I reluctantly got out of bed to face another day. The ups and downs of the last week or so were finally getting to me, along with the worry that I wouldn't have enough people at my unveiling. So far I had four who'd said they'd come. Tomichii, James, Keaton and Aiden. Of course, I still had to officially invite them, but it was only four. Yaru had made it clear I needed six.

And I wasn't the only one who was showing signs of tiredness. Mhairi was slower than before, yawning more than once while we got ready together. We spoke little, barely dressed by the time Yaru and Edward came to fetch me.

"Where are we going today?" I asked. Yaru held up several plain white envelopes.

"It's time to begin giving these out." He handed them to Mhairi, who tucked them in a case and clutched it to herself. I raised my eyebrows.

"A courtesan doesn't do the inviting herself, but has a second. It's considered an honour to be a veiled's second. She represents the courtesan's desires and is meant to help guide the less experienced into choosing wisely."

I nodded, aware they'd once again dictated this to me when it sounded like something I should have chosen for myself. I would have asked Mhairi as well, but it still bothered me to not have been given the choice. So much had been taken out of my hands.

"We'll start at Rick's dojo," Edward said, opening my bedroom door again. I followed him out. We'd spent the last two mornings there. Each time I'd gone up with no one but Edward for company and hoped that Rick would thaw enough I could flirt, but he'd always been focused on teaching me, no hint of anything else since our first meeting.

I knew he'd been to see Daniel, but not what their meeting had entailed. It seemed he was keeping his thoughts entirely to himself.

During our lessons, every word Rick spoke was an instruction, a criticism, or very occasionally praise of my achievement. Just thinking about it made me sigh. I needed him to give me a way in.

On the way to and from different locations, I now usually read, the book Mhairi had lent me practically living in Yaru's car. I also still needed a way to engage Benton. I'd sent him a few messages since my reputation had been tarnished, but his responses had all been short and difficult to take to a further level. As soon as I had finished the book, I planned to mention it. If that didn't bring him out of his reserved shell, I didn't know what would.

But this time I only read a little, asking Mhairi for the details of the day the others had neglected to give me. I'd be handing out all but one of my invites and needed to do so before dinner time. The final one Daniel would handle. Aiden wasn't going to be given the same star treatment as the rest. The only way we could think to make it clear we didn't approve of his behaviour.

This time, when we arrived at Rick's dojo, I felt a mild amount of apprehension. Mhairi was with me, but I had no idea what to expect from my first meeting of the day. Out of all of the possible men Yaru and I had discussed, he was the one I felt least confident of. Since the emotional conversation we'd had on my first day, he'd been nothing but a teacher, efficient and almost ruthless. I had little hope that inviting him would yield anything.

But when I stepped into the dojo, Mhairi lingering behind with Edward, my jaw fell open. There beside Rick was a framed picture. One I recognised. Unable to speak, I slowly walked closer, seeing the smile on Rick's face widen as I did.

"How?" I eventually managed to squeak out.

"When I saw Daniel. I believe I mentioned on your first day that I wished to talk to him."

I nodded, just about remembering that part of the conversation. I'd assumed it was to discuss the cost of my training.

"He allowed me some information from your profile in the resurrected database. It mentioned that this was where you liked to sit on bad days. I thought it could hang in your room as you like the view so much. Help you adjust to your new life."

Tears sprang to my eyes as I remembered sitting there. It had been a long time, but for a moment it felt like it could have only been the previous day.

"Thank you," I said. "Thank you so much. No one has ever given me anything so sweet."

"And no one has brightened my dojo with such grace and dignity before, Liebling. It is I who is grateful."

I tried not to let my mouth drop open again, his words taking me by surprise. Mhairi seemed to have a better handle on the situation, coming forward with the first of my invites. She passed it to him as I stepped back.

"On behalf of Daniel and Auralia, I would like to invite you to attend Auralia's unveiling ceremony to witness her transition into a full courtesan and participate in her introduction to its ways." Mhairi curtsied at the end of her very formal-sounding speech. Rick bowed, taking the envelope.

"I would be honoured to attend. My official answer will be delivered in due course."

I felt my heart begin to race as I realised what he was saying. Every moment we'd been together I'd listened to his instruction, my mind kept on task, learning to defend myself, but now I knew he was going to bid to sleep with me. That we would come together. It hadn't even occurred to me that I might not want it or be attracted to him enough. I hadn't even cooperated because I'd needed the credits. He'd been genuinely helping me, making me feel safer.

He focused on me, his eyes lit up in a gentle way I'd never seen before. As Mhairi left us, heading back down to the bottom floor to wait with Yaru, Edward walked to the opposite end of the room, suddenly looking very absorbed in the view. Less than a second later, Rick took my hand and led me to the other.

"I know you've not got long here today, but thank you. I often get invites to unveilings, my status making many new courtesans think I'd be a good choice. Someone to make them look good. Few come to me so quietly, in such an understated way, looking for my other offerings, and make me feel like I'm more to them than a celebrity to seduce."

I didn't know what to say, the depth of emotion he displayed taking me by surprise. It seemed that underneath such a hard exterior was one of the gentlest souls I'd ever met. I lifted myself onto the very tips of my toes and stretched to kiss him on the cheek.

As I walked away I felt the burden on my shoulders lighten. I knew for sure he was one man I would be willing to sleep with. Unlike many of the others, I knew it would have a sweetness to it, a purpose. Two souls coming together to share something deeper than before. And I knew it would just be the once. It wouldn't be about lust, or desire, but about being there for each other.

