leaned closer. Their kiss was familiar, affectionate, and rather longer than either had intended. When they separated, Sera smiled. "Better?" "Much." "Good." Nadia looked toward the bar. Sera followed her gaze. Bea was talking with Suzy Q. Laughing. Ice-blue hair catching the light. Sera looked back at Nadia. Then smiled slowly. "Oh." Nadia closed her eyes. "Don't." "I haven't said anything." "You're about to." Sera considered. Then kissed her cheek. "Probably." Nadia laughed. "Oh, you little menace." Sera grinned. "Learned from the best." They stood together for a moment. Then Nadia sighed. "Sera?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "Would you mind?" Sera's expression softened. "Mind what?" Nadia looked directly at her. "If I booked Bea." Sera didn't answer immediately. Not because the question troubled her. Because she wanted Nadia to see her answer properly. She touched Nadia's cheek. Then smiled. "No." Nadia watched her. "Really?" "Really." Sera kissed her. "Sweetheart, you don't need my permission to be curious about somebody." "I know." "But you wanted to ask." "Yes." Sera smiled. "Then I'm glad you did." Nadia leaned into her. "Love you." "Love you too." A pause. Then Sera added: "Besides, she's gorgeous." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Sera grinned. "Later, perhaps." Nadia nearly choked. "SERA!" The artist looked positively angelic. Her halo rose two inches. Panam was having a conversation with Birgitta when the two women approached. Birgitta was laughing. Panam looked delighted. Which, Nadia was beginning to understand, was a fairly normal condition when those two were together. "Owner?" Panam turned. Her expression warmed immediately. "Hello, beautiful." Sera stepped closer and kissed her. Panam answered without hesitation. Then drew Nadia into the affection too. When they separated, Panam smiled. "What's happening?" Nadia considered. Birgitta took one look at her expression. Then raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good." Nadia laughed. "Apparently I have absolutely no privacy in this place." Birgitta smiled. "Darling, you have plenty of privacy. You simply keep approaching women with excellent observational skills." Panam burst out laughing. Sera looked delighted. Nadia shook her head. "Fair." Panam touched her cheek. "Something you want to ask?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Birgitta glanced between them. Then smiled. "I believe I'll find something else to do." Panam kissed her before she could leave. Birgitta grinned. "Good luck, sweetheart." Nadia laughed. "Thank you." Birgitta walked toward the bar. Leaving the three women together. Nadia looked at Panam. Then Sera. Then back. "I think I'd like to book Bea." Panam's expression changed. Interest first. Then a small smile. "Oh?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Panam considered her for a moment. Then asked: "Because you're curious about the work?" Nadia hesitated. "Partly." "And?" Nadia smiled. "Because I like her." Panam's smile widened. "Good." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "Very." Sera laughed softly. Panam touched Nadia's cheek. "Sweetheart, that's a considerably better reason than booking somebody because you think you ought to." Nadia nodded. "I suppose." Panam tilted her head. "Do you want advice?" Nadia laughed. "Yes." Panam smiled. "Go ask her." Nadia stared. "That's it?" "That's it." "But—" Panam kissed her. Nadia stopped. Panam drew back. "Bea handles her own bookings. She's perfectly capable of telling you what she wants." Nadia smiled. "Right." "And you already know how to ask." "Apparently." Panam grinned. "Good." Sera slipped her hand into Nadia's. "You'll be fine." Nadia considered them both. Then laughed. "I feel as though I've just asked my two lovers for permission to go on a date." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Darling, if we were arranging a date, I'd have made sure you wore something considerably more scandalous." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia looked down at her clothes. "What's wrong with these?" Panam smiled. "Nothing." Then kissed her cheek. "Yet." Nadia groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Across the room, Bea had seen the entire conversation. Not heard it. But seen it. Nadia approached Sera. Then Panam. A serious expression. Several affectionate exchanges. Some laughter. And finally a glance toward Bea. Bea took another sip of water. Interesting. She knew Nadia. Not merely as somebody she'd met at Lizzie's. She knew the artist who'd become part of Sera and Panam's increasingly affectionate life together. She knew about the studio. About the relocation. About the extraordinary opportunity Elisa had offered her. And Nadia knew Elisa. What Nadia did not know was that the woman standing at the bar, wearing an ice-blue bob and red eyes, was Elisa herself. Bea considered that. Carefully. The distinction mattered. Not because Nadia wasn't allowed to book her. Not because the cover was somehow invalid. But because Bea would have to remain Bea throughout the encounter. No familiar details that Nadia hadn't told Bea. No accidental references to conversations with Elisa. No assumptions about what Nadia might enjoy based on knowledge belonging to another identity. And certainly no careless moment in which professional intimacy became an excuse to reveal somebody else's secrets. Bea set down her glass. She could manage that. The more interesting question was whether she wanted to. She looked toward Nadia again. The artist was laughing at something Sera had said. Then she turned. Their eyes met. Nadia smiled. Bea found herself smiling back. Oh. Yes. That answered quite a lot. Nadia approached. Slowly enough to change her mind. Not that she wanted to. Bea turned toward her. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia laughed softly. "Hello." "Enjoying your evening?" "Very." "Good." Bea gestured toward the empty seat. Nadia accepted. For a moment they sat together. Neither seemed particularly interested in beginning the conversation. Then Bea smiled. "Something on your mind?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently it's becoming a professional hazard." "Thinking?" "Being obvious." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Darling, those are two very different problems." Nadia burst out laughing. "Fair." Bea regarded her. Then smiled. "All right." "All right?" "Ask." Nadia looked at her. "Ask what?" "Whatever you've been trying to ask since you sat down." Nadia closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Bea laughed. "Was I wrong?" "No." "Good." Nadia turned toward her. Took a breath. Then smiled. "Are you available for a booking?" Bea's expression softened. "Possibly." Nadia nodded. "Good." A pause. Bea tilted her head. "Would you like to tell me what you have in mind?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently I'm not very good at this." "You're doing beautifully." "Really?" "Really." Bea leaned a little closer. "And you're allowed to be nervous." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Nadia settled more comfortably on the stool. "All right." Bea waited. "I've been watching everybody work." "So I've noticed." "And asking questions." "Several." Nadia laughed. "And I think I'd like to understand the experience from the customer's side." Bea nodded. "Reasonable." "But that's not the only reason." "Oh?" Nadia met her eyes. "I like you." Bea didn't interrupt. Nadia continued. "I enjoy talking with you. I think you're beautiful. And I'd like to spend time with you privately." For a moment Bea said nothing. Then her smile became very warm indeed. "Well." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That's a considerably better proposal than most I hear." Nadia laughed. "Really?" "Absolutely." Bea touched her hand. "Thank you." Nadia's expression softened. "You're welcome." They sat together for another moment. Then Bea asked: "What would you want from the booking?" Nadia considered. "Conversation." Bea nodded. "Good." "Affection." "Also good." Nadia hesitated. Then met her eyes. "And perhaps something more intimate, if we both want it." Bea smiled. "That's a perfectly reasonable possibility." Nadia relaxed. Noticeably. Bea noticed that too. "Better?" Nadia laughed softly. "Much." Bea regarded her thoughtfully. "Have you booked anybody before?" Nadia shook her head. "No." "Never?" "Never." Bea nodded. "All right." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Does that make a difference?" "It tells me something useful." "Such as?" "That I shouldn't assume you know how any of this works." Nadia laughed. "That's fair." Bea smiled. "And that I should answer your questions properly." Nadia considered. "Even stupid ones?" "Especially stupid ones." She paused. "Although I reserve the right to laugh." Nadia burst out laughing. "You're terrible." "Frequently." Bea took a sip of water. Then continued. "We agree on the time, what you want, and what I'm willing to offer. You make an offer, I decide whether I like it, and if we both agree, Suzy arranges the room." Nadia listened. "And afterward?" Bea smiled. "Afterward, you go home with a good memory, ideally." Nadia laughed. "And you?" "I get a good memory too." Bea tilted her head. "And hopefully a satisfied customer." Nadia grinned. "Professional pride?" "Immensely." They discussed the practical details. An hour. A private room. No recordings. No additional guests. No elaborate scenario. Nadia wasn't looking for somebody to perform a character for her. She wanted to spend time with Bea. Bea liked that. Very much. Eventually the conversation reached the money. Bea rested her elbows lightly against the bar. Then smiled. "All right, Nadia." "Yes?" "Make me a believable offer." Nadia stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, God." Bea raised an eyebrow. "What?" "That sentence." Bea smiled. "Popular, isn't it?" "Apparently." Nadia considered. Then named her offer. "Thirty thousand eddies. One hour." Bea studied her. "Interesting." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Good interesting?" "Very." "Really?" Bea smiled. "Accepted." Nadia blinked. "Just like that?" "Just like that." "Am I supposed to negotiate?" "Only if you enjoy negotiating." Nadia laughed. "I don't think I do." "Then don't." Bea touched her hand. "I'm happy with your offer." Nadia smiled. "Good." "And I'm happy with the proposed booking." That made Nadia smile even more. "Very good." From across the room, Dalia heard the familiar phrase. She turned. Slowly. Looked toward Bea. Then pointed. "YOU TOO?" Bea closed her eyes. Nadia burst out laughing. Dalia continued. "IS THERE ANYBODY IN THIS FUCKING CLUB WHO HASN'T STOLEN MY LINE?" Mandi appeared beside her. "Darling, would you like to negotiate compensation?" Dalia turned. "YES!" Mandi smiled. "Make me a believable offer." Dalia stared. Then grabbed her. Kissed her. And only afterward shouted: "YOU ABSOLUTE BITCH!" Mandi was laughing too hard to answer. Suzy Q looked toward the ceiling. "One of these days I'm banning that fucking sentence." Panam called back: "Make me a believable offer!" The resulting laughter could probably have been heard from the street. Nadia covered her face. "Oh, my God." Bea shook her head. "Welcome to Lizzie's." Nadia laughed. "I love this place." Bea smiled. "So do I." When the laughter settled, Bea looked back at Nadia. "Still interested?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Good." Bea's expression became a little more thoughtful. "One thing, though." Nadia waited. "This doesn't have to become anything beyond what we've agreed." Nadia nodded. "I know." "And if you decide you'd rather just talk for an hour, that's perfectly fine." Nadia smiled. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Bea regarded her for another moment. Then asked: "Would you like time to think about it?" Nadia considered. She looked toward Sera and Panam. They were talking together. Panam had one arm around Sera. The silver-haired artist was laughing at something. Then Nadia looked back at Bea. "No." Bea raised an eyebrow. "No?" Nadia smiled. "I've been thinking all evening." Bea laughed softly. "Fair." "I'd rather stop thinking and actually do something." Bea's smile widened. "Now that's a sentiment I can appreciate." Suzy Q took the booking. Checked the terms. Confirmed the payment. Then looked toward Nadia. "First booking?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Suzy smiled. "All right." She turned toward Bea. "Take care of her." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Suzy." "What?" "I was planning to throw her into traffic." Suzy looked unimpressed. "Bea." Bea smiled. "Yes, I'll take care of her." Suzy shook her head. "Fucking smartass." Nadia burst out laughing. Suzy selected a room. "One hour." Bea nodded. "Thank you." Suzy handed over the confirmation. Then glanced toward Nadia. "Enjoy yourself." Nadia smiled. "Planning to." As they stepped away, Suzy caught Bea's eye. A small professional check. Bea answered with a nod. Everything was in order. Nadia stopped before they reached the corridor. Bea noticed. "Something wrong?" Nadia shook her head. "No." "Sure?" "Yes." She glanced toward Sera and Panam. Then smiled. "I'd just like to tell them." Bea nodded. "Of course." Nadia looked at her. "Would you mind coming with me?" Bea smiled. "Not at all." They approached the quiet seating area together. Panam looked up first. Then Sera. Both noticed their joined hands. Neither looked surprised. Panam smiled. "Well." Nadia laughed. "Well." Sera's expression warmed. "Everything okay?" Nadia nodded. "Very." Bea smiled. "We've agreed on a booking." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Have you?" Nadia laughed. "Yes." Sera rose. Stepped closer. Then kissed Nadia. A warm, affectionate kiss. When they separated, she held Nadia's face gently. "Happy?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Good." Panam stood too. Drew Nadia into her arms. Kissed her. Then rested her forehead against hers. "Comfortable?" "Yes." "Anything worrying you?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Not really." Panam studied her. Then nodded. "Good." She kissed her again. And let her go. Sera turned toward Bea. Her smile remained warm. "Have a wonderful time." Bea nodded. "Thank you." Panam regarded her. Then smiled. "Be nice." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Madame." Panam laughed. "What?" "I am the very soul of kindness." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia grinned. Panam shook her head. "Oh, you're full of shit." Bea smiled. "Occasionally." For a brief moment, Bea caught herself studying the three women together. Sera. Nadia. Panam. The affection between them was obvious. Unforced. Entirely mutual. And Bea knew more about their lives than her current identity was supposed to know. That was the complication. Not Nadia's curiosity. Not the booking. Not the money. The simple fact that Bea had to remain Bea. For one hour, she would be a professional companion meeting a woman who had chosen her. She could offer warmth. Attention. Honesty about the encounter. And the genuine interest she felt. But she couldn't slip into the familiarity of Elisa. Couldn't use knowledge Nadia had shared elsewhere. Couldn't allow a familiar gesture or private reference to unravel the cover. Bea considered all of that. Then looked at Nadia. The artist was smiling at her. Waiting. Entirely unaware of the calculations happening behind Bea's red eyes. And Bea smiled back. She wanted this. Not merely because Nadia was attractive. Because she liked her. Because their conversation had been enjoyable. Because Nadia had approached her openly, without games or pressure. And because Bea herself was curious about what the next hour might bring. That was enough. --- Mandi saw them approaching the private corridor. She looked at Bea. Then Nadia. Then at their joined hands. Her eyebrows rose. Oh. Oh, fuck. Bea caught her expression. Immediately. Mandi opened her mouth. Bea narrowed her eyes. Mandi closed it. Then smiled sweetly. "Have fun, ladies." Nadia laughed. "Thank you." Bea kept walking. Mandi watched them pass. Then turned toward Dalia. Dalia looked up. "What?" Mandi smiled. "Nothing." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "That's becoming your favorite word." "Is it?" "Yes." Mandi glanced toward the corridor. Then back. "Interesting evening." Dalia followed her gaze. Saw Bea and Nadia disappearing toward the suites. She considered. Then smiled. "Oh." Mandi nodded. "Yes." Dalia took a drink. Then regarded her. "Well." Mandi grinned. "Well?" Dalia considered. Then laughed softly. "Breakfast." Mandi nearly collapsed. --- In the corridor, Nadia glanced at Bea. "Can I ask you something?" Bea smiled. "Of course." "Are you always this confident?" Bea considered. "No." Nadia looked surprised. "Really?" "Really." "When aren't you?" Bea smiled. "When I have a good reason not to be." Nadia studied her. Then laughed softly. "That's almost an answer." "Almost?" "You're very good at avoiding questions." Bea grinned. "Occupational skill." Nadia stopped walking. Bea turned. "What?" Nadia stepped closer. "I think you're enjoying this." Bea's expression warmed. "Very much." "Good." Nadia leaned forward. Then hesitated. Bea noticed. "May I?" Nadia smiled. "Please." Their first kiss was gentle. Brief. More promise than discovery. But warm enough that Nadia smiled when they separated. "Oh." Bea laughed softly. "Oh?" Nadia looked at her. Then kissed her again. This time without hesitation. When they separated, Bea was smiling too. "Well." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Well?" Bea considered. Then laughed. "I think we're going to get along beautifully." Nadia grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that." They reached the suite. Bea opened the door. Nadia looked inside. A comfortable room. Soft lighting. A sofa. A small table. Nothing particularly extraordinary. Except that it represented something Nadia had spent the entire evening thinking about. A decision. Her decision. Not Sera's. Not Panam's. Not anybody else's. She had chosen to ask Bea. Bea had chosen to accept. And now they were here. Nadia turned toward her. Smiled. "One more question." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Another?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently." "Go on." "Are you actually looking forward to this?" Bea's expression softened. She stepped closer. Touched Nadia's cheek. Then answered without hesitation. "Yes." Nadia smiled. "Good." Bea kissed her. "And you?" Nadia's smile widened. "Very." Bea opened the door a little farther. "Then come in, gorgeous." Nadia accepted her hand. And stepped inside. --- ## Chapter 21 — A Very Good Evening The door closed behind them. Nadia looked around the room. Then at Bea. Then back at the room. Bea watched her with increasing amusement. "Something wrong?" "No." "Disappointed?" "Not remotely." "Then why are you looking at the furniture like you're planning to renovate the place?" Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Bea smiled. "Darling, we've barely started." Nadia stared. Then laughed harder. "Jesus Christ." "What?" "You're impossible." "Occupational advantage." Nadia shook her head. Then looked at Bea properly. The ice-blue hair. The red eyes. That devastatingly composed expression. And the smile. Especially the smile. "No," Nadia said. Bea raised an eyebrow. "No?" "I'm not disappointed." "Good." "I'm nervous." Bea's expression softened. "That I can work with." Bea set her handbag on the table. Then turned toward Nadia. "Come here." Nadia approached. Not quite uncertainly. More like somebody stepping onto unfamiliar ground and discovering it was considerably more interesting than expected. Bea offered both hands. Nadia took them. "There," Bea said. Nadia smiled. "There?" "You're here. I'm here. Nobody's going to award points for doing this correctly." Nadia laughed softly. "I know." "Do you?" "Intellectually." "Ah." Bea nodded solemnly. "The most troublesome kind of knowledge." Nadia burst out laughing. "You're not helping." "Sweetheart, you laughed. I'm helping beautifully." Nadia looked at their joined hands. Then back at Bea. "All right." Bea waited. "Can I tell you something?" "Please." "I've spent the entire evening wondering whether I'd enjoy being a customer." Bea nodded. "And?" Nadia smiled. "I think I've been asking the wrong question." "Oh?" "The interesting question isn't whether I'll enjoy being somebody's customer." Bea tilted her head. "What is it?" Nadia stepped closer. "Whether I'll enjoy being alone with you." Bea's expression changed. The teasing didn't vanish. It simply made room for something warmer. "Well," she said softly. Nadia smiled. "Well?" "That's a question I'd very much like to answer." Nadia kissed her. Not hesitantly this time. She'd already discovered in the corridor that Bea was an excellent kisser. Now she wanted to explore that discovery properly. Bea responded with immediate warmth. One hand settled at Nadia's waist. The other touched her cheek. Nadia smiled into the kiss. Bea noticed. Naturally. When they separated, she raised an eyebrow. "Something amusing?" Nadia laughed softly. "Yes." "Care to share?" "I spent twenty minutes trying to work out how to ask you for this." Bea smiled. "Twenty?" "Possibly thirty." "Tragic." "Absolutely." "And now?" Nadia leaned closer. "Now I think I'd like another." Bea kissed her. Nadia answered with such enthusiasm that they both laughed afterward. "Well," Bea said. Nadia groaned. "Oh, don't you start with well." Bea grinned. "It's a perfectly respectable word." "Not the way you use it." "Darling, I'm a woman of many talents." Nadia studied her. "That sounds suspiciously like advertising." Bea looked offended. "Suspiciously?" Nadia burst out laughing. Then kissed her again. They eventually reached the sofa. Not because either had suggested it. Because standing in the middle of the room was becoming an increasingly inefficient arrangement. Nadia settled beside Bea. Close. Very close. Bea rested an arm along the back of the sofa. Nadia looked at it. Then at her. "Is that an invitation?" Bea smiled. "It can be." Nadia moved into the offered space. Bea drew her close. For a while they simply sat together. Nadia could feel the warmth of her body through their clothes. The easy movement of her breathing. The occasional small adjustment that made their embrace more comfortable. Bea touched her hair. "Better?" Nadia smiled. "Much." "Good." A pause. Then Nadia looked up. "Do you do this with everyone?" Bea considered. "Sit on sofas?" Nadia burst out laughing. "You know what I mean." "Sweetheart, you're going to have to be more specific." "The way you're making this feel so easy." Bea's expression softened. "I try to make people comfortable." Nadia nodded. "But?" "But that doesn't mean every encounter feels the same." Nadia watched her. "And this one?" Bea smiled. "This one's rather enjoyable." Nadia's expression warmed. "Good." Bea kissed her forehead. "Very." For Bea, the situation required a particular sort of attention. Nadia wasn't merely another attractive woman who'd approached her at Lizzie's. She was somebody Elisa knew. Somebody Elisa had helped. Somebody whose life intersected with her own beyond this room. And Nadia had no idea. Bea was perfectly comfortable wearing her professional identity. She'd done it before. Enjoyed it before. But tonight required care. She couldn't casually mention something Nadia had told Elisa. Couldn't allow some private familiarity to slip into conversation. And she had no intention of using knowledge Nadia hadn't chosen to share with Bea. So she listened. Asked questions. Let Nadia determine what she wanted to reveal. And found that doing so wasn't difficult. Nadia was interesting enough without any borrowed knowledge. More than interesting enough. "Tell me something," Nadia said. Bea smiled. "Another question?" "Apparently that's my specialty." "Ask away." Nadia considered. "Do you actually enjoy the work?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "The work?" "Yes." Bea thought about it. Then nodded. "Very much." "All of it?" "Oh, fuck no." Nadia burst out laughing. "That's reassuring." Bea smiled. "Some customers are boring. Some are unpleasant. Some seem convinced that having money automatically makes them fascinating." Nadia grinned. "And does it?" "Darling, if wealth made people interesting, Night City's corporate parties would be considerably less fucking unbearable." Nadia laughed. "Fair." Bea touched her cheek. "But sometimes you meet somebody you genuinely enjoy." Nadia looked at her. "Like tonight?" Bea's smile became very warm. "Like tonight." For a moment Nadia simply looked at her. Then leaned forward and kissed her. Bea responded. Nadia settled closer. And the conversation became pleasantly unnecessary. After a while, Nadia drew back. Not far. Just enough to speak. "Bea?" "Yes?" "Can I ask something rather ridiculous?" Bea smiled. "Those are usually my favorites." Nadia laughed. "Are you enjoying kissing me?" Bea blinked. Then laughed softly. "Oh, sweetheart." "That sounds ominous." Bea touched her face. "Look at me." Nadia did. "Yes." Nadia smiled. "Good." "Very much, actually." Nadia's smile widened. "Better." Bea kissed her. Then paused. "Can I ask you something equally ridiculous?" "Of course." "Are you going to spend the entire hour worrying whether I'm having fun?" Nadia considered. "Possibly." Bea sighed dramatically. "Tragic." Nadia laughed. Bea drew her closer. "Then I suppose I'll have to make it very clear." She kissed Nadia again. Unhurriedly. With unmistakable affection. When they finally separated, Nadia was smiling. "All right." Bea raised an eyebrow. "All right?" "I believe you." "Excellent." Nadia rested against her. Then added: "Your methods of persuasion are rather convincing." Bea laughed. "Darling, you haven't seen half my methods." Nadia looked up. "Oh?" Bea smiled. "Would you like to?" Nadia considered the invitation. Then nodded. "Yes." There was no sudden transformation. No switch from professional conversation into an entirely different kind of encounter. They already liked being close. They already wanted one another. So they allowed that closeness to develop. Bea kissed Nadia's cheek. Then her temple. Nadia slipped an arm around her and drew her closer. For several minutes they remained on the sofa, exchanging kisses and increasingly affectionate touches. Occasionally one of them laughed. Occasionally they stopped to ask something. And occasionally there was simply a comfortable silence. At one point Nadia drew back. Looked at Bea. Then smiled. "What?" Bea raised an eyebrow. Nadia shook her head. "I really do find you gorgeous." Bea laughed softly. "You're rather appealing yourself." "Rather?" "Immensely." "Better." Bea grinned. "Demanding woman." Nadia kissed her. "You have no idea." Eventually Nadia stood. Bea looked up. "Everything okay?" "Yes." Nadia offered her hand. Bea accepted it. Nadia smiled. "Would you come with me?" Bea rose. "Where?" Nadia glanced toward the bed. Then back at her. Bea's expression softened. "Are you sure?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." "Because we don't have to." "I know." Bea studied her for another moment. Nadia smiled. "I'm not asking because I think I paid for something I'm supposed to use." "Good." "I'm asking because I want to be close to you." Bea's smile warmed. "Then yes." Nadia squeezed her hand. And led her toward the bed. They took their time. Shoes came off first. Then jackets. Nadia laughed when she discovered that Bea's apparently effortless elegance involved rather more cleverly concealed fastenings than she'd expected. "Who designed this?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Because somebody deserves either an award or a strongly worded complaint." Bea burst out laughing. "Possibly both." Nadia shook her head. "Night City fashion is completely fucking insane." "You're only noticing now?" "I'm an artist. We generally try to make our engineering look intentional." Bea grinned. "And mine doesn't?" Nadia looked her over. Then smiled. "Oh, yours definitely does." "Good." "But I suspect whoever made that outfit had a rather wicked imagination." Bea laughed. "Sweetheart, you'd be surprised." The remark stayed safely within Bea's own identity. And Nadia had no reason to hear anything more in it. She simply smiled. Then stepped closer. "Come here." Bea did. The bed was comfortable. The light softer than in the lounge. Nadia settled beside Bea and studied her face. The red eyes were unusual. Not unsettling. Simply striking. Bea noticed her attention. "What?" Nadia smiled. "Your eyes." "Yes?" "They're beautiful." Bea laughed softly. "Thank you." Nadia reached toward her cheek. Paused. Bea nodded. Nadia touched her gently. The face-mesh moved naturally beneath her fingers. Warm. Expressive. Entirely convincing. Nadia saw a beautiful woman. Nothing more. And Bea intended to keep it that way. Nadia kissed her. Bea answered. Then drew her into a close embrace. For a while they remained together without speaking. Enjoying the warmth. The simple pleasure of being wanted. The growing ease between them. When Nadia finally drew back, she was smiling. "Well." Bea closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia burst out laughing. "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Not even slightly." Bea laughed. Then kissed her. Their intimacy became more personal as they relaxed together. Not because a payment demanded it. Because both women wanted it. They continued talking between kisses, discovering what made the other comfortable and what kinds of affection they particularly enjoyed. Nadia was more confident now. She reached for Bea without stopping to second-guess every gesture. Bea welcomed her affection and offered her own just as freely. There were moments of laughter. Moments of quiet tenderness. And moments when the words simply stopped because being close felt better than talking. They shared the kind of physical intimacy they'd discussed before the booking, without rushing or treating any part of it as obligatory. Nadia discovered that enjoying a paid encounter didn't require her to pretend the professional arrangement wasn't there. The booking was real. So was the attraction. Those two facts could exist together. And, to her considerable delight, they did. At one point, Nadia rested her forehead against Bea's. She was smiling. Bea noticed. "Happy?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Good." A pause. Then Nadia laughed softly. "What?" Bea asked. "Nothing." "Suspicious." Nadia smiled. "I'm thinking about how much time I spent being nervous." Bea laughed. "And?" "And what an absolute waste of perfectly good kissing time that was." Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, I like you." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "You've mentioned." "Apparently I need to repeat myself." Nadia kissed her. "Please do." --- Later, when they were resting together, Nadia reached for Bea's hand. Their fingers intertwined. Neither spoke immediately. The room was quiet. The music from downstairs was little more than a distant vibration. Nadia lay comfortably against Bea. Bea rested her cheek against Nadia's hair. For a while the silence was enough. Then Nadia sighed. Bea smiled. "Good sigh?" Nadia laughed softly. "Very good sigh." "Excellent." Nadia shifted slightly. Looked up. "Can I tell you something?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Apparently we're back to questions." Nadia grinned. "Sorry." "Don't be." Nadia considered. Then said: "I think I understand something I didn't understand before." Bea smiled. "Oh?" Nadia nodded. "I've spent the entire weekend looking at the work from the outside." "Yes." "Watching the negotiations. The customers. The people coming back happy." Bea listened. Nadia continued. "And I kept thinking about whether I'd be comfortable doing something like this myself." Bea nodded. "But?" Nadia smiled. "But being here with you has made me realize I was treating the whole thing like a technical problem." Bea laughed softly. "An artist trying to solve sex work?" Nadia groaned. "Oh, God. When you say it like that—" "It's a spectacularly ambitious research project." Nadia burst out laughing. "You're terrible." "Professionally." Nadia shook her head. Then grew thoughtful again. "I was forgetting that it can simply be enjoyable." Bea's expression softened. "Yes." "Not uncomplicated." "No." "Not always easy." "Definitely not." Nadia smiled. "But enjoyable." Bea nodded. "Very." Nadia looked at her. Then kissed her. "Thank you." Bea remained quiet for a moment. Then touched Nadia's cheek. "You're welcome." Nadia settled against her again. And Bea found herself thinking. Not about money. Not about professional reputation. Not even about maintaining the cover. For once, those considerations had settled comfortably into the background. She was thinking about Nadia. About the questions she'd asked. About the way she'd laughed when Bea teased her. About the simple honesty with which she'd admitted being nervous. And about how much Bea had enjoyed making her comfortable. There was something satisfying about that. Especially because Nadia wasn't trying to impress her. Wasn't performing confidence she didn't feel. Wasn't pretending the situation was less unusual than it actually was. She'd come because she was curious. Stayed because she was happy. And had trusted Bea enough to be honest about both. Bea liked that. Very much. Nadia lifted her head again. Bea raised an eyebrow. "Another question?" Nadia laughed. "Yes." "Of course." "Would you take another booking from me?" Bea considered. Then smiled. "Perhaps." Nadia stared. "Perhaps?" "Darling, we've only just finished the first one." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, you bitch." Bea looked delighted. "That's more like it." Nadia shook her head. Then smiled. "All right. Let me ask differently." "Please." "Have you enjoyed my company enough that you'd consider seeing me again?" Bea's expression softened. "Yes." Nadia smiled. "Good." "Very much." "Even better." Bea kissed her. Then added: "But don't start planning your next booking before you've decided what this one meant to you." Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Fair." Bea smiled. "And don't confuse wanting another encounter with deciding you want to become a professional yourself." Nadia laughed softly. "You're determined not to let me rush that decision." "Absolutely." "Why?" Bea regarded her. "Because it's your decision." Nadia smiled. Then rested her head against Bea's shoulder. "Thank you." Bea kissed her hair. "You're welcome, gorgeous." They stayed close until the booking was nearly over. No awkward countdown. No sudden professional distance. Just the comfortable return of conversation. Nadia told Bea about an installation she'd once abandoned because the materials refused to behave the way she'd intended. Bea listened. Asked questions. Nadia laughed at herself. Bea laughed with her. It was easy. Perhaps that was the most surprising part. The ease. Nadia had expected the unfamiliar experience to feel more artificial. More obviously transactional. Instead, she'd discovered a woman she liked, paid for the opportunity to spend private time with her, and enjoyed doing exactly that. She knew Bea was working. That mattered. She also knew Bea had been attentive, funny, and genuinely engaged. That mattered too. Neither truth canceled the other. Eventually Bea glanced at the clock. Nadia noticed. "Our time?" "Almost." Nadia sighed. Bea raised an eyebrow. "Another good sigh?" "Less good." Bea laughed. "Terrible tragedy." "Appalling." Nadia sat up. Then smiled. "Thank you for not making me feel like an idiot." Bea regarded her. "Sweetheart, you haven't behaved like one." "I was nervous." "That's not idiocy." Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Fair." Bea touched her hand. "And you've been wonderful company." Nadia's expression warmed. "Really?" Bea smiled. "Really." A pause. Then Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Is that the professional answer?" Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia grinned. "Just checking." Bea drew her close. Kissed her. Then held her face gently. "That was the honest answer." Nadia smiled. "Good." They dressed without hurrying. Nadia found her jacket. Bea checked her hair. Then laughed when Nadia caught her reflection. "What?" Nadia smiled. "Nothing." Bea raised an eyebrow. Nadia shook her head. "I was just wondering whether that hairstyle is physically capable of becoming untidy." Bea laughed. "Not easily." "Unfair." "Terribly." Nadia stepped closer. Straightened Bea's collar. Then paused. Bea looked at her. "What?" Nadia smiled. "I've had a wonderful evening." Bea's expression softened. "So have I." Nadia kissed her. A lingering goodbye. When they separated, she smiled. "One more?" Bea laughed. "Greedy woman." "Apparently." Bea kissed her again. Then touched her cheek. "Ready?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." At the door, Nadia stopped. Bea turned. "Everything okay?" "Yes." "Another question?" Nadia laughed. "No." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Actually, yes." Bea closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Nadia burst out laughing. "Do you regret taking my booking?" Bea opened her eyes. Looked directly at her. Then smiled. "Not for one second." Nadia's expression warmed. "Good." Bea offered her hand. Nadia accepted. "Come on, gorgeous." They stepped into the corridor together. Neither woman knew exactly what this encounter would mean beyond tonight. Nadia certainly hadn't decided whether she wanted to pursue professional work. And Bea had no intention of encouraging her toward an answer she hadn't reached herself. For now, the booking had been exactly what it needed to be. Two women. Genuine attraction. A professional arrangement freely chosen and thoroughly enjoyed. And one very happy first-time customer. As they approached the lounge, Nadia heard familiar laughter. Mandi. Obviously. Then Dalia. Then somebody shouted something outrageously profane. Probably Vega. Bea shook her head. "Ah." Nadia smiled. "Home?" Bea laughed. "Something like that." The lounge opened before them. Music. Warm lighting. Familiar faces. Panam was sitting with Sera beside her. The silver-haired artist looked up first. Saw Nadia. Then Bea. And smiled. Panam followed her gaze. Her expression warmed. Nadia looked at the two women she loved. Then at Bea. And smiled. Very broadly. Bea noticed. "Something amusing?" Nadia laughed softly. "Oh, yes." "What?" Nadia glanced toward Panam. Then Sera. Then back at Bea. "I think I'm about to be thoroughly interrogated." Bea burst out laughing. "Darling." She squeezed Nadia's hand. "Judging by that smile, I suspect you won't mind nearly as much as you think." Nadia considered. Then grinned. "Probably not." And together, they walked toward the waiting women. --- ## Chapter 22 — Good Evening? Panam noticed Nadia's smile before she noticed anything else. It was quite a smile. Not nervous. Not embarrassed. Not even particularly mysterious. Just the unmistakable expression of a woman who had enjoyed herself tremendously and hadn't yet decided how much she intended to admit. Panam leaned back in her chair. "Oh, sweetheart." Sera looked up. Saw Nadia. And immediately began smiling too. Nadia stopped in front of them. "Hello." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Hello?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." "That's all?" "For the moment." Sera burst out laughing. Bea, standing beside Nadia, smiled. "Well, I think my work here is done." Nadia turned toward her. Her expression softened. "Thank you." Bea touched her hand. "You're very welcome, gorgeous." They exchanged a brief kiss. Not theatrical. Not an announcement. Just a warm goodbye between two women who had enjoyed one another's company. Then Bea smiled at Panam. "Madame." Panam grinned. "Bea." "Behave." Panam looked offended. "Me?" Bea nodded solemnly. "Somebody should." Sera laughed. Panam shook her head. "You're all fucking impossible." Bea's smile widened. "Occupational hazard." She gave Nadia's hand one last squeeze. Then headed toward the bar. Nadia watched her go. For approximately three seconds. Then turned around. And discovered that Panam and Sera were both looking at her. With identical expressions. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Sera collapsed into laughter. Panam stood. "Come here, beautiful." Nadia didn't hesitate. She stepped straight into Panam's arms. The embrace was warm, firm and entirely familiar. Panam kissed her cheek, then her mouth. Nadia answered with an enthusiasm that earned an appreciative little laugh. When they separated, Panam kept her close. "Hello again." Nadia smiled. "Hello." Panam brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "You look happy." "I am." "Good." Another kiss. Shorter this time. Entirely spontaneous. Then Panam rested her forehead against Nadia's. "Everything all right?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Anything you need?" Nadia considered. "Water." "Done." "And somewhere to sit." Panam grinned. "Also done." Sera rose from her chair. "Excuse me?" Nadia turned. Sera crossed her arms. "Am I invisible?" Nadia laughed. "Of course not." "Then where's mine?" Nadia approached. Caught her face gently between both hands. And kissed her. Sera immediately uncrossed her arms. When the kiss ended, her silver-white hair had begun lifting into a small halo. Nadia looked upward. Then smiled. "Better?" Sera considered. "Marginally." Nadia kissed her again. "Now?" Sera grinned. "Considerably." Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ. You two." Sera looked at her. "Jealous, Owner?" Panam laughed. "Of what?" "That." Panam caught Sera around the waist and kissed her. Properly. Then drew Nadia close with her other arm. "There. Everybody satisfied?" Nadia smiled. "Very." Sera nodded. "For now." Panam groaned. "Oh, fuck me." From somewhere behind them, Mandi called: "GET IN LINE!" Unfortunately, Mandi had heard the last part. Of course she had. She was sitting at the neighboring table with Dalia and Deja. And apparently had absolutely nothing better to do than listen for opportunities to make herself unbearable. Panam turned. "Mandi." Mandi smiled sweetly. "Yes, Owner?" "Shut up." "With pleasure." Dalia looked at her. "Really?" Mandi considered. "No." Deja took a drink. "Shocking." Dalia burst out laughing. Nadia covered her face. "Oh, my God." Panam guided her toward the sofa. "Ignore them." "Can I?" "No." "Thought so." Nadia settled between Panam and Sera. Panam handed her water. Sera slipped an arm around her waist. For a while nobody asked anything. Nadia drank. Leaned comfortably against Sera. And rested one hand on Panam's thigh. Panam covered it with her own. It was an unexpectedly pleasant little interval. No questions. No teasing. Just the familiar affection of two women who were genuinely glad to have her back. Eventually Nadia looked from one to the other. "You're being suspiciously quiet." Panam smiled. "Enjoy it." Sera laughed. Nadia narrowed her eyes. "You're waiting." "Of course we're waiting," Panam said. "For what?" "For you to tell us whatever you feel like telling us." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "That's rather decent of you." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Don't sound so fucking surprised." Nadia laughed. Sera kissed her cheek. "How was it, sweetheart?" Nadia didn't answer immediately. She considered the question. The evening. The conversations. The laughter. The kisses. The unexpected pleasure of discovering that professional intimacy didn't have to feel artificial. Then she smiled. "Wonderful." Sera's expression softened. "Oh." Panam smiled too. "Good." Nadia looked at them. "Really wonderful." Sera drew her closer. "I'm glad." Panam kissed Nadia's temple. "So am I, beautiful." There was another moment of comfortable silence. Then Nadia looked toward the bar. Bea was speaking with Suzy Q. She'd collected water and was taking a moment to relax. Nadia smiled involuntarily. Panam noticed. Naturally. