Chaz's Office

Chaz exited his private bathroom and spent hours in his actual office, a micro-apartment where he could monitor consumers from a two-way mirror to see which customers played board games with his face on it.

He glanced around the room before cleaning himself up.

The Mark Board, the media, nor his father knew where his real office was, and he would never tell them. They thought his office was five floors above, with shiny modern furniture.

His desk stood in front of a kitchenette and full-sized refrigerator.

A muscular man with Ram horns leaned over him. "Ready to go, Little Man. You can shower in your bathroom."

"Sir, I showered last night. Ella and Zeda recommended you, and told me you trained them."

They used the back stairs to reach the fire escape.

He and the Ram man lost the assassins following him from the parking lot.

"You're good," Chaz said.

"Ella thinks so." The man winked at him.

After a short drive, Chaz and his guard used the stairs to make it up to Zeda and Ella's apartment.

Ella met the men halfway.

A familiar graying Beauty Drug dealer stood in the stairwell. He wore a neon suit in a failed attempt to look younger. "Ten Alpha silver notes a hit for new customers. Beauty Drugs are cheaper than plastic surgery."

Chaz's guard pointed at the dealer, who shrugged and exited the stairwell.

Ella walked them the rest of the way and opened the door.

"Who is the creepy drug dealer?" Chaz asked.

"Ford Button-Cromwell is the dean of the University, and he has a side business," Ella replied.

"That should be illegal." Chaz scrunched his face.

"It isn't as long as he stays in the lobby." She opened the door, and he followed her. The aroma of fresh soap and flowers clung to her hair, but Chaz couldn't tell the exact scent.

Chaz's heart sped up for a moment.

The Ram man guarded the door.

Zeda shoved clothes in an overnight bag. "Hi Chaz, I have to leave for work. Why don't you hang out with Ella? She is on summer break."

Laura played a handheld video game, zapping killer mermaids.

Chaz's entire face frowned, and he slunk into a chair. "Congrats, Zeda, the video proposal has gone viral despite the media's lockdown. Underground blogs and micro papers are reporting on it. Can we hang out after you come back?"

"I'm staying at my mom's house for the next few days because her place is closer to work, and I'm taking the evening shift to hang out with Quincy."

Chaz glanced at the kitchen table. "Zeda, where are your annoying roommates?"

Laura discarded her game on the table. "My sisters are resting in their rooms from their latest plastic surgery. They will smother you in kisses if they could move. Chaz, you are lucky."

Chaz made a face, and his fingers tapped the table. "Laura, I have never kissed a woman and wouldn't want them to be my first."

"Liar." Laura stood up.

"I saved my kisses for years for Zeda and I lost that because I couldn't man up to my dad. She would have accepted me when I was weird looking. Now, I have muscles I developed for her, and she is not impressed. I'm confused." Chaz folded his arms.

Zeda ignored him.

Ella handed Chaz a lemonade. "Her sisters will be gone in September, but Laura and her new husband will live with me until repairs are finished on their new flat."

"I can't bring George over because they keep making passes at him or are rude. Why are my sisters gross?"

"Chaz, he is super cool. We should go on a triple date sometime. You can take Ella to my engagement party. We are moving the party to September," Zeda said.

He glared at her. "Why are you moving the party up?" he asked.

Zeda ignored him and walked out.

"Ella, I need to talk to you at my place." Chaz touched her wrist.

"Will we be swimming?"

"I hate swimming in the rain."

"I might invite a guest." She touched his arm.

He trembled.

"Chaz, you are helping Quincy move to his new place."

He nodded, 'yes."