Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 178 - Paying Back And Paying Forward

"Is it required that I let you set everything up, or can I waive that process and just have the package left inside my apartment to deal with on my own? My current mattress won’t be going anywhere."

"Ah, a DIY enthusiast. Yes, we of course allow for threshold delivery. Our workers will just put the items where you designate and get out of your hair. It also opens up more options since I won’t need to assign a full crew and that will lower the delivery fee."

"That sounds acceptable."

I gave her the Perigee Residences information, then prepared to hand over the white bank card. Technically, Claire set up the ability to pay with a digital wallet that is connected to my new online account. But I’ve never used it before and want to remain professional feeling!

> Fumbling with phone screens until I figure out how to do it how she showed me is not how I want to end this shopping experience. I’ll practice and pay for my own lunch directly. Don’t give me that... that ’it doesn’t matter either way’ look! <

Ignoring the smug huff of my wolf, I simply sign a few forms and take the receipts when she is finished processing everything. I barely blink at the exorbitant cost... which is still slightly less than the first and last month’s rent plus deposit I just paid.

You know, the fact that I can go from stressing about less than two thousand for the container itself to thinking of a couple thousand dollars as ’slightly less’ than anything... is kind of frightening. Is this what wealth does to people?

> I’m losing this world’s scale already. I might pick somewhere cheap to eat before I go to work on the shelving. Also... <

C: [I have another favor to ask that isn’t very pressing. Without letting your boss know, can you please help me figure out a way to tally everything I now owe her ever since she provided me access to her funds?]

Hesitating only two seconds before pressing send, I found myself thinking about the container. About my attempt at creating a safe space for the future that wasn’t just functional for survival, but actually livable if I can locate a place to put it.

Maybe even comfortable enough to invite someone over and show her my preparations... Show her the not-magic trick - pulling the whole container into nothing and out again - that I can use to prove how serious I am about my claims.

> I’ll pay down my debt with my money and also pay her back with some of the truth. Knowledge that she can use to ready her people. <

"Yes, her people. Not mine. This is her kingdom... her world. And I’m just a visitor."

My father was never a big proponent of paying back more than you were expected to. He always told me that giving too much becomes expected - until you can afford to give nothing.

Honestly, I agree. Even if his assertion had always sounded to me like an excuse. One he was giving me... for why he forced my brother into changing his way of interacting with me. Advice that perhaps I should not-

"Oh, that smells good."

My introspection was broken by the scent of grilling chicken.

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

Davie arrived right on schedule with a truck full of shelving units and accessories. I met him at the warehouse service door, trying to look like someone expecting a delivery rather than someone who’d been stress-eating street vendor chicken.

> Pretty sure I got all of the sauce off me. <

"Got everything you ordered loaded up. You want me to help set it up, or just drop it inside?"

"Just inside the door against the wall is perfect. My workers are running a bit late - personal issues. I’ll remember you offered if necessary, but we can handle the assembly on their time instead of yours. I know you were black-mailed into this."

He nodded and began unloading box after box of steel shelving components. I’d already stored the shipping container in the Stash and covered all the stuff I had sitting out in excess plastic sheeting that, hopefully, wouldn’t look too suspicious.

The pile grew impressively large by the door and I started to wonder if I’d overestimated my ability to put this all together in any sort of reasonable timeframe. Or... correctly at all. I take solace in the fact that Helene’s memories suggest all things like this come with instructions.

> I can at least follow those. I may be ignorant, but I have the capability to learn. You should pay attention while I do it instead of nap, you might- <

"You sure you don’t need a hand? This is... a lot of hardware for... a small crew to manage without knowing how to put them together."

Squinting at his insistence, I start to believe that Claire may have said something to make him stay and help. If so, I wish she would not have... though I feel like she would understand that I would not appreciate it.

So maybe this isn’t about Lunarizon’s tech savvy assistant. And that’s all the more reason to refuse him.

"We’ll be fine. It’s better that they learn how it goes together so they know how to reassemble every section. Thank you, though."

After I answer and he looks mildly disappointed, the answer to what this might be about pops into my head. It was a similar look that my street ear would give when I didn’t have anything extra for him to get up to.

> He was looking for a way to get extra money, like she said. <

As he was heading for the truck, I searched in my clutch and pulled out some of the loose cash I’d kept inside it. Not all that much, considering my new total wealth - but enough to have fed myself chicken for two weeks easily.

"One moment, Davie."

"Yeah? Did you change your mind?"

I caught him after he started the engine and... he leaned out of the truck window a little too excitedly. Not the same kind of ’dog’ energy exactly as his cousin, but I could picture a wagging tail without any issue.

"Not exactly. But I’ve appreciated your assistance today and a certain... ’attack human’ had informed me that you were gathering money for a certain purpose."

"...Did she... wait-"

From uncomfortable, to startled, to happy, and then back to uncomfortable. He shakes his head after about six seconds to the $500 I was trying to hand to him without any stated conditions. Something he easily should have considered a generous tip.

"No, I can’t take that. I need to work for it or else it won’t mean as much."

> Respectable. But he doesn’t really have the time for that anymore, does he? Though making him ’waste’ his money on traditions when survival is upcoming... <

As my wolf whines, I just pull my arm back and smile - just a little brittle - at the thought of people other than me facing what is coming. In a way, such an unavoidable fate is no different than the pregnancy of mine.

Something whose truth and reality will strain all relationships. Conditions will change for everyone. And new decisions will be made for what is now their opinion of their best interest.

"Then, how about I just send a nice gift after she says yes. How about that?"

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