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia turned. "What?" "Nothing." "Panam." Panam smiled. "Absolutely nothing." Sera followed Nadia's gaze. Saw Bea. Then laughed softly. Nadia closed her eyes. "Oh, you two are going to be unbearable." Sera kissed her cheek. "Possibly." Panam grinned. "Almost certainly." Nadia shook her head. Then laughed. "I should have known." At the neighboring table, Dalia had been watching with growing interest. Mandi was practically vibrating. Deja looked increasingly entertained. Finally Dalia leaned back. "Well." Mandi turned. "Well?" Dalia smiled toward Nadia. "Apparently someone had a good booking." Nadia looked over. "Apparently." Mandi grinned. "How good?" Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Very." "Oh?" "Yes." Mandi leaned forward. "Details?" Nadia considered. Then smiled pleasantly. "No." Mandi blinked. Dalia burst out laughing. Deja nodded with approval. "Excellent answer." Mandi stared. "Excuse me?" Nadia took another drink. "Professional discretion." Dalia lost it. "Oh, FUCK!" Deja started laughing. Panam covered her mouth. Sera buried her face against Nadia's shoulder. Mandi looked personally betrayed. "YOU TOO?" Nadia smiled. "Learning from the best." Deja raised her glass. "Welcome to the profession." Mandi pointed at her. "YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" Deja considered. "Wasn't trying to." Eventually Mandi recovered enough to speak. "All right." Nadia looked at her. "Yes?" "One question." Deja sighed. "Oh, God." Mandi ignored her. "Was Bea good company?" Nadia's expression softened immediately. "Excellent." Mandi smiled. Genuinely. "Good." And there it was. The distinction Nadia had begun recognizing earlier that night. Mandi could be outrageously filthy. Professionally shameless. An absolutely merciless tease. But beneath all the noise, she cared whether her friends had enjoyed themselves. Nadia smiled back. "Thank you." Mandi touched her hand. "You're welcome, gorgeous." Then she added: "And did she manage to convince you that charging money for a good time is preferable to doing it for free?" Dalia screamed with laughter. Panam groaned. Deja closed her eyes. Nadia stared at Mandi. Then said calmly: "Apparently some people need the professional incentive to perform well." Silence. One second. Two. Then Dalia exploded. "OH, YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Mandi's mouth fell open. Deja nearly dropped her glass. Panam laughed so hard she had to put her water down. Sera's silver-white halo rose another inch. Nadia smiled sweetly. "What?" Mandi pointed at her. "THAT WAS PERSONAL!" Nadia shrugged. "You asked." Dalia was laughing helplessly. "Oh, she's learning!" Deja wiped at one eye. "Very quickly." Mandi leaned back. Looked at Nadia. Then grinned. "All right, gorgeous." Nadia raised an eyebrow. Mandi lifted her glass. "Welcome to the fucking madhouse." Nadia touched her own glass against it. "Pleasure to be here." At the bar, Bea watched the laughter spreading through the group. Suzy Q followed her gaze. "Good booking?" Bea smiled. "Very." "Everything smooth?" "Perfectly." Suzy nodded. Then looked toward Nadia. The artist was laughing with Mandi and Deja. Panam had an arm around her. Sera was practically glowing. Suzy smiled. "Looks like she's doing all right." Bea followed her gaze. "Yes." A pause. Then Suzy looked at Bea. "And you?" Bea considered. Then smiled. "Exceptionally well." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Bea laughed. "Don't start." "I haven't said anything." "That's what everybody says before they start." Suzy grinned. "Fair." She topped up Bea's water. Then returned to work. Bea remained at the bar for a little while. Enjoying the quieter moment. She'd had an unexpectedly good booking. Not because Nadia was inexperienced as a customer. Not because of the money. Because Nadia had been attentive, funny, affectionate and refreshingly honest about what she wanted. Bea liked that. Very much. She also appreciated the fact that Nadia had returned to Panam and Sera smiling. No awkwardness. No sudden need to explain or justify anything. Just happiness. That suited Bea perfectly. Back at the table, Deja had settled beside Dalia. Dalia rested an arm around her. Deja leaned into the embrace. Then looked toward Nadia. "Can I ask you something?" Nadia smiled. "Apparently everyone can." Deja considered. "Not everyone asks useful questions." Mandi groaned. "Here we go." Deja ignored her. "Did the booking change how you feel about professional work?" Nadia thought about it. Then nodded. "A little." Dalia looked interested. "How?" Nadia considered. "I think I understand the distinction between paying for somebody's time and trying to purchase their feelings." Deja nodded. "Good distinction." "And between enjoying somebody's company and believing you're entitled to more than they want to offer." "Also good." Nadia smiled. "But I still don't know whether I'd enjoy being on the other side." Dalia regarded her. "That's all right." Nadia nodded. "I know." Deja took a drink. Then smiled. "Besides, you can hardly expect to decide on a career after one excellent evening." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Worked for me." Deja turned. "Sweetheart, I'm fairly sure your career was established before you learned to walk." Dalia collapsed against the table. Panam shouted: "DEJA!" Mandi stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, you little shit!" Deja smiled sweetly. "Thank you." Nadia laughed so hard she could barely breathe. Eventually Dalia recovered. She drew Deja closer. Kissed her. Then rested her cheek against that venom-dark hair. "You are becoming an absolute menace." Deja smiled. "Learning from my owner." Dalia looked delighted. "Good answer." Mandi leaned forward. "Actually, I think she's learning from me." Deja considered. Then shook her head. "No." Mandi blinked. "No?" "Your delivery lacks subtlety." Dalia laughed again. Mandi looked offended. "My delivery is magnificent." "That's certainly one word for it." Panam shook her head. "Christ. I'm going to need stronger whiskey." Nadia smiled. It was impossible not to enjoy them. The affection. The familiar teasing. The fact that somebody could deliver a devastating remark and receive a kiss instead of an argument. Nobody was trying to win. They simply knew one another well enough to be outrageous. And loved one another enough to keep doing it. A little later, Panam suggested moving somewhere quieter. Not because Nadia seemed distressed. Quite the opposite. But the lounge was getting louder, and they'd been talking long enough that even Mandi was beginning to repeat herself. Which Deja had helpfully pointed out. Twice. Panam stood. Sera rose beside her. Nadia followed. They found a quieter corner away from the main bar. Panam settled first. Sera curled comfortably against her. Nadia took the other side. For a while they simply enjoyed being together. Then Panam turned toward Nadia. "Still happy?" Nadia smiled. "Very." "Good." A pause. Then Nadia looked at her. "Can I ask something?" Panam laughed softly. "You're going to ask it anyway." "True." "Go on." Nadia considered. "Does it ever feel strange?" "What?" "Watching somebody you love go off with a customer." Panam thought about the question. Properly. Then answered. "Sometimes." Nadia looked surprised. "Really?" Panam nodded. "Of course." Sera lifted her head. Listening. Panam continued. "I can worry about somebody being tired. Or having a bad experience. Or agreeing to something because they feel they should." She looked toward the lounge. "That's part of why I pay attention." Nadia nodded. "But the intimacy?" Panam looked at her. Then smiled. "Sweetheart, loving somebody doesn't mean I need to be the only person who makes them happy." Nadia considered that. Sera kissed Panam's cheek. Panam smiled. Then added: "And watching someone I love come back smiling?" She shook her head. "That's a pretty fucking good feeling." Nadia's expression softened. "Yes." Panam kissed her. "Like tonight." Nadia smiled against her mouth. "Like tonight." Sera stretched out a little more comfortably. Then looked at Nadia. "You know something?" Nadia smiled. "What?" "I was happy when you asked whether I'd mind." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Because you didn't?" "Because you wanted me to know." Nadia considered. Then nodded. Sera touched her cheek. "You didn't need permission. But you wanted to share something important with me." Nadia's expression warmed. "Yes." Sera kissed her. "That meant something." Nadia drew her close. For a while they simply held one another. Panam rested a hand against Nadia's back. There was no competition in the arrangement. No tally of affection. No requirement that Nadia prove her love for either woman by limiting what she might share with somebody else. She'd enjoyed Bea. Now she was enjoying being with the women she loved. The two experiences belonged comfortably beside one another. Eventually Nadia laughed softly. Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" Nadia shook her head. "I've spent the whole weekend expecting to discover some enormous complication." Sera smiled. "And?" "There are complications." Panam nodded. "Plenty." "But not necessarily the ones I expected." "Oh?" Nadia considered. "I thought the difficult part would be the intimacy." Sera looked interested. "And?" Nadia smiled. "The difficult part seems to be understanding myself." Panam laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." "What?" "Welcome to adulthood." Nadia burst out laughing. "That's your wisdom?" "That's my wisdom." "Fucking disappointing." Panam grinned. "You're welcome." Sera laughed. Then kissed Nadia. Nadia returned it. And for several minutes, the conversation became pleasantly unnecessary. Bea passed their corner a little later. She was on her way toward the bar. Panam noticed her. "Bea." Bea turned. "Madame." Panam smiled. "Enjoying your break?" "Very." "Good." Nadia looked up. Bea met her eyes. Their smiles appeared almost simultaneously. Sera noticed. Naturally. Panam noticed too. Neither said a word. Bea approached. "Everything good?" Nadia nodded. "Wonderful." Bea smiled. "I'm glad." Nadia considered. Then laughed softly. "What?" Bea asked. "Nothing." Bea raised an eyebrow. "That word seems to be getting a lot of use tonight." Panam grinned. "Occupational hazard." Bea shook her head. "Apparently." Nadia touched Bea's hand. "Thank you again." Bea's expression softened. "You're very welcome." A brief kiss. Warm. Unhurried. Then Bea stepped back. "I'll let you get back to your evening." Nadia smiled. "And you to yours." Bea nodded. "Exactly." She looked toward Panam and Sera. "Ladies." Sera smiled. "Bea." Panam raised her glass. "Behave." Bea looked offended. "Madame, really." Then she grinned. "Absolutely fucking not." And continued toward the bar. Nadia watched her go. Then turned back. Both her lovers were looking at her. Again. She sighed. "Oh, come on." Sera smiled. "What?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "Nobody said anything." Nadia stared. Then laughed. "You're impossible." Panam grinned. "Yes." Sera nodded. "Frequently." Nadia shook her head. Then looked toward the bar again. Bea was laughing at something Suzy had said. Something about that pleased Nadia enormously. She'd enjoyed spending time with Bea privately. Now Bea was simply continuing her evening. Independent. Comfortable. Entirely herself. And Nadia appreciated that their booking didn't require anything more. No obligation. No awkward promises. Just the possibility of another encounter, if they both wanted it. "Thinking again?" Nadia turned. Sera was smiling. Nadia laughed. "Yes." Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Nadia leaned closer. Kissed her. Then Sera. Then settled comfortably between them. "I've reached a conclusion." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Sera looked interested. "Which is?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "I had an absolutely wonderful evening with Bea." Panam smiled. "Good." "And I still don't know whether I want to work professionally." Sera nodded. "Also good." Nadia looked at them. "But I think I'd like to find out." Panam's expression softened. Not triumph. Not excitement about a new recruit. Just genuine pleasure at hearing Nadia speak about something she wanted to explore. "Then you will, sweetheart." Nadia nodded. "In my own time." "Absolutely." Sera kissed her cheek. "And without turning the whole thing into a fucking dissertation." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, that might be difficult." Panam grinned. "Understatement of the year." They stayed together for a while longer. The music continued downstairs. Customers came and went. Other bookings were arranged. Lizzie's showed no particular inclination to become quiet just because three women had reached a comfortable understanding in one corner. Nadia didn't mind. She liked the noise. The movement. The laughter. The occasional outrageous remark drifting from the direction of Mandi and Dalia. And she liked the warmth of Panam beside her. The familiar affection of Sera. The simple certainty that neither expected her to become somebody different because she'd enjoyed spending an hour with Bea. Eventually Nadia rested her head against Sera's shoulder. Panam noticed. "Tired?" "A little." "Want to go?" Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Not yet." Panam nodded. "Good." Sera kissed her hair. "More exploring?" Nadia laughed softly. "More observing." Panam groaned. "Oh, fuck." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia grinned. "What?" Panam shook her head. "Nothing, sweetheart." Nadia smiled. Then leaned closer. And kissed her. Across the lounge, Deja was watching them. Dalia noticed. "Something interesting?" Deja smiled. "Several things." Dalia followed her gaze. Nadia was sitting comfortably between Panam and Sera. Laughing. Happy. Entirely at ease. Dalia smiled. "Good evening." Deja nodded. "Very." Mandi appeared beside them. Looked toward the trio. Then smiled. "She's enjoying herself." Dalia nodded. "Yes." Mandi considered. Then grinned. "And she booked Bea." Deja raised an eyebrow. "Apparently." Mandi's smile widened. "Oh, this is going to be—" Dalia caught her face between both hands. Kissed her. Then drew back. "No." Mandi blinked. "What?" "Whatever you're thinking." Mandi grinned. "You don't even know what I'm thinking." Dalia smiled. "Darling, I know you." Deja took a sip of water. Then added: "Unfortunately, so does half of Night City." Mandi stared. Dalia collapsed into laughter. "Oh, you vicious little bitch!" Deja smiled sweetly. "Thank you." Mandi shook her head. Then laughed. And the three women settled together, thoroughly entertained by their own company. At the bar, Bea looked toward Nadia one last time. The artist was laughing with her lovers. Happy. Comfortable. Untroubled. Bea smiled. It had been a very good evening. For Nadia. For herself. And, apparently, for almost everybody currently occupying Madame Panam's corner of Lizzie's. She raised her glass slightly. Not enough to attract attention. Just a private acknowledgment. Nadia happened to look up. Saw the gesture. And smiled. Then raised her own glass in return. No words. No promises. No decisions about what tomorrow might bring. Just two women acknowledging an evening they'd enjoyed. Bea took a drink. Nadia turned back toward Sera and Panam. And somewhere behind them, Mandi said something so outrageously filthy that Suzy Q shouted her name across the room. Nadia burst out laughing. Panam closed her eyes. Sera's silver-white halo rose. And Lizzie's carried on being Lizzie's. --- ## Chapter 23 — Working? Sunday at Lizzie's began with a disagreement. A fairly serious disagreement, actually. Mandi believed Sunday should be celebrated. Dalia believed Sunday should begin with coffee. Deja believed both women should stop talking long enough for somebody to accomplish something useful. Panam believed she deserved better employees. And Suzy Q believed she deserved better customers. Unfortunately, none of these beliefs appeared likely to produce results. "Sunday," Mandi announced. Dalia took another sip of coffee. "Congratulations." Mandi turned. "What?" "You've successfully identified the day." Deja nodded approvingly. "A significant achievement." Mandi stared at them both. Panam laughed. "Oh, fuck." Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "Are you two always this cruel?" Dalia smiled. "No, darling." Deja added: "Sometimes we sleep." Suzy Q, passing behind them, muttered: "Not nearly enough." The club was already busy. Not Friday busy. Not Saturday busy. Sunday had its own character. Fewer groups arriving simply to get spectacularly drunk. More people who knew exactly what they wanted. More regular customers. More people who had spent the weekend considering a booking and finally decided to ask. Some were returning visitors. Some were curious newcomers. And a surprising number seemed to have arrived with the expectation that Sunday would be quieter. They were about to be disappointed. Panam surveyed the lounge. Mandi stood beside her, collar and leash in place, her neon-orange hair practically glowing beneath the lights. Nova and Vega were talking near the bar. Birgitta had already attracted attention from two different customers. Bea was discussing something with Suzy Q. Dalia sat with Deja close beside her, their ivory and pink making a rather striking combination. Sera was upstairs with Nadia, who had arrived from her studio earlier. Panam smiled. "All right, beautiful." Mandi turned. "Yes, Owner?" "Working?" Mandi's answering grin was enormous. "Absolutely." Panam kissed her. "Then try to behave." Mandi considered. "No promises." "Didn't expect any." The first serious customer approached Birgitta. A woman in her forties, beautifully dressed, with the relaxed confidence of somebody who no longer cared whether strangers approved of her decisions. Birgitta liked her immediately. She also liked the fact that the woman didn't begin by asking about money. Instead, she asked: "Is that seat taken?" Birgitta glanced at the empty chair. "Not unless you've brought an invisible friend." The woman laughed. "Good." She sat. Birgitta smiled. "Hello." "Hello." "First time at Lizzie's?" "No." "First time talking to me?" "Unfortunately." Birgitta raised an eyebrow. "Unfortunately?" The woman smiled. "I suspect I should have done it sooner." Birgitta laughed. "Oh, I like you." "Excellent." "Don't get too confident." "Too late." Birgitta grinned. And the conversation began. The woman worked in corporate risk assessment. A profession that sounded considerably less entertaining than she made it. At one point Birgitta asked whether she enjoyed telling wealthy executives that their brilliant ideas were catastrophically stupid. The woman considered. Then smiled. "Immensely." Birgitta burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart. We are going to get along." "Think so?" "Definitely." Their attraction developed easily. The woman's humor was dry. Her attention genuine. And she seemed perfectly comfortable with the fact that Birgitta could turn a pleasant conversation into outrageous flirtation without warning. Eventually she glanced toward Birgitta's collar. "Working?" Birgitta smiled. "Yes." "Would you consider a booking?" "Possibly." "What would I need to do?" Birgitta glanced toward Panam. "Come meet Madame." Panam greeted them warmly. Birgitta kissed her before the negotiation began. Panam smiled against her mouth. "Found somebody interesting?" "Very." "Good." The customer explained what she wanted. Private time. A relaxed evening. Affection. An opportunity to enjoy Birgitta's company without an audience. Panam listened. Asked her questions. Then nodded. "All right." The woman waited. Panam smiled. "Make me a believable offer." The woman considered. "One hundred and fifty thousand. Ninety minutes." Panam studied her. "That's a serious offer." "I intended it to be." "Good." They discussed the remaining terms. Then Panam turned toward Birgitta. "Interested, sweetheart?" Birgitta looked at the woman. Smiled. "Very." Panam nodded. "Then we have a booking." Payment was arranged. Panam drew Birgitta close, kissed her again, and checked that everything felt right. Birgitta answered with a delighted smile. Click. The leash came free. Panam placed it in her hand. "Have fun, beautiful." Birgitta kissed her cheek. "Planning to, Owner." Then she offered the customer her arm. "Come on, gorgeous." The woman accepted. "Gladly." From the bar, Mandi watched them go. Then looked at Panam. "One hundred and fifty thousand." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Mandi sighed theatrically. "Some people have all the luck." Dalia turned. "Sweetheart." Mandi looked at her. "Yes?" "You are not allowed to complain about anybody else's earnings." Mandi smiled. "Still?" Dalia raised her glass. "Until the heat death of the universe." Deja considered. "That seems optimistic." Panam laughed. Mandi stared at her. "Whose side are you on?" Deja looked surprised. "Was I supposed to choose?" Dalia nearly spilled her coffee. By the time Birgitta reached her suite, another customer had approached Vega. He wasn't particularly flamboyant. Tall. Gray at the temples. A neatly pressed jacket. The kind of man who looked as though he'd spent half his life being dependable. Vega found him attractive. Especially when he admitted, with considerable embarrassment, that he'd spent ten minutes trying to invent a clever opening line. "And?" she asked. He smiled. "Failed." Vega laughed. "Spectacularly?" "Completely." "Good." He raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "I prefer honesty." "Then I'm doing rather well." "Improving, certainly." He smiled. Vega leaned closer. "Now tell me what you actually came over to ask." He considered. Then looked at her. "Working?" Vega's answering smile was immediate. "Yes." Panam listened to the man's proposed booking. An hour. Private. No unusual requirements. He wanted to spend time with Vega because he liked her company and found her attractive. Panam regarded him. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." He considered. "One hundred thousand." Panam nodded slowly. "For one hour?" "Yes." "All right." She asked a few more questions. He answered. Then she turned toward Vega. "Your call, beautiful." Vega looked at him. The man waited. She smiled. "Yes." Panam drew her into an embrace. Kissed her. Then touched her cheek. "Happy?" "Very, Owner." "Good." Click. Vega took her leash. The man offered his hand. Vega accepted it. As they headed toward the private suites, she glanced toward Nova. Nova smiled. Vega returned the smile. A familiar exchange between professional partners. Nothing that would reveal anything beyond their established public identities. Nova watched them disappear. Then turned toward Mandi. "Well." Mandi smiled. "Well?" "Apparently Vega found somebody interesting." "Apparently." Nova took a sip of water. Mandi studied her. "What?" Nova raised an eyebrow. "Nothing." Mandi narrowed her eyes. "That sounded suspicious." Nova smiled. "I was just wondering whether I should find somebody too." Mandi grinned. "Darling, this is Lizzie's." "Yes?" "That is generally how the business works." Nova laughed. "Thank you for that invaluable professional insight." "You're welcome." A woman approaching from behind them interrupted. "Excuse me?" Nova turned. The woman smiled. "Are you Nova?" "Yes." "I was hoping we could talk." Nova returned her smile. "Of course." Mandi stepped aside. Then looked at Panam. Panam raised an eyebrow. Mandi grinned. "Sunday." Panam laughed. "Apparently." Across the club, Deja had noticed another man. Not because he'd been staring. He hadn't. Not because he'd attempted to interrupt her conversation. He hadn't done that either. He'd simply been sitting at the bar, watching the dancers and occasionally laughing at something Suzy said. Deja found herself curious. Which, she'd discovered, was a perfectly good reason to begin a conversation. She touched Dalia's arm. "Owner?" Dalia turned. "Yes, sweetheart?" "May I go talk to somebody?" Dalia followed her gaze. Then smiled. "Of course." Deja leaned closer and kissed her. Dalia answered warmly. Then released her leash. Click. "Enjoy yourself." "I intend to." As Deja walked away, Mandi approached Dalia. "Again?" Dalia raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Your girl's becoming popular." Dalia smiled. "Yes." Mandi looked delighted. "Good." A pause. Then Mandi added: "Starting to worry she's going to out-earn you?" Dalia caught her around the waist. Kissed her. Then smiled. "Darling, I'm starting to worry she's going to out-insult you." Mandi considered. Then looked toward Deja. "Too late." Deja reached the bar. The man looked up. She smiled. "Hello." He returned the smile. "Hello." "May I sit?" "Please." She settled beside him. For a moment they watched the dancers. Then Deja turned. "Do you always watch people dance instead of joining them?" He laughed softly. "Usually." "Why?" "Two left feet." Deja considered. "Both yours?" He burst out laughing. "Unfortunately." "Terrible design." "Catastrophic." She smiled. He looked at her. Then at the collar. "Working?" Deja tilted her head. "Possibly." He grinned. "That sounds negotiable." "Most interesting things are." They talked. The man turned out to be a musician. A pianist. Not especially famous. But accomplished. He played in small venues because he liked having an audience close enough to see whether the music reached them. Deja enjoyed that answer. She also enjoyed the way he listened. And the fact that he made no attempt to impress her with his own importance. Eventually he asked whether she would consider spending some private time with him. Deja considered. Then smiled. "Yes." He brightened. "Wonderful." "But you'll need to make an offer." He nodded. "All right." "Tell me what you're thinking." He did. Deja listened. Asked about the duration. Clarified the arrangement. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." He considered. Then named his figure. Ninety thousand eddies. One hour. Deja regarded him. "That's reasonable." He smiled. "Good." "But I'd like to change one thing." "Oh?" She looked directly at him. "No rehearsed charm." He laughed. "What?" "None." "That bad?" "Not bad. Just unnecessary." He considered. Then smiled. "All right." Deja returned the smile. "Accepted." Dalia was delighted. Not because the booking had produced money. Although that was nice. Because Deja had handled it entirely herself. Negotiated. Asked the questions. Set the boundaries. And made her own decision. When Deja returned with her prospective customer, Dalia listened while they explained the arrangement. She didn't interfere. Didn't renegotiate on Deja's behalf. She simply confirmed that Deja was comfortable. Then held her close. "Happy, sweetheart?" Deja nodded. "Very." Dalia kissed her. "Good." Deja smiled. "Love you, Owner." "Love you too." Then Dalia touched her cheek. "Go enjoy yourself." Deja kissed her again. And left with the pianist. Mandi watched them disappear. Then turned toward Dalia. "She's good." Dalia smiled. "Yes." "Really good." "I know." Mandi regarded her for a moment. Then leaned closer. "Proud?" Dalia nodded. "Very." Mandi kissed her. "Good." By early evening, Lizzie's was in full working rhythm. Private-room bookings came and went. Suzy Q moved between the bar and her scheduling terminal with the practiced efficiency of a woman who'd seen every possible variation of human foolishness. Sometimes twice. One customer tried to negotiate a discount by explaining that he was extremely well connected. Suzy listened patiently. Then asked whether those connections included anybody who could teach him basic arithmetic. He left. Another tried to convince Bea that his reputation made him particularly desirable. Bea listened. Then smiled. "Darling, I generally prefer people who don't require a press release to explain why they're interesting." He didn't book her. Bea wasn't disappointed. And Nadia, who had arrived downstairs with Sera after an afternoon discussing their latest installation, nearly choked laughing when she heard about it. "Did you actually say that?" Bea smiled. "Of course." Nadia shook her head. "You're terrible." "Frequently." Sera laughed. Then kissed Nadia's cheek. "Careful." Nadia turned. "What?" "You're beginning to sound impressed." Nadia grinned. "I am impressed." Bea raised her glass. "Excellent taste." Nadia had been thinking about her own booking with Bea. Of course she had. But she wasn't spending Sunday trying to reproduce it. That wasn't why she'd come. She wanted to see the rest of the working weekend. The ordinary parts. The negotiations that didn't turn into bookings. The customers who returned happy. The ones who simply wanted companionship. And the women who genuinely enjoyed being professionals without needing every evening to become an extraordinary adventure. She watched Panam welcome Vega back. The chrome-and-brass-haired woman had barely reached her before Panam drew her into an embrace. A kiss. A quiet question. A smile. Click. Then water, a comfortable seat, and time to talk. Vega was clearly pleased with her booking. Panam listened. Touched her cheek. And kissed her again when something Vega said made her laugh. Nadia smiled. It was becoming a familiar sight. And somehow no less beautiful for that. A little later, Deja returned. Dalia met her near the bar. Their embrace was immediate. Deja rested against her. Dalia kissed her cheek. "Hello, sweetheart." "Hello, Owner." "Good?" Deja smiled. "Very." Dalia studied her. "Everything comfortable?" "Yes." "Anything you need?" Deja considered. "Water." "Of course." "And food." "Done." "And possibly a replacement pair of ears." Dalia blinked. "What?" Deja smiled. "He spent fifteen minutes explaining why most people play Debussy incorrectly." Dalia stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Deja sighed. "The man can kiss beautifully, but apparently his true passion is correcting the dead." Mandi, passing behind them, nearly walked into a table. "WHAT?" Deja looked at her. "Musical criticism. Try to keep up." Panam laughed from across the room. Dalia drew Deja closer. Kissed her. Then reclipped her leash. Click. "Come on, gorgeous. Let's get you fed." Deja smiled. "Thank you, Owner." Mandi followed. "I have questions." Deja didn't turn. "I was afraid of that." Nova returned from her booking just as Birgitta emerged from another suite. Both looked very pleased. Panam saw them approaching from different directions. Then looked at Suzy. "Apparently I'm about to become extremely busy." Suzy grinned. "That's why you're Madame." Panam sighed. "Fucking wonderful." Nova reached her first. Panam welcomed her with a kiss. Then held her close. "Good evening?" Nova nodded. "Very." "Everything okay?" "Perfectly." Panam smiled. "Good." She secured Nova's leash. Click. Then kissed her cheek. "Get some water. I'll be right there." Nova nodded. "Yes, Owner." Birgitta arrived seconds later. Panam opened her arms. "Come here, beautiful." Birgitta stepped into them. The kiss she gave Panam was considerably more enthusiastic than the one Panam had offered Nova. Panam laughed against her mouth. "Oh, somebody's happy." Birgitta grinned. "Very." "Good booking?" "Excellent." Panam held her. Asked what she needed. Birgitta wanted a drink. Something to eat. And approximately ten minutes of being thoroughly appreciated. Panam laughed. "I think I can arrange that." Click. She secured Birgitta's leash. Then kissed her again. Birgitta smiled. "Love you, Owner." Panam touched her cheek. "Love you too, sweetheart." From behind them came Mandi's voice. "SHOW-OFF!" Birgitta turned. Smiled sweetly. "Jealous?" Mandi considered. Then grinned. "Only professionally." Dalia finally decided it was her turn. She'd spent a pleasant afternoon watching Deja work, teasing Mandi and drinking far too much coffee. Now she was interested in doing something herself. She spotted a woman near the lounge. Attractive. Confident. Watching the room with the expression of somebody who'd already decided she was going to enjoy her evening. Dalia approached. They talked. Flirted. Discovered several shared interests. And eventually the woman asked the familiar question. "Working?" Dalia smiled. "Yes." "Available?" "Possibly." The woman looked interested. Dalia leaned closer. "Tell me what you have in mind." The conversation became more specific. Both women listened carefully. Then Dalia smiled. "All right, gorgeous." The woman waited. Dalia's grin widened. "Make me a believable offer." From the bar, Panam shouted: "THAT'S MY LINE NOW!" Dalia spun around. "THE FUCK IT IS!" Suzy Q closed her eyes. "Oh, not again." The woman burst out laughing. Dalia turned back. Smiled. "Professional disagreement." "Apparently." "Ignore her." "I'll try." The woman considered. Then named an offer. Dalia listened. Countered. The woman laughed. Countered again. Dalia smiled. "Now we're talking." They settled the terms. The booking was confirmed. And Dalia looked thoroughly delighted. Before leaving, Dalia found Deja. Her pet was sitting beside Nadia, discussing something about visual art and music that had become unexpectedly technical. Dalia leaned down and kissed her. Deja smiled. "Hello, Owner." "Hello, sweetheart." "Working?" Dalia nodded. "Yes." Deja's expression warmed. "Good." Dalia touched her cheek. "Going to be all right here?" Deja smiled. "Owner, I'm sitting next to an artist and a room full of friends. I think I'll survive." Dalia laughed. "Fair." She released Deja's leash. Click. "Enjoy yourself." Deja kissed her. "You too." Mandi approached. Caught Dalia around the waist. Kissed her. Then grinned. "Bring back some money this time." Dalia stared. "EXCUSE ME?" Mandi burst out laughing. Deja added, without looking up: "Apparently we've established a family tradition of unreasonable expectations." Nadia collapsed into laughter. Dalia pointed at them both. "I'm surrounded by absolute bastards." Mandi kissed her again. "Love you." Dalia sighed. Then smiled. "Love you too." And headed toward her customer. Sunday continued. Not every conversation became a booking. Not every offer was convincing. A customer interested in Mandi made a proposal that Panam considered carefully before presenting it. Mandi listened. Then shook her head. "No, thank you." The customer accepted the answer. Panam drew Mandi close. Kissed her. And the two of them returned to enjoying the evening. Later another customer approached. A woman with a quick laugh and an appealingly direct manner. This conversation went rather differently. Mandi liked her. The woman liked Mandi. And when they reached Panam, the customer had evidently given serious thought to what she wanted. Panam listened. Then smiled. "Make me a believable offer." The woman did. Panam considered it. Asked about the duration. Then turned toward Mandi. "Interested, beautiful?" Mandi smiled. "Very." Panam kissed her. "Good." Click. The leash came free. Mandi accepted it. Then leaned closer to whisper something in Panam's ear. Panam burst out laughing. "Oh, you absolute menace." Mandi grinned. "Love you, Owner." "Love you too." And off she went. Nadia watched her disappear. Then turned toward Sera. "Do you ever get used to this?" Sera smiled. "To what?" "All of it." Sera considered. "Some things." "And the rest?" Sera laughed. "The rest keeps surprising me." Nadia looked around. Deja and Nova were laughing together. Vega had joined Panam. Birgitta was flirting outrageously with a woman near the bar. Bea was discussing something with Suzy. Dalia and Mandi were both occupied with bookings. The club was busy. Alive. And nobody seemed interested in pretending otherwise. Nadia smiled. "It's extraordinary." Sera followed her gaze. Then nodded. "Yes." Nadia leaned against her. Sera kissed her cheek. Then her mouth. Nadia smiled. "What?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "Nothing." Nadia laughed. "Suspicious." Sera's silver-white halo lifted slightly. "Always." It was later in the evening when Panam finally found a moment to sit. A real moment. Not a brief interruption between negotiations. Not a quick check on somebody returning from a booking. An actual opportunity to put her feet up. She accepted it immediately. Nadia found her first. "Owner?" Panam looked up. "Yes, sweetheart?" Nadia smiled. "Would you like a drink?" Panam considered. "Whiskey." Nadia laughed. "That was fast." "I've had a busy evening." "Apparently." Nadia fetched it. Sera arrived with something to eat. Panam looked between them. Then smiled slowly. "Oh." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "You're taking care of me." Sera laughed. "Apparently." Panam took the plate. Then caught Sera's hand and kissed it. "Thank you, beautiful." Nadia sat beside her. Panam drew her close and kissed her too. "Love you." Nadia smiled. "Love you too." Sera settled against Panam's other side. For several minutes, the three women sat together. Panam ate. Drank. And allowed herself to be cared for. Nobody demanded anything of her. Nobody needed a negotiation. Nobody was waiting for permission to be happy. It was wonderful. Naturally, the peace lasted approximately four minutes. Suzy Q approached. "Panam." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Suzy smiled. "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Not remotely." Nadia laughed. Panam opened one eye. "What?" Suzy glanced toward the entrance. "Somebody wants to speak with Sera." Sera looked up. "Me?" Suzy nodded. "And Nadia, apparently." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "About an installation." Sera considered. Then smiled. "All right." Panam looked toward the entrance. A man was waiting near the bar. Expensive suit. Immaculate shoes. A watch that probably cost more than several decent apartments. He was speaking with one of Suzy's staff. Not particularly loudly. Not yet. But with the unmistakable composure of somebody accustomed to getting meetings simply because he'd requested them. Panam regarded him. Then looked back at Sera. "Know him?" Sera shook her head. "No." Nadia studied the man. "Neither do I." Suzy shrugged. "Says he's interested in the collaboration." Sera smiled. "Then I suppose we can hear him out." Nadia nodded. "Of course." Panam considered. Then kissed Sera. "Want company?" Sera laughed. "Owner, it's a conversation about art." Panam raised an eyebrow. "That's not an answer." Nadia grinned. "We'll be fine." Panam looked at both women. Then smiled. "All right." Sera kissed her. Nadia followed. And the two artists rose. As they walked toward the visitor, Panam picked up her whiskey. Took a sip. Then glanced toward Suzy. "Any idea what he wants?" Suzy considered. "Art, apparently." Panam nodded. "Good." Suzy looked toward the man again. Then back at Panam. A faint smile appeared. "Although something tells me he's the sort of man who expects to get whatever he asks for." Panam laughed. "Then he's come to the wrong fucking club." Suzy grinned. "That's what I thought." Across the lounge, Sera greeted the visitor. Nadia joined the conversation. The man smiled. They began talking. Perfectly politely. Perfectly professionally. And Panam returned to her whiskey. For the moment, Sunday was going rather well. --- ## Chapter 24 — The Price of Madame The man knew his art. That was the first surprise. Sera had expected the usual collection of expensive adjectives from somebody whose watch probably cost more than her first three exhibitions combined. Innovative. Provocative. Visionary. Words wealthy patrons enjoyed using when they wanted artists to understand how thoroughly they'd failed to understand their work. Instead, the man examined the images Nadia had opened on her agent and asked a question about structural tension. A good question. A very good question, actually. Sera looked at him with renewed interest. "Have you worked with suspended installations before?" "No," he said. "But I've financed two, and one of them nearly killed its curator." Nadia looked up. "Seriously?" "Fortunately not. The curator simply believed it had." Sera laughed. "What happened?" "The artist neglected to mention that the central structure was supposed to collapse." Nadia stared. "Was it?" "Apparently." "And nobody thought to tell the curator?" "The artist considered the surprise essential to the experience." Sera covered her mouth. "Oh, fuck." The man smiled. "Precisely what the curator said." Nadia burst out laughing. All right. The man was pompous. His suit alone made that fairly obvious. But he was intelligent, interested, and capable of being funny without advertising the fact. This might actually be a useful conversation. He'd approached them about their collaborative installation. Not Sera's individual work. Not Nadia's earlier exhibitions. Their collaboration. That mattered. He'd seen preliminary photographs and wanted to understand how the two artists were approaching a shared piece without surrendering their individual styles. Nadia explained the concept. Sera added what she'd been experimenting with. The man listened. Properly. Occasionally he challenged a decision. Occasionally he asked whether something would survive the conditions in which they intended to display it. He wasn't attempting to redesign the installation. He was considering whether to finance a future project. And that was a conversation both women were perfectly willing to have. "You're proposing something rather ambitious," he eventually said. Nadia smiled. "We've been accused of worse." "I imagine." Sera leaned back. "What exactly interests you?" "The partnership." "Why?" He considered. "Because neither of you appears particularly interested in compromising." Nadia laughed. "That's one interpretation." "A rather complimentary one, I assure you." Sera smiled. "Good. I was about to charge you for the insult." He laughed. And, for another ten minutes, everything went beautifully. Panam watched from her table. She wasn't listening to the details. The conversation was too far away, and she had no intention of intruding on Sera and Nadia's professional discussion. She was simply enjoying a moment with her whiskey. A rare moment. Considering the weekend she'd been having. Birgitta had just returned from speaking with a prospective customer. Nova was eating something. Vega had appropriated the other half of Nova's plate with the serene confidence of somebody who knew she'd get away with it. Mandi was attempting to persuade Deja to explain exactly what she'd meant by a remark about professional standards. Deja appeared to be enjoying Mandi's frustration considerably more than the conversation warranted. And Dalia was watching them both with a smile that promised absolutely no assistance. Panam took another sip. My girls. She smiled. Then Sera laughed across the room. Panam looked over. Nadia was smiling too. Good. The meeting was going well. Panam returned to her drink. The man's attention eventually shifted. Not suddenly. And not, at first, in any particularly objectionable way. He noticed the collars. The relaxed affection between Sera and Nadia. The fact that both women occasionally glanced toward Panam. Finally, he asked: "May I ask about something unrelated to the installation?" Sera smiled. "You can ask." He nodded toward Panam. "That woman." Nadia followed his gaze. Then smiled. "Panam?" "Madame Panam, I believe?" Sera nodded. "Yes." "She's responsible for the professional arrangements here?" "Among other things." "Interesting." Nadia regarded him. "Why?" "I've heard about her." Sera laughed softly. "Most people have." "Quite." He looked toward Panam again. "An extraordinary reputation." Nadia smiled. "She has an extraordinary talent for making people underestimate her." The man considered that. Then nodded. "That I can believe." Sera studied him. There was something different in his expression now. Still intelligent. Still composed. But distinctly more interested. She raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind?" The man smiled. "I'd like to meet her." --- Panam saw them approaching. Sera first. Nadia beside her. The expensive stranger following. She set down her whiskey. "Hello, beautiful." Sera leaned down and kissed her. Panam answered happily. Then Nadia stepped closer. Panam caught her hand and drew her in for a kiss of her own. "How's the meeting?" Nadia smiled. "Interesting." