Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 192 - Making Friends Just To Fight With Them

A set of twin hair buns escorts us back toward the entrance and sees us off. I find myself walking beside my new... shall we call her a friend at this point? Anyway, I travel without a direction of my own for a while.

Assuming she is walking to her place and wanting to make sure she makes it there. Though when I ask, I learn she was just walking wherever! And then she begins to just talk and talk once I opened that ’door’.

About this and that, like she had been holding back the whole time I was eating before. I learn more about her that I’m not sure has much value, but does seem to make her smile to talk about.

> She’s a happy-go-lucky person... unless you deny her alcohol. I’ll remember that. <

"Oh right, about this modeling opportunity... the shoot they are doing is supposed to happen over the next few weeks, and they’re really desperate for someone who fits what they’re looking for."

After finishing a particular story regarding the Kiyomi woman I’ll now never meet, she suddenly drops this on me. Carefully, I test the name of the sort of work on my tongue, comparing it against everything else going on.

"Modeling..."

A blue pulse from the checkmark reminds me that the system is always listening. And that it seems to always know what I am likely to want to do.

"Yes. Though not the runway kind. This is catalog work for their winter formal collection, so the crowd there will all be project staff. Three main shoots over about a month."

Taking a moment to glance at the new Task, I scratch at the side of my face and sigh.

"And you think I could do this... why, exactly?"

"Because you walked into my boutique with a presence. Didn’t care about the many costume changes I put you through both times you were there. Posed in front of my mirrors like people’s eyes should stop and look. And best of all, because you photograph beautifully."

On her phone is the photo she just took in the garden. Even in the questionable lighting, I admit that Helene’s form does come across as very appealing. I’d even love to say that it is objectively less than my old human body...

> But having been inside this look for this long, I’m starting to feel it is only a subjective difference. Then and now, I’m sure I could turn heads when I try. <

"Look, if you weren’t exactly what they need, I wouldn’t recommend you. I wouldn’t even be talking to you about this if I thought you’d never do it. This is business. I’m nice, but I’m not someone who is going to waste everyone’s time."

"...What would it pay?

I don’t expect it will be an amount that I actually need... and the system is already giving me a reason to go through with it. Whatever reward it gives my have serious impacts on how my future goes.

However, she speaks a figure that makes my eyebrows rise. It’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the crypto which Claire worked on selling for me. But it still feels significant by this world’s standards.

"That’s... more than I expected. Even for an estimate."

> If I hadn’t made the other funds, it would certainly have provided me with independence and the ability to pay Kyrie back. Though I’d have nothing much to prepare for the Apocalypse with. <

Realizing I might have come to lean on the woman even more if that were the case, I internally pray for a good rebirth for the soul of the hunter whose treasures I took... as well as for JP. If he’s still alive or not does not matter, I can still hope for their next time!

"There are a lot of factors in your favor despite you being new to the field. Rush booking, desperation, and when you show them you can perform well... they are going to have no qualms paying the going rates of a professional. Plus you have no agency taking a cut, yet."

I tap my fingers against the side of my thigh. I still feel like the opportunity seems almost too convenient, and considering the system’s engagement with it I am kind of feeling strongarmed into doing it, but...

"Why didn’t you mention this before? When I was at the boutique last time?"

"You mean when the... lovely Miss Whitecrest showed up before I was through with you? When the two of you held a conversation that looked like two military trained knife fighters trying to eviscerate each other?"

Her reminder makes me wince. I did kind of storm out after that...

"Yes, what in the world was I thinking not telling you of the opportunity in front of the biggest weaponized gossip monger in this city. I-"

My hand grips her waist and I pull her far away from the roadway. She’d gotten a little theatrical with her waving gestures just now - and looked like she was about to slip off the curb.

"O-okay. I get it. I apologize for misunderstanding, so please calm down."

A hand slaps repeatedly on my shoulder with a toothy smile. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s annoying, so I wince and squint at the pale blues that seem so amused from up close.

"And this is why I waited! You think that woman would have tried to save me? She probably would not have pushed me out further - she’s less evil than all that. But she *would* have made things difficult before you got an opportunity to show your stuff."

"Did you just endanger yourself on purpose?"

"Well, I wanted to see how you handled yourself in different situations. Confidence in a fitting room doesn’t always translate to what you’ll be put through on set. Though I am just a teensy bit past where I should have gotten."

Her index and thumb squeeze together before she mimes taking a drink and laughs. All that ’gentle mixed with firm’ advice she’d given me about relationships when she was on the job... now feels like a lie.

> Do what I say, not what I do. <

If she wants to ’mother’ me, then she is clearly the kind who embodies that sort of phrase which the Queen Mother loved - in our own language’s form of it. This time her hands grab firmly onto my shoulders and she gets much, much too close.

"By the way, your jacket and shorts are just awful. Awful awful. Please do not wear them to the test interview."

I want to be happy about finally getting to her with my choice of clothing, but the smell of sweet alcohol and fish on her breath is very unpleasant. I lightly place my hand over her mouth and push her gently away.

"If I go through with this, I will not intentionally try to ruin your reputation. Do not worry."

"Good. Just because those two things did not matter at all to one of the most powerful people in the city... while you took charge of her? Oh yes, I think you can handle a few bossy photographers."

Pulling out my phone and turning on the camera flash, I stun her with it and storm off. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

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