Evelynn poked her head in the door, and lifted and eyebrow at Kerrigan as she straightened herself. “When you are ready, Colonel Eli has some news. Take your time though.” She winked at Kerrigan before closing the door again. “Right, well. We should go see what that is all about,” Kerrigan said, not making eye contact with Conor. Conor was a bit speechless as Kerrigan left the room, unsure how to take her sudden departure after such a passionate kiss. Her lingering scent of apple blossom and cinnamon taunted him as he stood to follow. How was he supposed to think straight after a kiss like that? Parker waited for him in the hall while Evelynn walked ahead with Kerrigan to the private conference room. As Conor stepped into the hall, Parker looked him over. “You ok, man? You look like someone smacked you and you haven’t figured out why. It’s not like this is the first time someone has attacked you.” Conor chuckled, breaking the tension, “Smacked? No. But yeah, still processing what

Reilynn POV Reilynn awoke the next morning stiff and sore. She looked around the strange room and flipped on a light next to her bed. This wasn’t the barrack floor of Dreadnaught Law firm. She found herself in a large four poster bed in a sparsely furnished room. Cool wood flooring greeted bare feet as she sat up with a wince. Her side still ached but in the last three weeks, it had healed remarkably well. The stitches had come out yesterday and now she just had to maintain a skin tape across the wound. She still berated herself for missing that knife but hoped this wouldn’t dampen the teams opinion of her or her combat effectiveness. She reached for the heavy blackout curtains and tugged one open, squinting as the morning light streamed in. green grass and forest greeted her, and small birds chirped as they flitted about from bush to bush. She could get used to this. The city was fine, and she could manage there but this… this was solitude. She tried to stand but the pain in he

Conor simply strode through the room, taking in the various design projects. On the far end of the floor, there was a small photo studiowheree various designers came over with a bundle of random items, handed them off to the camera guy and started rattling off a long list of requirements they had for the various elements. Conor paused to watch the dynamics when one of the designers came over to him and handed him a bag “This apple needs to be at a certain angle and this coin will need both sides done. Make sure Carlos remembers I need it to pop so use the black background.” “I don’t actually work here,” Conor tried to insist. “Oh, I thought you were one of the new interns. Peter is always sending in new people to see if they have any talent. Well, will you give these to Carlos anyway? I have a massive project to finish.” Conor shrugged. He was here to learn the business so why not? He took the items and waited patiently for the man he assumed was Carlos to finish his current shoot

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful, cloudless day. The Gala was set for six pm that evening at the Chamber of Commerce banquet hall, and Kerrigan had sent word that she would not be available until five. Conor agreed with Parker that they would pick the girls up and planned to be there a few minutes early but that still left most of the day free for Conor to stress. This event would be one the most defining moments of his new business and truly represented Vokrizin’s first step into the limelight. Parker finally came to get him after lunch and drive him to visit the barber. Conor had been maintaining his hair regularly, but tonight was of utmost importance. “Ah, Mr. Brantley! I was hoping you would stop in to see me!” came the excited shout of the proprietor of the solan, Anthony Gavin. “Indeed, Anthony. Tonight is my Gala for Celia’s Blessing.” “My invitation arrived last week! I have been waiting with great anticipation for you to grace my shop ever since! Tonight, the world

To the side Peter and Cara each stood by a microphone. As Kerrigan and Lindsey struck up the tune, Conor was lost in the music as Cara and Peter began a duet. “I’m right here beside you,” Peter began. “And I’ll stay there as long as you let me,” Cara sang. Conor had no idea she had such an amazing voice. Peter for his part harmonized perfectly with his tenor. Conor watched as Kerrigan matched tempo and skill with Lindsey Starlight, and marveled at her ability. The Craftmaster had made her promise to practice and perform for him, and she was delivering in spades. As the song ended, Conor stood and clapped, the rest of the audience following suit. Kerrigan and Lindsey bowed and then hugged each other. Kerrigan took a microphone and said “It has been a dream for a long time to play with Lindsey! What a dream come true. Well As Lindsey said, the community center has touched many lives in strange powerful ways. While you enjoy this meal, a few of the current kids want to put on a small