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Good interesting?" "So far." The man waited politely. Sera introduced him as a prospective patron interested in financing one of their future installations. Panam offered her hand. He accepted. "Madame." "Evening." "A pleasure." "Depends how the conversation goes." Nadia laughed. The man smiled. "An excellent answer." Panam gestured toward an empty chair. "Have a seat." He did. Sera settled beside Panam. Nadia took the other chair. For a little while, the conversation returned to art. Panam listened. Asked a practical question about exhibition security. Nadia answered. The man offered an observation about visitor flow. Sera countered with a suggestion. He considered it. Then nodded. "That would work." Panam smiled. Apparently he really did know what he was talking about. A pleasant change. Unfortunately, the man had another interest. He'd been looking at Panam with increasing appreciation. Not rudely. Not openly enough to interrupt the conversation. But Sera noticed. So did Nadia. And Panam had noticed before either of them. She was accustomed to being looked at. It came with the work. And with the rather distinctive way she chose to live. Eventually the man turned toward her. "May I ask you something more personal?" Panam smiled. "Go ahead." "Are you working tonight?" Sera's eyebrows rose. Nadia stopped smiling. Not because she was offended. Because she was suddenly very curious about the answer. Panam regarded the man. Then laughed softly. "Oh." He smiled. "I hope the question isn't inappropriate." "No." "Good." Panam leaned back. "It's a perfectly reasonable question." He waited. Panam took another sip of whiskey. "Not interested, though." The man considered her answer. Then nodded. "Ah." A pause. "Not working?" Panam smiled. "Not interested." Sera hid a grin behind her glass. Nadia looked toward the ceiling. The man wasn't stupid. Panam could tell that. Which made his decision to continue rather more curious. "I see." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Do you?" He smiled. "Perhaps I should have approached the question differently." Panam laughed. "You're welcome to try." "You're a remarkable woman, Madame." "Thank you." "Beautiful. Successful. And apparently exceptionally discerning." Panam grinned. "Flattery's a decent opening. Keep going." Sera bit her lip. Nadia took a drink. The man smiled. "I understand you've accepted extraordinarily substantial offers in the past." Panam's expression changed. Very slightly. "Have I?" "Fifty million eddies, if the account I heard was accurate." Sera looked toward her. Panam smiled. "Oh, that." Nadia raised an eyebrow. The man nodded. "So the story is true." "Parts of it." "Which parts?" Panam considered. Then shrugged. "The fifty million was real." The man smiled. "Interesting." "But don't confuse a booking I accepted with a price list." He inclined his head. "Of course." Panam studied him. She wasn't entirely convinced he'd understood. Sera rested a hand against her arm. Panam kissed her cheek. Then looked back at the man. "Anything else?" "Only that I'd like to make you an offer." Panam sighed. Almost affectionately. "Sweetheart, I already told you I'm not interested." He smiled. "Before you'd heard it." Panam considered that. Then laughed. "Fair enough." She set down her glass. "All right." Sera looked at her. Nadia did too. Panam folded her hands. And smiled. "Make me a believable offer." From the neighboring table came an outraged shriek. "THAT'S MY FUCKING LINE!" Panam closed her eyes. Sera burst out laughing. Nadia covered her face. The man looked toward the voice. Dalia was standing beside Deja, pointing accusingly at Panam. "AGAIN!" Panam turned. "Dalia." "YOU HAVE STOLEN THAT LINE FROM ME ALL FUCKING WEEKEND!" "Then stop leaving it lying around!" Mandi collapsed against Deja. Deja looked at Dalia. Then said calmly: "Technically, intellectual property requires documentation." Dalia stared at her. "NOT NOW, SWEETHEART!" Mandi lost whatever remained of her composure. Suzy Q looked up from her terminal. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Dalia crossed her arms. "I DEMAND COMPENSATION!" Panam grinned. "Make me a believable offer!" Suzy shouted: "I AM GOING TO BAN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!" The laughter spread halfway across the lounge. Even the man smiled. Although he appeared slightly uncertain whether he was supposed to be enjoying himself. Panam turned back toward him. "Sorry. Family." Sera was still laughing. Nadia wiped at one eye. The man smiled. "I gathered." He returned to the subject with impressive composure. "Fifty million eddies." Panam looked at him. Then shook her head. "No." He raised an eyebrow. "Not enough?" "Not interested." "Sixty." Panam smiled. "No." "Seventy-five." Sera set down her drink. Nadia looked at the man. Panam laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." He regarded her. "A hundred." The number hung between them. Not because Panam had never heard a large number before. But because the man appeared genuinely convinced he'd reached something meaningful. Panam considered him. Then smiled. "No." His expression changed. Only slightly. Surprise. Not anger. Not yet. "One hundred million." Panam raised an eyebrow. "You're persistent." "I prefer determined." "That's one word for it." The man leaned forward. "Surely there's a figure." Panam shook her head. "Not tonight." He considered that. Then smiled. "One hundred and fifty." Sera stopped laughing. Not because the offer impressed her. Because she was beginning to recognize the problem. The man was treating Panam's refusal as a negotiation. And the two things were not interchangeable. Nadia noticed too. She reached for Panam's hand. Panam squeezed it. Then looked back at the man. "No." He sat back. Studied her. Then smiled. "You're testing me." Panam laughed. "No, sweetheart." "You want to know how serious I am." "No." "Then what?" Panam leaned forward. Her expression remained pleasant. "I'm telling you I'm not attracted to you." The man blinked. Sera rested her chin against her hand. Nadia looked at Panam with unmistakable affection. Panam continued. "You're intelligent. You know your art. You've been perfectly good company." The man nodded slowly. "But?" "But that doesn't mean I want to go to bed with you." Silence. Then, from the neighboring table, Deja said: "An astonishingly difficult concept for some people." Dalia made a strangled noise. Mandi covered her mouth. Panam looked over. "Deja." Deja smiled sweetly. "Sorry, Madame." Dalia leaned closer. "You're not sorry." "No, Owner." Dalia burst out laughing. The man considered Panam's answer. Then nodded. "All right." Panam smiled. "Good." For a moment, it appeared the matter was settled. He returned to his drink. Sera asked a question about the proposed installation. The man answered. Nadia contributed an observation. The conversation resumed. Almost normally. Panam began to think he'd accepted the situation. Unfortunately, he hadn't. He waited until Sera finished speaking. Then turned back toward Panam. "Two hundred million." Panam stared. Sera closed her eyes. Nadia looked at him. The man smiled. "That should demonstrate my seriousness." Panam considered him for a moment. Then laughed. Not cruelly. More in disbelief. "Jesus Christ." He raised an eyebrow. "Too little?" "No." "Then—" "Too much fucking persistence." Nadia sighed. Sera set down her glass. Panam leaned back. "Sweetheart, listen carefully." He waited. "I'm not interested in sleeping with you." "At any price?" "At any price." He regarded her. Then looked toward Sera. Perhaps expecting help. Sera smiled. "She's been remarkably clear." Nadia nodded. "Very." The man considered them both. Then turned back toward Panam. "I believe there's a misunderstanding." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I'm not suggesting that money creates attraction." "Good." "I'm suggesting that certain experiences can be worthwhile even without it." Panam studied him. Then shook her head. "Not to me." For several seconds, he said nothing. He was intelligent enough to understand the answer. That made his continuing refusal to accept it increasingly difficult to excuse. Finally, he smiled. "Perhaps I should come back another evening." Panam considered. "You're welcome to visit Lizzie's." Sera nodded. "And we're happy to continue discussing the installation." Nadia added: "Professionally." The man looked at her. Then smiled. "Naturally." Panam reached for her whiskey. "Good." A pause. Then: "Three hundred million." Panam stopped. Looked at him. And sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Across the lounge, Suzy Q noticed. She'd been watching the conversation intermittently. Not because Panam needed rescuing from an expensive suit. Panam was perfectly capable of handling one. But Suzy had a club to run. And she'd watched enough customers mistake an invitation to talk for an invitation to keep pushing. She tapped her agent. "Lisa?" A response came immediately. "Yeah?" "Could you come to Madame's table?" "Problem?" "Persistent guest." "How persistent?" Suzy glanced over. Panam was staring at the man with an expression of profound disbelief. "Very." Lisa sighed. "On my way." "Bring two." "Got it." Suzy ended the call. Then looked toward the table again. She smiled faintly. Some people really didn't know when to stop. The man was still speaking. "...which, I believe, demonstrates that I'm willing to approach this without the usual financial constraints." Panam regarded him. Then smiled. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you enjoy being told no?" The question caught him off guard. "I beg your pardon?" "Because you're getting a lot of practice." Nadia burst out laughing. Sera covered her mouth. The man considered. Then smiled tightly. "Madame, surely—" "No, sweetheart." Panam leaned forward. "You're offering me money for something I don't want to do. Increasing the amount doesn't change that." He glanced toward the bar. Then back. "I find it difficult to believe—" "That's becoming obvious." From behind Panam, Mandi called: "OWNER, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO FIND HIM A CALCULATOR?" Panam didn't turn. "No, beautiful." Deja added: "Possibly a dictionary." Dalia burst out laughing. Mandi pointed at her. "THAT'S MY GIRL!" Deja raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Dalia turned toward Mandi. "Careful, darling." Mandi grinned. "Professional admiration!" Lisa arrived with two Moxes. They didn't rush. Didn't make a spectacle of themselves. They simply approached the table. Lisa stopped beside the man. "Good evening, sir." He looked up. "Yes?" "I'm Lisa. Club security." He considered. "Is there a problem?" "Not if you're ready to leave." His expression changed. "I beg your pardon?" Lisa smiled politely. "Your evening here is finished." The man looked toward Panam. Panam raised her glass. "Pleasure talking art, sweetheart." Sera nodded. "Thank you for the discussion." Nadia smiled. "We can follow up through the gallery if you still want to discuss the installation." The man looked between them. Then toward Lisa. "I haven't behaved improperly." Lisa considered. "You've continued pressing somebody after repeated refusals." He opened his mouth. Lisa continued. "And now I'm asking you to leave." The two Moxes stood quietly behind her. Not threatening. Not theatrical. Simply present. The man surveyed the arrangement. He was intelligent. And, despite his extraordinarily poor judgment over the last twenty minutes, not completely foolish. He stood. Straightened his jacket. Then inclined his head toward Panam. "Madame." Panam nodded. "Have a good evening." He turned toward Sera and Nadia. "Ladies." Sera smiled. "Good evening." Nadia nodded. Lisa gestured toward the exit. "This way, sir." And the three Moxes escorted him out. Politely. Efficiently. Without raising their voices. The door closed behind them. Silence. A remarkable silence. For Lizzie's, anyway. It lasted approximately four seconds. Then Dalia said: "Three hundred fucking million?" Mandi stared toward the entrance. "THREE HUNDRED?" Deja considered. "Apparently he believed the answer was a numerical problem." Nova burst out laughing. Vega leaned against the bar. "Well, fuck." Birgitta looked delighted. "That's an impressive amount of money to spend discovering somebody doesn't fancy you." Panam covered her face. Sera began laughing. Nadia followed. Dalia shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Mandi turned toward Panam. "Owner." Panam looked up. "Yes, beautiful?" "Can I ask something?" Panam sighed. "Of course." Mandi considered. Then grinned. "Would you have accepted four hundred?" Panam threw a napkin at her. Mandi shrieked with laughter. Suzy Q approached. Panam looked up. "Thank you." Suzy nodded. "No problem." "Sorry about that." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Your club." "Exactly." Suzy glanced toward the entrance. "And that gentleman had finished enjoying it." Panam laughed. "Fair." Suzy looked at Sera. Then Nadia. "Everything else all right?" Sera nodded. "Yes." Nadia smiled. "Very." "Good." Suzy turned toward Panam. "Need anything?" Panam considered. "Whiskey." Suzy smiled. "Already coming." Panam leaned back. "You're a fucking angel." "Don't spread that around." Then Suzy returned to work. Sera looked at Nadia. Nadia looked back. For a moment neither spoke. Then Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, God." Sera nodded. "Yes." Panam regarded them both. "What?" Nadia shook her head. "We were having such a good conversation." Sera laughed. "He actually understood the structural problem." Panam smiled. "That part was interesting." Nadia sighed. "And then he decided to become a complete fucking idiot." Panam laughed. "Well, sweetheart, intelligence doesn't always come with judgment." Sera looked thoughtful. "He did offer to finance another installation." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Do we still want him involved?" Sera considered. Then shook her head. "Not particularly." Panam looked at her. "You don't have to decide that tonight." Sera nodded. "I know." Nadia smiled. "Besides, we aren't exactly desperate for financing." Sera laughed. "No." Panam reached for Sera's hand. Drew her closer. Kissed her. Then smiled. "You two make beautiful things. You'll find better company to make them with." Nadia leaned in and kissed Panam too. "Thank you." Panam smiled against her mouth. "You're welcome, sweetheart." Dalia arrived carrying a fresh drink. She set it in front of Panam. Panam looked up. "What's this?" Dalia smiled. "Whiskey." "I can see that." "Then why ask?" Panam laughed. Dalia settled into the empty chair. Crossed her arms. And regarded Panam with an expression of tremendous seriousness. "Now." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Oh, no." "Oh, yes." Mandi appeared beside Dalia. Naturally. Deja followed, looking suspiciously entertained. Dalia leaned forward. "We need to discuss the systematic theft of my professional vocabulary." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Dalia continued. "Every booking. Every negotiation. Every time somebody with more money than sense wanders into this club." Mandi nodded solemnly. "Terrible." Deja considered. "An epidemic." Sera started laughing. Nadia covered her mouth. Dalia pointed toward Panam. "YOU KEEP USING MY LINE!" Panam looked at her. Then smiled. "Fine." Dalia blinked. "Fine?" Panam nodded. "Fine." She took a sip of whiskey. Then continued: "What do you want for it?" Dalia considered. Her expression became positively radiant. "Oh." Mandi leaned closer. Deja raised an eyebrow. Panam smiled. "Make me a believable offer." Dalia stared. One second. Two. Then she screamed: "YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING BITCH!" The entire table collapsed into laughter. It took several minutes for everybody to recover. Deja was still smiling. Mandi had tears in her eyes. Sera's silver-white halo had risen into a spectacular, untidy crown. Nadia was leaning against Panam, laughing helplessly. Dalia finally managed to breathe. Then she pointed at Panam again. "One day." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "One day I'm going to send you a proper fucking invoice." Panam smiled. "Looking forward to it." Dalia narrowed her eyes. "And you'll pay." Panam considered. "Depends." "On what?" Panam grinned. "Whether it's a believable offer." Dalia threw up her hands. "OH, FUCK OFF!" Mandi collapsed again. A little later, the group began drifting back toward their own conversations. Lizzie's was still working. Several customers were waiting. Suzy had bookings to arrange. Birgitta excused herself to speak with an attractive woman near the lounge. Nova and Vega returned to the bar. Deja leaned close to Dalia, whispered something that made her laugh, and accepted a thoroughly affectionate kiss in return. Mandi remained with Panam for another moment. She looked toward the door. Then back at her owner. "Can I ask you something without getting a napkin thrown at me?" Panam smiled. "Unlikely." Mandi laughed. Then grew a little more thoughtful. "That fifty-million story." Panam regarded her. "Yeah?" "You really liked that one, didn't you?" Panam considered. Then nodded. "I did." Mandi smiled. "Thought so." Panam touched her cheek. "The money was extraordinary." "Obviously." "But that wasn't why I said yes." Mandi nodded. "I know." Panam kissed her. Mandi answered warmly. When they separated, she smiled. "Love you, Owner." Panam smiled back. "Love you too, beautiful." Then Mandi grinned. "Still think three hundred million is a spectacularly fucking expensive rejection." Panam burst out laughing. "Go find something useful to do." Mandi kissed her again. "Yes, Owner." And wandered off. Still grinning. Nadia watched her go. Then looked at Panam. "Can I ask something?" Panam laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia smiled. "One more." "Go on." "Did you actually consider any of those offers?" Panam thought about it. Then shook her head. "No." Nadia looked interested. "Not even the first one?" "I listened." "Yes." "But I already knew I wasn't interested." Nadia considered. "Then why let him keep offering?" Panam sighed. "At first? I thought he'd understand after I answered." Sera nodded. "He didn't." "No." Panam took another sip of whiskey. "After that, I was curious how long it would take him to figure out that I meant what I said." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "And?" Panam smiled. "Apparently longer than Suzy was willing to tolerate." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia followed. Panam shook her head. "Smart woman, Suzy." The three women settled together again. Panam in the middle. Sera curled against one shoulder. Nadia against the other. For a while they simply enjoyed the quiet. Relatively speaking. The club was still loud. The music continued. Somebody at the bar shouted something outrageous. Dalia, probably. Then Mandi laughed. Definitely Mandi. But Panam was comfortable. Her whiskey was good. The two women beside her were warm and affectionate. And the rich idiot was gone. She kissed Sera's forehead. Then Nadia's cheek. Nadia smiled. "What?" Panam shook her head. "Nothing." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious." Panam laughed. "Just enjoying myself." Nadia kissed her. "Good." Sera settled closer. "Very good." Panam rested her arms around them both. A comfortable silence followed. Then Nadia looked up. "Panam?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "Three hundred million." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Nadia grinned. "That's a lot of money." Panam laughed. "Apparently." Sera raised her head. Her silver-white halo was beginning to rise again. "Actually, Owner—" Panam opened one eye. "No." Sera smiled. "I haven't said anything." "No." Nadia began laughing. Sera leaned closer. "Four hundred?" Panam groaned. "YOU TOO?" Nadia collapsed against her shoulder. Sera burst out laughing. Panam caught both women and pulled them into a thoroughly enthusiastic embrace. "Absolute fucking menaces." Nadia kissed her. Sera followed. Panam answered both. Then sighed contentedly. "Love you." Nadia smiled. "Love you too." Sera rested her forehead against Panam's. "Love you, Owner." Panam kissed her again. And for the first time in several hours, nobody mentioned money. Across the lounge, Suzy Q noticed the three women together. She smiled. Then looked down at her terminal. Another booking request. Another customer. Another working Sunday evening at Lizzie's. She sighed. Tapped the request. And muttered: "All right, you horny bastards. Who's next?" --- ## Chapter 25 — The Security Manager Returns Bea was beginning to suspect that Sunday had developed a sense of humor. A particularly vicious one. First, a wealthy idiot had offered Madame Panam three hundred million eddies for an evening she didn't want to spend with him. Then Lisa had escorted the man out with the sort of cheerful professionalism that suggested she'd rather enjoyed herself. And now Suzy Q was walking toward Bea with an expression that promised something considerably more entertaining. Bea narrowed her red eyes. "What?" Suzy smiled. "Customer." "How extraordinary. At Lizzie's?" "Specifically asking for you." Bea set down her water. "Did he leave a name?" Suzy's smile widened. "No need." Bea followed her gaze toward the entrance. And stopped. Oh. Oh, for fuck's sake. Standing a few meters away was a familiar man in civilian clothes. Expensive, understated civilian clothes. The kind he wore when he was trying very hard not to look like somebody responsible for managing the security arrangements of an extremely important corporate executive. He had almost succeeded. Almost. His posture was still too controlled. His eyes still performed that automatic assessment of the room before settling on what he'd actually come to see. And when they found Bea, his expression softened. He smiled. Bea smiled back. Well, hello again. Her security manager. Elisa's security manager. And an increasingly enthusiastic regular customer of Bea's. Night City was a fucking ridiculous place. "He's becoming a habit," Suzy observed. Bea turned. "Excuse me?" Suzy looked innocent. "Returning customer. Good for business." "That's not what you meant." "Wasn't it?" "Suzy." Suzy smiled. "Bea." For a moment they regarded one another. Then Bea sighed. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." "Wonderful." Suzy leaned closer. "Want me to tell him you're unavailable?" Bea glanced toward the man. He was waiting. Not approaching until she acknowledged him. Not assuming anything. Just smiling, apparently delighted to have found her working again. Bea's expression warmed. "No." Suzy nodded. "Thought not." "Not one fucking word." Suzy lifted both hands. "Wouldn't dream of it." Bea started walking. Behind her, Suzy added: "Try not to fall in love with the repeat business." Bea didn't turn. She merely raised her middle finger. Suzy laughed. The man met her halfway. "Bea." She smiled. "Hello, stranger." He laughed softly. "Stranger?" "Well, you do keep appearing out of nowhere." "I was hoping that might be a pleasant surprise." Bea looked him over. Civilian jacket. No visible security equipment. Relaxed enough to suggest he'd genuinely taken the evening off. Almost. "Depends." "On?" "Whether you're here to enjoy yourself or conduct a perimeter assessment." He laughed. "Do I really look that bad?" "Darling, you checked three exits before you noticed the dancers." "Four." Bea stared. He smiled. "There's another one behind the service corridor." She closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." He laughed. "Sorry." "Don't apologize. Just promise me you haven't brought a clipboard." "No clipboard." "Emergency response checklist?" "No." "Armed extraction team waiting outside?" He considered. "Would that be a problem?" Bea looked at him. He grinned. She burst out laughing. "Oh, you bastard." "Learning from you." "Then I'm clearly a terrible influence." "Spectacularly." He offered to buy her a drink. She accepted water. He ordered something considerably less sensible. They found a place near the end of the bar. Bea was pleased to discover that he'd come to Lizzie's deliberately. Not because he was bored. Not because an evening had fallen through. Because he'd wanted to see her. Again. "You've had a busy weekend?" she asked. He nodded. "Pleasantly uneventful." Bea raised an eyebrow. "That's your definition of a holiday?" "When you spend most of your professional life preparing for things to go catastrophically wrong, uneventful becomes attractive." She smiled. "I can imagine." He looked at her. "Can you?" Careful. Bea took a sip. "Sweetheart, I work in Night City. I've seen what happens when people stop paying attention." He laughed. "Fair." Then his smile softened. "And you?" "Busy." "Good busy?" "Mostly." "Mostly?" Bea glanced toward the entrance through which the expensive idiot had departed. "Let's just say a gentleman recently discovered that three hundred million eddies isn't enough to purchase someone's enthusiasm." The man stared. "Three hundred million?" "Yes." "What was he buying?" "Trying to buy." "Fair correction." "Madame Panam." His eyebrows rose. "Ah." Bea smiled. "Precisely." "Did she accept?" Bea burst out laughing. "Darling, if she'd accepted, the story would have been considerably shorter." He shook his head. "Some people." "Indeed." Then he looked at her. "Money doesn't make a refusal disappear." Bea smiled. "No." He nodded. "Seems fairly straightforward." And there it is, Bea thought. One of the reasons she liked him. He really did understand that. Unfortunately, they had an audience. --- Mandi had noticed him. Of course she had. She was standing beside Dalia, pretending to listen to something Deja was saying. The performance was not especially convincing. Dalia followed her gaze. Then stopped. "Oh." Mandi nodded solemnly. "Oh." Deja looked over. Recognized him. Then smiled. "Again." Mandi pressed her lips together. Dalia regarded the three of them. Then sighed. "Nobody says anything stupid." Mandi turned. "Me?" "Especially you." Deja considered. "Define stupid." Dalia looked at her. "Sweetheart." Deja smiled innocently. "A useful clarification." Mandi made a strangled noise. Dalia caught her around the waist. "Don't." Mandi leaned into her. "I'm behaving." "You look like you're about to rupture something." "Professional excitement." Deja took a sip of water. "She's particularly interested in customer retention." Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, you little shit." Mandi lost it. Quietly enough that the man across the room wouldn't hear. But only just. Bea saw them. Naturally. Three familiar women. One suspiciously quiet. One smiling far too broadly. And one who looked as though she'd recently discovered a new and entertaining application for emotional blackmail. Bea narrowed her eyes. Mandi immediately looked away. Dalia studied the ceiling. Deja waved. Bitches. Every last one of them. The man noticed Bea's expression. "Something wrong?" Bea turned back. "Nothing." He glanced behind her. "Friends?" Bea considered. "An infestation." He laughed. "Serious?" "Terminal." "Can anything be done?" "Apparently not." His smile widened. "That's unfortunate." "You have no fucking idea." Eventually he set down his glass. "Bea?" "Yes?" "Working?" She smiled. "Yes." "Available?" "Possibly." His expression warmed. "I'd like another hour." Bea regarded him. "Would you?" "Very much." "Same arrangement?" "If you'd like." She considered. They both knew what that meant. No special demands. No elaborate performance. Private time together, whatever affection and intimacy they mutually chose. A booking that had been thoroughly enjoyable on previous occasions. Including Friday. She liked him. She liked the way he listened. And she liked how easily he'd learned that Bea could be every bit as affectionate as she was sharp-tongued. "All right," she said. His smile widened. "Twenty-five thousand eddies. One hour. Same conditions." Bea raised an eyebrow. "That's your offer?" "Yes." "Not going to attempt a discount?" "No." "Not going to offer me an important corporate connection instead of actual money?" He laughed. "Would that work?" "Absolutely fucking not." "Then I'll stick with the money." Bea smiled. "Believable offer. Accepted." He looked delighted. "Good." She leaned closer. "And just so we're clear—" "Yes?" "Friday doesn't buy you Sunday." His expression became serious. "I know." "And today doesn't buy you next Friday." "I know that too." Bea studied him. Then smiled. "Excellent." Payment cleared. Twenty-five thousand eddies. One hour. And Bea found herself looking forward to the encounter rather more than professional composure strictly required. Suzy checked the booking. Looked at the man. Then Bea. "Returning customer." Bea sighed. "Suzy." "What?" "Nothing." Suzy entered the confirmation. "Standard private?" "Yes." "One hour?" "Yes." "Both happy?" Bea smiled. "Very." The man nodded. "Absolutely." Suzy assigned a room. Then looked directly at Bea. "Enjoy." Bea narrowed her eyes. Suzy smiled. "Professionally." "You're a menace." "Management requirement." The man laughed. Bea took his hand. "Come on." He followed happily. They had nearly reached the corridor when Mandi appeared. Not in their way. That would have been suspicious. Just conveniently nearby. With Dalia. And Deja. All three looking painfully innocent. "Bea," Mandi said. Bea stopped. Slowly. "Mandi." "Working?" Bea looked at her. "Obviously." Mandi smiled. "Good booking?" The man glanced between them. Bea considered murder. A particularly elaborate murder. One involving all three women and a very large invoice. "Ask me afterward." Mandi's expression became radiant. "Oh, I absolutely fucking will." Dalia caught her arm. "Mandi." "What?" "Let them work." Mandi sighed. "Fine." Deja smiled pleasantly at Bea. "Enjoy yourself." Bea regarded her. For a moment Deja appeared genuinely sweet. Then she added: "Repeat customers are such a lovely endorsement of professional competence." Bea stared. Dalia covered her mouth. Mandi made a sound resembling a dying engine. The man smiled. "That's rather kind." Bea looked at him. Then back at Deja. "Yes," she said. "Isn't it?" Deja nodded. "Always happy to support a colleague." Bea took a breath. Then another. "Good evening, ladies." And led him away. Behind them, Mandi finally lost the battle. Her laughter followed them halfway down the corridor. The room was different from Friday's. The man noticed. "New suite." Bea smiled. "Observant." "Occupational hazard." She closed the door. Turned. And looked at him. "All right." He smiled. "All right?" "One rule." "Only one?" "For the moment." He laughed. "Go on." "No working." He considered. "You mean no security assessments?" "Precisely." "No checking exits?" "You've already done that." He looked mildly embarrassed. Bea grinned. "No contingency planning." "All right." "No assessing my threat exposure." He smiled. "That's a difficult one." Bea approached. Rested her hands against the front of his jacket. Then looked up at him. "Darling, the most dangerous thing in this room is my mouth." His eyebrows rose. "I was rather hoping so." Bea stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, YOU BASTARD." He grinned. "Learning." "Far too quickly." She kissed him. That settled the conversation for a while. It was a familiar kiss. Not identical to Friday's. Better, perhaps, because neither needed to rediscover whether the attraction was real. They knew. He rested his hands at her waist. Bea drew him closer. When they separated, he was smiling. "Hello." She laughed softly. "Hello." "I've missed that." "Since Friday?" "Yes." "Tragic." "Devastating." Bea kissed him again. He answered immediately. She liked his warmth. The steadiness of his attention. The way he never assumed that familiarity made asking unnecessary. She liked that he remembered what she'd enjoyed before. And that he remained curious about what she might want tonight. At one point she drew back. Studied his expression. Then smiled. "What?" he asked. "Nothing." "That word again." Bea laughed. "You're becoming suspicious." "Professional habit." "Thought we banned those." He grinned. "Sorry." She caught his hand. "Come here." They settled on the sofa first. Bea drew her legs up comfortably beside him. He slipped an arm around her. She rested against his shoulder. For a while they talked. Nothing important. His holiday. The club. A restaurant he'd visited. A spectacularly bad piece of corporate architecture he'd passed on the way over. Bea laughed at his description. Not because it was particularly outrageous. Because he was genuinely funny when he stopped trying to sound professionally composed. Eventually he looked at her. "Something amusing?" "Yes." "What?" "You're much more interesting when you're not working." He laughed. "High praise." "Don't get smug." "Wouldn't dream of it." Bea looked at him. He was already looking smug. She kissed him. "There. That's better." He smiled. "Should I be quiet more often?" "Not necessarily." "Oh?" "I like your voice." His expression softened. "Really?" "Yes." She touched his cheek. "And I like hearing you laugh." For a moment the humor between them gave way to something gentler. He drew her closer. "Thank you." Bea smiled. "You're welcome." Then he kissed her. And the conversation became considerably less important. There was an ease to being with him now. Not carelessness. Neither woman nor man had surrendered the right to change their mind about anything. But they understood one another better. Bea knew that his composure could hide an unexpectedly affectionate nature. He knew that her sharp remarks were often followed by a smile, a kiss, or a sudden moment of tenderness. And both enjoyed the contrast. When he kissed her neck, Bea closed her eyes and leaned into the affection. He paused. "Good?" She smiled. "Very." "Good." Bea touched his face. "You remembered." He nodded. "Yes." "Excellent." He laughed. "Another performance review?" Bea considered. "Preliminary assessment." "Oh?" "Promising candidate." He burst out laughing. "Do I get a formal interview?" Bea caught his jacket. Drew him close. Then kissed him thoroughly. When they separated, she smiled. "You're already in it." He'd been intimate with Bea before. Privately. As himself. And without ever knowing that the woman kissing him tonight had also been the woman who signed off on his professional responsibilities. Bea knew. Of course she knew. But the knowledge had become less distracting with each encounter. Tonight she wasn't interested in comparing his behavior. Or trying to discover whether he liked Bea more than Elisa. That would be a spectacularly stupid game. He didn't know they were the same woman. And she had no intention of making him choose between identities he didn't know were connected. He was here because he liked Bea. She'd accepted because she liked him. That was enough. She kissed him again. He held her close. And for a while the rest of the world was comfortably irrelevant. They eventually moved away from the sofa. His jacket was left folded over a chair. Her shoes joined it beneath the table. Bea laughed when he stopped to straighten the jacket. "Seriously?" He looked up. "What?" "You're folding your clothes." "Should I not?" "Darling, we're not preparing for a fucking inspection." He considered. Then deliberately dropped the jacket onto the chair. Bea stared. He smiled. "Reckless." She burst out laughing. "Oh, you're hopeless." "Learning to live dangerously." "Excellent. Come here." He did. And Bea kissed him until neither was particularly interested in the jacket anymore. Their affection became more intimate as they settled together. Bea liked the warmth of his embrace and the quiet confidence of a man who didn't need to turn every gesture into an achievement. He liked the way she sometimes surprised him with a kiss in the middle of a sentence. They continued checking in with one another, but the questions became part of an easy familiarity rather than an interruption. There was laughter. Tenderness. And genuine pleasure in discovering that a familiar partner could still be surprising. At one point Bea rested her forehead against his. He smiled. "Happy?" She nodded. "Very." He kissed her. "Good." Bea caught his face gently. "And you?" He laughed softly. "You're asking?" "Yes." "Extremely." Her smile widened. "Excellent." Their private hour included the sexual intimacy they'd both agreed to, and Bea made no attempt to hide how thoroughly she was enjoying herself. When they eventually settled into a quieter embrace, she was smiling against his shoulder. He noticed. Naturally. "What?" Bea laughed softly. "Nothing." He sighed. "One of these days you're going to tell me what that means." She lifted her head. Looked at him. Then smiled. "Don't count on it." For a while they simply rested. He ran his hand gently along her back. Bea lay close beside him. Neither appeared interested in rushing toward the end of the booking. Eventually he looked at her. "Can I ask something?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "Apparently I can't stop you." He laughed. "Would you tell me if I did something you didn't like?" She considered. Then nodded. "Yes." "Good." "Immediately, actually." His smile widened. "I suspected." "Darling, subtlety is not always a virtue." "Noted." A pause. Then Bea touched his cheek. "And would you?" "Would I what?" "Tell me if something wasn't working for you?" He nodded. "Yes." "Good." She kissed him. "Then we're both doing this properly." His expression softened. "I'd like to think so." Bea rested against him again. For once, she didn't have a smart remark ready. Not because she couldn't think of one. Because she was comfortable. And he was warm. And the silence was rather nice. Eventually he laughed softly. Bea opened one eye. "What?" "I was thinking." "Dangerous." "Very." She smiled. "Go on." "I spend most of my professional life trying to anticipate problems." "Sounds exhausting." "It can be." "And tonight?" He considered. "Tonight, I haven't thought about work for nearly an hour." Bea smiled. "Congratulations." "Thank you." She kissed his shoulder. "You're welcome." He looked at her. Then smiled. "Although I suspect my employer would find this entire evening rather surprising." Bea went perfectly still. Not visibly enough for him to notice. But internally? Oh, you have no fucking idea. She considered the situation. His employer. Her security manager. His perfectly sincere belief that he was keeping his private life entirely separate from his professional responsibilities. Night City was apparently determined to make her laugh at the worst possible moments. He noticed her expression. "What?" Bea shook her head. "Nothing." He laughed. "That word really is becoming a problem." She kissed him. "Then stop giving me reasons to use it." He smiled. "Fair." Bea settled against him again. Professional confidentiality, she reminded herself. And a fucking monumental sense of humor. They dressed a little later. Bea recovered her shoes. He rescued his jacket from the chair. She watched him straighten it. Then shook her head. "Hopeless." He smiled. "I know." They moved toward the door. But neither reached for the handle immediately. He looked at her. "Thank you." Bea smiled. "You're welcome." "I mean it." "I know." A pause. Then he asked: "Would you consider another booking?" Bea regarded him. His expression was open. Hopeful. But without the slightest suggestion that he expected an automatic yes. She liked that. "Perhaps." He nodded. "Good enough." "Really?" "Of course." Bea smiled. "Smart man." "I try." She touched his cheek. Then kissed him. A warm, affectionate goodbye. When they separated, he looked thoroughly pleased. Bea laughed softly. "What?" He shook his head. "Nothing." She narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you bastard." He grinned. "Learning from the best." They returned to the lounge together. The music was louder here. The lights brighter. And the professional world they'd left behind for an hour was carrying on without them. Suzy Q looked up. Caught Bea's eye. Bea nodded. Everything good. Suzy smiled. Then returned to her terminal. The man turned toward Bea. "Good evening." She smiled. "Very." He laughed softly. "See you again?" "Maybe." "Fair." They exchanged one more kiss. Then he headed toward the exit. Bea watched him leave. Not nervously. Not with the uncomfortable awareness of having done something she regretted. Quite the opposite. She liked him. She'd enjoyed herself. And he had absolutely no idea that he'd just spent another extraordinarily pleasant hour with the woman who employed him. The door closed. Bea took one long breath. Then turned around. Mandi. Dalia. Deja. All three standing together. All three smiling. Oh, for fuck's sake. "No," Bea said. Mandi blinked. "What?" "No." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Darling, nobody's said anything." Deja nodded. "Not a word." Bea looked at her. Then Mandi. Then Dalia. "I know you." Mandi grinned. "That's sweet." "That's a fucking warning." Dalia laughed. Bea approached the bar. Suzy placed water in front of her without being asked. Bea accepted it. Took a drink. Then looked at the three women. "Well?" Mandi smiled. "Well?" "Get it over with." Dalia considered. Then asked, quite genuinely: "Good booking?" Bea's expression softened. "Very." Dalia nodded. "Good." Mandi smiled too. "Excellent." Deja raised her glass. "Glad you enjoyed yourself." For a moment, Bea felt almost foolish for expecting trouble. Then Mandi leaned forward. "Twice in one weekend." Bea closed her eyes. There it is. "Yes, Mandi." Mandi smiled. "Same man." "Yes." "Same spectacularly professional gentleman." "Yes." Deja considered. "Rather loyal customer." Bea pointed at her. "Don't." Deja smiled sweetly. "I was complimenting your work." Dalia laughed. Mandi leaned closer. "Do you think he'll ask for a loyalty card?" Bea stared. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, you want to play?" Mandi grinned. "Always." Bea took another drink. Set down the glass. Then regarded her. "How much did you earn on Friday?" Dalia made a delighted noise. Mandi's smile froze. "Oh, that's low." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Was it?" Deja considered. "Financially, yes." Dalia collapsed against the bar. Mandi looked betrayed. "YOU TOO?" Deja smiled. "Professional accounting." Bea laughed. Mandi pointed at her. "This is personal." Bea grinned. "Darling, you're the one who keeps bringing up repeat business." Panam approached before the argument could develop into something requiring Suzy's intervention. She looked at Bea. Then the other three. "What's happening?" Bea pointed at Mandi. "Harassment." Mandi looked offended. "Professional curiosity!" Dalia shook her head. "Financial harassment, apparently." Deja nodded. "An important distinction." