Dangerous by Default

32. The Pheonix

"I told you I was ten inches, baby," Missy cooed as she strolled past the open bathroom door. Pechaude could barely push out a grunt in reply as he stared blankly into the toilet bowl. It was nearly dawn, and he was desperate for sleep.

"Let me give you something for these sheets. Maybe next time you'll prepare a little better. Bisous, baby" Missy giggled, laying a few hundred dollar bills on the vanity. Pechaude wanted to protest, he wouldn't accept a single cent from her. It was unheard of, he was a gentleman. But in his foggy haze, he could barely muster the words before the door slammed behind her.

Damn! Well, it is an American hotel, after all. He sighed, making a mental note to return the money to Missy when he met her for dinner later that night.

After laying with his head on the seat for another five minutes, he decided it was time to locate an advil and some room service.

Is anything open in this city at 6 AM?

Pulling his heavy body off the cool tile, the sound of the drape runners alerted his senses. He looked over his shoulder into the bedroom, which was now soaked in the soft blues of early dawn. He was not alone.

"Mon cher? Did you forget something?"

There was no answer. He clawed on his hands and knees out of the bathroom to look. Through the open doorway he saw the menacing silhouette of a cloaked figure perched on the leather couch.

"Well somebody had a fun night," she said, leaning her cloaked head back to laugh. He was too hungover to process his anger. He hated how casually she intruded upon him.

"White Wing. Goodmorning," he replied begrudgingly, remembering to close his robe all the way as he pushed himself up onto two feet.

"I can't tell who looks shittier, you or those sheets!" She stifled another giggle beneath her hood as he pulled the comforter off of the floor and onto the bed to cover the remnants of his lovemaking. "Don't worry, I didn't come here just to pester you. Fun as it is."

"Then what do you want at this ungodly hour."

"No 'thank you'? I promised you a spectacle if you came to San Francisco. Did I deliver, or what?

"You did indeed. It turned out to be more eventful than I ever could have imagined."

"Did you have a nice time playing companion with Mina Blue?"

"It was... enlightening." Pechaude's memory of last night was a little bit hazy. But he remembered one thing crystal clear. It was the last thing Mina said to him at the museum, before the chaos erupted.

I'd be more happy to tell you about our newest moonshot invention.. if Ya got 150 million dollars.

"Enlightening in what way?" said White Wing.

"It seems that Dimensions is looking for funding," he said.

White Wing's body stiffened.

"And this interests you?

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Oh em geee, room service!" She squealed, rushing to open the door and hide behind it. A food delivery driver passed Pechaude a piping hot espresso and toast wrapped in tin foil.

"So I know it's not cassoulet, or whatever. But I hope this'll do." she giggled, gliding back to the couch after slamming the door shut.

"Thank you for the breakfast, but really, I'd much prefer to just sleep this off until my flight."

"You aren't flying out today."

"Pardon? Excuse me?"

Without warning, her crimson-cloaked figure rose from the couch. What she did made Pechaude's already furrowed brow deepen with confusion. She began to dance, humming a familiar tune.

"Listen to this, gorge:

Over the air you gently float

Into my soul, you strike a note

You know, Al Capone was really a gifted composer."

The sound rose the throbbing in Pechaude's swollen head.

"Please, my migraine begs of you." Pechaude said, wincing in pain.

"Well honey, you better take something because you need to be in top shape for your big meeting today! Now drink your coffee."

Pechaude looked at her confused. "I have no meetings. I am sleeping. Today."

"Ugh, you can be so fucking frustrating. Did you think I put up with all your bitching and moaning about the academy just so you could come to SF for a stupid art show? What kinda girl do you take me for?" White Wing huffed as she began to pace around the room.

"I'm not dumb. I know how much you fancy Mrs. Blue. And I already knew that they are desperate for funding. I figured $150 million is nothing for my high-rollin' princess, and that's why I've taken the liberty of arranging an investor tour for you. It's in a few hours, your majesty."

Pechaude's eyes bulged with excitement as she spoke, his hangover wiping itself away.

"Honey, you should be super fucking grateful that I'm even willing to go to this extreme for you! Besides, yhis is definitely one of the five ways to get a woman to like you. I think I read it in a Cosmo. Give her enough money that her company won't tank, keep the party going, and the girl is yours! Hell, she might even make you a board member. Then you'll really be a lucky bastard!"