As I returned to Yaru, Edward carrying my gift, I found myself smiling, knowing I would be more likely to handle whatever came next after starting the day this way. And I wasn't the only one with a grin. Yaru's eyes said everything I needed to know. He'd expected this. Seemed my mentor was more sly than I'd realised.

Our next stop was Tomichii and Kioshi's office building. I'd been here many times over the last two weeks, and I could remember the route by now. Even the doormen smiled at me as they admitted me, the brief day when I was barred forgotten completely.

My companions and I headed for the relaxation room, Tomichii guaranteed to be there this early in the day before he settled down in his office to get a few hours of work done. On the way in, I saw Bernice arrive, her eyes taking in the encased envelopes Mhairi carried right away.

She gave me a nod, holding the door open for us to pass. I flicked her a wink before refocusing. Although Tomichii had been wonderful to me, I didn't want to take this for granted. It didn't take long to spot him, sitting on a stool. Katrina was sat at the table opposite, painting.

Keeping to one side, I politely coughed to get his attention. Immediately her eyes narrowed.

"I apologise to both of you for disturbing your creative delights," I said. Katrina shot daggers at me with her eyes, but Tomichii beamed, leaving his statue-like position to come to me.

"Auralia, we haven't seen you much lately. I had begun to wonder if you'd grown bored of our company." His voice came out light, almost teasing, but it was enough of a warning. I had to assure him of my interest.

"I have been preparing for my ceremony," I replied. "I want it to be special, but I have very much missed you. I don't want to interrupt you for long, however." I motioned to Mhairi as Tomichii smiled. He was still pleased with me.

Holding out my second white envelope, Mhairi stepped forward and repeated the words she'd used to invite Rick. Tomichii bowed as well in response before turning to me and doing the same.

"Your invite is an honour. Please expect my response shortly."

Trying not to hide my disappointment at the formal reply, I nodded and let him get back to Katrina and her painting. When Rick had so quickly let me know he'd be accepting, I had expected someone even warmer, like Tomichii, to declare his intentions from the rooftops.

Perhaps I had spent too little time there lately. I'd been focused on Keaton and securing Rick. It had left little time for being in Tomichii's relaxation room.

"Come. Kioshi will be in his office at this time of day, and I believe you said Benton liked to lunch in the garden," Yaru said, not letting me linger on my emotions for too long.

I would have thanked him if my next invitation wasn't to be more painful. Had there not been rumours spread about me, I was confident Kioshi's invite would have been accepted, but I was giving it knowing it was for show only. It would be rejected, the holder knowing the whole affair to be a farce.

On top of that, I had no way to know how Benton would react. I hadn't wanted to invite him and didn't know for sure that he'd be interested.

The garden was closest, so we headed there next, to the spot I'd seen Benton last, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"We can wait a few minutes, but not too long," Yaru said. "Our schedule is tight, to deliver the rest before the usual window is closed."

I nodded, sure there was a good reason for the rush even if it wasn't obvious. I knew, if nothing else, Keaton wouldn't appreciate being kept waiting. If he heard I was giving out invitations too long before he received his own, I ran the risk of making the playboy jaded. And I didn't need an angry dominant in my life.

While the others gave me some space, I waited, looking each way for Benton to come and enjoy his lunch, but he never appeared and eventually Yaru made it clear I had to continue. It was time to visit Kioshi.

It didn't take long to find the second businessman, working hard in one of the laboratories by himself. As soon as he saw me he smiled, but there was still a touch of hesitancy about it. We hadn't seen each other since I'd begged for his forgiveness and he'd decided to vouch for my honour despite my lies.

"How is the new system coming along?" I asked, wanting to take the focus off our relationship and memories. If nothing else, we could still be united in our desire to make it cheaper for the resurrecteds with my old illness.

"There are some issues to fix still. We don't understand enough about the illness and how it's fixed. The computer system can only be so helpful. If I may be so bold, a sample of your blood might help to show what happened."

"Then you shall have it, gladly," I replied, smiling. His eyes grew warmer, but their focus soon went back to the machine in front of him.

"I won't keep you much longer," I said, looking to Mhairi. Already she was coming forward, the invite ready. He took it, but he barely bowed. Our eyes met a moment later and I could see the rejection of it in them. He wouldn't come, just as I'd expected.

Without another word, I left him to his work.

"Come, we're half done. Let us go back to the car," Yaru said, but I shook my head.

"Not yet. I have one more thing to do. You may go back if you wish. I won't be long."

Yaru and Mhairi both raised their eyebrows, neither used to being dismissed. I hadn't meant to sound commanding or callous with my words, but I wasn't going to leave without doing what I could.

As I took my first few steps towards the main laboratory area, Edward seemed to catch up to my intentions.

"They can take a blood sample in the biological department down the hall," he said, before turning to Yaru. "I'll stay with her and bring her back to the car as soon as we're done."

"Very well. I'm sure we can allow the slight delay." Yaru took Mhairi's arm and led her away.

"Thank you," I whispered to Edward as he led me on.

"Don't mention it, princess. There aren't many in this business like you. If you want to take a moment to help some future women get a better start to this crappy world, I'm by your side every step of the way."

I grinned, squeezing his hand for a moment and sighing. My invitations were half done and I'd found two unexpected allies along the way. All morning my stomach had been in knots, worried about them. Despite not finding Benton, I was relieved. Almost done.