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Bea smiled. Panam looked at her. "Good booking?" "Very." "Glad to hear it." Then Panam caught Mandi's hand and drew her close. The kiss was spontaneous. Affectionate. And entirely effective at silencing her. For approximately five seconds. When they separated, Mandi smiled. "Love you, Owner." Panam kissed her cheek. "Love you too, menace." Bea laughed. Mandi looked back at her. "What?" "Nothing." Mandi narrowed her eyes. "That word again." Bea smiled. "Apparently contagious." A little later, Bea found herself sitting beside Dalia while Mandi argued with Deja about whether complimentary services could legitimately count as professional experience. Deja believed they could. Mandi believed the distinction was irrelevant. Dalia believed the entire argument was becoming ridiculous. Bea believed the evening had improved considerably now that nobody was asking about her customer. She took a sip of water. Dalia glanced toward her. "Happy?" Bea nodded. "Very." "Good." A pause. Then Dalia smiled. "He really is a good customer, isn't he?" Bea looked at her. Not teasing. Not setting a trap. Just a genuine question. She considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Dalia smiled. "Thought so." Bea looked toward the entrance. Then back. "He's attentive. Funny. Respects the arrangement. Doesn't think booking me once gives him any special claim on the next evening." Dalia nodded. "Exactly the sort you want coming back." "Yes." A pause. Then Bea sighed. "And he's—" She stopped. Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Bea looked at her. Then smiled. "Never mind." Dalia's expression became positively delighted. "Darling." Bea pointed at her. "Don't." Dalia laughed. "Oh, I didn't say anything." "You were going to." "Obviously." Bea shook her head. Then began laughing too. Because she knew precisely how much trouble Monday morning was going to bring. --- Across the lounge, Nadia was sitting with Sera. The artist's silver-white hair had settled into its ordinary arrangement. Mostly. Panam joined them a little later. She kissed Sera. Then Nadia. Sat between them. And accepted the drink Nadia handed her. Nadia glanced toward Bea. The blue-haired woman was laughing with Dalia. Mandi had apparently said something outrageous. Deja looked innocent. Which Nadia was rapidly learning meant almost nothing. She smiled. "Bea seems happy." Panam followed her gaze. "She does." "Good evening?" Panam smiled. "Apparently." Nadia watched for another moment. Then returned her attention to Sera. No questions about Bea's customer. No discussion of identities. Nothing that might connect the woman at the bar to Elisa. For Nadia, Bea was simply Bea. An attractive, sharp-tongued professional she'd booked and enjoyed spending time with. The fact that Bea had another satisfied customer was hardly surprising. If anything, it pleased her. Sera touched Nadia's cheek. "Thinking again?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently." Panam groaned. "Oh, fuck." Nadia kissed her. "Love you." Panam smiled. "Love you too, sweetheart." Bea finished her water. Then looked toward Mandi. The orange-haired menace had finally stopped arguing with Deja. For the moment. Bea considered. Then smiled. "Mandi." Mandi turned. "Yes, gorgeous?" "One question." Dalia looked interested. Deja smiled. Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Go on." Bea leaned back. "Have you ever considered becoming a financial adviser?" Silence. Mandi blinked. "What?" Bea smiled. "You're clearly fascinated by everybody else's earnings." Dalia burst out laughing. Deja nearly choked on her water. Mandi stared. Then began laughing too. "Oh, you absolute bitch." Bea raised her glass. "Professional recommendation." Mandi shook her head. "You're going to be unbearable tomorrow." Bea smiled. "Tomorrow?" Dalia grinned. "Oh, darling." Deja took another sip. "She's already started." Mandi laughed. And Bea leaned comfortably against the bar. It had been a very good Sunday. A profitable Sunday. An affectionate, thoroughly enjoyable Sunday. And she had a suspicion that the women around her would never let her forget it. Fucking marvelous. --- ## Chapter 26 — Damn Good in Bed Bea had made a tactical error. She'd returned to the bar. Worse, she'd remained there. And worst of all, she'd allowed herself to look happy. Mandi noticed immediately. Naturally. "You're smiling." Bea didn't look up from her water. "How observant." "You're still smiling." "Are you planning to charge admission?" Dalia laughed into her drink. Deja, perched comfortably beside her owner, studied Bea with an expression of innocent curiosity that nobody at the table believed for a fucking second. Mandi leaned forward. "That's the smile." Bea sighed. "What smile?" "The one." "Brilliant description. You should write poetry." "The I just had a spectacularly good fuck smile." Deja nodded thoughtfully. "Ah. That one." Dalia burst out laughing. Bea finally looked up. "Do any of you ever get tired of hearing yourselves talk?" Mandi considered. "No." Deja shook her head. "She's being truthful." "Tragically," Dalia added. Bea took another drink. She should have gone home. Or at least moved to another table. Preferably another city. Instead, she looked at Mandi. "You know what your problem is?" Mandi grinned. "Enormous personal charm?" "No. A complete inability to mind your own fucking business." "Occupational hazard." "You're a joytoy, not an investigative journalist." Dalia lifted a finger. "She's worse. Journalists occasionally verify their information." Deja smiled. "And stop when their editor tells them to." Mandi looked deeply offended. "Nobody appreciates my dedication." Bea raised her glass. "Here's to that continuing." Suzy Q arrived carrying a fresh round of water. She took one look at the group and stopped. "Oh, Christ." Dalia smiled. "Hello, Suzy." "Why are you all looking like that?" "Like what?" Mandi asked. "Like you've found somebody's embarrassing childhood photographs." Deja considered. "That would be considerably less interesting." Suzy looked at Bea. Bea stared back. Suzy's mouth twitched. "Oh." Bea pointed at her. "No." Suzy lifted both hands. "I didn't say anything." "That's apparently the theme of the evening." Suzy looked at Mandi. Then Dalia. Then Deja. Finally she turned back to Bea. "Staff lounge. Five minutes. If you're going to discuss what I think you're discussing." Mandi's face lit up. "There's a meeting?" Suzy sighed. "No. There's a fucking containment procedure." Dalia nearly fell off her chair. The small staff lounge behind Lizzie's main floor was unoccupied. More importantly, it was private. Suzy checked the door, then leaned against the counter. Bea entered first. Mandi followed. Dalia and Deja came in together. Panam joined them a moment later, having received a message from Suzy that consisted of three words. Your girls. Again. Panam had correctly assumed this wasn't a medical emergency. Sera came with her. Nadia remained in the main lounge, deep in conversation with Nova and Vega about a lighting installation. Which was fortunate. Because the conversation about to take place was absolutely not one Nadia should overhear. Suzy looked around. "All right." Mandi smiled. "All right?" "Whatever the fuck this is, keep it here. Nobody makes jokes out on the floor that could compromise anybody's identity." The smiles became more attentive. Even Mandi nodded. "Understood." Suzy regarded her. "Especially you." "Why does everybody keep saying that?" Dalia answered immediately. "Evidence." Deja added: "An extraordinary quantity of it." Mandi turned. "Oh, fuck both of you." Dalia kissed her. "Love you too, darling." Panam settled into a chair. Sera took the armrest beside her, Panam's arm resting comfortably around her waist. Her silver-white hair was already beginning to lift. Bea noticed. "Nothing has even happened yet." Sera smiled. "Your definition of nothing appears unusually generous." Bea sighed. "Oh, wonderful. You've joined them." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Would you prefer us to leave?" Bea considered. Then smiled. "Actually, yes." Panam laughed. "Too bad." Mandi stepped forward with the solemnity of a prosecutor approaching a witness. "Bea." Bea looked at her. "Mandi." "Two bookings." "Yes." "Same customer." "Yes." "Same weekend." "Yes." Mandi paused. Bea waited. Dalia looked intrigued. Deja folded her hands. Sera bit her lip. Finally Mandi asked: "Is there a special discount for corporate security personnel?" Bea closed her eyes. Panam burst out laughing. Dalia made a strangled noise. Deja looked toward Suzy. "Do we actually have a corporate rate?" Suzy stared. "NO!" Deja nodded. "Good to establish." Bea reopened her eyes. "Have you finished?" Mandi smiled. "Not remotely." "Then I'll make this easy. Twenty-five thousand eddies per hour. Paid in full. Both times. No discounts." Dalia considered. "Good business." "Thank you." Deja nodded. "Excellent customer retention." Bea pointed at her. "Stop helping." Deja smiled. "Sorry." "You aren't." "No." Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ, you women." Mandi paced once in front of Bea. "Now, just so I understand—" "You don't." "—this gentleman works for Elisa." Bea looked at her. "Yes." "He is professionally responsible for keeping Elisa safe." "Yes." "He has absolutely no idea that Bea is Elisa." "Correct." "And he has now booked Bea more than once." Bea crossed her arms. "Your ability to count is improving." Mandi grinned. "Thank you." "Don't get used to it." Dalia was already laughing. Mandi looked around the room. Then spread her hands. "DOES ANYBODY ELSE SEE THE FUCKING COMEDY HERE?" Bea sighed. "Yes, Mandi. Everybody. It's been established." Dalia raised her glass. "I have one question." Bea turned. "Oh, God." "Does he ever talk about his job?" Bea stared. Dalia's smile widened. "During the bookings?" Bea considered. "Sometimes." Mandi made a delighted noise. Dalia leaned forward. "And?" Bea shook her head. "He mostly talks about wanting to forget it for an evening." Deja nodded. "Reasonable." "Very," Bea agreed. Dalia wasn't finished. "But has he ever talked about his employer?" Bea became suspiciously still. Mandi noticed immediately. "Oh." Sera's halo lifted. Panam looked delighted. Bea took a slow breath. "Occasionally." Silence. Dalia whispered: "Mother of fucking God." Bea looked at her. "It's not what you think." Mandi grinned. "How do you know what I'm thinking?" "Because your face is an obscenity." Deja nodded. "Accurate." Dalia laughed. Bea sighed. "He respects his employer. Thinks she's demanding. Very particular about security arrangements. Occasionally difficult to persuade to follow recommendations." Panam began smiling. Sera covered her mouth. Dalia stared at Bea. Then said: "And he tells you this?" Bea nodded. "Yes." Mandi looked as though she'd discovered religion. "Oh, that is fucking magnificent." Bea lifted a finger. "Before any of you get ideas, he doesn't discuss confidential information." Panam nodded. "Good." "He's professional. Very professional." Dalia's smile became dangerous. "Except in bed." Bea stopped. Looked at her. Dalia looked back. Mandi went completely silent. Deja tilted her head. Sera's silver-white halo climbed. Panam watched with open interest. Bea considered her options. She could refuse to answer. She could change the subject. She could throw something at Dalia. All perfectly reasonable choices. Instead, she grinned. "Yap, but still he's damn good in bed." For one exquisite second, nobody moved. Then the room exploded. Dalia doubled over. Mandi grabbed the edge of the table. Deja made a delighted, entirely unprofessional sound. Sera's hair rose into a magnificent silver-white crown. Panam laughed so hard she had to put down her whiskey. Suzy Q stared at Bea. Then began laughing too. Bea leaned back against the counter. Smiling. Entirely pleased with herself. Mandi finally managed to speak. "YOU ACTUALLY SAID IT!" Bea raised an eyebrow. "What?" "YOU JUST—" "Yes?" "YOUR OWN FUCKING SECURITY MANAGER!" Bea looked at her. Then smiled sweetly. "Technically, Elisa's." Dalia screamed. "OH, YOU BITCH!" Deja turned toward Dalia. "An important administrative distinction." Dalia nearly collapsed against her. Mandi wiped at her eyes. Panam was still laughing. Sera buried her face against Panam's shoulder. Bea surveyed the devastation. Worth it. Absolutely fucking worth it. Eventually Suzy recovered enough to speak. "All right." Nobody listened. "ALL RIGHT." Mandi turned. "What?" Suzy pointed at Bea. "That was funny." Bea smiled. "Thank you." "Extremely funny." "Naturally." "But now I need everybody to remember that we're running a fucking club." Dalia nodded. "Of course." "And nobody outside this room gets the joke." The mood settled. Not unpleasantly. Just enough. Panam nodded. "Agreed." Sera lowered her head from Panam's shoulder. "Absolutely." Mandi lifted a hand. "I can behave." Suzy stared at her. Mandi sighed. "I can." Deja considered. "With supervision." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Sweetheart." "What? It's true." Bea laughed. Panam looked at Bea. Her expression had softened. "Can I ask you something?" Bea smiled. "Apparently everybody can tonight." Panam laughed. "Are you happy?" The question was simple. And quite different from the ones Mandi had been asking. Bea considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Panam smiled. "Good." Bea took a drink. "He's good company." Dalia nodded. "We gathered." "I mean it." The room quieted slightly. Bea looked toward the door. Then back. "He listens. He doesn't assume. Doesn't make the money the center of the encounter." Suzy nodded. "Good customer." "Very." Bea smiled. "And he's funny." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Intentionally?" Bea laughed. "Surprisingly often." Dalia grinned. "That's reassuring." Bea shrugged. "I like him." Panam regarded her. Then smiled. "Nothing wrong with that." "No." Sera touched Panam's shoulder. "And you don't need to justify enjoying your own work." Bea looked at her. Then nodded. "Exactly." A brief silence followed. A perfectly pleasant one. Until Mandi opened her mouth. "So." Bea closed her eyes. "No." Mandi grinned. "Just one question." Dalia sighed. "Oh, Jesus." "Does he kiss Bea better than he kisses Elisa?" Bea opened her eyes. Stared. Then began smiling very slowly. Mandi's grin faltered. Dalia looked between them. Deja's expression became one of fascinated anticipation. Panam whispered: "Oh, fuck." Bea took another drink. Set down the glass. Then looked directly at Mandi. "Would you like me to answer that?" Mandi hesitated. "Yes?" Bea smiled. "Because answering requires discussing certain comparisons that I suspect will become extremely inconvenient for you." Dalia's eyebrows rose. Mandi narrowed her eyes. "What comparisons?" Bea leaned closer. "Oh, darling." Dalia started laughing. Mandi looked suspicious. Bea continued: "Let's just say I've seen you attempt to leave a private room without remembering where you put your shoes." Dalia collapsed against the table. Mandi stared. "THAT WAS ONE TIME!" Deja raised an eyebrow. "Only one?" Mandi turned. "DEJA!" Bea smiled. "Would you like to continue?" Mandi considered. Then folded her arms. "Fucking blackmail." Bea raised her glass. "Professional discretion." Suzy opened the door. "Enough. Back to work, you degenerates." Dalia smiled. "Love you too." "Get out." Mandi approached Bea. Stopped. Then unexpectedly hugged her. Bea blinked. For a moment she looked surprised. Then she returned the embrace. Mandi kissed her cheek. "Seriously, though." Bea smiled. "What?" "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." Bea's expression warmed. "Thank you." Mandi drew back. Then grinned. "And I'm still going to make your life a living fucking hell at breakfast." Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, I know." Dalia approached and kissed Bea's other cheek. "Love you, gorgeous." Bea smiled. "Love you too." Deja hugged her next. A little more quietly. "Good for you." Bea touched her cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart." Panam approached last. Drew Bea into a warm embrace. Kissed her. Then smiled. "Take care of yourself." Bea nodded. "I will." Sera hugged her too. Her silver-white hair brushed Bea's cheek. Bea glanced upward. Then laughed. "Still excited?" Sera grinned. "Immensely." Bea shook her head. "You're all fucking impossible." Panam smiled. "Family." Bea considered. Then nodded. "Unfortunately." --- Back in the main lounge, Nadia was arguing with Vega about light. Not arguing seriously. But with considerable enthusiasm. "No, that's exactly the problem," Nadia said. Vega leaned forward. "How?" "You're treating the lighting as decoration." Nova looked interested. Vega raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it?" Nadia looked scandalized. "Oh, absolutely fucking not." Nova laughed. Vega grinned. "Go on." "The light is part of the piece. It's not there to make the sculpture look nice. It changes how the sculpture exists." Vega considered. "All right." Nadia gestured with both hands. "If somebody moves through the installation, the shadows should change the experience." Nova nodded. "Now that I like." Nadia smiled. "Exactly." Vega leaned back. "So you're saying the audience participates whether they want to or not." "Yes!" Nova smiled. "That's rather clever." Nadia grinned. "Thank you." Mandi appeared behind them. "Are we discussing sex?" Nadia turned. "No." Mandi considered. "Disappointing." Vega burst out laughing. Nova shook her head. "Apparently we're about to." Mandi smiled. "Excellent." Bea emerged from the staff corridor a few moments later. Nadia spotted her. And smiled. Bea noticed. Returned the smile. Then approached. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia laughed softly. "Hello." "Enjoying yourself?" "Very." Bea leaned against the table. "What are we discussing?" "Art." Bea looked at Mandi. Mandi looked offended. "What?" Bea smiled. "Nothing." Nadia laughed. "Apparently Mandi was hoping we'd been discussing something else." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Mandi grinned. "Professional interests." Bea looked at her. A warning. Mandi smiled sweetly. I know. Bea returned her attention to Nadia. "Well, what have I missed?" Nadia enthusiastically explained the lighting concept. Bea listened. Asked a question. Nadia answered. And for a while their conversation was exactly what it appeared to be. Two women who liked one another. Talking about art. Occasionally laughing. Enjoying a pleasant Sunday evening. No secret identities. No security managers. No private jokes Nadia wasn't supposed to understand. Just Bea and Nadia. And that was precisely how Bea wanted it. Eventually Nadia glanced at her. "Busy evening?" Bea smiled. "Very." "Good?" "Excellent." Nadia's expression warmed. "I'm glad." Bea looked at her. For a moment something gentler passed between them. Their own booking had been special. Not because it required anything from either woman afterward. Because they'd enjoyed it. And that remained true. Bea touched Nadia's hand. "How about you?" Nadia smiled. "Still having a wonderful time." "Good." A pause. Then Nadia grinned. "Although I'm beginning to suspect Lizzie's might be extremely hazardous to my productivity." Bea burst out laughing. "Darling, you're an artist." "Yes?" "You're supposed to have an appallingly irregular schedule." Nadia laughed. "That's a terrible stereotype." "Is it inaccurate?" Nadia considered. Then sighed. "Unfortunately not entirely." Bea smiled. "Thought so." At the bar, Mandi watched them. Dalia stepped beside her. Caught her hand. "Don't." Mandi looked innocent. "What?" "Whatever you're thinking." Mandi grinned. "You really do say that a lot." Dalia kissed her. "Because I know you." Mandi answered happily. Then rested her forehead against Dalia's. "Love you." Dalia smiled. "Love you too, darling." Deja joined them. "Are we behaving?" Mandi considered. "Apparently." Deja smiled. "How unusual." Dalia burst out laughing. Mandi looked at her. Then at Deja. Then shook her head. "One of these days I'm going to win an argument with both of you." Deja considered. "Statistically possible." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Unlikely, sweetheart." Mandi groaned. "Oh, fuck both of you." Dalia grinned. "That can probably be arranged." Deja raised an eyebrow. "Owner." Dalia laughed. "What?" "You're encouraging her." Mandi looked delighted. "FINALLY!" --- Later, Bea found a quieter spot at the end of the bar. Her water was almost finished. Suzy approached. "Another?" Bea nodded. "Please." Suzy poured it. Then regarded her. "You're happy." Bea smiled. "Apparently this is becoming a topic of considerable public interest." Suzy laughed. "Good." Bea took a drink. A comfortable silence followed. Then Suzy asked: "Going back tomorrow?" Bea nodded. "Yes." "To work?" "Unfortunately." Suzy smiled. "Planning to behave?" Bea looked at her. Then laughed. "At work?" "Yes." "Of course." Suzy raised an eyebrow. Bea considered. Then added: "Outwardly." Suzy burst out laughing. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Bea smiled. "Professional standards." Tomorrow would be interesting. That was putting it mildly. Elisa would resume being Elisa. The face-mesh would come off. The red eyes would disappear. The ice-blue hair would no longer be part of her appearance. And Bea's bright, altered voice would eventually give way to Elisa's own. She would return to her ordinary responsibilities. Her ordinary authority. Her ordinary professional relationships. Including one with a certain security manager who had spent an exceptionally enjoyable Sunday evening with Bea. He would greet Elisa. He would discuss schedules. Threat assessments. Personnel movements. Access arrangements. And he would have absolutely no idea. Bea looked down into her glass. Then began laughing softly. Suzy noticed. "What?" Bea shook her head. "Nothing." Suzy narrowed her eyes. "Oh, bullshit." Bea smiled. "I was just thinking about tomorrow." Suzy considered. Then slowly began smiling too. "Oh." Bea nodded. "Yes." Suzy laughed. "You're going to have to look him straight in the eye." Bea took another drink. "Yes." "And discuss security." "Yes." "And remain completely professional." "Yes." Suzy considered. Then said: "You're fucked." Bea burst out laughing. "Not in the way you're thinking." Suzy stared. Then nearly dropped the glass she was holding. "BEA!" Bea doubled over. "Oh, that was too easy!" Across the lounge, Panam heard Suzy's laughter. She looked toward the bar. Saw Bea. Saw Suzy. Then smiled. Sera followed her gaze. Nadia looked up. "What?" Panam shook her head. "Nothing, sweetheart." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious." Sera laughed. Panam kissed her. Then Nadia. Neither kiss was hurried. Neither needed an occasion. She simply loved them. And they loved her. Nadia settled comfortably against her. Sera rested her head against Panam's shoulder. For a while the three women watched Lizzie's continue around them. Customers. Music. Laughter. Negotiations. Goodbyes. New arrivals. The ordinary, wonderfully disorderly life of the club. Eventually Nadia looked up. "Panam?" "Yes, beautiful?" "Do you think I'll ever understand everybody here?" Panam considered. Then laughed. "No." Nadia smiled. "Really?" "Sweetheart, I've known some of these women for years." "And?" "I still have no fucking idea what half of them are going to do next." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia grinned. "Comforting." Panam kissed her forehead. "Welcome to the family." At the bar, Bea caught sight of them. Panam. Sera. Nadia. Warm. Relaxed. Happy. She smiled. She'd had an excellent weekend. Two enjoyable encounters with a man she knew in an entirely different life. A wonderful hour with Nadia. Plenty of laughter. A great deal of affection. And the very real possibility that Monday morning would become an absolute fucking catastrophe. Bea considered that. Then raised her glass. Across the lounge, Mandi noticed. Of course she did. Mandi raised hers in return. Dalia followed. Deja too. Bea smiled at the three of them. Then mouthed two words. Not tomorrow. Mandi's answering grin was positively satanic. She mouthed back: Breakfast. Bea closed her eyes. Oh, fuck. When she opened them again, Mandi was laughing. Dalia was laughing. Deja looked far too pleased with herself. And Bea found herself laughing too. Because tomorrow was going to be spectacular. But for now? She was still Bea. Still at Lizzie's. Still surrounded by people she loved. And still enjoying the extraordinary pleasure of a life in which being herself could mean more than one thing. She finished her water. Then looked toward Suzy. "Another?" Suzy smiled. "Of course." And Sunday carried on. --- ## Chapter 27 — The Last Night Sunday was finally beginning to surrender. Reluctantly. Lizzie's had no particular objection to people enjoying themselves until morning, and several customers appeared determined to test the limits of that hospitality. But the weekend's working rhythm was changing. Bookings became less frequent. Conversations grew longer. Somebody had fallen asleep in a booth. Suzy Q had decided to leave him there until somebody complained. And Mandi was attempting to convince Dalia that they should celebrate the end of their working weekend. Dalia was suspicious. "What kind of celebration?" Mandi smiled. "A private one." Deja looked up from her drink. "That sounds expensive." Mandi turned. "Why?" "Because your ideas usually are." Dalia laughed. Mandi looked wounded. "Sweetheart, some of my finest ideas have been completely free." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?" Mandi grinned. "Friday." Deja made a choking sound. Dalia closed her eyes. "Oh, you absolute bitch." From the next table, Bea called: "Still zero eddies?" Mandi looked over. "STILL WORTH EVERY FUCKING ONE!" Bea raised her glass. "Congratulations on your professional achievements." Deja nodded. "A triumph of personal satisfaction over commercial viability." Dalia nearly fell off her chair. Mandi looked between them. Then laughed. "God, I love you terrible women." Panam was finishing her last aftercare conversation of the evening. Birgitta had returned from another booking a little earlier, thoroughly pleased with herself. Her muted copper-grey hair remained immaculate. Her very light brown eyes were bright. And her smile suggested she'd found Sunday's customers every bit as entertaining as Saturday's. Panam had welcomed her back with a kiss and an embrace, then settled her into a comfortable chair with water and something to eat. Birgitta had needed no convincing. Now she was stretched out beside her owner, one hand resting comfortably against Panam's leg. "Tired, sweetheart?" Birgitta considered. "A little." "Good tired?" "Very." Panam smiled. "Good." Birgitta leaned over and kissed her. Panam answered warmly. Then brushed her cheek. "You've had a hell of a weekend." Birgitta grinned. "So have you, Owner." "Oh, fuck, don't remind me." "Three hundred million." Panam closed her eyes. "Jesus Christ." Birgitta laughed. "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Not remotely." Panam kissed her again. "Menace." Birgitta smiled. "Love you too." Sera passed their table a little later. She was carrying two glasses of water. One for Nadia. One for herself. Her silver-white hair had finally settled after the earlier laughter. Mostly. Birgitta looked up. "Still working, gorgeous?" Sera smiled. "Not tonight." "Shame." Panam laughed. Sera raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Birgitta leaned back. "I was considering making you a believable offer." Sera stared. Then burst out laughing. "Don't you fucking start." Panam grinned. "You'd have to talk to me." Birgitta nodded solemnly. "Of course, Owner." Sera smiled. "And the price?" Birgitta considered. Then raised one finger. "One eddie." Panam laughed. Sera nearly spilled her water. "Oh, you outrageous bitch." Birgitta smiled sweetly. "Negotiable." To anybody watching, it was simply another exchange between the famously expensive artist and one of Madame Panam's increasingly popular girls. A joke. Nothing more. Neither woman offered the slightest clue that she understood considerably more about the other than appearances suggested. Sera touched Birgitta's shoulder affectionately. "Good night, gorgeous." Birgitta smiled. "Good night, Sera." And that was all. Nadia was looking around the lounge. Not with the intense curiosity of Friday. Not with Saturday's increasingly personal interest. She was simply watching. Mandi laughing with Dalia. Deja resting against her owner. Nova and Vega talking beside the bar. Bea trying unsuccessfully to convince Suzy Q that she'd behaved impeccably all weekend. And Panam holding Birgitta close while the two exchanged quiet, affectionate remarks. Nadia smiled. She'd learned rather a lot. Some of it surprising. Some of it wonderfully straightforward. And some of it had raised entirely new questions. Sera settled beside her. "Thinking?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently that's becoming my defining characteristic." Sera smiled. "Among others." Nadia leaned closer. Kissed her. Then took the offered water. "Thank you." "You're welcome." They sat together. For a while the music did the talking. Then Nadia looked at Sera. "Do you ever miss being ordinary?" Sera considered. "Ordinary?" Nadia smiled. "Quiet evenings. Predictable weekends. Normal relationships." Sera laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia raised an eyebrow. Sera gestured around them. "Look at this." Nadia did. "Do you really think I'd trade it for predictability?" Nadia considered. Then laughed. "No." Sera kissed her cheek. "Neither do I." Panam joined them after seeing Birgitta comfortably settled. She sat beside Nadia. Kissed her. Then leaned across to kiss Sera as well. "How are my favorite artists?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "Favorite?" Panam smiled. "Obviously." Nadia looked delighted. "Are we getting paid extra for that?" Panam considered. "Depends." Sera laughed. "On what?" Panam grinned. "Make me a believable offer." From across the lounge came Dalia's voice. "I FUCKING HEARD THAT!" Panam dropped her head. Sera burst out laughing. Nadia almost spilled her water. Mandi shouted: "IT'S HER LINE NOW!" "TRAITOR!" Dalia yelled back. Deja's voice followed. "Legally questionable, but commercially successful!" Suzy Q looked toward the ceiling. "One more fucking night. That's all I ask." Panam began laughing. "Oh, God." Nadia leaned against her. "This weekend has been magnificent." Sera smiled. "Yes." Panam kissed Nadia's hair. "Glad you came?" Nadia nodded. "Very." It was getting late when Nadia finally checked the time. Sera noticed. "Thinking of leaving?" Nadia smiled. "Yes." Panam looked at her. "Studio?" "Studio." "Good." Nadia nodded. "I've got a few things I want to look at before I sleep." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Art?" "Unfortunately." Panam laughed. "You're hopeless." Nadia grinned. "Professionally." Sera kissed her. Nadia returned it. Then looked between her two lovers. "I've had the most extraordinary weekend." Panam's expression softened. "Good extraordinary?" Nadia nodded. "Very." A pause. Then she laughed. "And I think I need some time to make sense of it." Panam touched her cheek. "Take all the time you want." Sera nodded. "Nobody's expecting a decision." Nadia smiled. "I know." And she did. That was one of the things she liked most. Neither Panam nor Sera had spent the weekend recruiting her into anything. They'd answered her questions. Supported her curiosity. Allowed her to explore. And made it perfectly clear that nothing she discovered would change the love they already shared. Nadia looked at Panam. Then Sera. "Thank you." Panam raised an eyebrow. "For what?" Nadia smiled. "For being you." Panam's answering smile was wonderfully warm. She drew Nadia into her arms. Kissed her. Then held her close. "Love you, sweetheart." Nadia rested against her. "Love you too." Sera joined the embrace. Nadia turned and kissed her. "Love you." Sera smiled. "Love you too, gorgeous." Mandi appeared beside them. Naturally. "Leaving?" Nadia looked up. "Yes." Mandi considered. Then smiled. "Good." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "Rest up." "Why?" Mandi's grin widened. "Breakfast." Nadia stared. "Breakfast?" Dalia approached. Caught Mandi by the waist. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia looked between them. "What's happening at breakfast?" Dalia smiled. "Nothing you need to worry about." Deja appeared behind her. "An entirely ordinary family gathering." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Why do I suddenly feel threatened?" Mandi grinned. "Because you're developing excellent instincts." Panam closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus." Sera was already laughing. Nadia studied the group. Then shook her head. "I'm not going to get a straight answer, am I?" Dalia smiled. "Absolutely not." Deja nodded. "That would spoil the surprise." Nadia blinked. "There's a surprise?" Mandi opened her mouth. Dalia kissed her. Firmly. When she released her, Mandi looked delighted. But remained silent. Deja considered. "Effective." Dalia grinned. "Years of practice." Nadia burst out laughing. Bea arrived just as Nadia was collecting her jacket. "Going home?" Nadia smiled. "Yes." "Good." Bea touched her hand. "Sleep well, gorgeous." Nadia's expression warmed. "You too." A pause. Then Nadia stepped closer and kissed her. Briefly. Affectionately. Bea answered. When they separated, Nadia smiled. "Thank you again. For Saturday." Bea touched her cheek. "My pleasure." Nadia laughed softly. "Rather literally." Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, you're getting dangerous." "Learning from terrible influences." Bea glanced toward Mandi. "Obviously." Mandi looked offended. "WHY DOES EVERYBODY KEEP LOOKING AT ME?" Deja answered: "Pattern recognition." Dalia collapsed against her. Nadia laughed. Then gave Bea's hand one last squeeze. "Good night." "Good night, beautiful." Bea watched her return to Sera and Panam for another round of kisses. Then smiled. Saturday had meant something to Nadia. That much was obvious. But she wasn't mistaking that happiness for a commitment to anything else. Good. Bea liked her far too much to want her making decisions for the wrong reasons. Nadia departed shortly afterward. Not for the Watson safehouse. For her own studio. Her own apartment. Her own space, above the place where she intended to create things that would probably terrify gallery owners and delight everybody else. The ride across Watson was uneventful. Which, in Night City, qualified as a small miracle. The building recognized her arrival. Security confirmed. Doors opened. Nadia climbed to the living level. And entered her apartment. It was quiet. Beautifully quiet. Not silent. Night City was never silent. Traffic murmured below. Somebody was arguing in the street. A distant siren passed without apparently accomplishing anything. But the apartment belonged to her. Her furniture. Her tools. Her unfinished ideas. She removed her jacket. Set down her bag. Then looked toward the studio below. For a moment she considered going down to work. Instead, she laughed. "Oh, fuck no." She went to the kitchen. Made tea. And sat by the window. Her thoughts returned to Bea. The hour they'd spent together. How nervous she'd been. How quickly that nervousness had disappeared. How much she'd enjoyed the woman's humor. And her affection. And the fact that she'd never once felt pressured to turn the experience into something other than what it was. Nadia smiled. Very good evening indeed. Then she thought about Deja. The pleasure Deja took in negotiating her own bookings. The absolute confidence with which she could move from sweet innocence to a remark sharp enough to make Mandi choke on her drink. Then Birgitta. So lively. So openly delighted by the work. And Mandi. Dalia. Nova. Vega. Sera. The difference between their personalities interested Nadia more than any imagined professional formula. They weren't interchangeable. They weren't trying to be. And their enjoyment of the work wasn't identical. Which made sense. Why would it be? Nadia took a sip of tea. Then laughed softly. She was doing it again. Trying to turn the entire experience into an analytical framework. Sera would murder her. Affectionately. But definitely. Her agent chimed. A message from Panam. Panam: Home safe, beautiful? Nadia smiled. Nadia: Yes. Tea acquired. Thinking underway. The reply came almost immediately. Panam: Oh, fuck. Nadia burst out laughing. Another message. Panam: Love you. Nadia's smile softened. Nadia: Love you too. A moment later, Sera joined the conversation. Sera: Tell me you've eaten. Nadia stared at the screen. Then looked toward the empty kitchen. Nadia: Tea is technically plant matter. Sera: Nadia. Nadia: Oh, all right. Panam: Get some food, sweetheart. Nadia laughed. Nadia: Two impossible women. Sera: You adore us. Nadia smiled. Nadia: Unfortunately. She put down her tea. Went to find something to eat. And decided that some arguments weren't worth losing. Back at Lizzie's, the weekend continued winding down. Vega had decided she'd reached her limit. Nova agreed. Not because either was unhappy. Because they'd had an excellent run, and there was something to be said for finishing while that remained true. Panam welcomed them into a shared embrace. Kissed Vega. Then Nova. Asked how they were feeling. Both were tired. Both were pleased. Neither wanted another booking. "Then you're finished," Panam said. Vega smiled. "Yes, Owner." Nova nodded. "Thank you." Panam laughed. "For what?" Nova's expression softened. "For a good weekend." Panam touched her cheek. "You're welcome, beautiful." Vega leaned in and kissed her. Panam answered. Then released the last of their working leashes for the night. Click. Click. "Get home safely." Vega smiled. "Planning to." Nova kissed Panam once more. "Love you." Panam's smile warmed. "Love you too." The two women left together. Still laughing about something Mandi had said. Neither had any intention of telling her how funny they'd found it. Deja was next. Dalia looked at her. "Tired, sweetheart?" Deja considered. "Pleasantly." "Good." "Also hungry." Dalia laughed. "Again?" Deja raised an eyebrow. "Apparently my body continues to require nourishment." Mandi leaned closer. "Tragic flaw." Deja looked at her. "Some of us have to fuel our brains." Dalia burst out laughing. Mandi stared. "Oh, you little shit." Deja smiled. "Love you too." Dalia drew her close. Kissed her. Then unfastened the leash. Click. Deja rested her forehead against Dalia's. "Thank you, Owner." Dalia brushed her cheek. "For what?" "Letting me discover how much I enjoy doing this." Dalia's expression softened. "Oh, sweetheart." Deja kissed her. Then smiled. "And for not making it into a competition." Dalia laughed. "Darling, if I competed with you, I'd lose." Deja considered. "Possibly." Mandi made an outraged noise. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DENY THAT!" Deja looked at her. "Why?" Dalia collapsed into laughter. They remained together for a while longer. Mandi between Dalia and Deja. Arms around both. Occasionally kissing one. Then the other. Completely content. For once, the teasing slowed. Deja rested against Dalia. Mandi leaned close and kissed her temple. Dalia smiled. "What's that for?" Mandi shrugged. "Because I wanted to." Deja looked up. "Careful." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "What?" "People might think you're affectionate." Mandi grinned. "Terrible reputation." Dalia kissed her. "Absolutely ruined." They laughed quietly. Then settled together again. The weekend had been full of noise. Bookings. Arguments. Money. Unreasonable customers. Excellent customers. And rather a lot of pleasure. But sometimes the best part was simply being close to somebody who already knew exactly how ridiculous you were. And loved you anyway. Birgitta was one of the last to finish. Panam looked up when she approached. "There you are, gorgeous." Birgitta smiled. "Here I am, Owner." Panam opened her arms. Birgitta stepped into them. The embrace was long. Unhurried. Panam kissed her. Birgitta answered with an affection that made the older woman laugh softly. "Oh, somebody's going to miss me." Birgitta grinned. "Terribly." "Good weekend?" "Wonderful." Panam studied her. "Any regrets?" Birgitta considered. Then shook her head. "None." "Good." "Except possibly one." