Imposter Syndrome

Snapdragon

Down one corridor, through another, past the Italianate atrium, around the bend—through the lattice gate—

She stopped, spotting Natalia, curly hair and all, occupying the lone corner patio seating, nearly hidden by a bevy of tangled, overgrown ivy, moss-laden brick, and tiled backsplash. A navy suit jacket complemented faded, though no less stylish, jeans. Sunglasses too. Sofie gave a start, spotting a familiar clutch purse—was that?

"Look familiar?" came the swift greeting.

"Morning to you too," Sofie answered, seating herself opposite the brunette. "Where'd you..." she tried to sound as casual as humanly possible, "...where'd you find...that?" Sofie pointed to the aqua colored purse, its contents likely containing capsules of the very same hue.

"Underground market intel," Natalia answered, her eyes fixed on Sofie's own, as the latter woman gulped.

"I-I can explain—it was for—"

"I don't need to know—"

"—Restitution."

Natalia sighed. "Seriously, what part of 'I don't need to know' don't you get?" Noticing Sofie's expression, the brunette exhaled slowly. "Look, I was tasked with rooting out Veronica's side—the market underbelly, see how far her tentacles went—"

"What did you find out?" And why didn't anyone ask me?

"Ok, two things. First, your ex-boss might bring a visitor or two. Second, we figured with training Karlo on the multiplication front, you had your hands full. Speaking of which—" She lowered her sunglasses. "How's that coming along?" Are you two an item?

Sofie blushed; she couldn't help it. None of your business! "It's...coming along..." she answered slowly, willing herself to solidify her mental wards, unsure of just how ironclad they were at that very instant. Given Natalia's lack of expression, Sofie guessed they were decent enough for the time being.

An hour later, she was back at the library, searching the internet for chemical antidotes to aqua capsules.

"...When the environment is "dry," the water content of the gelatin capsule exceeds 10%. It increases rapidly when humidity increases." She clicked to the next page, skimming all the while. "Ten minutes for the matrix to soften, twist and decompose..."

"So the answer's...tropical?" Karlo's hand covered hers as she inhaled sharply, turning to him. How long had he been there? Her eyes met his; neither made any motion to remove their hand.

"I guess..." she paused thoughtfully, "...you could say that." A flicker—a cloud passed over her visage—

"What is it?" Karlo grew still, noticing her expression, before she turned away abruptly, her gaze passing over the myriad potted palms and ferns, astonishingly lush and verdant given the sandstone terrain.

"You need me—"

He drew closer. "I do—" he all but whispered in her ear—

"—For my brains—"

Karlo paused. "Sofie, you know that's not true—"

"Whatever. I get it. You've got a job to do. I've got mine. To train you. Let's...just..." She tried to ignore the thrum of her faster-beating heart, the frisson of chemistry, the sheer energy emanating between herself—and this—this—paramour—

Just biochemistry. Just molecules. Just—atoms. Nothing more. Nothing. Just—

She took a shaky breath, willing herself to focus yet again on the internet page before her. "Heat—"

A pause, then the moment was broken, as Karlo glanced at the page himself. "That's it!"

"What's it?"

"The prototype—"

Sofie frowned. "I thought you didn't have a prototype—" of Avventura jewelry, watches, cogs, machinery...

"No, not those—"

"Then?"

"Wait here!" He flew out of the library and to another chamber—his temporary abode, she guessed, given they had only 48 hours until the so-called 'meet-and-greet.' Not ten minutes later, he returned, carrying an oddly shaped metallic object. Rings, by the look of it—with tiny dials atop each miniature circlet, studded with what appeared to be pink—

"Diamonds?" Sofie exclaimed incredulously. "But—" None of this made sense—

"I created these a long time ago. Jewelry for the elite. The hoi polloi. But it was too expensive. Impossible to sell at standard market value. Some deemed it ugly, even. But—the buttons—they had a hidden function." He demonstrated, pushing the dials, as heat jets emanated forth, with ample humidity to spare. "Humidifier jewelry, but who'd want to buy that? So no, technically, they weren't a prototype. They already existed."

"This whole time?" she breathed, reaching out to touch one of the glittering objects.

He nodded. "Hidden in plain sight."

They reconvened in the emerald-hued reading room, books stacked from floor-to-ceiling, the familiar butterfly print displayed upon a lower shelf. And there they remained for the next few hours, practicing their multiplication form and heat emanations, stopping only to grab sustenance at the downstairs castle shop.

One—detailed, intricate, eyes, nose, ears, mouth, visage, neck, soldier's shoulders, torso, uniform, boots—duplicate—repeat—and again—

The exercises continued on and on until late afternoon. Sofie called it quits. "I'm headed back to the library—more background research—" as she found a gentle but firm arm grasping her wrist, halting her movement.

"Dinner? Tonight? Please?"

She knew she had to respectfully, kindly, thoughtfully decline. No mixing of work and pleasure. However, she responded differently. As if her wayward heart had found a home, however temporary.

"Sure," Sofie answered, surprising even herself. "Definitely," she said, a bit louder this time, as Karlo smiled.

A couple hours later, she found herself traipsing down the grand Constanta Castle staircase, making a side turn past one corridor then another, until she reached the garden Karlo had directed her. Where was he? She waited, pacing behind a closed Renaissance-era wheelbarrow-stylized door, before curiosity got the better of her. With a single push—

She gasped, spotting myriad stringed lights, and a circular table with wineglass flutes, fancy silverware, and ornate décor. Eight short center candles, and a taller candelabra further out to their left, not to mention a bouquet of the freshest, prettiest flowers she had ever seen. Bachelor's buttons and lilac-hued snapdragon, if she wasn't mistaken.

And Karlo, ready to seat her.

"Oh, you shouldn't have."

"Sofie, I did. I need you—not because you're smart and useful—though you are. I need you because, paraphrasing Rumi, I'm growing to love you, and I know no other way of loving—of being—" his hands intertwined with hers, "—than this."

And how could she possibly argue with that?

She sank into her seat as they enjoyed their plated meal—mashed potatoes, French-cut green beans, and fresh halibut fillet; come what may on the impending day, she was content in knowing that somehow, by chance or by miracle—she was not quite sure which—she had found her own happily-ever-after, however ephemeral, however impermanent.

For even now, she was scared to hope, let alone believe, in the promise of love and all that it entailed. She would have to face Veronica first.