Chapter 101: affiliate
The flicker of candles had faded in Clara’s apartment, their lavender scent lingering, replaced by the warm aroma of freshly baked microwave crackers and tangy fruit juice.
Clara moved with a quiet grace, setting a plate of snacks—crisp crackers, sliced cheese, and grapes—on the low glass table in her living room, the late evening light filtering through tall windows, casting golden streaks across the plush rugs.
Her white hair, still slightly damp from a post-massage shower, hung in loose waves, framing her mature, voluptuous figure, now draped in a silky jade bath gown, its hem brushing her thighs, the fabric clinging to her curves.
Her green eyes, warm but tinged with a quiet melancholy, met his as she poured two glasses of orange juice, the liquid glinting in the soft glow of a nearby lamp.
Kael sat on the adjacent sofa, his dark tee and jeans back on, the bottle of massage oil tucked away, his hazel eyes carrying a mix of satisfaction and lingering tension.
His body was relaxed, but his mind churned, Clara noticed that.
She handed him a glass, her fingers brushing his, a faint spark of their earlier intimacy flaring, her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"So, Kael," she said, settling beside him, her gown slipping slightly to reveal a glimpse of cleavage, her voice a soft tease. "How’s your setup doing?"
Kael sipped the juice, its tart sweetness grounding him, and leaned back, his grin wry but hopeful.
"Almost back on track," he said, his voice low, steady. "Freya and Rhea are in, and I’ve got a plan for a superhero team. But I need one more thing before I can start—an affiliation with a doctor or clinic." He paused, his hazel eyes meeting hers, a flicker of hesitation in their depths.
"Know any cheap ones? I’m not exactly swimming in cash."