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I should have brought more comfortable shoes." Panam burst out laughing. "Jesus Christ." Birgitta sighed theatrically. "The sacrifices I make for beauty." Panam kissed her cheek. "You're gorgeous." "I know." Panam laughed. "And modest." "Professionally." Panam helped her settle for a final drink. Something small to eat. A few quiet minutes. Birgitta was tired. Not unhappy. Not troubled. Just ready to stop working. Panam took her hand. "You want another booking next weekend?" Birgitta considered. "Possibly." Panam smiled. "No pressure." "I know." "Just tell me when you feel like working." Birgitta kissed her. "I will, Owner." Panam smiled. Then unfastened the leash. Click. Birgitta took it. For a moment she looked at the familiar clasp. Then back at Panam. "Thank you." Panam touched her cheek. "You're welcome, sweetheart." Birgitta hugged her again. Then kissed her. Warmly. Genuinely. Not as part of a booking. Not as part of an arrangement with a customer. Just affection. Panam returned it. "Get home safe." "I will." "Love you, gorgeous." Birgitta smiled. "Love you too, Owner." Sera was standing near the bar when Birgitta passed. They exchanged smiles. "Finished?" Sera asked. Birgitta nodded. "Very." "Good weekend?" Birgitta's smile widened. "Excellent." Sera laughed softly. "Glad to hear it." Birgitta glanced toward the door. "Time to disappear." Sera nodded. "Sleep well." "You too, gorgeous." A perfectly ordinary goodbye. Nothing private. Nothing revealing. Sera watched Birgitta head toward the exit. Then returned to Panam. Her expression gave nothing away. Panam smiled when she approached. "Ready?" Sera nodded. "Almost." Panam kissed her. Sera answered happily. Behind them, Mandi shouted something about breakfast. Dalia told her to shut up. Deja suggested that this seemed unlikely to succeed. Sera laughed. And Lizzie's carried on. Birgitta left by herself. Not furtively. Not suspiciously. Just another professional going home after a long working weekend. Nobody followed her. Nobody questioned her destination. Nobody had any reason to. She traveled across the city to a secure rental container that served as her private preparation and storage space. The location had no connection to the Watson safehouse. None of her colleagues from Lizzie's knew it. Nobody from Elisa's security staff had any reason to know it either. She arrived. Checked the surroundings. Entered. Closed the door. Verified the lock. And finally allowed herself to relax. "Well," she said. Her voice was still bright. Higher than the one she ordinarily used. Perfectly Birgitta. She laughed. "That was fucking something." Inside, everything had its place. A mirror. A shower. Secure storage. Equipment cases. Cleaning supplies. The components of a cover built to withstand sustained close attention. Birgitta set down her bag. Removed her shoes. Then examined herself in the mirror. The face looking back was still convincing. Expressive. Warm. Distinctly unlike Reyes. Victor had done extraordinary work. So had Lena. And she'd enjoyed putting their combined efforts to use far more than she'd originally imagined. She smiled at her reflection. Birgitta smiled back. "Not bad, gorgeous." Then she began taking the cover apart. The contact lenses came out first. The very light brown disappeared. The change was immediate. Subtle in isolation. Enormous in context. Then the face-mesh. She followed the release procedure Victor had established. Patiently. Carefully. No shortcuts. No dramatic ripping away of a disguise. The mesh separated as designed, preserving the equipment for its next use. She cleaned it. Checked it. Stored it securely. Then looked in the mirror again. Reyes looked back. Mostly. The hair was still wrong. And the voice. But the face was hers. She smiled. A different smile now. Not because Birgitta's happiness had been artificial. It hadn't. But because she no longer needed to maintain the bright, openly flirtatious manner she'd chosen for work. She could simply be quiet. And that felt good too. The hair took longer. Lena's ChromeLock V2 treatment had done exactly what it was supposed to do. The smoked copper-grey had survived the weekend intact. Dancing. Heat. Showers. Long working hours. Close company. Absolutely no accidental flashes of recognizable red. Now Reyes released the treatment and stepped into the shower. Warm water. A thorough wash. Another rinse. Gradually, the copper-grey disappeared. Her familiar red returned. Not the natural-black specialist cover. Not Birgitta's copper-grey. Reyes. She looked down at the water. Then laughed softly. The ridiculousness of the entire weekend finally caught up with her. Mandi. Dalia. Deja. Panam. All those conversations. All that professional commentary. And not one of them had recognized her. Not one. Except Sera. Of course. Reyes shook her head. "Fucking Shammy." The words emerged in a voice that was still slightly too bright. She laughed again. The temporary voice biosculpt was taking its natural course. It hadn't been something she could simply switch off. Victor's work was more sophisticated than that. The altered voice had remained stable throughout the weekend. Now it would fade as intended. Reyes had allowed for that in her schedule. There was no reason to hurry. No need to force a reset. And certainly no reason to go wandering around familiar people while she still sounded suspiciously like Birgitta. She finished showering. Dried her hair. Changed into comfortable clothes. Then checked the mirror again. Red hair. Her own face. Her own eyes. The voice still settling. Close enough to home for a private evening. Not yet something she intended to test in public. She smiled. "Much better." Then shook her head at the sound. "Mostly." She sat down with water. And thought about the weekend. Not the money. Although she'd done extremely well. Not merely the satisfaction of fooling people whose judgment she respected. Although that had been magnificent. She thought about the customers. The conversations. The thrill of being wanted. The pleasure of choosing who interested her. The unexpected discovery that she enjoyed being so openly social. So bright. So shamelessly flirtatious. She'd spent years being the woman who assessed a room. The woman who noticed danger. The woman who stood ready when other people forgot to be careful. Birgitta had allowed her to do something different. She could enter a room already smiling. She could flirt because she wanted to. She could laugh without making it sound like she was briefly tolerating somebody else's joke. And none of that had made Reyes less capable. Less observant. Less herself. She'd simply discovered another way to be. Reyes leaned back. Then laughed. "Oh, I'm definitely doing that again." Her agent rested on the table. She checked it. Nothing urgent. Good. A reminder for Monday's arrangements. A neutral meeting point for the security handoff. Reyes reviewed the details. Everything was in order. No safehouse address. No unnecessary information. The usual separation between Elisa's private life and her professional security arrangements remained intact. She set the agent aside. Then looked toward the secure case containing Birgitta's equipment. For a moment she considered sending Lena a thank-you. Or Victor. Both had earned one. Instead, she smiled. Tomorrow would do. Tonight she wanted quiet. She stretched. Turned off the brighter lights. And settled in. No performance. No customers. No cover. Just Reyes. And a private smile that refused to go away. At Lizzie's, the last of the group were saying goodnight. Bea had finally decided to leave. Mandi noticed immediately. "Going?" Bea smiled. "Yes." Mandi nodded. "Rest well." Bea narrowed her eyes. "That was suspiciously polite." Mandi looked innocent. "What?" "You're never that polite." Dalia laughed. Mandi placed a hand over her heart. "I'm wounded." Deja considered. "Not visibly." Bea smiled. "Good night, you degenerates." Dalia approached and kissed her cheek. "Good night, gorgeous." Deja hugged her. "Sleep well." Mandi caught her in an affectionate embrace. Then whispered: "Breakfast." Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Mandi grinned. "Love you too." Bea drew back. Looked at the three of them. Then smiled. "Tomorrow is going to be a complete fucking disaster." Dalia nodded. "Probably." Deja considered. "Statistically inevitable." Mandi looked delighted. "Can't wait." Bea shook her head. Then kissed each of them. "Love you." Dalia smiled. "Love you too." Deja nodded. "Very." Mandi grinned. "Even if you're terrible at choosing security personnel." Silence. Dalia's smile grew. Deja closed her eyes. Mandi looked radiant. Bea realized what she'd said. "Oh, fuck." The laughter followed her all the way to the exit. Panam watched Bea go. Then turned toward the remaining women. "All right." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "All right?" "We're finished." Dalia smiled. "Finally." Deja stretched. "Good." Sera looked toward the nearly empty lounge. Then at Panam. "Long weekend." Panam laughed. "That's one description." Mandi leaned closer. "Profitable weekend." Dalia grinned. "Except for Friday." Mandi pointed at her. "NOT THIS AGAIN!" Deja considered. "Technically, zero eddies remains a valid accounting entry." Panam burst out laughing. Sera's silver-white halo rose again. Mandi looked toward the ceiling. "Why do I even bother?" Dalia caught her face. Kissed her. Then smiled. "Because you love us." Mandi's expression softened. Then she grinned. "Unfortunately." They finally began leaving. Not all together. Not as a procession. Just people finishing a working weekend and heading toward their own homes and arrangements. Dalia kept Deja close. Mandi stayed with them. Sera slipped an arm around Dalia's waist for a moment and kissed her cheek, then leaned into Mandi's waiting embrace. The three women shared a familiar, easy affection. There was no need to discuss their bond. It was simply there. Deja watched with a smile. Panam regarded them. Then stepped closer. She kissed Mandi. Dalia. Deja. And finally Sera. Four affectionate goodbyes. Four different smiles. "Get home safely, beautiful women." Mandi grinned. "Yes, Owner." Dalia laughed. "Good night, Panam." Deja kissed Dalia once more. "Ready, Owner?" Dalia smiled. "Absolutely." Sera lingered long enough to touch Panam's cheek. "See you tomorrow?" Panam nodded. "Of course." Sera kissed her. "Love you." Panam smiled. "Love you too, beautiful." Then Sera returned to Mandi and Dalia. And the little group headed out together. Suzy Q was still behind the bar. Of course she was. Panam approached. "Still alive?" Suzy looked up. "Barely." Panam laughed. "Good weekend?" Suzy considered. Then smiled. "Very." "Sorry about the chaos." Suzy stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "Panam, sweetheart." "What?" "Your girls are half the reason people come here." Panam grinned. "And the other half?" Suzy considered. "Alcohol and terrible judgment." Panam laughed. "Fair." Suzy leaned against the counter. "Planning to do it again?" Panam's smile widened. "Oh, absolutely." Suzy groaned. "Jesus Christ." Panam kissed her cheek. "Love you." Suzy smiled. "Love you too, you magnificent fucking menace." Panam laughed. Then picked up her things. "Good night." "Night." Outside, the city was beginning to approach morning. Night City didn't sleep. It simply changed shifts. Workers went home. Others started early. Traffic continued. Advertisements glowed. Somewhere somebody was having the best night of their life. Somewhere else somebody was making a spectacularly poor decision. And in Watson, several very tired, very happy women were finally heading home. Panam stepped into the night. Checked her agent. A final message from Nadia. Nadia: Food eaten. Tea finished. Brain still working. Panam smiled. Panam: Tell it to take the night off. Nadia: It refuses. Panam: Stubborn woman. Nadia: You love me. Panam laughed softly. Panam: Very much. A moment later: Nadia: Good night, Panam. ❤️ Panam's expression warmed. Panam: Good night, beautiful. ❤️ She put the agent away. Then stopped. Thought about the weekend. And smiled. There was one thing she intended to do tomorrow. Something generous. Something thoroughly excessive. Something that would bring all her people together after three days of professional chaos. She hadn't arranged it yet. That could wait until morning. For now, the thought alone was enough. Panam grinned. "Oh, they're going to love this." In her studio apartment, Nadia was finally getting ready for bed. The lights were low. The city murmured beyond the windows. She looked once more at the unfinished installation sketches. Then deliberately turned the display off. "Enough." She smiled. It had been a remarkable weekend. She'd watched people she cared about working. Seen them negotiate. Flirt. Laugh. Return happy. She'd discovered the surprisingly wonderful experience of booking Bea. And she'd begun considering something that, a few days earlier, would barely have occurred to her. Not a decision. Not a commitment. Just a possibility. Nadia looked toward the studio below. Then laughed softly. "Well, fuck." She'd spent her entire life learning that the most interesting ideas rarely arrived when somebody was expecting them. Apparently her personal life was no exception. She climbed into bed. Pulled the blanket close. And closed her eyes. Elsewhere in Watson, Reyes lay awake for another minute. Her equipment was secure. Her schedule was clear. Her hair was red again. The temporary alteration to her voice was continuing to fade. And nobody who wasn't supposed to know had discovered Birgitta's identity. She smiled. That alone would have made the weekend an operational success. But she'd enjoyed herself. Really enjoyed herself. That was the part she hadn't expected. She turned onto her side. Thought about Panam. The affectionate goodbyes. The familiar collar and leash. The way Panam had looked after her without ever suspecting who she really was. Reyes smiled again. Sorry, Panam. Not for the work. Certainly not for enjoying it. Just for keeping a secret from somebody she cared about. A secret that was hers to keep. And one she intended to protect. She closed her eyes. Tomorrow she'd be Reyes. And Birgitta would remain safely tucked away until she wanted her again. At the Watson safehouse, laughter drifted through the upper floor. Mandi had finally stopped complaining about her Friday earnings. Mostly. Dalia was still teasing her. Deja had decided to contribute. Sera was laughing with them. The last traces of a long working weekend lingered in their voices, their colorful hair and their spectacularly questionable sense of humor. Nobody had any idea quite how interesting Monday morning was going to become. Except perhaps Bea. Who was probably already regretting several life choices. And Mandi. Who was certainly looking forward to reminding her of them. The weekend was over. The bookings were finished. The private rooms were quiet. And somewhere in Night City, a security manager was sleeping peacefully, entirely unaware that he'd spent yet another excellent evening with the woman he would soon be addressing as his employer. Tomorrow would bring ordinary responsibilities. Familiar faces. Coffee. Conversations. And, if Madame Panam had anything to say about it, a breakfast of absolutely unreasonable proportions. For now, though, the city had one last gift to offer. A few hours of peace. --- ## Chapter 28 — Breakfast in Technicolor Monday morning arrived at the Watson safehouse carrying an entirely unreasonable amount of food. More precisely, Madame Panam arrived carrying it. Or at least the first two containers. There were considerably more downstairs. Mai opened the upper armored door. Looked at Panam. Looked at the enormous insulated containers. Then looked at Panam again. "What the fuck?" Panam smiled. "Good morning." Mai stared. "Panam." "Mai." "What's that?" "Breakfast." Mai looked past her. Down the stairs. Toward the underground parking level. "How much breakfast?" Panam's smile widened. "Yes." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Panam laughed. "Going to let me in, beautiful?" Mai stepped aside. "You're insane." "Frequently." Panam kissed her cheek as she passed. "Love you too." By the time Ace appeared from the bedroom, the kitchen had become a logistics operation. Containers covered the counters. More were arriving. The dining table had been cleared with a speed that suggested somebody had threatened Brenda's unfinished project with bodily harm. Brenda herself was standing beside a crate of pastries, looking profoundly offended. "I was using that table." Mai turned. "I know." "For something important." "I know." Brenda looked toward Panam. "You're telling me this required relocating my entire diagnostic array?" Panam opened one of the containers. Inside was an impressive selection of freshly prepared breakfast dishes. Brenda stopped talking. Panam smiled. "Problem?" Brenda considered. Then shook her head. "None whatsoever." Ace appeared beside her. Took one look at the contents. Then whistled. "Fucking hell." Panam grinned. "Morning, gorgeous." Ace kissed her cheek. "Morning." Then she looked at the food again. "Did you buy a restaurant?" "No." "Several?" "Also no." "Are you sure?" Panam laughed. "Help me unpack." Ace saluted. "Yes, Madame." The spread continued growing. Fresh bread. Warm pastries. Savory breakfast dishes. Fruit. Cheeses. Cold platters. Hot dishes kept in insulated containers. Several kinds of juice. Enough coffee to make a small military installation nervous. Waffles. Pancakes. And an assortment of desserts that suggested Panam had become personally offended by the concept of breakfast ending before lunch. There were also three enormous containers of ice cream. Mai stared at them. "Panam." "Yes?" "Ice cream?" "Yes." "For breakfast?" "Yes." "Three kinds?" Panam considered. "Four, actually." Mai looked toward the ceiling. Ace burst out laughing. From the bedroom corridor came Shammy's voice. "WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?" Panam grinned. "Breakfast!" Shammy appeared. Silver-white hair. Sleepy eyes. Oversized shirt. The unmistakable expression of somebody who hadn't expected Monday morning to attack her senses quite this enthusiastically. She surveyed the room. Then stopped. "Oh." Panam smiled. "Morning, beautiful." Shammy looked at the food. Then Panam. Then the food again. "Did somebody die?" Ace collapsed against the counter. Mai groaned. Panam laughed. "No, sweetheart." Shammy considered. "Are we celebrating something?" "Yes." "What?" Panam spread her arms. "Us." Shammy's expression softened. Then she grinned. "Oh, I love you." Panam opened her arms. "Come here." Shammy stepped into the embrace. Kissed her. Then looked past Panam's shoulder. "Is that chocolate mousse?" Panam laughed. "Breakfast chocolate mousse." Shammy stared. "There's a difference?" "Absolutely none." "Good." By the time Iris and Brenda arrived, the table was beginning to look like a diplomatic banquet planned by somebody with a dangerous lack of financial restraint. Iris stopped in the doorway. Her hair remained split chrome and gold. Brenda's was chrome and brass-yellow. Both had removed their face meshes and professional contacts after the weekend. Their familiar faces had returned. Their hair, however, was still very much enjoying its extended engagement with Lena's ChromeLock V2. Their temporary cover voices had yet to finish wearing off. Brenda looked at the table. Then Panam. Then the table. "Madame." Panam smiled. "Brenda." "You're a fucking menace." "Thank you." Iris leaned closer. Kissed Panam's cheek. "This is wonderful." Panam smiled. "Thank you, beautiful." Brenda looked toward the desserts. Then kissed Panam too. "I take back absolutely none of what I said." Panam laughed. "Didn't expect you to." Kiro arrived next. Her dark venom-green hair remained stubbornly vibrant. The face-mesh was gone. Her usual features had returned. The warm brown-amber contacts were safely stored. And, unlike several others around the table, her voice required no recovery time. She'd never needed a temporary voice biosculpt for Deja. She entered the room. Looked at the spread. Then stopped. "Is this breakfast?" Mai nodded. "Allegedly." Kiro looked at Panam. "How many people are we expecting?" Panam smiled. "Us." Kiro considered. Then looked at the food again. "Did you accidentally order enough for the entire Watson district?" Ace grinned. "That's what I asked." Panam shrugged. "Everybody eats." Kiro nodded. "An excellent argument." Then she noticed the ice cream. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Mai pointed at her. "THANK YOU." Elisa arrived shortly afterward. And immediately became the second greatest source of visual confusion in the room. Her face-mesh was gone. The reflective red contacts had been removed. Her familiar face and eyes had returned. But the ice-blue hair remained. And her voice was still carrying some of Bea's brighter, temporarily altered register. She entered. Looked around. Then smiled. "Good morning." Ace slowly turned. Looked at her. Then began grinning. Elisa stopped. "No." Ace's smile widened. Elisa pointed. "Absolutely fucking not." Mai glanced between them. Then sighed. "Oh, here we go." Ace raised both hands. "I haven't said anything." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Your face has." Kiro took a pastry. "She's correct." Brenda nodded. "Extremely." Iris smiled. Panam looked delighted. Elisa regarded them all. Then shook her head. "You're fucking children." Ace stepped closer. Kissed her cheek. "Love you too." Elisa sighed. Then smiled. "Unfortunately." There was one important person missing. Nadia. Which suited Panam perfectly. She looked around the gathering. Then checked the time. "Everything ready?" Mai surveyed the table. Then the counters. Then the additional containers waiting beside the kitchen. "Ready?" Panam smiled. "Yes." Mai stared. "Panam, we could survive a fucking siege." "Good." Ace looked toward Shammy. Shammy grinned. Kiro leaned against the counter. Elisa took another coffee. Brenda stole a piece of pastry from Iris's plate. Iris immediately stole it back. Mai sighed. "All right." Panam looked pleased. "Wonderful." Then she checked her agent. A message from Nadia. Nadia: At the street entrance. Do I need to bring anything? Panam smiled. Panam: Your appetite. Nadia: That sounds ominous. Panam: Love you, beautiful. Nadia: Love you too. Coming up. Panam looked toward the group. "She's here." Ace's grin became positively dangerous. Mai pointed at her. "Behave." Ace looked offended. "Me?" Elisa took a slow drink. "Oh, this is going to be magnificent." Nadia entered the safehouse. The armored door closed behind her. She removed her jacket. Looked toward the dining area. Then stopped. Completely. For a long moment, she said nothing. She looked at the table. The food. The people. The extraordinary collection of hair colors. Then back at the food. "Jesus Christ." Panam approached. Smiling. "Good morning, beautiful." Nadia looked at her. Then at the table. Then back. "Panam." "Yes?" "Did you invade a catering company?" Panam burst out laughing. "No." Nadia looked toward the counters. "Are you absolutely sure?" "Completely." Nadia stepped into Panam's arms. Kissed her. Then laughed. "This is absurd." Panam smiled. "Thank you." Nadia kissed her again. "Love you." "Love you too." Shammy approached next. Nadia smiled. "Morning, gorgeous." Shammy kissed her. "Morning." Nadia glanced past her. Then paused. There was something peculiar about the room. Something beyond the food. She looked at Ace. Then Mai. Then Iris. Then Brenda. Then Kiro. Then Elisa. And slowly narrowed her eyes. "Hang on." Ace smiled. "Oh?" Nadia stared at her. Ace was wearing loose clothes. Her familiar face was entirely uncovered. Her eyes were no longer black. But the neon-orange hair remained. Nadia blinked. "Why are you—" She stopped. Looked at Ace again. Then turned toward Mai. Hot-pink hair. Her own face. A voice that still carried more smoke and whiskey than Nadia remembered. Mai smiled. Nadia stared. Then looked at Panam. Panam smiled back. Very innocently. Nadia slowly turned toward Ace. "No." Ace grinned. "Good morning." Nadia's mouth opened. Closed. Then opened again. "Oh, you have GOT to be fucking kidding me." Ace leaned against the counter. "Something wrong?" Nadia pointed at her. "You." Ace nodded. "Me." "Orange hair." "Apparently." Nadia looked at Mai. "Pink hair." Mai smiled. "Observant." Nadia turned back toward Ace. Then whispered: "MANDI?" Ace's grin became enormous. "At your service." Silence. Nadia stared. Ace smiled. Nadia turned toward Mai. "DALIA?" Mai inclined her head. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia looked between them. Then at Shammy. Shammy was smiling. Far too broadly. Nadia stared. "Oh." A pause. "Oh, FUCK." Ace burst out laughing. Mai followed. Nadia covered her face. "YOU TWO?" Ace spread her arms. "Surprise!" Nadia stared. "Mandi?" Ace nodded. "Dalia?" Mai smiled. "Yes." Nadia pointed at Ace. "YOU SPENT THE ENTIRE FUCKING WEEKEND—" Ace raised an eyebrow. "Working?" Nadia made an incoherent sound. Mai started laughing. Ace grinned. "Professionally." Nadia looked toward the ceiling. "Oh, my God." The realization continued developing. Nadia turned toward Shammy. "You knew?" Shammy raised an eyebrow. "That my lovers have exceptionally colorful professional lives?" Nadia stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, FUCK YOU!" Shammy laughed. "Love you too." Nadia looked toward Ace. Then Mai. Then Shammy. The Triad. Of course. Nothing about it had changed. The ridiculousness was entirely in the presentation. Ace had been Mandi. Mai had been Dalia. And Shammy had been standing beside them all weekend as Sera. Nadia shook her head. "How did I not see it?" Ace grinned. "Excellent professional preparation." Mai nodded. "And you weren't supposed to." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Fair." Ace approached. Caught Nadia in an affectionate hug. "Welcome to the other side of the curtain." Nadia laughed. Then hugged her back. "You absolute fucking menace." Ace kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Mai joined them. Kissed Nadia too. And for a moment the three women stood together laughing. Kiro had been watching with considerable interest. Now she cleared her throat. Nadia turned. Kiro smiled. "Good morning." Nadia blinked. Looked at the venom-green hair. Then Kiro's familiar face. Then the hair again. "No." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "No?" Nadia stared. "DEJA?" Kiro nodded. "Soft look. Sharp mouth." Nadia looked at her. Then at Mai. Then back. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Kiro smiled. "Exactly." Nadia pointed at her. "You too?" Kiro shrugged. "Apparently." Nadia shook her head. "But—" She stopped. Looked at Kiro again. Then started laughing. "Oh, that makes so much sense." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Does it?" Nadia nodded. "That mouth." Mai collapsed against Ace. Kiro looked offended. "My mouth?" Nadia grinned. "I should have recognized that fucking mouth." Kiro considered. Then smiled. "Several customers found it quite memorable." Ace shrieked with laughter. Mai grabbed the edge of the counter. Panam covered her face. Nadia stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, YOU BITCH!" Kiro smiled. "Welcome to Monday." Nadia finally made it to a chair. Sat. Took a breath. Then looked toward Iris and Brenda. Both women were smiling. That was suspicious. Extremely suspicious. Nadia narrowed her eyes. "No." Iris raised an eyebrow. "No?" Nadia looked at her hair. Chrome and gold. Then Brenda's. Chrome and brass-yellow. Then Iris again. "Don't." Brenda grinned. "Don't what?" Nadia pointed at her. "VEGA?" Brenda smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia turned toward Iris. "NOVA?" Iris nodded. "Lovely to see you." Nadia went completely still. Then slowly turned toward Panam. Panam was laughing silently. Nadia looked back at the two women. "YOU TWO?" Brenda smiled. "Apparently." Nadia shook her head. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Iris leaned closer. Kissed Brenda. A perfectly ordinary, familiar kiss between wives. Nadia stared. Then pointed again. "AND YOU'RE MARRIED!" Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Nadia looked toward the ceiling. "THE MARLOWS!" Iris smiled. "Professionally." Brenda nodded. "Not relatives." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, that is fucking brilliant." Brenda leaned back. "To be fair, you had absolutely no reason to connect us." Nadia looked at her. "To be fair?" Brenda smiled. "Yes." "You spent the weekend pretending you weren't married while openly flirting with half of Lizzie's." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Not pretending we weren't married." Brenda nodded. "Simply not advertising it." Nadia considered. Then laughed. "That's a very carefully worded distinction." Iris smiled. "We're good at those." Brenda caught her hand. Kissed it. Then grinned at Nadia. "And very good at our jobs." Ace leaned forward. "Some more than others." Brenda turned. "Oh, fuck off." Mai laughed. Kiro took another pastry. Panam shook her head. "Jesus Christ, I love this family." Nadia looked around the table again. Ace. Mai. Kiro. Iris. Brenda. Shammy. Panam. She laughed. Then laughed harder. "Oh, this is ridiculous." Ace nodded solemnly. "Spectacularly." Nadia looked at Panam. "How many people knew?" Panam considered. "Everyone needed for the work to happen safely." Nadia smiled. "And you all kept it quiet?" Mai nodded. "Each identity belongs to the person using it." Nadia considered that. Then looked toward Iris and Brenda. "Even from friends?" Brenda smiled. "Especially when necessary." Nadia nodded slowly. "Right." She looked at the table. Then back at the people around it. Something had become clear. They weren't revealing secrets because Nadia had earned some imaginary level of access. They were telling her because they'd chosen to. And because each woman whose cover was being disclosed had agreed. Nadia looked toward Ace. Then Mai. Then the others. "Thank you." Ace smiled. "For what?" "For trusting me." The laughter softened. Mai's expression warmed. "You're family, Nadia." Kiro nodded. "And we trust you to understand that the people who met those covers don't automatically get to know who's underneath." Nadia smiled. "I do." Panam kissed her cheek. "Good." From the other end of the table, Elisa cleared her throat. Ace looked up immediately. Smiled. Elisa narrowed her eyes. "No." Ace raised both hands. "What?" "Not one fucking word." Mai looked toward Elisa. Then Ace. Then sighed. "Oh, this is going to be good." Nadia turned. Elisa was standing beside the coffee. Ice-blue hair. Familiar face. An oddly bright voice. She looked entirely like Elisa. Except for the parts that didn't. Nadia smiled. "Good morning, Elisa." Elisa smiled back. "Good morning, darling." Nadia stopped. Not completely. Just enough. Something about that greeting. Something about the voice. She narrowed her eyes. Elisa took another sip. Nadia stared. "Hang on." Ace slowly covered her mouth. Mai looked at the ceiling. Kiro became profoundly interested in her pastry. Iris and Brenda exchanged a glance. Panam smiled. Shammy's silver-white hair began lifting. Nadia looked at Elisa. Then at her hair. Then heard that voice again in her memory. Darling. Gorgeous. You're going to have to be more specific. Nadia slowly stood. Elisa set down her coffee. Their eyes met. And Nadia whispered: "BEA?" Elisa smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Silence. Absolute silence. For perhaps two seconds. Then Nadia shouted: "OH, YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING BITCH!" Ace collapsed. Mai doubled over. Kiro put down her pastry before she dropped it. Brenda burst out laughing. Iris covered her mouth. Panam laughed so hard she had to lean against the counter. Shammy's silver-white halo rose spectacularly. Elisa stood perfectly still. Smiling. Nadia stared. "YOU?" Elisa nodded. "Yes." "BEA?" "Yes." "THE WOMAN I BOOKED?" Elisa's smile widened. "That would be me." Nadia looked at Panam. Then Shammy. Then Elisa again. "Oh, for FUCK'S sake!" Ace made a strangled sound. Brenda had tears in her eyes. Kiro was laughing silently. Nadia looked toward the ceiling. Then pointed at Elisa. "YOU LET ME PAY YOU THIRTY THOUSAND EDDIES!" Elisa considered. Then smiled. "You made a believable offer." Dalia's familiar voice emerged from Mai. "THAT'S MY FUCKING LINE!" The room exploded again. Nadia sat down. Stood up. Sat down again. Then burst out laughing. "I cannot fucking believe this." Elisa approached. More carefully now. The laughter around them began to settle. She stopped beside Nadia's chair. "May I?" Nadia looked up. Then nodded. Elisa sat. For a moment they regarded one another. Nadia was still smiling. But there was a question beneath the smile now. Elisa noticed. Of course she did. "You knew it was me," Nadia said. Elisa shook her head. "Not at Lizzie's." Nadia blinked. "What?" Elisa smiled gently. "I knew who you were. You didn't know who I was." Nadia stared. "Exactly." Elisa nodded. "Yes." A pause. Then Nadia asked: "Was that strange?" Elisa considered. "At first." Nadia waited. Elisa continued. "I had to be careful not to mention anything you hadn't told Bea." Nadia looked at her. "And?" "And I discovered I didn't particularly need to." Nadia's expression softened. Elisa smiled. "You were wonderful company." Nadia looked at her. Then laughed softly. "Oh, God." "What?" "I really did tell you how gorgeous you were." Elisa smiled. "Several times." Nadia covered her face. "Oh, fuck me." From across the table, Ace shouted: "THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THE BOOKING WAS FOR!" Mai caught her around the waist. "ACE!" Nadia burst out laughing. Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, you little shit." When the laughter subsided, Elisa reached for Nadia's hand. "Nadia." Nadia looked at her. "Yes?" "May I tell you something seriously?" Nadia nodded. Elisa's expression softened. "I didn't accept your booking because I wanted to play a trick on you." Nadia listened. "I accepted because you asked Bea for an evening together, and I wanted to spend that time with you." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Really?" "Really." Elisa squeezed her hand. "And you were free to decide what you wanted from the encounter." Nadia nodded. "I know." "I didn't want our other connection to become something I used to shape your choices." Nadia thought about that. For a moment the room around them was quieter. She remembered Bea asking whether she was sure. Remembered the conversation. The laughter. The kisses. The simple comfort of being together. Then she looked at Elisa. And smiled. "I did enjoy myself." Elisa's smile warmed. "So did I." Nadia laughed softly. "Very much." Elisa leaned closer. "Likewise." A pause. Then Nadia grinned. "And apparently my taste in women is exceptionally good." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you're going to be trouble." Nadia smiled. "Learning from the best." Shammy approached. Sat beside Nadia. Touched her shoulder. "All right?" Nadia turned. Smiled. "Yes." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Good." Nadia looked from Shammy to Elisa. Then back. "You knew." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Nadia considered. Then laughed. "And you let me go book her?" Shammy smiled. "You wanted to." Nadia shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Panam approached too. Rested a hand against Nadia's back. Nadia looked up. Panam smiled. "Happy?" Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Very." Panam kissed her forehead. "Good." Nadia's eyes moved toward Elisa again. Then she grinned. "Although I'm definitely going to need another conversation." Elisa smiled. "Whenever you like." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Without another thirty thousand eddies?" Elisa laughed. "Darling, I think we can arrange that." Breakfast finally began in earnest. Or what passed for earnest in a room containing Ace, Mai, Brenda, Kiro, Elisa and enough food to supply a moderately successful mercenary company. Panam stood near the table. Looked at everyone. Then smiled. "Eat." Ace immediately reached for a pastry. Mai slapped her hand away. "Plate." Ace stared. "Really?" "Yes." "At a time like this?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "Especially at a time like this." Brenda grinned. "She's got you." Ace sighed. "Marriage." Iris laughed. "Terrible institution." Brenda kissed her. "Absolutely." Kiro took a plate. Then looked at the ice cream. "Is there a recommended order?" Panam smiled. "Eat whatever you want." Kiro considered. Then nodded. "Excellent." She reached for the chocolate. Mai stared. "Kiro." Kiro looked at her. "What?" "It's breakfast." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Panam bought breakfast ice cream." Ace burst out laughing. Mai looked toward Panam. Panam shrugged. "She's got a point." Nadia settled beside Elisa. Across from them, Ace was attempting to explain why her Friday booth adventure had been an excellent example of professional freedom. Brenda looked skeptical. "Zero eddies." Ace nodded proudly. "Zero eddies." Iris considered. "Not a booking." "Correct." Mai took a drink. "She's been defending that all weekend." Kiro smiled. "And losing." Ace looked outraged. "IT WASN'T ABOUT MONEY!" Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Then why are we still discussing the accounting?" Nadia burst out laughing. Ace pointed at her. "You weren't supposed to join them!" Nadia smiled. "Professional curiosity." Kiro lifted her glass. "Excellent answer." Panam watched the table. Really watched. Ace with her impossible orange hair. Mai with bright pink dreads and that unmistakable expression she wore whenever Ace was being a complete menace. Shammy, silver-white hair still lifting whenever somebody said something particularly outrageous. Kiro, who'd apparently rediscovered her talent for devastating one-liners. Iris and Brenda, leaning comfortably against one another, their mirrored metallic hair making them look like a matched set of expensive experimental sculptures. Elisa, blue-haired and laughing beside Nadia. And Nadia herself. The woman who'd arrived in Night City because somebody had recognized the value of her art. Who had become part of this family without anybody requiring her to become somebody else. Who had just learned that half the people she'd spent the weekend observing were already people she knew. Panam smiled. My people. Then Brenda looked at her. "Panam?" "Yes?" "How much food did you actually order?" Panam considered. "Enough." Brenda looked toward the mountain of pastries. Then the hot dishes. Then the ice cream. She nodded slowly. "That's a fucking impressive definition of enough." Panam grinned. "Thank you." Nadia was still studying the women around her. Not suspiciously. Just with renewed appreciation. She looked at Kiro. "You really enjoyed working as Deja?" Kiro nodded. "Yes." "Even with the face-mesh?" "Why would that matter?" Nadia considered. "Because you're still you." Kiro smiled. "Exactly." Nadia nodded. Then looked toward Mai. "And you and Deja—" Mai laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Careful." Nadia grinned. "Sorry." Mai smiled. "You don't need to apologize. Just remember that the professional identities have their own public arrangements." Nadia nodded. "Right." "And those arrangements aren't automatically invitations to anybody else." "Of course." Kiro leaned closer. Then smiled. "But if you're curious about how we negotiate things, I'm happy to talk." Nadia's expression brightened. "Really?" Kiro nodded. "Of course." Ace groaned. "Oh, God." Nadia looked at her. "What?" Ace pointed between them. "You're going to make charts." Kiro considered. "Possibly." Nadia burst out laughing. Mai closed her eyes. "Please don't." Elisa smiled. "Actually, I'd like to see those." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Me too." Iris nodded. "Could be useful." Mai stared at the table. Then sighed. "Fuck all of you." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Love you." Mai smiled despite herself. "Love you too." Eventually the breakfast spread began looking slightly less impossible. Not significantly. But enough. Plates accumulated. Coffee disappeared. Somebody opened another pastry container. Panam produced more food from the kitchen. Brenda stared. "There's MORE?" Panam smiled. "Yes." Ace burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. "She's going to feed us until Thursday." Panam considered. "Wednesday, probably." Kiro nodded approvingly. "Ambitious but achievable." Nadia laughed. Then looked toward Elisa. The two women exchanged smiles. And Nadia suddenly remembered something. Saturday. The sofa. The quiet room. The conversation afterward. The way Bea had suggested Nadia shouldn't rush any decisions. Nadia studied Elisa. Elisa noticed. "What?" Nadia smiled. "Nothing." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I know that word." Nadia laughed. "Apparently." A pause. Then Nadia leaned closer. "Can we talk later?" Elisa's expression softened. "Of course." "Privately?" "Absolutely." Nadia smiled. "Good." Elisa touched her hand. "I'd like that too." Breakfast continued. Mandi was Ace again. Dalia was Mai. Deja was Kiro. Nova and Vega were Iris and Brenda. Bea was Elisa. And Sera, as always, was Shammy. None of them had disappeared. Nothing about their enjoyment of the weekend had been erased by removing a face-mesh or changing a name. The work had been real. The friendships were real. The affection was real. And the laughter was becoming increasingly difficult to control. Nadia looked around. Then shook her head. "I still can't fucking believe it." Ace grinned. "Which part?" Nadia considered. "All of it." Brenda laughed. "Fair." Kiro nodded. "Entirely fair." Elisa smiled. "Welcome to the family." Nadia looked at her. Then at Panam. Then Shammy. Then everybody else. And smiled. "Apparently." Later, when breakfast had become an extended exercise in consuming coffee and making outrageous remarks, Nadia stood. Elisa looked up. "Going somewhere?" Nadia smiled. "Balcony?" Elisa regarded her. Then nodded. "Of course." The two women rose. Panam noticed. So did Shammy. Neither interfered. Ace opened her mouth. Mai caught her hand. "Don't." Ace looked offended. "What?" Mai smiled. "Whatever you're about to say." Ace grinned. "You don't know." Mai kissed her. "Darling, I know you." Kiro took another drink. "Unfortunately, so does everybody else." Brenda burst out laughing. Ace groaned. "Oh, fuck you all." Nadia looked over her shoulder. Then smiled. "Carry on, you degenerates." Elisa laughed. "Excellent advice." Together, they headed toward the balcony. Behind them, Panam leaned back in her chair. Looked at the outrageous spread she'd ordered. The women she loved. The family she'd gathered. And smiled. Breakfast had been a spectacular success. Although, judging by the expressions around the table, the really serious teasing hadn't even started. --- ## Chapter 29 — Two Women on the Balcony The balcony door closed behind them. Nadia stepped outside. Stopped. Took a breath. Then began laughing. Elisa watched her. "Something amusing?" Nadia turned. Looked at Elisa. At her familiar face. At the ice-blue hair. Then at the face again. "Oh, fuck." Elisa smiled. "Apparently." Nadia shook her head. "I am trying very hard to have a serious conversation with you." "How's that going?" "Spectacularly badly." Elisa laughed. Nadia pointed at her. "YOU." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "Yes, you." "Terrible woman." "Absolutely." Nadia looked toward the city. Then back. "Jesus Christ, Elisa." Elisa leaned against the railing. "Yes, darling?" Nadia closed her eyes. "AND THAT FUCKING VOICE!" Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." "STOP MAKING IT WORSE!" "I'm not doing anything!" "You're talking!" Elisa considered. "That does seem difficult to avoid." Nadia laughed so hard she had to lean against the railing herself. Eventually the laughter softened. Not disappeared. Just settled into the occasional helpless chuckle. Nadia looked out across Watson. The city was already busy. Traffic. Advertisements. The distant noise of construction. Somebody below was loudly explaining why somebody else was a fucking idiot. Perfectly ordinary Monday morning. Inside, Panam had ordered enough breakfast to feed a moderately successful street gang for a week. And Nadia had just discovered that the woman she'd booked at Lizzie's was the same woman who'd helped make her new life in Night City possible. She shook her head. "Unbelievable." Elisa stepped beside her. "Which part?" Nadia turned. "Do you really want the list?" Elisa smiled. "We have time." "All right." Nadia raised one finger. "You helped me move here." "Yes." "Supported my work." "Yes." "Introduced me to half the fucking city." "Not quite half." "Don't interrupt." Elisa laughed. "Sorry." Nadia raised another finger. "And while I've been building a life here, apparently you've also been wandering around Lizzie's as an outrageously attractive blue-haired joytoy." Elisa considered. "Accurate." "Whom I booked." "Also accurate." "For thirty thousand eddies." Elisa smiled. "An excellent offer." Nadia threw her hands into the air. "OH, FUCK OFF!" Elisa collapsed into laughter. Nadia watched her. Then, despite herself, smiled. That laugh. She knew it. Not Bea's brighter voice. Not quite. But the same pleasure behind it. The same delight in having landed a perfectly timed remark. Nadia studied Elisa for a moment. Then shook her head. "I should have recognized you." Elisa smiled. "Why?" "The way you talk." "Different voice." "The way you laugh." "Also different." "The way you look at somebody when you're enjoying yourself." Elisa considered. "That one's harder to change." Nadia pointed. "Exactly!" Elisa laughed. "But you were looking at Bea." Nadia grew thoughtful. "Yes." "And Bea looked nothing like Elisa." "No." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "She was gorgeous, though." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Was?" Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, don't." Elisa smiled. "Just checking." They stood quietly for a moment. Then Nadia turned toward her. "Can I ask you something serious?" Elisa's smile softened. "Of course." Nadia considered the question. She'd been turning it over since the revelation at breakfast. And the more she thought about it, the less interested she became in treating it merely as an amusing surprise. "When I approached you at Lizzie's..." Elisa nodded. "As Bea." "Yes." Nadia paused. "You already knew everything about me." Elisa shook her head gently. "Not everything." "You knew who I was." "Yes." "You knew about my work." "Yes." "About Sera and Panam." "Yes." "And about the fact that I'd never booked anybody before." Elisa considered. "That last part you told Bea yourself." Nadia nodded. "Right." She rested her hands against the railing. Then looked directly at Elisa. "But I didn't know who you were." "No." "And that changes things." Elisa's expression became more serious. "Yes." There was no attempt to laugh it away. No immediate reassurance. Just an acknowledgment. Nadia appreciated that. "Did you ever consider telling me?" Nadia asked. Elisa nodded. "Yes." "When?" "When you first approached me." Nadia looked surprised. "Really?" "Yes." Elisa considered her next words. "I had three options. Tell you who I was, decline the booking, or accept it as Bea." Nadia nodded slowly. "And you chose the third." "Yes." "Why?" Elisa rested her arms against the railing. "Because you'd approached a woman you found attractive. You'd made it clear what interested you. And I found you attractive too." Nadia smiled faintly. Elisa continued. "I didn't want to turn that into an awkward conversation about the woman who helped finance your relocation." Nadia considered. "That's understandable." "But?" Nadia looked at her. "But you still had information I didn't." Elisa nodded. "Yes." "And maybe I would have made a different decision if I'd known." Elisa's expression softened. "That's fair." Nadia studied her. No defensiveness. No attempt to explain that everything had turned out wonderfully, so the question no longer mattered. Elisa was simply listening. Nadia liked that. Very much. "Are you sorry you accepted?" Nadia asked. Elisa thought about it. Then shook her head. "No." Nadia nodded. "Neither am I." Elisa smiled. "But?" Nadia laughed softly. "You keep finding those." "Professional skill." "Terrible habit." Elisa smiled. Nadia grew thoughtful again. "I had a wonderful time." "So did I." "I don't regret kissing you." Elisa's smile warmed. "Good." "Or anything else." "Neither do I." Nadia nodded. "But I think I would have liked to know." Elisa considered that. Then nodded. "That's reasonable." For a while neither spoke. Then Elisa sighed. "I could have handled it differently." Nadia looked at her. "Yes." Elisa smiled slightly. "You know, I rather appreciate that you're not going to let me charm my way out of this." