Daughter of Zeus ✔

13.5

The breakfast date ended not long after Ada's arm caress. While Phennell wired money to the electronic waiter to the cover the bill, Shylar walked to the street, ready to follow his assignment on foot. He stopped when he saw Ada arguing casually with Phennell, which prompted him to turn up the audio on the surveillance stream.

"I can pay for myself," she said. "I have money."

"I didn't mean to offend, ma'am," Phennell said, dripping with Southern charm. "A man pays for a woman, and that's just the right thing to do."

She smiled, less than sweet. "How 'bout, next time, you let me pay? See how right it can feel."

Now he was offended. "That wouldn't feel right at all."

"Letting me pay for the bill feels wrong because then I would be taking care of you, and it's not right to let a woman take care of a man, is that correct?"

"That's uh, that's not what I said..."

"But it's what you meant," she said with a shrug in her tone. "Let's not make a thing of it. Next time, let's try the crazy thing of letting me pay, even if we're on a date."

Shylar enjoyed the exchange, up until the point of Ada categorizing their meeting as a date.

She had walked to the bistro—the bistro being a few blocks away from Kressick's townhome. For the meeting—or date—she had donned a blue sundress and sandals. Her long dark curls bounced as she walked back to Kressick's. Though she wore little make-up— hardly ever does, Shylar thought—she was radiant in the sunlight.

As she made her way along the city, he gave her plenty of lead time. No way was he being made. Digital tracking made it impossible to lose her trail. He strolled at a leisurely pace, occasionally peeking at his arm for confirmation he was on the right track.

The red dot on his screen stopped moving. Peachtree and 5th Street. Ada was in the drugstore, maybe to buy contraceptives. If that was the case, she must have quite a bankroll. Contraceptives of any kind cost a small fortune. Like other men of his social stature, Shylar had perfected the pull-out method in lieu of purchasing expensive contraceptives. 

Do you think he'll pull out or come inside her? the voice mocked him.

He shook his head to clear out the cobwebs. For some time, the only voice in his head had been one of absolute confidence. The whisper came from the unsure part he hadn't heard from in years.

Pre-Kressick, Shylar had been a selfish, directionless thief. With all of his girlfriends—there had been a whopping three—he had also been a selfish, directionless thief.

While watching the stationary red bleep on his interface, he recalled a conversation. Ada and Phennell were flirting, with him holding back slightly. She asked him why he wasn't interested in her. He told her he was very interested, but he didn't think he was good enough for her. She laughed, but his expression remained solemn. Money, he explained, was something he lacked. He was a full-time student, and his parents hadn't made him get a job.

"I don't have a job either," she said.

"Then why would I burden you with my penniless ass? It would be selfish."

As a comparable jackass, Shylar could tell Phennell didn't mean a word of what he said. Still, the actual meaning of the words resonated. Each of Shylar's girlfriends had held honest jobs, supporting him for the duration of the tumultuous relationship. The arrangement hadn't bothered him, though it had always seemed to bother his girlfriends. Until Phennell's false words, Shylar hadn't seen anything wrong in using a woman for her money, her shelter, and her sex.

But maybe it was wrong.