Spicy Sugar

The Shopping Trip: Gentleman Hoodlum

Andrei's POV:

Stretching my arms and cracking my neck I woke up. Looking down to check my watch my eyes widened a bit. Ten hours. When was the last time I slept 10 hours?

"I'm getting way too comfortable on this damn plane," I told myself and went over to the wardrobe to redress my suit.

Using the full-length mirror of the closet I made sure to adjust my dark grey jacket and the collar of my purple dress shirt to be as much on point as I could get them. Running my hands through my unruly, black hair I moved it out of my face. While still being at that I looked at my own reflection.

When did you start to care so much about looks huh?

Sighing as I realized just how weird this all was for me. I was just getting up from sleep in a private jet that had a sleeping cabin nearly the size of my apartment at Depravity Alley. The rest of the plane reminded me more of a hotel than a plane. And now? Now I was standing in front of a mirror trying to make my appearance match my surroundings. This was absurd. I was no businessman. I was a goddamn mercenary. I killed and stole and threatened people to earn money. I could not afford to become soft.

With my mindset on that idea, I turned away from the mirror and strutted over to the door. As I opened it the first thing I saw was Briar lounging on one of the sofas, holding a cup of coffee to her lips and having a tablet set down on the coffee table between the sofas that had a rather tasty looking breakfast on it.

Damn. You just don't want me to be sticking to my own promise huh?

"Good morning, Spicy. Slept well? Come. Grab a cup of coffee and have breakfast with me." Briar chirped with a smile as she noticed me.

I strutted over with a smile and took my place on the opposite sofa, "Good morning to you too, Sugar. I did sleep well. Much longer than I'm used to though. Next time wake me earlier. How was your night?"

"Noted. Been sleeping as well as always. Don't be shy, grab what you like by the way." she told me with a gentle smile while pouring me a cup of coffee and holding it out to me.

I took it with a thankful smile and took a long sip from it.

As I glanced up again I saw how she stared at me dumbfounded and raised an eyebrow, "What? did my hair turn green in the last few minutes or something?"

"Oh no it's ... it's nothing." Her eyes seemed focused on the coffee cup in my hands and I followed her look.

"Yes, I do drink it black if that's what you are so shocked about. Black like my soul." taking another sip with a slight smirk.

She gave me a smug grin, "Really? You seem like a very gentle soul to me though."

Taken back by that statement a bit I shook my head, "You're just well at not pissing me off, Sugar. I've got no reason to not be gentle so far."

As I inspected her face there seemed to appear the faintest blush on her cheeks, but she did not let that affect her nonchalant demeanor as she grabbed one of the small biscuits from the tablet and took a delicate bite.

She then began to start explaining, "We will be landing in about two hours at the local airport. From there on it's a half-hour drive to the small Tuscany village where Giorgio has his shop. If everything goes according to plan we are finished at Giorgio's shop around midday so-"

I couldn't help myself laughing at this point which earned me a confused look, "Haha sorry, Sugar, but the way you said all that just now kinda reminded me of one of my missions briefings."

She narrowed her eyes and pouted a little, but there was an amused glint in her eyes, "So you're saying I'm sounding like a soldier now?"

I leaned in closer and grinned at her, "No. I'm saying you make this whole trip sound so planned and structured. This ain't no mission, Sugar. This is supposed to be fun."