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, I am absolutely going to let you charm me." Elisa raised an eyebrow. Nadia grinned. "I'm just not going to let it replace the conversation." Elisa laughed. "Fair enough." Elisa turned toward her. "Can I explain one thing?" Nadia nodded. "Please." "When I'm Bea, I'm not pretending to enjoy the work." "I know." "No, I mean it. The professional arrangement is real. I make decisions as Bea that I wouldn't necessarily make as Elisa in a completely different setting." Nadia considered. "Because the circumstances are different." "Exactly." Elisa touched the railing. "And when somebody books Bea, I don't think of them as buying access to Elisa." "Of course." "They're booking my time in that setting, under the arrangement we've agreed." Nadia nodded. "But you're still the same woman." Elisa smiled. "Yes." Nadia looked at her. "That's the part I find fascinating." "Oh?" Nadia laughed softly. "I've been studying the covers all weekend." Elisa groaned. "Of course you have." "And I kept thinking about how much they changed people." "Did they?" Nadia considered. "Not really." Elisa smiled. "Go on." "I think they change what people allow themselves to show." Elisa nodded slowly. "That's closer." Nadia smiled. "Mandi is still Ace." "Very much so." "Dalia is still Mai." "Absolutely." "Deja is still Kiro." Elisa laughed. "That mouth should have given her away." Nadia burst out laughing. "RIGHT?" Nadia looked toward the balcony door. From inside came a sudden shout. "THAT'S MY FUCKING PASTRY!" Brenda. Probably. Then Ace shouted something incomprehensible. Then Mai: "PUT IT BACK!" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Nadia laughed. "Found family." "Apparently." They listened. Something clattered. Shammy started laughing. Panam's voice followed. "WHOEVER BROKE THAT IS CLEANING IT UP!" A moment later, Kiro said something that made everybody laugh. Elisa shook her head. "And people wonder why I enjoy coming here." Nadia smiled. "Can't imagine." They returned to the question. Nadia touched Elisa's hand. "So Bea is still you." Elisa nodded. "Yes." "But Bea gives you a different kind of freedom." Elisa considered. "That's a good way of putting it." Nadia smiled. "Does Elisa ever envy Bea?" The question surprised her. Elisa looked out across the city. Thought about it. Then smiled. "Sometimes." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because Bea can walk into a room without anybody expecting her to make decisions that affect thousands of people." Nadia listened. "Nobody approaches Bea wanting corporate authorization, a security exception, or a meeting with somebody important." Elisa laughed softly. "They approach because they like her." Nadia nodded. "Or because they want to spend time with her." "Yes." "Or because she's gorgeous." Elisa turned. Smiled. "Well, naturally." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, you vain bitch." Elisa grinned. "Professionally." "But," Elisa continued, "there's something else." Nadia looked interested. "When somebody spends time with Bea and enjoys it, I know they're responding to something I'm actually offering." Nadia considered. "Rather than your money." "Or influence." "Or reputation." Elisa nodded. "Exactly." Nadia leaned against the railing. "That makes sense." Elisa smiled. "It's remarkably refreshing." Nadia considered for a moment. Then asked: "Is that why you started?" Elisa laughed. "Not entirely." "Oh?" "Curiosity. Opportunity. A rather impressive collection of friends who were having an outrageously good time." Nadia smiled. "That does sound familiar." "Doesn't it?" They laughed. Then Elisa grew thoughtful. "I also wanted to discover whether I'd enjoy it." "And?" Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. "Darling, I've gone back several times." Nadia burst out laughing. "Excellent answer." They stayed side by side. Watson stretched out beneath them. For a while, the morning was quiet enough to hear the distant traffic. Then Nadia looked at Elisa. "Can I tell you something slightly embarrassing?" Elisa smiled. "Please." Nadia considered. "When I approached Bea, I was trying very hard to be confident." Elisa laughed softly. "I noticed." "Oh, fuck." "You were adorable." Nadia groaned. "That doesn't help." "It wasn't supposed to." Nadia laughed. Then shook her head. "I spent ages trying to find a way to ask." Elisa nodded. "And when you finally did?" "I thought you might say no." Elisa looked at her. "Why?" Nadia shrugged. "Because you were so fucking composed." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." "No, seriously." "I'm listening." "You looked like somebody who had already decided exactly how the evening was going to go." Elisa considered. Then smiled. "Well, I hadn't." Nadia blinked. "Really?" "Really." "Not even a little?" Elisa laughed. "I'd hoped you'd kiss me again." Nadia's expression warmed. "Oh." "And I rather liked how you were looking at me." Nadia smiled. "How was I looking at you?" Elisa leaned closer. "Like you were trying to decide whether I'd be more interesting to talk to or kiss." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck." Elisa grinned. "I was hoping you wouldn't decide." Nadia rested her forehead briefly against Elisa's shoulder. Still laughing. Then looked up. "Well, for the record..." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You were excellent at both." Elisa smiled. "Thank you." "And very good at making me comfortable." Her expression softened. "That matters to me." "I know." Elisa touched her cheek. "I liked seeing you relax." Nadia smiled. "Apparently I was rather nervous." "At first." "And afterward?" Elisa considered. Then grinned. "Considerably less." Nadia laughed. "That's one description." Elisa's smile became warmer. "You were affectionate. Attentive. Funny. And you weren't afraid to ask for what you wanted once you stopped worrying about whether you were doing everything correctly." Nadia considered that. Then smiled. "That sounds like a rather good review." Elisa nodded solemnly. "Excellent customer." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Elisa grinned. "Five stars." Nadia shook her head. "Unbelievable." "Would recommend." "ELISA!" They both dissolved into laughter. Eventually Nadia leaned against the railing again. A question remained. One she'd been considering since Saturday. "Would you have accepted if I hadn't been somebody you knew?" Elisa thought about that. Carefully. Then smiled. "I can't honestly know what I'd have felt about a different woman in different circumstances." Nadia nodded. "Fair." "But if a stranger had approached me the way you did, with the same humor and interest, I would certainly have wanted to talk." Nadia smiled. "And possibly more?" Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Possibly." Nadia considered. Then laughed softly. "I like that answer." "Good." "You're not pretending the circumstances didn't matter." "They did." Nadia nodded. "And you still wanted me." Elisa's expression softened. "Yes." Nadia looked directly at her. "Good." For a while they watched the city together. Then Elisa turned. "Nadia?" "Yes?" "Are we all right?" Nadia considered. It was a reasonable question. And the answer deserved a moment. She'd been surprised. Spectacularly surprised. There was an imbalance of knowledge she hadn't expected, and she wasn't going to pretend it had never existed. But she'd also been given room to say so. Elisa had listened. Hadn't tried to talk her out of her own reaction. And Nadia still felt the same affection she'd felt at Lizzie's. Now with the rather extraordinary addition of knowing who Bea really was. She smiled. "Yes." Elisa's expression warmed. "Good." Nadia added: "But next time you meet me wearing a face you know I won't recognize, perhaps give me a fucking warning before I spend half an hour trying to seduce you." Elisa burst out laughing. "Fair." "Seriously." "I know." Nadia grinned. "Although I was doing rather well." Elisa looked delighted. "Exceptionally." Nadia laughed. "See? That helps." Then Nadia grew thoughtful. "There's another thing." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Go on." "Saturday wasn't just interesting because I was with Bea." Elisa waited. "It was interesting because I was a customer." "Yes." "And I genuinely enjoyed that." Elisa nodded. "Good." Nadia smiled. "But somehow it made me even more curious about working." Elisa considered. "Why?" "Because now I know what the other side feels like." Elisa smiled. "Your side of it, at least." "Exactly." Nadia looked toward the city. "I liked choosing somebody." "Yes." "I liked making an offer." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "A very believable one." Nadia laughed. "Don't." Elisa grinned. "Sorry." Nadia continued. "And I liked the fact that we could both enjoy ourselves without pretending the arrangement was something else." Elisa nodded. "That's important." "But I still don't know whether I'd enjoy being the professional." "You don't need to know yet." Nadia smiled. "Everybody keeps telling me that." Elisa laughed. "Perhaps because it's true." Nadia looked at her. "Did you know immediately?" Elisa shook her head. "No." "Really?" "Absolutely not." Nadia considered. "What convinced you?" Elisa smiled. "Experience." "Of course." "Not theory." Nadia groaned. "Oh, fuck you." Elisa laughed. "Somebody had to say it." Nadia shook her head. "You're all determined to stop me turning this into a research project." "Not at all." Nadia raised an eyebrow. Elisa smiled. "Research can be useful. Just remember that no amount of observation will tell you exactly how you'll feel." Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Right." "And you don't have to do it merely because the people you love enjoy it." "I know." Elisa touched her arm. "Good." Nadia smiled. "I think I want to keep exploring." "Then explore." "No grand announcement." "Excellent." "No career decision over breakfast." Elisa laughed. "Please don't make one over breakfast. Panam has ordered enough food to keep us here until Thursday." Nadia burst out laughing. From inside came another shout. "WHO THE FUCK ATE THE LAST CHOCOLATE CROISSANT?" Brenda. Definitely Brenda. Ace answered immediately. "THERE ARE FORTY MORE IN THE KITCHEN!" "THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Nadia laughed. "Should we intervene?" Elisa considered. "Absolutely not." "Why?" "Because this is considerably more entertaining." They listened. Mai said something. Brenda shouted: "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE RESPONSIBLE ONE!" Then Kiro's voice: "Statistically unsupported." The room exploded into laughter. Nadia nearly folded over the railing. Elisa grabbed her arm. "Careful!" Nadia laughed harder. "Oh, my God." Elisa shook her head. "Welcome to the safehouse." Nadia looked at her. Then smiled. "Somehow I suspect this is a relatively quiet morning." Elisa considered. Then nodded. "Fairly." Eventually Nadia straightened. Her laughter faded. She looked at Elisa. Then stepped closer. "Can I ask for something?" Elisa smiled. "Of course." Nadia touched her cheek. "A kiss." Elisa's expression softened. "That I can do." She leaned closer. And kissed her. No professional agreement. No price. No borrowed identity. Just two women who knew exactly whom they were kissing. Nadia slipped an arm around her. Elisa drew her closer. The kiss lingered. Warm. Affectionate. Entirely mutual. When they separated, Nadia was smiling. "Well." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia burst out laughing. "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Not remotely." Elisa laughed. Then kissed her again. They stayed close for another moment. Nadia rested her forehead against Elisa's. Then smiled. "You know what?" Elisa raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I think I liked kissing Bea." Elisa laughed softly. "Good." "And I think I like kissing Elisa." Her expression warmed. "Also good." Nadia considered. Then grinned. "Apparently I have excellent taste in the same woman twice." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you absolute menace." Nadia smiled. "Learning." Elisa touched her face. "Very quickly." The balcony door opened. Both women turned. Ace stood in the doorway. Neon-orange hair. An enormous pastry in one hand. A cup of coffee in the other. And the most suspiciously innocent expression either woman had ever seen. "Hello." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Nadia smiled. "Hello, Ace." Ace looked between them. Then at how closely they were standing. Then smiled. "Everything all right?" Nadia nodded. "Wonderful." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Ace." Ace looked offended. "What?" "Don't." Ace grinned. "I haven't said anything." Nadia started laughing. Elisa sighed. "You came out here specifically because you thought we'd be kissing." Ace considered. Then took a bite of pastry. "Actually, I came to tell you Panam has found another entire container of food." Nadia stared. Elisa looked horrified. "ANOTHER?" Ace nodded. "Apparently." Nadia burst out laughing. Ace smiled. "Also, yes. I thought you'd be kissing." Elisa threw up her hands. "OH, FUCK YOU!" Ace nearly choked on her pastry. Dalia appeared behind Ace. Hot-pink hair. Her familiar face. And a menthol lollipop. "Did you find them?" Ace nodded. "Yes." Dalia looked past her. Saw Nadia and Elisa standing together. Then smiled. "Oh." Elisa pointed. "No." Dalia raised an eyebrow. "Darling, I haven't said anything." Ace grinned. "That's what I told her." Dalia looked delighted. "Great minds." Elisa sighed. "Terrible women." Nadia was laughing again. Dalia looked toward her. "Everything okay, gorgeous?" Nadia nodded. "Very." Dalia's smile warmed. "Good." Then she looked at Elisa. "And you?" Elisa smiled. "Fine." Dalia nodded. "Excellent." A pause. Then Ace looked at Nadia. "Ready for breakfast?" Nadia stared. "MORE breakfast?" Ace nodded. "Apparently breakfast is now a continuous event." Dalia sighed. "Panam has apparently declared war on hunger." Elisa burst out laughing. Nadia shook her head. "That woman." Ace smiled. "We love her." Nadia nodded. "We do." They headed back inside. Ace first. Dalia beside her. Nadia and Elisa following. The dining area was still crowded. Still colorful. Still spectacularly loud. Panam looked up as they entered. Her expression warmed. "There you are." Nadia smiled. "Here we are." Panam looked between her and Elisa. Then raised an eyebrow. "Good conversation?" Elisa nodded. "Very." Nadia smiled. "Excellent." Panam considered. Then opened her arms. Nadia stepped into the embrace. Panam kissed her. Then held her close. "Happy?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." "Good." Elisa smiled. Panam reached toward her too. Elisa accepted the offered hug. And Panam kissed her cheek. "Love you, gorgeous." Elisa's expression warmed. "Love you too." Shammy watched from the table. Her silver-white hair lifted slightly. Mai noticed. Looked at her. Then smiled. "What?" Shammy shook her head. "Nothing." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious." Shammy laughed. Ace joined them. "What did I miss?" Mai considered. "Apparently you." Ace stared. Then grinned. "Oh, fuck you." Mai kissed her. "Love you too." Shammy reached for Ace. Drew her close. Kissed her. Then pulled Mai into the embrace as well. For a moment the Triad remained together. Warm. Familiar. Entirely untroubled by the colorful chaos around them. Then Brenda shouted: "WHO MOVED THE ICE CREAM?" Kiro answered: "To prevent structural collapse." Brenda stared. "What?" Kiro smiled. "The table was becoming a load-bearing hazard." Iris burst out laughing. Panam covered her face. Ace looked toward the ceiling. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Nadia settled back into her chair. Elisa sat beside her. Their hands touched beneath the table. A small, comfortable gesture. No secrecy required. No announcement either. Nadia looked around the room. At the extraordinary women surrounding her. At the food. At the laughter. At the familiar, outrageous affection that seemed to live in every corner of the safehouse. Then she smiled. She'd learned something important on the balcony. Not a final answer. Not a decision about her future. Something simpler. A person could have several ways of being herself. Some visible. Some private. Some professionally useful. Some unexpectedly liberating. And discovering another one didn't require abandoning the others. Nadia looked at Elisa. Elisa smiled back. Then, from across the table, Ace called: "SO!" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Ace's grin widened. "NOW THAT EVERYBODY'S BACK—" Mai caught her hand. "Ace." "What?" "Careful." Ace looked offended. "Darling, I'm always careful." Kiro nearly choked on her coffee. Brenda burst out laughing. Iris shook her head. Shammy's silver-white halo rose. Panam smiled slowly. And Nadia looked around the table. Then began grinning. "Oh, fuck." Elisa sighed. "What?" Nadia leaned closer. "I think breakfast is about to become even more interesting." Elisa looked toward Ace. Then Mandi's unmistakable orange hair. Then the gathering collection of wicked smiles. She closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Ace raised her coffee. "ALL RIGHT, YOU DEGENERATES!" Panam burst out laughing. Dalia leaned back. Kiro smiled. Brenda rubbed her hands together. And Nadia realized that the most dangerous part of the weekend might not have happened at Lizzie's at all. It might be sitting around this very table. With coffee. Pastries. And absolutely no remaining sense of shame. --- ## Chapter 30 — Nobody Gets Away Clean "ALL RIGHT, YOU DEGENERATES!" Ace stood at the head of the dining table. Neon-orange hair. Coffee in one hand. A chocolate croissant in the other. And the unmistakable expression of somebody about to become everybody else's problem. Mai looked at her. "Ace." Ace smiled. "Yes, darling?" "You're standing in front of the coffee." Ace stepped sideways. "Better?" "Marginally." Brenda leaned back. "Could we perhaps get to the part where you embarrass yourself?" Ace looked offended. "Brenda, sweetheart, I'm conducting an important family meeting." Iris took a sip of coffee. "That explains the croissant." Kiro nodded. "Standard executive equipment." Elisa smiled. "I've chaired board meetings with worse catering." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Elisa looked at the breakfast spread. Then smiled. "Not remotely worse than this, obviously." Panam nodded. "Good recovery." Nadia began laughing. Shammy leaned against Mai, her silver-white hair already beginning to stir. Ace waited. Patiently. For approximately three seconds. Then she slapped the table. "CAN I FUCKING SPEAK?" Mai kissed her cheek. "Apparently." Ace raised her coffee. "To a spectacularly successful working weekend." Several glasses rose. "To good customers." "Some good customers," Brenda corrected. "To excellent company." Shammy smiled. "That part I agree with." "To professional freedom." Dalia's former voice was still lingering in Mai's throat when she interrupted. "To actually charging for professional services." Ace stopped. Looked at her. Then sighed. "Oh, we're doing this." Mai smiled. "Darling, we've been waiting three days." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Wait. The zero-eddie thing?" Kiro nodded. "An exceptional financial case study." Iris smiled. "Technically not a financial transaction." Brenda considered. "Which makes the earnings calculation unusually straightforward." Elisa raised her cup. "Zero." Shammy added: "Precisely zero." Panam took a drink. "Not a single eddie." Ace stared around the table. Then pointed at Nadia. "YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE FOR THAT!" Nadia grinned. "I've heard excellent things." "From whom?" Nadia gestured at everybody. Ace looked betrayed. "Traitors. All of you." Mai caught her hand. "Come here, darling." Ace leaned down. Mai kissed her. Then smiled. "Still zero eddies." Ace groaned. "But I have a defense!" Ace announced. Brenda leaned forward. "Oh, this should be good." Ace looked at her. "I liked him." Iris nodded. "Reasonable." "He liked me." Kiro smiled. "Apparently." "We wanted to have fun." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "And?" "We did." A moment passed. Then Shammy smiled. "She's right." Ace turned. "THANK YOU!" Shammy reached for her. Ace accepted the offered embrace. Shammy kissed her cheek. "It wasn't a booking." "Exactly!" "It was a choice." "EXACTLY!" Mai leaned forward. "And therefore it earned—" "MAI!" Mai burst out laughing. Ace caught her face. Kissed her. Then shook her head. "I married a monster." Mai smiled. "You married me knowing precisely what you were getting." Shammy reached over and kissed them both. "And you're both stuck with me." Ace's expression softened instantly. "Wouldn't have it any other way." Mai smiled. "Never." For one lovely moment, the Triad was completely occupied with one another. Then Brenda cleared her throat. "Still zero." Ace threw a napkin at her. Panam was laughing into her coffee when Nadia turned toward her. "Speaking of spectacular financial decisions..." Panam stopped. Looked at her. "Oh, no." Nadia smiled. "Oh, yes." Elisa leaned forward. "Three hundred million." Kiro nodded solemnly. "An extraordinary amount to decline." Panam raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't interested." Brenda smiled. "We know." Iris added: "Everybody within fifty meters knew." Shammy burst out laughing. Nadia leaned against Panam's shoulder. "You did tell him rather clearly." "Several times!" "Yes." "And he kept offering!" Elisa considered. "Perhaps he mistook refusal for an auction." Kiro shook her head. "Poor understanding of the transaction." Mai raised one finger. "Poor understanding of basic English." Ace grinned. "Poor understanding of women." Panam pointed at her. "THAT ONE." Brenda smiled. "Well, he was certainly thorough about demonstrating it." Panam laughed. "Fucking idiot." Nadia kissed her cheek. "For the record, I thought you handled him beautifully." Panam's expression warmed. "Thank you, sweetheart." Then Nadia added: "Although three hundred million could have purchased considerably more breakfast." Panam stared. The table exploded. Panam turned toward the enormous selection of food. Then back at Nadia. "More?" Nadia smiled innocently. "Just a thought." Mai closed her eyes. "PLEASE DON'T ENCOURAGE HER." Kiro surveyed the table. "At the present rate of consumption, we may already have enough until Thursday." Brenda shook her head. "Friday." Elisa considered. "Depending on Ace." Ace looked up from her second croissant. "What?" Iris laughed. "Nothing, gorgeous." Panam crossed her arms. "I wanted everybody to have a good breakfast." Mai looked at the ice cream. "Panam, sweetheart, you ordered four kinds of ice cream." "Yes." "Before nine in the morning." "Yes." "For nine women." Panam grinned. "Variety." Shammy reached for Panam's hand. Pulled her closer. Kissed her. "I love you." Panam smiled. "Love you too, beautiful." Then Shammy added: "But next time, maybe don't order the entire fucking restaurant." Panam groaned. "YOU TOO?" Mai suddenly sat straighter. "Actually, while we're discussing Panam's questionable financial practices..." Panam looked suspicious. "Mai." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "No." "You haven't heard the question." "I don't need to." Mai lifted her coffee. "I would like to raise the issue of intellectual property theft." Ace immediately grinned. "Oh, fuck." Kiro looked interested. "Finally." Brenda leaned forward. "This is the catchphrase dispute?" Iris smiled. "I've heard about that." Elisa nodded. "Apparently the most heavily contested sentence in Watson." Nadia laughed. Panam covered her face. Mai spread her hands. "I have spent years developing a distinctive professional style." Ace considered. "That's one way of describing it." Mai kissed her cheek. "Shut up, darling." Ace smiled. "Love you." "And then this woman—" Mai pointed at Panam. "—began using my signature negotiation line!" Panam grinned. "A good line." "MY line!" "Very effective." "PANAM!" Nadia was already laughing. Kiro raised a hand. "I have a proposed settlement." Mai turned. "Go on." Kiro considered. "Panam compensates you for unauthorized use." Mai nodded. "Excellent." Panam raised an eyebrow. "With what?" Kiro gestured toward the table. "Approximately twenty kilograms of breakfast." Silence. Then Ace nearly fell out of her chair. Elisa started laughing. Brenda slapped the table. Mai stared at Kiro. "Kiro." Kiro smiled. "Reasonable compensation." Panam looked delighted. "Accepted." Mai narrowed her eyes. "YOU'RE BOTH FUCKING FIRED!" "But," Iris said, "I have a question." The table quieted. Mostly. Iris looked toward Panam. "How many times did you use Mai's line?" Panam considered. "Several." Mai made an outraged noise. Iris nodded. "Then we need a licensing arrangement." Brenda grinned. "Royalties." Elisa added: "Retroactive royalties." Kiro nodded. "Plus interest." Ace leaned back. "At last, a profitable booking." Mai looked at her. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, you little shit." Ace smiled. "Love you." Mai caught her face. Kissed her. "Unfortunately." Panam raised her glass. "All right. Name your price." Mai smiled slowly. "Make me a believable—" She stopped. Looked at Panam. Panam grinned. Mai threw up her hands. "OH, FUCK ALL OF YOU!" Nadia was laughing so hard that Elisa reached over and steadied her coffee. "Careful, darling." Nadia turned. Looked at Elisa. Then smiled. A dangerous smile. "Oh." Elisa stopped. "No." Nadia tilted her head. "No?" "Whatever you're thinking." Nadia leaned back. "Well, since we're discussing financial arrangements..." Ace immediately looked interested. Mai turned. Shammy's silver-white hair began rising. Panam covered her mouth. Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Nadia raised her glass. "Thirty thousand eddies." Ace made a delighted sound. Brenda leaned forward. Kiro smiled. Elisa stared at Nadia. Nadia smiled sweetly. "For one hour." Mai whispered: "Oh, this is going to be good." Nadia continued. "With a woman I already knew." Elisa sighed. "Yes." "A woman who helped fund my relocation." "Yes." "And who apparently decided the best way to introduce me to professional intimacy was to let me pay her thirty thousand eddies." Ace collapsed against Shammy. Brenda burst out laughing. Panam was shaking with laughter. Elisa looked at Nadia. Then smiled. "A very enjoyable introduction." Nadia grinned. "Expensive." "Premium service." "Questionable disclosure policy." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Fair criticism." Nadia laughed. Then touched Elisa's hand. "We already talked about that." Elisa's expression softened. "We did." "And we're good." "Very." Nadia smiled. Then leaned closer. "But I am absolutely going to tease you about the money." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, I gathered." Brenda raised a hand. "Question." Elisa turned. "Of course." "Did Nadia at least get a customer loyalty discount?" Nadia laughed. "Apparently not." Kiro considered. "First-time customer. Thirty thousand. No previous relationship recognized." Iris smiled. "Financially impeccable." Ace grinned. "Emotionally catastrophic." Shammy shook her head. "Not catastrophic." Ace looked at her. Shammy smiled. "Just hilariously complicated." Elisa nodded. "That I'll accept." Nadia looked around. Then shrugged. "For the record, I was very happy with the service." Elisa smiled. "Thank you." Nadia leaned closer. "Five stars." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you absolute bitch." Nadia kissed her cheek. "Love you too." There was a brief interval while everybody remembered to eat. It lasted until Kiro reached for a pancake. Brenda looked at her. "So." Kiro stopped. "What?" "Deja." Kiro sighed. "Oh, here we go." Brenda smiled. "The innocent face." Iris added: "The venom-green hair." Ace grinned. "The absolutely filthy mouth." Mai rested her hand against Kiro's. "Always very successful combination." Kiro looked at her. Then smiled. "Thank you." Mai kissed her. The gesture was familiar and affectionate. Ace watched with an approving grin. Then Brenda leaned forward. "And the pianist." Kiro closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Nadia looked interested. "The pianist?" Elisa nodded. "Apparently." Ace smiled. "Tell her." Kiro looked around. "Why?" Brenda grinned. "Because you spent an hour with a musician and came back complaining about Debussy." Nadia burst out laughing. Kiro sighed. "He was extremely good company." Iris smiled. "Of course." "Attractive. Attentive. Excellent kisser." Mai nodded. "Good." "And he insisted on spending fifteen minutes explaining why most people misunderstand Debussy." Ace stared. Then started laughing. Kiro shook her head. "Fifteen minutes." Elisa considered. "Professional hazard." Nadia smiled. "Did you correct him?" Kiro's expression became very still. Mai looked toward the ceiling. "Oh, no." Kiro smiled. "Eventually." Brenda burst out laughing. "OF COURSE YOU DID!" Ace leaned forward. "What did you say?" Kiro considered. "That his interpretation of Clair de lune was interesting, but his assessment of other performers was considerably less impressive." Elisa choked on her coffee. Iris burst out laughing. Nadia looked delighted. "And?" Kiro shrugged. "He laughed." Mai smiled. "Good man." "Yes." "Then?" Kiro looked at her. Then smiled slowly. "Then we found more interesting things to do." Mai leaned closer. Kissed her. "Excellent." Ace looked at them. Then grinned. "Still better than talking about Debussy." Kiro considered. "Considerably." Nadia shook her head. "I cannot believe you hid that woman under a sweet little face." Mai laughed. "Neither can half the customers." Kiro smiled innocently. "Apparently my marketing works." Iris was attempting to pour more coffee when Ace turned toward her. "Now." Iris stopped. "Oh?" Ace smiled. "Nova." Brenda looked delighted. Iris narrowed her eyes. "Ace." "The professional duo." Brenda leaned back. "Careful, darling." Ace grinned. "Not sisters." Iris shook her head. "Thank fuck." Nadia burst out laughing. Brenda looked at Iris. Then smiled. "I quite agree." Ace raised an eyebrow. "And the observer arrangement?" Iris went still. Brenda slowly lowered her cup. Kiro looked interested. Elisa smiled. "Oh, I've heard about that." Nadia turned. "What observer arrangement?" Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda regarded her. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Ace's grin widened. "Would you like to explain?" Brenda pointed at her. "No." Iris sighed. "Nova arranged a booking with a woman who was comfortable having Vega present as an observer." Nadia blinked. "Really?" Iris nodded. "Yes." "And Vega agreed?" Brenda smiled. "Of course." Ace leaned forward. "Professional cooperation." Kiro added: "Independent oversight." Elisa grinned. "Quality assurance." Brenda stared. Then laughed. "YOU ARE ALL FUCKING TERRIBLE." Nadia looked at Iris. Then Brenda. "And you enjoyed it?" Iris smiled. "Very much." Brenda nodded. "Absolutely." Nadia considered. "That's actually rather interesting." Ace sighed dramatically. "Oh, no." Nadia turned. "What?" "She's going to make a diagram." Kiro nodded. "An organizational chart." Elisa smiled. "With consent pathways." Mai laughed. "And budget columns." Nadia looked around. Then grinned. "Fuck you. I was going to make a conceptual sketch." Brenda burst out laughing. Iris leaned over and kissed her. "Please do." Nadia looked delighted. Ace threw up her hands. "THEY'RE ENCOURAGING HER!" Brenda recovered first. Then looked at Ace. "While we're discussing professional cooperation..." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Brenda smiled. "Your wife is rather good at negotiating." Ace looked toward Mai. "Obviously." "Especially for other people." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Brenda." Brenda smiled. "What?" "You are enjoying this far too much." "Immensely." Iris rested a hand against Brenda's thigh. "Sweetheart." Brenda looked at her. Iris smiled. "Remember that Mai has considerably more material on us than we have on her." Brenda considered. Then nodded. "Fair." Mai's expression became radiant. "Oh, Iris." Iris sighed. "Yes?" "I love you." Brenda pointed at her wife. "TRAITOR." Iris kissed her. "Love you too." Shammy had been watching the proceedings with increasing amusement. Which was unfortunate. Because eventually everybody noticed. Ace turned toward her. "Oh." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Mai smiled. "Darling." Shammy looked between them. "No." Ace grinned. "Sixty million." Shammy closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Nadia sat straighter. "Sixty million?" Elisa nodded. "Quite." Panam smiled. "An exceptionally serious offer." Brenda looked at Shammy. "From a woman you approached yourself." Shammy sighed. "Yes." Ace grinned. "Because you liked her." "Yes." Mai leaned closer. "And she made a rather spectacular offer." Shammy's silver-white hair began lifting. Kiro smiled. "Oh, look." Shammy pointed. "No." Nadia laughed. "It's doing it again." Shammy groaned. "My hair is not an evidentiary instrument!" Elisa considered. "Debatable." Iris nodded. "Strongly debatable." Ace leaned forward. "Now, darling." Shammy looked at her. "Yes?" "Did you enjoy yourself?" Shammy smiled. "Very much." Mai kissed her cheek. "Good." Ace nodded. "Excellent." Shammy regarded them. Suspicious. "That's it?" Mai smiled. "That's it." Ace nodded. "Nothing else." Shammy relaxed. Then Ace added: "Although sixty million is considerably more than zero." Shammy collapsed against Mai. "OH, FUCK YOU!" Mai burst out laughing. Ace caught Shammy around the waist. Kissed her. Then held her close. "Love you." Shammy smiled against her shoulder. "Love you too, you horrible little menace." For several minutes the three remained together. Mai brushing Shammy's silver-white hair back from her face. Ace stealing a kiss whenever she could. Shammy returning the affection with interest. It was an ordinary family moment. Which, considering their family, meant nobody had entirely stopped making outrageous comments. Then Nadia looked at Panam. Panam was watching the Triad with a warm smile. Nadia leaned closer. "Happy?" Panam turned. "Very." Nadia kissed her. Then rested against her shoulder. A moment later Shammy reached across the table. Panam caught her hand. Shammy smiled. Panam kissed her fingers. No ceremony. No performance. Just affection. Nadia watched. Then smiled too. For a moment the room settled. Not into silence. Something better. The comfortable noise of people eating together. Talking. Laughing. Occasionally reaching for somebody they loved. Naturally, Ace ruined the peace. "So, Elisa." Elisa stopped chewing. Slowly. "Oh, God." Ace smiled. "How's your security situation?" Brenda lowered her fork. Kiro turned. Mai closed her eyes. Panam began laughing before anybody had said another word. Elisa looked at Ace. "Don't." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Don't what?" Elisa pointed. "That." Ace smiled. "Security?" Elisa sighed. "Yes." "Important topic." "Very." "Especially for somebody in your position." Kiro nodded. "Absolutely." Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris pressed her lips together. Nadia followed the conversation. Then slowly looked at Elisa. "Oh." Elisa turned. "Nadia." Nadia stared. Then began smiling. "Oh, no." Ace looked delighted. "Oh, yes." Elisa put down her fork. "Before we continue, I would like to establish that every person at this table is legally an adult." Brenda nodded. "Technically." Elisa looked at her. "And yet." Mai burst out laughing. Ace leaned forward. "Your security manager." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Kiro considered. "Apparently a highly competent professional." Elisa nodded. "Extremely." Iris smiled. "Excellent attention to detail." "Yes." Brenda added: "Remarkable situational awareness." Elisa looked at her. "Brenda." Brenda grinned. "What?" "You're making this worse." "Professionally." Nadia was laughing now. Then she looked at Elisa. "Wait." Elisa turned. "What?" "You're telling me..." A pause. "Your actual security manager has booked Bea?" Elisa sighed. "Yes." Nadia stared. "More than once?" "Yes." Ace grinned. "Several times." Nadia covered her mouth. "Oh, FUCK." Kiro leaned forward. "To be fair, the cover clearly works." Mai nodded. "Extremely well." Iris smiled. "Under prolonged close observation." Brenda added: "Repeatedly." Elisa looked toward the ceiling. "Jesus Christ." Ace leaned back. "So." Elisa turned. "No." "Just one question." "No." Ace grinned. "Does he still have absolutely no fucking idea?" Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. "Not the slightest." For a second nobody spoke. Then Nadia collapsed into laughter. "Oh, MY GOD!" Brenda slapped the table. Iris buried her face against Brenda's shoulder. Kiro began laughing. Panam shook her head. Shammy's silver-white halo rose spectacularly. Mai stared at Elisa. Then grinned. "And tomorrow he'll report for duty." Elisa nodded. "Yes." "And look you in the eye." "Yes." "And discuss security arrangements." "Yes." Mai burst out laughing. "Oh, you're fucked." Elisa smiled. "Darling, that's rather the point of the entire profession." The table erupted. Ace was laughing too hard to speak. Brenda had tears running down her cheeks. Nadia was leaning against Elisa, barely able to breathe. Kiro shook her head. Then finally managed: "That's a spectacular conflict of interest." Elisa looked at her. "Professionally, Bea has no corporate authority over him." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Elisa does." "Yes." Mai grinned. "And does he know?" Elisa smiled. "Obviously not." Brenda looked delighted. "Beautiful." Then Elisa leaned forward. Her expression became serious enough to quiet them. "One thing, though." Everyone looked at her. "He does not know. And that stays that way." Ace nodded immediately. "Of course." Mai smiled. "Obviously." Kiro nodded. "No identity leaks." Brenda's expression softened. "Understood." Nadia reached for Elisa's hand. "Absolutely." Elisa looked around. Then smiled. "Thank you." A moment passed. Then Ace leaned forward again. "But you did enjoy the bookings?" Elisa grinned. "Immensely." "And he's good?" Elisa took a slow drink. Set down the cup. Then smiled. "Excellent." Mai groaned. "Oh, that fucking woman." Nadia looked toward the table. Then suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Hang on." Ace turned. "What?" Nadia pointed at her. "You all knew about the security manager?" Mai smiled. "Yes." "And nobody thought to mention this while I was trying to work out whether I should book Bea?" Elisa glanced at her. Nadia looked back. Then laughed. "All right. I know. Different secret." Elisa smiled. "Exactly." Nadia shook her head. "How many fucking secrets does this family have?" Silence. Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked at Shammy. Shammy looked at Panam. Panam raised an eyebrow. Kiro became interested in her coffee. Brenda smiled. Iris looked toward the ceiling. Elisa slowly took another sip. Nadia stared around the table. Then pointed at them all. "OH, YOU ABSOLUTE BASTARDS." Ace burst out laughing. "Welcome to Night City!" Nobody mentioned Birgitta's real identity. Not because anybody was carefully avoiding a subject they understood. Most of the women at the table knew Birgitta only as the exceptionally successful premium joytoy who'd worked alongside them. Exactly as Reyes intended. Shammy knew more. She had no intention of sharing it. Some secrets were simply not hers to tell. And, for once, the group had enough other material to keep itself entertained until considerably later than breakfast. Panam finally raised her hands. "All right." Ace looked up. "Yes, Madame?" Panam smiled. "I think everybody's had enough." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Food?" "Teasing." Silence. Then the entire table began laughing. Panam sighed. "Fine." Mai leaned forward. "Absolutely fucking not." Panam turned. "Oh?" Mai smiled. "Nobody's asked about you yet." Panam stared. "Three hundred million?" "Covered." "The breakfast?" "Covered." "The stolen catchphrase?" "Very much covered." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Then what?" Mai looked at her. Then smiled. "Why?" Panam blinked. "Why what?" "Why did you order all this?" She gestured toward the extraordinary spread. "The food. The delivery. Enough coffee to refuel Watson." Panam looked around. The laughter quieted. Not completely. But enough. Panam considered. Then shrugged. "Because I wanted to." Ace smiled. Mai waited. Panam looked at the table. At her friends. At the people she'd spent the weekend working beside. At the colorful hair. The sleepy faces. The thoroughly inappropriate humor. Then she smiled. "Because everybody worked hard." Nobody interrupted. "Because everybody had a good time." She glanced toward Nadia. "Because somebody discovered something new." Nadia smiled. Panam looked toward Kiro. "Somebody else found out she's damn good at this." Kiro's expression warmed. Then toward Iris and Brenda. "Somebody managed to turn professional cooperation into an art form." Brenda laughed softly. Iris kissed her cheek. Panam looked at Elisa. "And somebody apparently discovered the world's most inconvenient returning customer." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Panam grinned. "Love you too." Then she looked at Ace. "Somebody had the time of her life for absolutely no money." Ace raised her glass. "FUCKING RIGHT!" Panam laughed. And finally she looked at Mai and Shammy. The two women were smiling. Panam smiled back. "I just wanted us to sit down together and enjoy something." A pause. Then she gestured at the food. "And I may have gone a little overboard." Mai stared. Then burst out laughing. "A LITTLE?" Panam grinned. "Fine. A lot." Nadia leaned closer. Kissed Panam. Not quickly. Not as an interruption. Just because she loved her. Panam answered warmly. Then Shammy approached from the other side. Caught Panam's hand. Kissed her. Ace smiled. Mai looked at them. Then shook her head affectionately. "You're an absolute menace, Panam." Panam laughed. "I've been told." Mai leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Panam's expression softened. "You're welcome." Kiro reached across the table and squeezed her hand. Iris smiled. Brenda nodded. Elisa lifted her cup. "To Panam." Ace raised hers immediately. "TO MADAME!" Shammy smiled. "To our completely unreasonable, wonderful Panam." Nadia leaned against her. "To the woman who apparently believes love should be served in industrial quantities." Panam laughed. "Oh, you little shit." Nadia kissed her again. "Love you." Panam smiled. "Love you too." They drank. Coffee. Juice. Water. Whatever remained within reach. For a moment nobody said anything outrageous. Then Brenda looked at the remaining food. "Seriously, though." Mai turned. "What?" "What the fuck are we going to do with all this?" Kiro considered. "Refrigeration." Iris nodded. "Portioning." Elisa added: "Distribution." Ace grinned. "Competitive eating." Mai stared. "No." Shammy raised a hand. "I vote we take some to the studio." Nadia smiled. "Excellent." Brenda nodded. "We can take a few things home." Iris looked at her. "Brenda." "What?" "We're going to the same home." "I know." Iris smiled. "Then why are you looking at me like you're negotiating custody of the pastries?" Brenda grinned. "Because somebody has to protect them from you." Iris burst out laughing. Then kissed her. "Married life." Brenda smiled. "Terrible, isn't it?" "Absolutely." Nadia rested comfortably beside Elisa. Panam was talking with Mai. Shammy was trying to convince Ace that six croissants constituted a reasonable personal limit. Kiro was apparently calculating how much food could fit into the available refrigerators. And Brenda had begun arguing with Iris about which desserts they were taking home. Elisa glanced at Nadia. "Happy?" Nadia nodded. "Very." Elisa smiled. "Good." A pause. Then Nadia looked around the table. "You know..." