NOVEL NEXT 70: I Finally Let Go.
RYST
She came back again, you know. That hunger in her eyes a furnace. The man between her sheets had better be ready. I made sure she had everything she needed to wear. Or take off.
- Sibsil Creed, Stories of Shurwinn, (2776)
My smiling friends came rushing in, and all three of us glowed with victory. But I schooled my features the same time Peydran said, "I've got a lot of recon to do, Ryst. This is the kind of money and power that take time."
I nodded. "And I've got to come up with a plan. I have to have a good reason to approach a Galactic Minister, and Living Foods just doesn't have a reason to engage a hospitality empire in business."
Peydran replied, "No one will refuse a meeting with a Shurwinn, no matter their business."
At the same moment Ren said, "No man in the Galaxy will refuse a date with The Normal Monk, no matter his preferences," with a teasing little smirk.
My head fell back with laughter, "Oh stars! Can you imagine the look on his face when he does the recon?"
Both of them were leering, imagining it. "Oh, I can picture it now. Nayth Carmidee better get ready. He has no idea what storm is about to hit him," Peydran predicted. "So, Ryst, what's the strategy? What is your first step?"
"You two are on recon. I'm going to write up a business proposal. It will be thorough, but it'll still be a lark. It's just a reason to ask him to meet."
They went home, and I got to work.
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It wasn't much of an idea for a business joint venture. It was a farce, but Peydran was right. It would be an invite from a Shurwinn, so he probably wouldn't refuse to see me. By the time I had typed everything up, it was a few hours before dawn. Then the real planning began. Restaurant and rental house reservations were made, starliners were reserved, and a meeting invitation was transmitted:
OUTGOING: Ryst Nova
RECIPIENT: Nayth Carmidee
SUBJECT: Living Foods From Shurwinn Research and Training Centre
Sunshine greet you Minister Carmidee,
Will you join me for dinner at Juanna's on the Terrace at 7:00pm on July 13th, 2737?
Sunshine,
Ryst Nova
And just like that, I asked Nayth Carmidee to marry me.
It wasn't exactly a marriage proposal, but it was as good as. There was no other reason for someone of my stature to approach a single, wealthy Ministry official. Business was a tenuous idea. No one would believe I was actually interested in a joint venture business opportunity with Nayth Carmidee. Everyone would assume I was hitting on him.
Galactic Minister Carmidee probably had a team of staff who read his incoming transmits and deleted hundreds of such proposals every day. Without my Shurwinn citizenship, they probably wouldn't give my invitation any attention at all. Everything I was planning hinged on luring them with my Shurwinn identity.
I'd scheduled my invite for only four days away in the hopes that they wouldn't take weeks dragging out a long recon. I took a deep breath. There was nothing to do now but wait for a reply, and finally— finally— I realized I was actually sleepy. Groggy and stupefied from the inconceivable events of the last three days, I collapsed into bed.
I wondered how much longer I'd sleep in it alone.
INCOMING: Ryst Nova
SENDER: Nayth Carmidee
SUBJECT: Living Foods From Shurwinn Research and Training Centre
Accepted.
Ryst: I'm coming on the hover train right now.
Mauren: My tailor shop awaits.
She begged me.
I could finally let go.
She begged me again.
It was what she needed.
It was what I wanted.
She begged me.
I finally let go.
And we were whole.
File name: Untold Stories
Passcode: 8675309
THE END OF BOOK 1.
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