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nadia smiled. "I think this is the first family breakfast I've attended where everybody has managed to insult everybody else and somehow made them feel more loved." Elisa laughed softly. "Yes." "Is that normal?" Elisa looked around. Considered. Then nodded. "For us?" Nadia smiled. "Yes?" "Extremely." Nadia laughed. "I like it." Elisa touched her hand. "So do I." Ace suddenly stood. Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Ace looked around. "ONE LAST THING!" Brenda groaned. "No." Iris laughed. Kiro lowered her cup. Panam looked toward the ceiling. Shammy's halo began rising. Elisa smiled. Nadia leaned forward eagerly. Ace raised her coffee. "Nobody gets away clean." Mai looked at her. Then grinned. "Not even you, darling." Ace smiled. "Especially not me." Brenda raised her glass. "Now that's a family motto." Kiro considered. "Technically more accurate than most corporate mission statements." Elisa laughed. Panam shook her head. "Oh, you're all fucking impossible." Shammy stood. Caught Ace around the waist. Then drew Mai into the embrace. "Love you both." Ace kissed her. "Love you." Mai kissed her too. "Always." Panam watched them with a smile. Then looked at Nadia. Nadia smiled back. And Elisa, who had just survived the most comprehensive public examination of her private life in recent memory, raised her coffee toward the room. "To the most spectacular collection of degenerates I've ever had the misfortune of loving." Brenda lifted her glass. "Fuck yes." Iris smiled. "To family." Kiro nodded. "To exceptionally questionable judgment." Mai grinned. "To excellent company." Shammy laughed. "To all of us." Panam raised her cup. "To my people." Nadia looked around the table. At Ace. Mai. Shammy. Kiro. Iris. Brenda. Elisa. Panam. Then smiled. "To finding a home in the most ridiculous fucking place imaginable." They drank. They laughed. And somewhere between the coffee, the ice cream, the stolen pastries and the outrageous accusations, Monday morning became one of those memories nobody would ever quite manage to explain to an outsider. Which was probably just as well. A few minutes later, Elisa checked her agent. Her expression changed. Not alarm. Recognition of an appointment. She glanced at the time. Then stood. "Well." Ace looked up. "Oh?" Elisa smiled. "Some of us have actual responsibilities." Brenda grinned. "Shocking." Elisa looked at her. "Yes, apparently." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Security-related?" Elisa smiled. "Among other things." Ace's expression became positively radiant. Elisa pointed at her. "Not. One. Fucking. Word." Ace raised both hands. "Professional discretion." Mai began laughing. Elisa shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Then she looked at Nadia. "Come on, gorgeous. Walk with me?" Nadia smiled. "Of course." They headed toward the hallway together. Behind them, Ace waited until Elisa was almost out of sight. Then whispered: "Extremely competent." Elisa didn't even turn. "I FUCKING HEARD THAT!" The safehouse exploded into laughter. And Madame Panam, looking around at the people she loved and the mountain of breakfast still waiting to be eaten, decided that ordering too much food had been an absolutely brilliant idea. --- ## Chapter 31 — Reyes Returns Reyes had a problem. Not a serious problem. Not even a particularly inconvenient one. But a problem nevertheless. She was in an excellent mood. And she was finding it surprisingly difficult to stop smiling. She regarded herself in the mirror. Red hair. Her own face. Her own eyes. Comfortable clothes, replaced now by her familiar working equipment. Everything exactly where it belonged. Except the smile. "Fuck." She tried again. Neutral expression. Professional composure. The woman who could enter a room and identify six potential threats before anybody else noticed the seventh. Much better. Then she remembered Mandi asking Birgitta whether her first weekend at Lizzie's had been profitable. And the smile came straight back. "Oh, for fuck's sake." She laughed. Alone. In a secure rental container. At ten thirty on Monday morning. Reyes had been many things in her life. An exceptionally competent security specialist. A woman who could make very dangerous people reconsider their professional ambitions. A friend. A lover. Occasionally a thoroughly unreasonable pain in the ass. But until recently, she'd never expected to become somebody who sat alone laughing at memories of herself working as a premium joytoy. And yet. Here she was. Birgitta's equipment was safely stored. The face-mesh had been cleaned. The contacts secured. The wardrobe inspected. Lena's ChromeLock V2 treatment had released exactly as intended. The copper-grey was gone. Reyes's familiar red had returned. The temporary change to her voice was still fading, but it was close enough to her usual register that only somebody unusually familiar with her voice might notice a difference. She'd left herself ample time before resuming public duties. There was no reason to hurry the process. She checked the equipment case once more. Then closed it. Locked it. And smiled. "See you again, gorgeous." The words sounded just a little too much like Birgitta. Reyes stared at the case. Then shook her head. "Jesus Christ." She was definitely going to have to stop doing that. Eventually. Probably. Her agent chimed. Elisa: Good morning. Still available for the afternoon handoff? Reyes smiled. Reyes: Confirmed. Neutral site, usual protocol. Elisa: Excellent. A pause. Then: Elisa: And how was your weekend? Reyes stared at the message. Oh. That was funny. Not because Elisa knew. She didn't. Elisa knew Reyes had taken private time. She did not know that the woman responsible for handling some of her more discreet security arrangements had spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday working at Lizzie's as Birgitta. And Reyes intended to keep it that way. Reyes: Productive. Elisa replied almost immediately. Elisa: That sounds ominous. Reyes grinned. Reyes: How was yours? There was a considerably longer pause. Then: Elisa: Also productive. Reyes began laughing. "Oh, you fucking woman." She knew something about Elisa's weekend. Quite a lot, actually. Including the extraordinary coincidence involving her security manager and Bea. Elisa had told her about that earlier. Which meant Reyes was currently carrying two entirely separate pieces of delightful information. Elisa didn't know about Birgitta. And her security manager didn't know about Bea. The difference was that Reyes had no intention of doing anything with either secret. Apart from enjoying the comedy privately. That seemed entirely reasonable. At the safehouse, Elisa was preparing to leave. Not moving out. Not ending her association with the household. Simply returning to the professional obligations she'd cheerfully neglected during the working weekend. She was standing near the dining table, checking her schedule. The table was still covered with food. Not as much as before. But enough. Brenda had reclaimed part of the surface for her equipment. Mai had negotiated a temporary boundary between breakfast and electronics. It was not a stable arrangement. Ace had already crossed it twice. Elisa watched Brenda move a diagnostic module away from a plate of pastries. "Careful." Brenda looked up. "What?" "You've put that beside the syrup." Brenda stared. Then looked down. "Oh, fuck." Iris burst out laughing. Ace grinned. "Would that improve the circuitry?" Brenda pointed at her. "Don't." Kiro examined the module. "Depends on whether it's intended to conduct electricity or breakfast." Mai covered her eyes. "Oh, Jesus." Elisa smiled. Then looked at the time. She really did need to leave. Eventually. Panam approached carrying coffee. "Working already?" Elisa smiled. "Unfortunately." Panam offered the cup. Elisa accepted it. "Thank you." Panam kissed her cheek. "You're welcome, gorgeous." Elisa took a drink. Then sighed. "God, that's good." "Planning to survive the afternoon?" "I intend to." Panam grinned. "Ambitious." Elisa looked toward the table. Ace was attempting to explain to Brenda that moving her project had actually improved access to the food. Brenda disagreed. Loudly. Iris appeared to be enjoying the disagreement. Kiro was helping Mai move the remaining dishes into storage. Shammy, silver-white hair glowing in the morning light, had somehow acquired another chocolate mousse. Nadia was discussing something about light-reactive surfaces. Nobody appeared to be listening. Except Shammy. Who was nodding with the serious expression of an artist who had just discovered an entirely new way to make something expensive and impossible. Elisa smiled. "Do you know something?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I'm going to miss this." Panam looked around. Then laughed. "Sweetheart, you'll be back." "I know." "And the chaos isn't going anywhere." Elisa considered. "Also true." Panam kissed her again. "Go do your important executive things." Elisa grinned. "How inspiring." "I'm a very supportive friend." "Obviously." Ace intercepted Elisa near the stairway. Naturally. "Leaving?" "Yes." Ace smiled. "Security?" Elisa stopped. Slowly turned. "Ace." Ace raised both hands. "Professional question." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Mai appeared behind Ace. Caught her around the waist. "Darling." Ace smiled. "Yes?" "Don't make Elisa late." Ace considered. Then sighed. "Fine." Elisa smiled. "Thank you, Mai." Mai leaned closer. Kissed Elisa's cheek. "Have a good afternoon." Elisa's expression warmed. "You too." Ace kissed her other cheek. Then grinned. "And give my regards to your exceptionally competent—" Elisa pointed at her. "NOT ONE FUCKING WORD." Ace burst out laughing. Mai dragged her away. Gently. Affectionately. But decisively. Elisa shook her head. "Absolute fucking children." Then she checked her agent. And headed downstairs. The handoff location was deliberately ordinary. A private vehicle-transfer facility in a commercial district. Secure enough for the work. Unremarkable enough that nobody would pay particular attention to the people using it. Most importantly, it had no identifiable connection to the Watson safehouse. That separation mattered. Elisa's security manager knew a great deal about her professional life. He knew her official residences. Her corporate appointments. Her authorized movements. Her security requirements. He did not know the safehouse's address. He did not know how she traveled there. And he had never been given any reason to suspect that her private weekends involved an upper-floor sanctuary in Watson full of flamboyantly dressed women with exceptionally questionable senses of humor. Elisa intended to maintain that arrangement. Her private transport approached through the designated access route. Reyes was waiting. Red hair. Professional clothing. Familiar expression. And the slightly amused eyes of somebody who'd apparently had a very good weekend. Elisa stepped out. "Reyes." Reyes smiled. "Elisa." They embraced. Warmly. Briefly. Then Reyes stepped back. "Good weekend?" Elisa studied her. "Very." Reyes nodded. "Thought so." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "What?" "Nothing." Elisa stared. "Reyes." "Yes?" "Why are you smiling?" Reyes considered. Then shrugged. "Had a good weekend myself." Elisa looked interested. "Oh?" Reyes nodded. "Very good." Elisa smiled. "Excellent." And, because she was Elisa, she added: "Anyone interesting?" Reyes paused. Then smiled slowly. "Several." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you bitch." Reyes shrugged. "Professional discretion." Elisa stared. Then began laughing harder. "God, I love you." Reyes grinned. "Love you too." They moved toward the designated waiting area. Reyes had already checked it. Access control. Surveillance. Approach routes. Vehicle arrangements. Everything was ready. Elisa regarded her. "Back to work?" Reyes nodded. "Apparently." "Reluctantly?" Reyes considered. Then smiled. "Not entirely." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I like my work." "I know." "I also like not working." Elisa laughed. "Fair." Reyes glanced toward her. "And you?" Elisa considered. "I like having something to do." "Yes." "And I like not having to do it constantly." "Also yes." Elisa smiled. "Apparently we've become frighteningly sensible." Reyes laughed. "Speak for yourself." The security manager arrived precisely on schedule. Of course he did. A discreet vehicle. Proper authorization. Two support personnel who remained with the vehicle. And the man himself. Professional clothing. Professional posture. Professional expression. Elisa looked at him. And felt an immediate, deeply inconvenient desire to laugh. Oh, fuck. There he was. The man who'd spent Sunday evening kissing Bea. The man who had paid twenty-five thousand eddies for the pleasure of her company. The man who had looked at Bea afterward and asked whether she might consider seeing him again. And now he was approaching Elisa. His employer. With absolutely no fucking idea. Elisa took one quiet breath. Straightened. And became the composed executive he expected. Reyes noticed the transformation. Naturally. She also noticed the tiny movement at the corner of Elisa's mouth. Oh, this is going to be entertaining. "Good afternoon, ma'am." Elisa nodded. "Good afternoon." The manager turned toward Reyes. "Reyes." "Good afternoon." They shook hands. No unusual familiarity. No unnecessary conversation. He had worked with Reyes before. He knew her competence. Respected her judgment. And understood that she was trusted with parts of Elisa's life that remained outside ordinary corporate security arrangements. He did not need details about those parts. That was how the system worked. "Everything ready?" he asked. Reyes nodded. "Yes." She presented the transfer authorization. He verified it. Compared the encrypted itinerary. Checked the designated vehicle. Confirmed the current security status. All perfectly routine. Elisa watched him. The same measured expression. The same concentration. The same automatic attention to detail. She remembered Bea's private suite. His laughter. His surprising warmth. Then returned her attention to the present. Professional, Elisa. For fuck's sake. "Any changes to the afternoon schedule?" Reyes asked. The manager nodded. "One meeting moved forward." "Location?" He provided it. "Security?" "Confirmed." "Additional personnel?" "Not required." Reyes considered. "Good." He looked toward Elisa. "We've adjusted the route accordingly, ma'am." Elisa nodded. "Thank you." "You're welcome." A pause. Then he added: "I hope your weekend was pleasant." Elisa nearly laughed. Not visibly. But close. Reyes looked at her. One tiny glance. That was all. Elisa smiled. "Very pleasant, thank you." The manager nodded. "Good." Then, politely: "Mine was as well." Reyes looked down at her agent. Elisa maintained her expression. The universe was apparently determined to make her earn every eddie of her executive salary. "Excellent," she said. "Glad to hear it." The manager continued. "We'll need to review one outstanding personnel matter this afternoon." Elisa nodded. "Of course." "And the revised access protocols." "Yes." "And the additional security assessment you requested last week." Elisa smiled. "Good." He consulted his agent. "The report is ready." "Excellent." Reyes watched the exchange. Two competent professionals. Entirely ordinary. Nothing remotely suspicious. Except that one of them had spent part of Sunday night intimately acquainted with the other's very convincing professional cover. And the other had absolutely no idea. Reyes had encountered complicated security arrangements before. This was not one of them. The security was straightforward. The comedy was extraordinary. The transfer proceeded. Reyes confirmed the boundary of her responsibility. The manager accepted the handoff. The support team acknowledged. Everything recorded through the appropriate channels. No reference to the safehouse. No private coordinates. No unnecessary questions. Exactly as intended. Finally, the manager looked toward Elisa. "Ready, ma'am?" Elisa nodded. "Yes." He opened the vehicle door. She approached. Then paused. Turned toward Reyes. "Thank you." Reyes smiled. "Always." Elisa embraced her. A little longer this time. Reyes returned it. Then leaned close enough to speak privately. "Try not to laugh." Elisa froze. Reyes stepped back. Perfectly composed. Elisa stared at her. For one dangerous second, the entire situation threatened to become catastrophic. Then Elisa recovered. Smiled. And said: "You're a fucking menace." Reyes grinned. "Professionally." The manager stood beside the open door. Too far away to hear the exchange. He saw only the familiar affection between two women who had known and trusted one another for years. Nothing more. Elisa stepped into the vehicle. The door closed. And the professional part of her day began. Reyes watched the vehicle depart. The transfer facility returned to its ordinary rhythm. Staff moved between vehicles. Security systems continued their quiet work. Nobody paid her particular attention. Good. She checked the final acknowledgment. Everything correct. Then she began walking toward her own transport. Her agent chimed. Elisa: You absolute bitch. Reyes stopped. Smiled. Reyes: What? Elisa: You know exactly what. Reyes laughed softly. Reyes: He seems very competent. The reply arrived almost immediately. Elisa: REYES. Reyes grinned. Reyes: Professionally, of course. A pause. Then: Elisa: I am going to murder you. Reyes considered. Reyes: Security implications would be considerable. Elisa sent back a string of profanity impressive enough to make Reyes laugh aloud. Several people glanced toward her. Reyes cleared her throat. Resumed walking. Professional composure. Mostly. Inside the departing vehicle, Elisa was having an exceptionally difficult afternoon. Not because of the actual work. The work was fine. Her schedule was reasonable. Her manager was competent. Everything was functioning as intended. The problem was the persistent desire to start laughing at completely inappropriate moments. "Ma'am?" Elisa looked up. "Yes?" The manager regarded her. "Everything all right?" "Perfectly." He nodded. "Good." Then continued discussing the afternoon's security arrangements. Elisa listened. Asked questions. Made decisions. All with her usual precision. But occasionally her attention would settle on him. And she'd remember Bea. The lounge. The private suite. The very pleasant Sunday evening. Then she'd have to remind herself that smiling at him for no apparent reason was probably not an excellent professional habit. Eventually he paused. "Ma'am?" "Yes?" "You seem unusually cheerful." Elisa froze. Oh, fuck. Then smiled. "Do I?" He nodded. "Yes." She considered. Then shrugged. "I had an excellent weekend." His expression warmed. "I'm glad." Elisa looked at him. Then returned her attention to her agent. "So am I." And the conversation continued. Meanwhile, Reyes had returned to her own vehicle. She sat for a moment. Checked her messages. Reviewed her remaining responsibilities. Everything looked ordinary. Then she thought about Elisa. And the manager. And the remarkable coincidence that had apparently become a recurring feature of their lives. She smiled. The whole thing was hilarious. But it also mattered that it remained private. Elisa's professional position was real. The manager's responsibilities were real. And Bea's professional identity deserved the same protection as anybody else's cover. Reyes understood that better than most. Particularly after her own weekend. She looked toward the rear of the vehicle. Her equipment was stored securely. No trace of Birgitta. No copper-grey hair. No light-brown eyes. No alternate credentials. No evidence of the joyful, shameless professional persona she'd spent three nights inhabiting. Just Reyes. Doing her job. And enjoying the knowledge that she had pulled off something rather extraordinary. Her agent chimed again. This time the message was from Sera. Sera: Back to ordinary life? Reyes smiled. Reyes: More or less. Sera: How's the voice? Reyes looked toward the mirror. Then laughed softly. Reyes: Improving. Sera: Good. A pause. Sera: Successful weekend? Reyes considered. Then typed: Reyes: Exceptionally. The reply came quickly. Sera: Thought so. Reyes smiled. Then another message. Sera: Your secret is safe. For a moment Reyes simply looked at the words. Then her expression softened. Reyes: I know. A pause. Then she added: Reyes: Thank you. Sera: Always. Reyes set the agent aside. And smiled. Not because she'd fooled everybody. Although that had been entertaining. But because somebody had recognized her and still allowed the secret to remain hers. That mattered. More than she'd expected. Back at the safehouse, Monday was proceeding with considerably less dignity. Brenda had finally reclaimed the dining table. Mostly. Mai had managed to transfer the remaining food into every available storage space. Ace had discovered that there was still an unopened box of pastries. Shammy was sketching something. Nadia was watching her. And Kiro had somehow become involved in an argument about whether the studio's next installation required a dedicated network segment. The answer was yes. According to Kiro. Absolutely not. According to Nadia. Shammy looked between them. Then smiled. "I think I have an idea." Kiro closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Nadia brightened. "Oh?" Shammy grinned. "What if the installation reacts to the visitors?" Kiro considered. "How?" Shammy smiled. "That's what we need you for." Kiro sighed. "Of course." Ace appeared beside them. Holding a pastry. "Are we building something dangerous?" Mai called from the kitchen: "NO!" Ace looked offended. "I was just asking!" Brenda didn't look up from her equipment. "That's what worries us." At the corporate end of the city, Elisa's afternoon continued. Meetings. Decisions. Security discussions. Nothing remotely unusual. Her manager performed exactly as she expected. Professionally. Competently. Without the slightest indication that he associated his employer with a certain ice-blue-haired woman at Lizzie's. The cover held. Perfectly. At one point he handed her a report. Their fingers briefly touched. A completely ordinary professional exchange. Elisa accepted the document. Read it. Then nodded. "Excellent work." He smiled. "Thank you, ma'am." Elisa returned the smile. And managed, somehow, not to laugh. You have no fucking idea, she thought. Absolutely none. A little later, Reyes finished reviewing the handoff records. Everything correct. She closed the file. Then checked one final message. Elisa: For the record, I behaved impeccably. Reyes grinned. Reyes: I'm very proud of you. Elisa: Fuck you. Reyes burst out laughing. Then typed: Reyes: Love you too. She put the agent away. And finally allowed herself a moment of quiet satisfaction. Elisa's secret remained safe. Birgitta's secret remained safe. The manager remained entirely unaware of either. And the world continued functioning exactly as it was supposed to. Reyes considered. Then smiled slowly. Not bad for a Monday.## Chapter 31 — Reyes Returns Reyes had a problem. Not a serious problem. Not even a particularly inconvenient one. But a problem nevertheless. She was in an excellent mood. And she was finding it surprisingly difficult to stop smiling. She regarded herself in the mirror. Red hair. Her own face. Her own eyes. Comfortable clothes, replaced now by her familiar working equipment. Everything exactly where it belonged. Except the smile. "Fuck." She tried again. Neutral expression. Professional composure. The woman who could enter a room and identify six potential threats before anybody else noticed the seventh. Much better. Then she remembered Mandi asking Birgitta whether her first weekend at Lizzie's had been profitable. And the smile came straight back. "Oh, for fuck's sake." She laughed. Alone. In a secure rental container. At ten thirty on Monday morning. Reyes had been many things in her life. An exceptionally competent security specialist. A woman who could make very dangerous people reconsider their professional ambitions. A friend. A lover. Occasionally a thoroughly unreasonable pain in the ass. But until recently, she'd never expected to become somebody who sat alone laughing at memories of herself working as a premium joytoy. And yet. Here she was. Birgitta's equipment was safely stored. The face-mesh had been cleaned. The contacts secured. The wardrobe inspected. Lena's ChromeLock V2 treatment had released exactly as intended. The copper-grey was gone. Reyes's familiar red had returned. The temporary change to her voice was still fading, but it was close enough to her usual register that only somebody unusually familiar with her voice might notice a difference. She'd left herself ample time before resuming public duties. There was no reason to hurry the process. She checked the equipment case once more. Then closed it. Locked it. And smiled. "See you again, gorgeous." The words sounded just a little too much like Birgitta. Reyes stared at the case. Then shook her head. "Jesus Christ." She was definitely going to have to stop doing that. Eventually. Probably. Her agent chimed. Elisa: Good morning. Still available for the afternoon handoff? Reyes smiled. Reyes: Confirmed. Neutral site, usual protocol. Elisa: Excellent. A pause. Then: Elisa: And how was your weekend? Reyes stared at the message. Oh. That was funny. Not because Elisa knew. She didn't. Elisa knew Reyes had taken private time. She did not know that the woman responsible for handling some of her more discreet security arrangements had spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday working at Lizzie's as Birgitta. And Reyes intended to keep it that way. Reyes: Productive. Elisa replied almost immediately. Elisa: That sounds ominous. Reyes grinned. Reyes: How was yours? There was a considerably longer pause. Then: Elisa: Also productive. Reyes began laughing. "Oh, you fucking woman." She knew something about Elisa's weekend. Quite a lot, actually. Including the extraordinary coincidence involving her security manager and Bea. Elisa had told her about that earlier. Which meant Reyes was currently carrying two entirely separate pieces of delightful information. Elisa didn't know about Birgitta. And her security manager didn't know about Bea. The difference was that Reyes had no intention of doing anything with either secret. Apart from enjoying the comedy privately. That seemed entirely reasonable. At the safehouse, Elisa was preparing to leave. Not moving out. Not ending her association with the household. Simply returning to the professional obligations she'd cheerfully neglected during the working weekend. She was standing near the dining table, checking her schedule. The table was still covered with food. Not as much as before. But enough. Brenda had reclaimed part of the surface for her equipment. Mai had negotiated a temporary boundary between breakfast and electronics. It was not a stable arrangement. Ace had already crossed it twice. Elisa watched Brenda move a diagnostic module away from a plate of pastries. "Careful." Brenda looked up. "What?" "You've put that beside the syrup." Brenda stared. Then looked down. "Oh, fuck." Iris burst out laughing. Ace grinned. "Would that improve the circuitry?" Brenda pointed at her. "Don't." Kiro examined the module. "Depends on whether it's intended to conduct electricity or breakfast." Mai covered her eyes. "Oh, Jesus." Elisa smiled. Then looked at the time. She really did need to leave. Eventually. Panam approached carrying coffee. "Working already?" Elisa smiled. "Unfortunately." Panam offered the cup. Elisa accepted it. "Thank you." Panam kissed her cheek. "You're welcome, gorgeous." Elisa took a drink. Then sighed. "God, that's good." "Planning to survive the afternoon?" "I intend to." Panam grinned. "Ambitious." Elisa looked toward the table. Ace was attempting to explain to Brenda that moving her project had actually improved access to the food. Brenda disagreed. Loudly. Iris appeared to be enjoying the disagreement. Kiro was helping Mai move the remaining dishes into storage. Shammy, silver-white hair glowing in the morning light, had somehow acquired another chocolate mousse. Nadia was discussing something about light-reactive surfaces. Nobody appeared to be listening. Except Shammy. Who was nodding with the serious expression of an artist who had just discovered an entirely new way to make something expensive and impossible. Elisa smiled. "Do you know something?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I'm going to miss this." Panam looked around. Then laughed. "Sweetheart, you'll be back." "I know." "And the chaos isn't going anywhere." Elisa considered. "Also true." Panam kissed her again. "Go do your important executive things." Elisa grinned. "How inspiring." "I'm a very supportive friend." "Obviously." Ace intercepted Elisa near the stairway. Naturally. "Leaving?" "Yes." Ace smiled. "Security?" Elisa stopped. Slowly turned. "Ace." Ace raised both hands. "Professional question." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Mai appeared behind Ace. Caught her around the waist. "Darling." Ace smiled. "Yes?" "Don't make Elisa late." Ace considered. Then sighed. "Fine." Elisa smiled. "Thank you, Mai." Mai leaned closer. Kissed Elisa's cheek. "Have a good afternoon." Elisa's expression warmed. "You too." Ace kissed her other cheek. Then grinned. "And give my regards to your exceptionally competent—" Elisa pointed at her. "NOT ONE FUCKING WORD." Ace burst out laughing. Mai dragged her away. Gently. Affectionately. But decisively. Elisa shook her head. "Absolute fucking children." Then she checked her agent. And headed downstairs. The handoff location was deliberately ordinary. A private vehicle-transfer facility in a commercial district. Secure enough for the work. Unremarkable enough that nobody would pay particular attention to the people using it. Most importantly, it had no identifiable connection to the Watson safehouse. That separation mattered. Elisa's security manager knew a great deal about her professional life. He knew her official residences. Her corporate appointments. Her authorized movements. Her security requirements. He did not know the safehouse's address. He did not know how she traveled there. And he had never been given any reason to suspect that her private weekends involved an upper-floor sanctuary in Watson full of flamboyantly dressed women with exceptionally questionable senses of humor. Elisa intended to maintain that arrangement. Her private transport approached through the designated access route. Reyes was waiting. Red hair. Professional clothing. Familiar expression. And the slightly amused eyes of somebody who'd apparently had a very good weekend. Elisa stepped out. "Reyes." Reyes smiled. "Elisa." They embraced. Warmly. Briefly. Then Reyes stepped back. "Good weekend?" Elisa studied her. "Very." Reyes nodded. "Thought so." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "What?" "Nothing." Elisa stared. "Reyes." "Yes?" "Why are you smiling?" Reyes considered. Then shrugged. "Had a good weekend myself." Elisa looked interested. "Oh?" Reyes nodded. "Very good." Elisa smiled. "Excellent." And, because she was Elisa, she added: "Anyone interesting?" Reyes paused. Then smiled slowly. "Several." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you bitch." Reyes shrugged. "Professional discretion." Elisa stared. Then began laughing harder. "God, I love you." Reyes grinned. "Love you too." They moved toward the designated waiting area. Reyes had already checked it. Access control. Surveillance. Approach routes. Vehicle arrangements. Everything was ready. Elisa regarded her. "Back to work?" Reyes nodded. "Apparently." "Reluctantly?" Reyes considered. Then smiled. "Not entirely." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I like my work." "I know." "I also like not working." Elisa laughed. "Fair." Reyes glanced toward her. "And you?" Elisa considered. "I like having something to do." "Yes." "And I like not having to do it constantly." "Also yes." Elisa smiled. "Apparently we've become frighteningly sensible." Reyes laughed. "Speak for yourself." The security manager arrived precisely on schedule. Of course he did. A discreet vehicle. Proper authorization. Two support personnel who remained with the vehicle. And the man himself. Professional clothing. Professional posture. Professional expression. Elisa looked at him. And felt an immediate, deeply inconvenient desire to laugh. Oh, fuck. There he was. The man who'd spent Sunday evening kissing Bea. The man who had paid twenty-five thousand eddies for the pleasure of her company. The man who had looked at Bea afterward and asked whether she might consider seeing him again. And now he was approaching Elisa. His employer. With absolutely no fucking idea. Elisa took one quiet breath. Straightened. And became the composed executive he expected. Reyes noticed the transformation. Naturally. She also noticed the tiny movement at the corner of Elisa's mouth. Oh, this is going to be entertaining. "Good afternoon, ma'am." Elisa nodded. "Good afternoon." The manager turned toward Reyes. "Reyes." "Good afternoon." They shook hands. No unusual familiarity. No unnecessary conversation. He had worked with Reyes before. He knew her competence. Respected her judgment. And understood that she was trusted with parts of Elisa's life that remained outside ordinary corporate security arrangements. He did not need details about those parts. That was how the system worked. "Everything ready?" he asked. Reyes nodded. "Yes." She presented the transfer authorization. He verified it. Compared the encrypted itinerary. Checked the designated vehicle. Confirmed the current security status. All perfectly routine. Elisa watched him. The same measured expression. The same concentration. The same automatic attention to detail. She remembered Bea's private suite. His laughter. His surprising warmth. Then returned her attention to the present. Professional, Elisa. For fuck's sake. "Any changes to the afternoon schedule?" Reyes asked. The manager nodded. "One meeting moved forward." "Location?" He provided it. "Security?" "Confirmed." "Additional personnel?" "Not required." Reyes considered. "Good." He looked toward Elisa. "We've adjusted the route accordingly, ma'am." Elisa nodded. "Thank you." "You're welcome." A pause. Then he added: "I hope your weekend was pleasant." Elisa nearly laughed. Not visibly. But close. Reyes looked at her. One tiny glance. That was all. Elisa smiled. "Very pleasant, thank you." The manager nodded. "Good." Then, politely: "Mine was as well." Reyes looked down at her agent. Elisa maintained her expression. The universe was apparently determined to make her earn every eddie of her executive salary. "Excellent," she said. "Glad to hear it." The manager continued. "We'll need to review one outstanding personnel matter this afternoon." Elisa nodded. "Of course." "And the revised access protocols." "Yes." "And the additional security assessment you requested last week." Elisa smiled. "Good." He consulted his agent. "The report is ready." "Excellent." Reyes watched the exchange. Two competent professionals. Entirely ordinary. Nothing remotely suspicious. Except that one of them had spent part of Sunday night intimately acquainted with the other's very convincing professional cover. And the other had absolutely no idea. Reyes had encountered complicated security arrangements before. This was not one of them. The security was straightforward. The comedy was extraordinary. The transfer proceeded. Reyes confirmed the boundary of her responsibility. The manager accepted the handoff. The support team acknowledged. Everything recorded through the appropriate channels. No reference to the safehouse. No private coordinates. No unnecessary questions. Exactly as intended. Finally, the manager looked toward Elisa. "Ready, ma'am?" Elisa nodded. "Yes." He opened the vehicle door. She approached. Then paused. Turned toward Reyes. "Thank you." Reyes smiled. "Always." Elisa embraced her. A little longer this time. Reyes returned it. Then leaned close enough to speak privately. "Try not to laugh." Elisa froze. Reyes stepped back. Perfectly composed. Elisa stared at her. For one dangerous second, the entire situation threatened to become catastrophic. Then Elisa recovered. Smiled. And said: "You're a fucking menace." Reyes grinned. "Professionally." The manager stood beside the open door. Too far away to hear the exchange. He saw only the familiar affection between two women who had known and trusted one another for years. Nothing more. Elisa stepped into the vehicle. The door closed. And the professional part of her day began. Reyes watched the vehicle depart. The transfer facility returned to its ordinary rhythm. Staff moved between vehicles. Security systems continued their quiet work. Nobody paid her particular attention. Good. She checked the final acknowledgment. Everything correct. Then she began walking toward her own transport. Her agent chimed. Elisa: You absolute bitch. Reyes stopped. Smiled. Reyes: What? Elisa: You know exactly what. Reyes laughed softly. Reyes: He seems very competent. The reply arrived almost immediately. Elisa: REYES. Reyes grinned. Reyes: Professionally, of course. A pause. Then: Elisa: I am going to murder you. Reyes considered. Reyes: Security implications would be considerable. Elisa sent back a string of profanity impressive enough to make Reyes laugh aloud. Several people glanced toward her. Reyes cleared her throat. Resumed walking. Professional composure. Mostly. Inside the departing vehicle, Elisa was having an exceptionally difficult afternoon. Not because of the actual work. The work was fine. Her schedule was reasonable. Her manager was competent. Everything was functioning as intended. The problem was the persistent desire to start laughing at completely inappropriate moments. "Ma'am?" Elisa looked up. "Yes?" The manager regarded her. "Everything all right?" "Perfectly." He nodded. "Good." Then continued discussing the afternoon's security arrangements. Elisa listened. Asked questions. Made decisions. All with her usual precision. But occasionally her attention would settle on him. And she'd remember Bea. The lounge. The private suite. The very pleasant Sunday evening. Then she'd have to remind herself that smiling at him for no apparent reason was probably not an excellent professional habit. Eventually he paused. "Ma'am?" "Yes?" "You seem unusually cheerful." Elisa froze. Oh, fuck. Then smiled. "Do I?" He nodded. "Yes." She considered. Then shrugged. "I had an excellent weekend." His expression warmed. "I'm glad." Elisa looked at him. Then returned her attention to her agent. "So am I." And the conversation continued. Meanwhile, Reyes had returned to her own vehicle. She sat for a moment. Checked her messages. Reviewed her remaining responsibilities. Everything looked ordinary. Then she thought about Elisa. And the manager. And the remarkable coincidence that had apparently become a recurring feature of their lives. She smiled. The whole thing was hilarious. But it also mattered that it remained private. Elisa's professional position was real. The manager's responsibilities were real. And Bea's professional identity deserved the same protection as anybody else's cover. Reyes understood that better than most. Particularly after her own weekend. She looked toward the rear of the vehicle. Her equipment was stored securely. No trace of Birgitta. No copper-grey hair. No light-brown eyes. No alternate credentials. No evidence of the joyful, shameless professional persona she'd spent three nights inhabiting. Just Reyes. Doing her job. And enjoying the knowledge that she had pulled off something rather extraordinary. Her agent chimed again. This time the message was from Sera. Sera: Back to ordinary life? Reyes smiled. Reyes: More or less. Sera: How's the voice? Reyes looked toward the mirror. Then laughed softly. Reyes: Improving. Sera: Good. A pause. Sera: Successful weekend? Reyes considered. Then typed: Reyes: Exceptionally. The reply came quickly. Sera: Thought so. Reyes smiled. Then another message. Sera: Your secret is safe. For a moment Reyes simply looked at the words. Then her expression softened. Reyes: I know. A pause. Then she added: Reyes: Thank you. Sera: Always. Reyes set the agent aside. And smiled. Not because she'd fooled everybody. Although that had been entertaining. But because somebody had recognized her and still allowed the secret to remain hers. That mattered. More than she'd expected. Back at the safehouse, Monday was proceeding with considerably less dignity. Brenda had finally reclaimed the dining table. Mostly. Mai had managed to transfer the remaining food into every available storage space. Ace had discovered that there was still an unopened box of pastries. Shammy was sketching something. Nadia was watching her. And Kiro had somehow become involved in an argument about whether the studio's next installation required a dedicated network segment. The answer was yes. According to Kiro. Absolutely not. According to Nadia. Shammy looked between them. Then smiled. "I think I have an idea." Kiro closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Nadia brightened. "Oh?" Shammy grinned. "What if the installation reacts to the visitors?" Kiro considered. "How?" Shammy smiled. "That's what we need you for." Kiro sighed. "Of course." Ace appeared beside them. Holding a pastry. "Are we building something dangerous?" Mai called from the kitchen: "NO!" Ace looked offended. "I was just asking!" Brenda didn't look up from her equipment. "That's what worries us." At the corporate end of the city, Elisa's afternoon continued. Meetings. Decisions. Security discussions. Nothing remotely unusual. Her manager performed exactly as she expected. Professionally. Competently. Without the slightest indication that he associated his employer with a certain ice-blue-haired woman at Lizzie's. The cover held. Perfectly. At one point he handed her a report. Their fingers briefly touched. A completely ordinary professional exchange. Elisa accepted the document. Read it. Then nodded. "Excellent work." He smiled. "Thank you, ma'am." Elisa returned the smile. And managed, somehow, not to laugh. You have no fucking idea, she thought. Absolutely none. A little later, Reyes finished reviewing the handoff records. Everything correct. She closed the file. Then checked one final message. Elisa: For the record, I behaved impeccably. Reyes grinned. Reyes: I'm very proud of you. Elisa: Fuck you. Reyes burst out laughing. Then typed: Reyes: Love you too. She put the agent away. And finally allowed herself a moment of quiet satisfaction. Elisa's secret remained safe. Birgitta's secret remained safe. The manager remained entirely unaware of either. And the world continued functioning exactly as it was supposed to. Reyes considered. Then smiled slowly. Not bad for a Monday. --- ## Chapter 32 — Three in the Studio Nadia had a problem. It was approximately two meters tall, suspended from the ceiling, and absolutely refused to behave. She stood beneath it. Hands on her hips. Staring. The installation stared back. Metaphorically. Which was fortunate, because if the fucking thing had actually developed eyes, Nadia might have taken it personally. "You're an asshole," she informed it. The structure shifted slightly. Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Oh, don't you start." Behind her, somebody laughed. Nadia turned. Sera was standing in the doorway. Silver-white hair. A comfortable jacket. An expression of delighted amusement. "Talking to your artwork again?" Nadia sighed. "It's being difficult." Sera looked up at the suspended structure. "That one?" "Yes." "The one you said was finished?" "I never said finished." Sera raised an eyebrow. Nadia considered. "I may have said structurally complete." "Ah." "Which is not the same thing." "Of course." Nadia crossed her arms. Sera stepped closer. Studied the installation. Then smiled. "It's crooked." Nadia stared. "I KNOW IT'S FUCKING CROOKED!" Sera burst out laughing. Nadia caught her around the waist. Kissed her. Sera answered warmly. Then Nadia rested her forehead against hers. "Hello, gorgeous." Sera smiled. "Hello." "Missed you." "We saw each other this morning." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Your point?" Sera considered. Then kissed her again. "Withdrawn." Nadia grinned. "Excellent." They remained together for another moment. Then Sera looked toward the installation. "Seriously, what's wrong with it?" Nadia sighed. "The counterweight." "Wrong mass?" "No." "Wrong attachment?" "No." "Wrong material?" "Probably not." Sera tilted her head. "Then?" Nadia gestured helplessly. "It keeps settling three degrees away from where I want it." Sera studied the structure. Then walked around it. Once. Twice. She stopped. Looked at Nadia. Then smiled. "Oh." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Don't." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Don't what?" "Look like you've solved it in fourteen seconds." Sera's smile widened. Nadia closed her eyes. "Motherfucker." Sera pointed toward one of the suspension cables. "You're trying to make the structure balance around a fixed center." Nadia nodded. "Yes." "But the visual center isn't the physical center." Nadia looked up. Sera continued. "Your heavier elements are all on the same side." "Yes." "And you're compensating by pulling the opposite cable tighter." Nadia stared at the installation. Then slowly turned toward Sera. "Oh." Sera nodded. "Yes." Nadia looked up again. Then at the cable. Then back at Sera. "You absolute bitch." Sera laughed. "You're welcome." Nadia caught her face and kissed her. "God, I love you." Sera smiled against her mouth. "Love you too." Nadia released her. Then looked at the structure again. "That means I have to rebuild the upper assembly." Sera considered. "Possibly." Nadia groaned. "Fuck." "Or—" Nadia turned. Sera smiled. "—you could let it move." Silence. Nadia looked at her. Then toward the sculpture. Then back. Sera's silver-white hair lifted slightly. Nadia stared. "Oh, I hate you." Sera grinned. "Because I'm right?" "Because you're interesting." Sera burst out laughing. Panam arrived ten minutes later. She found both artists on the floor. Not kissing. Not fighting. Arguing about rotational movement. Which, Panam had discovered, was frequently indistinguishable from either. "...but if the movement is unrestricted, the entire visual relationship changes," Nadia insisted. Sera nodded. "Exactly." "That's not a solution!" "It's a different solution." "It's a different fucking artwork!" Sera smiled. "Possibly a better one." Nadia stared. Panam leaned against the doorway. "Should I come back when you've finished murdering each other?" Both women turned. Nadia's face lit up. "Panam!" Panam smiled. "Hello, beautiful." Nadia crossed the studio. Panam opened her arms. And caught her in a warm embrace. The kiss was immediate. Affectionate. And long enough to make Sera raise an eyebrow. When they separated, Panam touched Nadia's cheek. "Good evening." Nadia smiled. "Much better now." Panam kissed her forehead. "Glad to hear it." Sera approached. Panam opened her other arm. "Come here, trouble." Sera grinned. "Me?" "You." Sera stepped into the embrace. Panam kissed her. Then held both women close. For a moment there was no art. No professional discussion. No Lizzie's. Just three women thoroughly happy to be together. Then Panam glanced upward. "What the fuck is hanging from your ceiling?" Nadia closed her eyes. "Oh, here we go." Panam studied the sculpture. Then Nadia. Then Sera. "Is it supposed to be crooked?" Nadia groaned. "YES!" Sera burst out laughing. Panam raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you upset?" Nadia stared. Sera made a strangled noise. Panam looked between them. "What?" Nadia slowly covered her face. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Sera leaned against Panam. Laughing helplessly. Panam shook her head. "Artists." Nadia looked up. "Owner of a stable full of professional lunatics." Panam grinned. "At least my girls know which way is up." Sera pointed toward the sculpture. "That depends on whether you define up relative to gravity or composition." Panam closed her eyes. "Fuck both of you." Nadia burst out laughing. Eventually Panam produced dinner. Of course she did. Nadia stared at the containers. Then at Panam. "No." Panam looked offended. "What?" "More food?" "Dinner." "Panam." "What?" "After breakfast?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting people only eat once a day?" Sera started laughing. Nadia pointed at the containers. "How much?" "Enough for three." Nadia narrowed her eyes. "Your definition of three, or a normal person's?" Panam smiled. "Does it matter?" "YES!" Sera kissed Nadia's cheek. "Sweetheart, she's feeding us." Nadia turned. "She ordered enough breakfast for a fucking battalion!" Panam grinned. "And everybody ate." Nadia considered. Then sighed. "Unfortunately, that's true." Panam kissed her. "Come on. Dinner." The studio's upper living space was warm and comfortable. Nadia had been making changes since moving in. More books. More equipment. A few finished artworks. Several works in progress. One corner had accumulated enough electronic components that Kiro had sent a message suggesting Nadia either organize the collection or formally register it as an independent ecosystem. Nadia had replied with an anatomically improbable suggestion. Kiro had responded: Soft look. Sharp mouth. Proud of you. The exchange had amused Nadia enormously. Now she led her lovers upstairs. Panam unpacked dinner. Sera found plates. Nadia opened a bottle of something pleasant. They settled around the small dining table. Not the absurd banquet arrangement at the safehouse. Just enough room for three women who liked sitting close. Panam looked pleased. Nadia regarded the food. Then smiled. "All right." Panam raised an eyebrow. "All right?" "You win." "About?" "Dinner." Panam grinned. "I didn't realize we were competing." Nadia pointed at her. "You're always competing." Panam considered. "Only when I'm winning." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia shook her head. "Oh, you smug bitch." Panam leaned forward. Kissed her. "Love you too." For a while, they ate. Talked about the installation. The upcoming exhibition. Kiro's insistence that the studio needed a dedicated network segment if Nadia intended to let visitors influence the artwork. Panam listened. Then asked: "Why?" Nadia looked up. "Why what?" "Why does the network need to be separate?" Nadia smiled. "Security." Panam raised an eyebrow. "That I understand. Why does the artwork need a network at all?" Sera glanced toward Nadia. Nadia considered. "Because it might react to visitors." Panam nodded slowly. "How?" "Movement. Position. Maybe proximity." Panam looked toward the floor. Where the sculpture remained suspended. Crooked. Deliberately, according to somebody. Then she looked at Nadia. "So it watches people?" Nadia considered. "Not exactly." Sera smiled. "It responds." Panam nodded. "Without storing anything about them?" Nadia looked at her. Then at Sera. Then smiled slowly. "Oh." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nadia leaned back. "That's actually a good question." Panam looked offended. "Actually?" Sera burst out laughing. Nadia caught Panam's hand. Kissed it. "Sorry." Panam smiled. "Better." Nadia grew thoughtful. "If we build it so the responses are immediate but nothing personal is retained..." Sera's expression brightened. "...then visitors shape the work without leaving identifiable traces." Nadia looked at her. Then smiled. "Oh, I like that." Panam watched them. Two artists. One idea. And the unmistakable beginning of a discussion that could consume the entire evening. She took another bite. "You're welcome." They managed to finish dinner before the discussion became completely unmanageable. Barely. Afterward, Sera helped Nadia clear the table. Panam volunteered. Both artists refused. Panam crossed her arms. "Excuse me?" Nadia smiled. "You brought dinner." Sera nodded. "We can clean up." Panam regarded them. Then grinned. "Fair." She settled onto the sofa. Watched Nadia and Sera work together. It was a familiar pleasure. Different from watching Sera with Ace and Mai. Different from seeing Nadia among the wider family. Here, the two women moved around one another with the ease of artists who understood each other's habits. Nadia handed Sera something without asking. Sera moved aside before Nadia needed the space. Occasionally they touched. A hand at the waist. A kiss on the cheek. An affectionate nudge. And occasionally they argued. "That goes on the upper shelf," Nadia said. Sera looked at the container. "Why?" "Because it belongs there." "That's not a reason." "It's my kitchen." Sera considered. Then smiled. "Excellent reason." Panam laughed. "Jesus Christ." Nadia looked over her shoulder. "What?" Panam shook her head. "Nothing, beautiful." Sera turned. "You've got that look." Panam smiled. "What look?" "The one you get when we're being ridiculous." Panam considered. "That's rather often." Nadia grinned. "True." Panam opened her arms. "Come here, both of you." Neither required a second invitation. They settled together on the sofa. Panam in the middle. Nadia against one shoulder. Sera curled comfortably against the other. For a while nobody spoke. Nadia rested a hand over Panam's heart. Sera traced an idle pattern along her arm. Panam kissed Nadia's temple. Then Sera's forehead. The city glowed beyond the windows. The studio below was quiet. Even the crooked installation had finally stopped being argumentative. Nadia smiled. "This is nice." Panam looked down at her. "Nice?" Nadia laughed. "Wonderful." "Better." Sera lifted her head. "Extremely." Panam grinned. "Good." A moment passed. Then Nadia sighed. Panam raised an eyebrow. "Thinking?" Nadia laughed softly. "Yes." Sera groaned. "Oh, sweetheart." Nadia looked offended. "What?" Sera smiled. "You've been thinking since Thursday." "Wednesday, actually." Panam closed her eyes. "Jesus Christ." Nadia grinned. "Occupational hazard." Panam touched Nadia's cheek. "All right." Nadia looked up. "All right?" "Tell us." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "I've had an extraordinary weekend." Sera nodded. "We noticed." Nadia laughed. "Not just because of Bea." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Although Bea was..." She paused. Sera smiled. "Interesting?" Nadia shook her head. "That would be an insult." Panam grinned. "Excellent?" Nadia considered. "Very." Sera laughed softly. Nadia looked between them. "Actually, finding out she was Elisa was almost as interesting as the booking itself." Panam smiled. "Almost?" Nadia laughed. "All right. Different kind of interesting." Sera kissed her cheek. "Better." Nadia settled closer. "But the whole weekend made me think about something." Panam looked at her. "Professional work?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." For a while Panam simply listened. That was one of the things Nadia appreciated about her. Panam could be outrageous. Profane. Extraordinarily generous. Perfectly capable of stealing Mai's negotiation line and then using it to negotiate the licensing fee for stealing Mai's negotiation line. But when somebody she loved needed to think aloud, Panam could become remarkably patient. Nadia considered her words. "I liked being a customer." Sera nodded. "Yes." "And I liked seeing everybody work." Panam smiled. "Good." "But I don't think those are the same thing." "No," Panam said. Nadia looked up. "Exactly." Panam brushed her hair away from her face. "Watching somebody enjoy a job doesn't tell you how you'd feel doing it." Nadia nodded. "That's what I've been trying to understand." Sera smiled. "And?" Nadia laughed softly. "And I'm still curious." Panam regarded her. "About becoming a joytoy?" Nadia considered. Then nodded. "Possibly." Sera's expression softened. "All right." Nadia looked at her. "That's all?" Sera laughed. "What were you expecting?" "I don't know." "A speech?" "Possibly." Panam grinned. "From her?" Nadia smiled. "She's an artist. We do tend toward speeches." Sera looked offended. "Excuse me?" Nadia kissed her. "Love you." Sera laughed. "Love you too." Panam drew them both closer. "Sweetheart, being curious is fine." Nadia nodded. "I know." "And deciding you don't want to do it is fine." "Yes." "And deciding you might want to try is fine." Nadia smiled. "Right." Panam looked directly at her. "But if you ever do decide to work, I want it to be because you want the work." Nadia considered. "Not because everybody else enjoys it." "Exactly." "Not because I'm in love with you." Panam smiled. "Definitely not." "Or Sera." Sera nodded. "Absolutely." Nadia laughed softly. "Good." Panam rested her head against the sofa. "There's something else." Nadia looked interested. "What?" "I've had girls come to me because they liked the idea of being wanted." Nadia nodded. "Understandable." "Very." "And?" Panam considered. "Some enjoyed the work." Nadia waited. "Some discovered they liked the attention but not the professional arrangement." Nadia nodded slowly. "And others?" Panam shrugged. "Some simply decided it wasn't for them." Sera smiled. "And all of those are perfectly reasonable outcomes." Panam nodded. "Exactly." Nadia considered. Then looked at Panam. "Would you take me?" Panam became still. Not uncomfortable. Not surprised. Just attentive. "Into the Stable?" Nadia nodded. "If I decided I wanted to." Panam thought about the question. Then smiled. "I'd be willing to discuss it seriously." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "That's a very careful answer." "Yes." "Why?" Panam touched her cheek. "Because loving you doesn't automatically make you one of my pets." Nadia smiled. "I know." "And I wouldn't want you saying yes to something merely because you thought it would make me happy." Nadia's expression warmed. "Good." Panam continued. "I'd want to know what you're looking for. What kind of work interests you. What doesn't. What boundaries you'd want." Nadia nodded. "Right." "And whether the arrangement would actually suit you." Sera kissed Nadia's shoulder. Nadia looked between them. Then smiled. "That's fair." Panam laughed. "That's the job, sweetheart." Nadia settled against her again. Then lifted her head. "Can I ask something?" Panam grinned. "Apparently nothing in Night City can stop you." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia smiled. "Would you be jealous?" Panam considered. "Of customers?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Panam thought about it. Then smiled. "Not simply because you enjoyed yourself with them." Nadia nodded. "But?" Panam laughed softly. "You keep finding those." Nadia grinned. "Professional habit." Panam kissed her. Then continued. "I might worry if you were unhappy. Or exhausted. Or pretending you enjoyed something because you didn't want to disappoint anybody." Nadia considered. "Yes." "But if you came back smiling?" Panam smiled. "Sweetheart, we've already established I rather like that." Nadia laughed. "Saturday." "Saturday." Sera leaned closer. "And I liked it too." Nadia turned. "Really?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "Are we going to have this conversation every time you kiss somebody interesting?" Nadia burst out laughing. "Possibly." Sera sighed theatrically. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Then she kissed Nadia. Not a quick peck. A warm, affectionate kiss that made Nadia smile before it ended. Sera touched her face. "Listen to me." Nadia nodded. "Yes?" "I love you." Nadia's expression softened. "I love you too." "And I love Panam." Panam smiled. "Love you, beautiful." "And Ace and Mai." Nadia nodded. "Of course." Sera looked at her. "None of those loves makes the others smaller." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "No." Sera kissed her again. "So don't build imaginary competitions where there aren't any." Nadia laughed softly. "All right." Panam drew both women close. "Good." A comfortable silence followed. Then Nadia looked toward Sera. "Although I suspect Ace would happily turn anything into a competition." Sera closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Panam burst out laughing. "And then complain about earning zero eddies." Nadia collapsed against her. "OH, FUCK!" The laughter eventually faded. Nadia remained close to Panam. Sera rested her head against Nadia's shoulder. For a while there was nothing to discuss. Just the three of them. Comfortable. Affectionate. Happy. Then Panam looked toward the studio below. "Can I ask something?" Nadia smiled. "Of course." "What's going to happen to that thing?" Nadia followed her gaze. The suspended sculpture remained slightly off-center. Its angular elements casting strange shadows across the floor. She considered. Then smiled. "I think we're going to let it move." Sera raised her head. "Really?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Sera's expression brightened. "Oh." Panam glanced between them. "Is that good?" Sera laughed. "Very." Nadia smiled. "It means the piece won't have a single correct position." Panam considered. "And?" "It'll change." Sera nodded. "Depending on what's happening around it." Panam looked toward the sculpture. Then smiled. "That sounds interesting." Nadia turned toward her. "Really?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "Sweetheart, I may not be an artist, but I can appreciate something that doesn't need to stay exactly where somebody put it." Sera stared. Then began smiling. Nadia slowly turned toward her. Their eyes met. For a moment neither spoke. Then Sera whispered: "Oh, I like that." Nadia laughed. "Me too." Panam looked suspicious. "What?" Nadia caught her face. Kissed her. Then smiled. "You've just given us an idea." Panam groaned. "Oh, fuck." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia was first to leave the sofa. Not because she wanted to escape the embrace. Because a thought had arrived. And thoughts like this tended to become considerably less useful if she didn't give them somewhere to go. She crossed to the studio terminal. Opened a sketch. Changed one of the suspension points. Then another. Sera followed. Panam remained on the sofa. Watching. Within minutes, the two artists were arguing again. Not unhappily. Enthusiastically. Nadia wanted movement. Sera wanted response. Nadia wanted the sculpture to change position based on the people approaching it. Sera wanted the motion to remain unpredictable. Panam watched them. Then smiled. She'd spent three days surrounded by joytoys. Negotiations. Customers. Affection. And a considerable amount of very profitable chaos. Now she was sitting in a studio watching two women she loved argue about how to make a sculpture behave less sensibly. Somehow, it felt like exactly the same family. Eventually Nadia turned. "Panam?" Panam looked up. "Yes, beautiful?" "Would you come here?" Panam raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "We want to test something." Panam sighed. "Oh, Jesus." Sera smiled. "Please?" Panam considered. Then stood. "All right." She joined them beside the sculpture. Nadia directed her toward a marked point on the floor. "Stand there." Panam obeyed. Sera adjusted the control system. The sculpture shifted. A small movement. Almost imperceptible. Panam looked up. "That's it?" Nadia smiled. "Move closer." Panam stepped forward. The suspended elements changed position again. Light passed between them. Shadows moved across the floor. Panam watched. Then smiled slowly. "Oh." Nadia looked delighted. "Yes!" Sera grinned. "Again." Panam moved sideways. The sculpture turned. Not perfectly. Not predictably. But enough. Enough to suggest an entirely different way of building the installation. Nadia stared upward. Then whispered: "Fuck." Sera smiled. "Good fuck?" Nadia nodded. "Very good fuck." Panam burst out laughing. "Glad I could help." They tested the system for another twenty minutes. Not because it was finished. It very much wasn't. But the concept worked. Enough to justify further development. Enough to make Nadia almost embarrassingly happy. Finally Sera shut down the movement controls. The sculpture settled. Crooked. But now intentionally so. Nadia looked up. Then laughed. "That fucking thing." Panam approached. Caught her around the waist. Kissed her. "Happy?" Nadia nodded. "Very." "Good." Sera joined them. Nadia drew her close. Kissed her. Then looked between her two lovers. "Thank you." Panam raised an eyebrow. "For what?" Nadia gestured upward. "That." Sera smiled. "We just talked." Panam nodded. "And stood on the floor." Nadia laughed. "Exactly." She kissed Panam again. Then Sera. And for a moment the installation was forgotten. They returned upstairs later. The food was packed away. The lights were low. Night City glowed beyond the windows. Nadia settled between her lovers on the sofa. This time she wasn't thinking about structural tension. Or network segmentation. Or professional arrangements. She was simply happy. Panam ran a hand through her hair. Sera rested against her. Nadia turned and kissed Sera. Then Panam. Then smiled. "What?" Panam asked. Nadia shook her head. "I like this." Sera smiled. "Us?" Nadia nodded. "Yes." Panam kissed her cheek. "Good." A pause. Then Nadia laughed softly. "I'd like to keep it." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Darling, nobody's trying to take it away." Nadia grinned. "I know." Panam smiled. "Then what are you worrying about?" Nadia considered. Then shook her head. "Nothing tonight." Panam studied her. Then nodded. "Good." They stayed close. Talking occasionally. Kissing when they felt like it. Laughing at the memory of Panam's spectacularly unnecessary breakfast. At Mandi's zero-eddie adventure. At Mai's stolen catchphrase. At the extraordinary coincidence involving Elisa and her security manager. Nadia was still delighted by that one. "Can you imagine?" she asked. Panam grinned. "Unfortunately." Sera burst out laughing. Nadia shook her head. "He has absolutely no idea." "None," Sera agreed. "And Elisa has to look him in the eye at work." Panam laughed. "She'll manage." Nadia considered. Then smiled. "Probably." A pause. Then she added: "Although I would pay good money to watch her trying not to laugh." Sera closed her eyes. "Oh, you absolute menace." Nadia grinned. "Thirty thousand?" Panam burst out laughing. "Don't you fucking start." Eventually the conversation grew quieter. Sera rested comfortably against Nadia. Panam had an arm around both women. The city was still awake. It would be for hours. But inside the studio, there was no urgency. No booking schedule. No customers waiting. No decisions that needed to be made before morning. Nadia touched Panam's hand. Then Sera's. For a while she simply held them. She'd come to Night City with a life already full of art. And discovered something rather extraordinary. Not just new opportunities. Not merely recognition. A family. A home. People who wanted her there. People who loved her without expecting her to become an ornament in their lives. People who were perfectly willing to let her discover new things. Even when those things were surprising. Even when they complicated the world a little. Nadia smiled. She had a great deal to think about. But perhaps not tonight. Tonight she had Sera. And Panam. And a crooked sculpture downstairs that had finally become interesting for exactly the right reasons. She kissed Sera. Then Panam. And settled comfortably between them. After a while, Panam spoke. "Nadia?" Nadia looked up. "Yes?" "You don't have to decide anything tonight." Nadia smiled. "I know." Sera kissed her forehead. "Or tomorrow." "I know." Panam brushed her cheek. "Or next week." Nadia laughed softly. "You're both being suspiciously reasonable." Sera grinned. "Terrible habit." Panam smiled. "We'll try to stop." Nadia looked between them. Then grew thoughtful. "Can I tell you what I do know?" Panam nodded. "Of course." Sera smiled. "Always." Nadia considered. Then said: "I know I love you both." Panam's expression softened. Sera smiled. "And I know I loved this weekend." Panam nodded. "Good." "And I know I haven't finished discovering what it means to me." Sera touched her cheek. "Then keep discovering." Nadia smiled. "I think I will." Panam kissed her. Then Sera. And drew both women close. "Good." Downstairs, the sculpture hung quietly. Not fixed. Not symmetrical. Not entirely predictable. But balanced in its own peculiar way. And upstairs, three women settled together beneath the warm apartment lights. No one needed to be the center. No one needed to surrender her own life. No one needed to promise that tomorrow would look exactly like today. Their love was already there. Stable. Comfortable. And generous enough to leave room for whatever might come next. Nadia closed her eyes. Smiled. And decided that, for one evening at least, she could stop trying to solve her life. She could simply enjoy it. --- ## Epilogue — Would I Enjoy That Life, Too? Tuesday morning began with a peculiar discovery. Nadia was happy. Not merely content. Not relieved. Not pleased about a successful installation concept. Happy. Ridiculously, embarrassingly happy. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to identify precisely why. Which was a mistake. Because the moment she began identifying things, she started making lists. And Nadia had developed a suspicion that her lovers were considering organizing an intervention. She smiled. All right. No lists. A pause. Maybe a small list. Beside her, Panam stirred. "You're thinking." Nadia turned. "How the fuck do you do that?" Panam opened one eye. "Practice." Nadia laughed softly. "I'm not doing anything." "You're staring at the ceiling." "Maybe I like the ceiling." Panam considered. "Want me to buy you a better one?" Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." From Nadia's other side came a sleepy voice. "Please don't encourage her." Sera. Silver-white hair spread across the pillow. One arm resting comfortably around Nadia's waist. Eyes still closed. Panam grinned. "Morning, beautiful." Sera made an appreciative sound. Then reached across Nadia. Found Panam. And kissed her. Rather thoroughly for somebody who had apparently not yet woken up. When they separated, Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Well." Sera opened one eye. "Don't." Nadia smiled. "I didn't say anything." "Your face did." Panam began laughing. "Oh, you two." Eventually Nadia rolled onto her side. Facing Sera. "Morning." Sera smiled. "Morning, gorgeous." Nadia kissed her. Then settled closer. For a while they simply enjoyed the warmth. Panam rested a hand against Nadia's back. Nobody was in a hurry. No booking appointments. No early client calls. No reason to rush downstairs and start dismantling a sculpture that had already spent most of Monday behaving like a stubborn asshole. Nadia sighed happily. Sera smiled. "Good sigh?" Nadia laughed. "Very." Panam kissed her shoulder. "Excellent." A pause. Then Nadia whispered: "I think I understand why everybody loves mornings here." Sera opened both eyes. "Here?" Nadia nodded. "With you." Panam smiled. "Sweetheart, most of our mornings are considerably less peaceful." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Sera considered. "At the safehouse, Ace usually wakes up with an idea." Panam groaned. "Jesus Christ." "And Mai usually has to explain why it's a terrible idea." Nadia laughed. "And Shammy?" Sera smiled sweetly. "Shammy occasionally has an even worse one." Panam burst out laughing. Nadia shook her head. "Oh, you magnificent women." They eventually got up. Not quickly. Not particularly efficiently. Panam made coffee. Sera found breakfast. Nadia attempted to claim that the remaining pastries from Panam's Monday extravaganza constituted a balanced meal. Panam looked at her. "Vegetables." Nadia stared. "For breakfast?" "Yes." Sera opened a container. "There's fruit." Panam nodded. "Good." Nadia considered. "Fruit is technically—" "Don't." Nadia smiled. "I wasn't going to say anything." Panam raised an eyebrow. Sera laughed. Nadia surrendered. "Fine." She accepted a plate. Then looked toward the studio. The sculpture was visible below through the open interior space. Still crooked. Still unfinished. And considerably more interesting than it had been two days earlier. She smiled. Panam noticed. "Thinking about work?" Nadia nodded. "Art." Sera raised an eyebrow. "Good." Panam laughed. "At least that's one kind of work we understand." Nadia grinned. "Speak for yourself. I'm beginning to suspect I don't understand any of mine." Sera kissed her cheek. "That's usually when it gets interesting." They ate beside the window. Outside, Watson was going about its business. Traffic. Deliveries. People arguing. People laughing. A city full of people doing things they loved, things they hated, and things they hadn't yet decided how they felt about. Nadia watched a delivery vehicle stop outside a neighboring building. Then looked down at her plate. She was still smiling. Sera noticed. "All right." Nadia turned. "All right?" "Out with it." Nadia laughed. "Out with what?" "Whatever you've been thinking since you woke up." Panam nodded. "Please. Before she starts drawing diagrams." Nadia stared. "You two are absolutely relentless." Sera smiled. "Yes." Panam grinned. "And you adore us." Nadia considered. Then sighed theatrically. "Unfortunately." She set down her cup. Looked at both women. Then smiled. "I keep thinking about Lizzie's." Panam raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Nadia laughed. "Don't sound so surprised." "Sweetheart, you've been thinking about Lizzie's for three days." "Four." Sera groaned. "Oh, God." Nadia grinned. "But differently now." Panam's expression softened. "How?" Nadia considered. "At first, I was curious about the people." Sera nodded. "Mandi. Dalia. Deja. The Marlows." "Yes." "And Bea." Nadia smiled. "Especially Bea." Panam laughed softly. "Naturally." Nadia looked out the window. "Then I became interested in the work." Panam nodded. "And?" "And then I booked Bea." Sera smiled. "Very enthusiastically, apparently." Nadia turned. "SERIOUSLY?" Sera burst out laughing. Panam covered her mouth. Nadia shook her head. "Oh, you two are terrible." Panam grinned. "Continue, beautiful." Nadia considered. "Being with Bea was wonderful." Sera nodded. "I know." "And finding out she was Elisa was..." She paused. Panam raised an eyebrow. "Complicated?" Nadia smiled. "Spectacularly." Sera laughed. Nadia continued. "But we talked about it." Panam nodded. "Good." "And I think I understand her a little better now." Sera smiled. "That's nice." Nadia looked toward her. "I understand something else too." "Oh?" Nadia considered. "I don't think professional intimacy is as simple as I imagined." Panam laughed softly. "No, sweetheart." "Some people genuinely love the work." "Yes." "Some like particular parts of it." "Yes." "And some find out they don't enjoy it at all." Panam nodded. "Exactly." Nadia smiled. "But you can't really know until you've tried." Panam considered. "You can learn quite a lot beforehand." Nadia nodded. "Of course." "But the experience itself is personal." "Yes." Panam touched her hand. "And you don't owe anybody that experience." Nadia smiled. "I know." Sera leaned back. Studied Nadia for a moment. Then asked: "What's actually drawing you toward it?" Nadia blinked. The question was different. Not whether she wanted to work. Not whether she'd enjoyed watching. Something more precise. She thought about it. "Being wanted." Panam nodded. "That's part of it." Nadia smiled. "But I can already have that without charging anybody." Sera laughed softly. "Very much so." Nadia considered again. "Meeting people." Panam smiled. "That can be wonderful." "Choosing somebody because you genuinely find them interesting." Sera nodded. "Yes." "And knowing they chose you too." Panam's expression warmed. Nadia looked toward her. "That's something I liked about booking Bea." Panam waited. "I wanted her." "Yes." "And I was willing to pay for her time." "Yes." "But she still had to want me there." Panam nodded. "Exactly." Nadia smiled. "And she did." Sera laughed. "Apparently rather enthusiastically." Nadia pointed at her. "STOP THAT." Sera grinned. "Never." Nadia took another sip of coffee. Then grew thoughtful. "I also liked watching Deja." Panam smiled. "Oh?" "She's so different from Kiro." Sera considered. "Not really." Nadia nodded. "I know. That's the interesting part." Panam looked curious. Nadia continued. "She doesn't stop being Kiro." "No." "She just lets herself be more openly..." Nadia searched for the word. Sera smiled. "Sharp?" Nadia burst out laughing. "That too." Panam grinned. Nadia shook her head. "More openly herself, in a way she usually keeps private." Sera nodded. "Yes." Nadia considered. "And she enjoyed it." Panam smiled. "Very much." "That made me wonder." Sera raised an eyebrow. "About?" Nadia looked down at her hands. Then smiled. "What parts of myself haven't I tried letting out yet?" For a moment neither Panam nor Sera spoke. Not because the question was troubling. Because it deserved to remain a question. Eventually Panam touched Nadia's cheek. "That's an interesting thing to wonder." Nadia looked up. "Yes?" "Yes." Sera nodded. "And you don't need a professional collar to find out." Nadia smiled. "I know." "Or a booking." "Yes." "Or even Lizzie's." Nadia laughed softly. "True." Panam leaned closer. "But if you discover that the work itself appeals to you..." Nadia waited. Panam smiled. "Then we can have that conversation." Nadia nodded. "Good." There was no promise. No arrangement waiting to be finalized. No collar set aside with Nadia's name on it. She was Panam's lover. Sera's lover. A member of their extraordinary circle of affection. That was already enough. Anything else would have to be something Nadia chose for herself. Eventually Panam checked her agent. Then sighed. Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" "No." "Work?" "Unfortunately." Sera smiled. "Madame never rests." Panam laughed. "Madame would love to rest. Madame's girls keep inventing reasons for her to answer messages." Nadia grinned. "Good messages?" "Mostly." Panam read one. Then shook her head. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Sera looked interested. "What?" Panam smiled. "Mandi." Nadia burst out laughing. "Of course." Panam turned her agent so they could see. Mandi: Important business question. Does Friday's zero-eddie experience qualify as professional development? Sera collapsed into laughter. Nadia covered her face. Panam typed: Panam: Ask Dalia. The answer came almost instantly. Mandi: SHE SAID NO. Panam laughed. Panam: Then no. A pause. Mandi: Tyranny. Sera reached for the agent. Panam handed it over. Sera typed: Sera: Did you enjoy yourself? Mandi: FUCK YES. Sera: Then consider the matter settled. A moment passed. Mandi: I LOVE YOU. Sera smiled. Sera: Love you too. Panam put the agent away. Nadia shook her head. "That woman." Sera smiled. "My wife." Panam nodded. "One of my greatest professional headaches." Nadia burst out laughing. A little later, Panam prepared to leave. She had arrangements to review. Messages to answer. And several people apparently determined to test whether she'd answer her agent before finishing a cup of coffee. Nadia walked her downstairs. Sera followed. At the studio entrance, Panam turned. "Come here, beautiful." Nadia stepped into her arms. Panam kissed her. Then held her close. "Have a good day." Nadia smiled. "You too." "Try not to rebuild the entire installation before lunch." Nadia considered. "No promises." Panam laughed. "Thought so." Sera joined them. Panam kissed her. Then drew both women into a final embrace. "Love you." Nadia smiled. "Love you too." Sera kissed Panam's cheek. "Love you, Owner." Panam smiled. Then stepped back. "See you soon." She left. And Nadia watched her go. Not sadly. Just affectionately. There would be more evenings. More mornings. More arguments about food. More spectacularly questionable artistic ideas. And undoubtedly more opportunities for Panam to steal Mai's favorite sentence. Nadia smiled. Life was good. Sera remained for another hour. They worked on the installation. Or tried to. Mostly they argued about whether a sculpture that changed its behavior around visitors could still be considered a fixed composition. Eventually Nadia gave up. Not on the installation. On winning the argument. She turned toward Sera. "You know something?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You're impossible." Sera smiled. "Yes." Nadia approached. Caught her face gently. Kissed her. Then laughed. "And I love you." Sera's expression warmed. "Love you too." For a moment they remained together. Then Sera looked toward the sculpture. "Are you going to finish it?" Nadia considered. "Eventually." "Good." A pause. Then Sera smiled. "And what about your other project?" Nadia blinked. "Other project?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "The one that's been occupying approximately eighty percent of your brain since Friday." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, that." "Yes. That." Nadia considered. Then shrugged. "Still thinking." Sera nodded. "Good." "Still curious." "Also good." Nadia smiled. "And still not ready to decide." Sera kissed her. "Perfect." When Sera finally left, Nadia found herself alone in the studio. The silence was pleasant. She liked having her own space. Liked knowing that she could spend an entire afternoon making something beautiful, impractical, expensive and deeply confusing without anybody asking why. She liked the independence. And she liked knowing that independence didn't require loneliness. There were people she loved. People who loved her. People who would arrive with dinner. Or terrible jokes. Or unexpected kisses. Or, in Panam's case, enough breakfast to threaten the structural integrity of a dining table. Nadia smiled. Then turned toward the installation. She had work to do. Real work. The kind she'd been doing for years. The kind that had brought her to Night City. The kind she loved. And yet. Her thoughts wandered again. Lizzie's. The laughter. The atmosphere. The women who moved through that world so confidently. Deja making her own negotiations. Mandi gleefully refusing to let money define every encounter. Dalia's razor-sharp assessment of clients. Nova and Vega enjoying their professional freedom together. Bea. Especially Bea. And Sera. The famous artist who could command spectacular offers while remaining completely free to decline them. Nadia considered. There were many ways of enjoying that world. No single right way. No reason hers would need to resemble anybody else's. She opened a notebook. Not the production journal. Not her installation sketches. A small personal notebook. The kind she used when something was too unfinished to deserve an official place among her projects. She found an empty page. Took a pen. Then paused. For a moment she considered drawing a diagram. Panam would have laughed. Sera would have kissed her and called her hopeless. Ace would probably have demanded a copy. Kiro would have corrected the labels. Nadia smiled. "No." She wrote a single question instead. Would I enjoy that life, too? Then she looked at it. A perfectly reasonable question. Not a promise. Not a decision. Not an application to Madame Panam's Stable. Just something she genuinely wanted to understand. She considered writing an answer. Maybe. Too vague. Possibly. Not much better. I don't know. True. Entirely true. Nadia smiled. Then wrote beneath the question: I don't know yet. She regarded the words. Then added one more sentence. But I think I'd enjoy finding out. She paused. Read it again. Then laughed softly. "Well, fuck." That was interesting. Her agent chimed. A message from Elisa. Elisa: Just checking. Still speaking to me? Nadia burst out laughing. Nadia: Unfortunately. Elisa: Excellent. A pause. Then another message. Elisa: And for the record, you were a wonderful customer. Nadia smiled. Nadia: Five stars? Elisa: Six. I'm feeling generous. Nadia laughed. Nadia: Thirty thousand eddies buys exceptional service. The reply came immediately. Elisa: Make me a believable offer. Nadia stared. Then laughed so hard she had to sit down. "Oh, you absolute fucking bitch." She typed: Nadia: I'm telling Mai you stole her line. Elisa: PLEASE DON'T. Nadia grinned. Nadia: Love you. Elisa: Love you too, darling. She set the agent aside. Still smiling. The afternoon light moved across the studio. The suspended sculpture responded to the changing shadows. A small adjustment. A gentle shift. Nothing dramatic. But enough to remind Nadia that the work was becoming something different from what she'd first imagined. She looked up. Then smiled. The piece didn't need to occupy one fixed position to be complete. It could move. Respond. Change. And still remain itself. Nadia considered that. Then laughed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." She'd just turned her own emotional life into an artistic metaphor. Sera was going to be unbearable. Panam would never let her forget it. And Ace would probably announce that the sculpture needed a professional booking. Nadia shook her head. "Absolutely fucking hopeless." She picked up her tools. Returned to the installation. And began working. Outside, Night City continued. Lizzie's would open again. Customers would return. Madame Panam would negotiate offers. Mandi would undoubtedly discover another way to irritate Mai. Deja would continue proving that a sweet face was no protection against a devastating mouth. Nova and Vega would return when they wanted. Bea would go on enjoying her delightfully complicated private life. And somewhere, Reyes would continue protecting a secret almost nobody knew existed. The world would keep moving. Just as Nadia's installation did. Not always predictably. Not always in the direction somebody expected. But moving. And Nadia? She had art to make. A studio to finish. A family to love. Two extraordinary women who loved her. And one intriguing question waiting quietly in a notebook. It could remain unanswered for now. There was no hurry. No deadline. No audience waiting for a grand declaration. Just a possibility. An interesting one. Nadia stepped back from the sculpture. Considered the new arrangement. Then smiled. "Much better." She reached for her notebook again. Read the question. Would I enjoy that life, too? And this time she didn't try to solve it. She simply smiled. Because, for the first time, the question itself felt like an adventure.