CHAPTER 28: ZERO SURVIVAL INSTINCT

"I appreciate your efforts in helping my career, as well as you keeping Hailie happy. But if you are so concerned about the timetable differences between you and my little sister, then you can come live at our mansion."

Eirlys said blankly and coldly, as if that was the most normal invite ever, to just let a random pervert she only met once live with them, maybe she wasn’t threatened because I’m not a fat 50-year-old IT guy? Oh you sweet summer child.

"Wouldn’t your parents say anything?" I asked, recalling how unlike most filthy rich people, the Sonders were not divorced.

"They live in a seperate mansion." Eirlys answered casually.

I paused, staring at her for a good five seconds.

"You guys own two mansions?"

"If you only count domestic, correct."

...

Yeah no I’m not asking any further. I will just... Yeah, no, ignorance is bliss, ignorance is bliss, let us be reminded of that, ignorance is bliss.

I was directed outside quite immediately, I wanna get my stuff first, but Eirlys said she’ll take care of it, and it would be a waste of her resources to wait for me and pick me up on a separate occasion, considering that she was free right now to give me a tour of the mansion.

"I will research through that data package bug you mentioned in the car." She said, her giga boobs bouncing as she walked.

Outside of my apartment was another bodyguard, totalling two already.

Eirlys’ chauffeur opened the back door of the limousine for her like she was some kind of foreign dignitary, I didn’t say anything as I climbed in after her—assuming that my stinky ass was even allowed to sit in this thing—still in the hoodie with nothing below and some sweatpants I hurriedly put on before leaving, which I think I already washed?

The limousine’s interior was less "car" and more "private lounge," decked out with soft leather seats that felt kind of offensive compared to my living room, and thin purple LED lights that glowed in chaotic patterns.

I sat awkwardly next to Eirlys, leaving a gap between us like I was a stranger who might accidentally stink up her beautiful suit.

I suddenly felt dirty and filthy for some reason, for the first time ever since years? I started to get worried about my sandals, was it dirty? Would the floormats be ruined? Should I even lean back on the seat? Should I even put my butt down? Maybe I should just kneel...

I glanced over at Eirlys Sonder to make sure that she wasn’t giving me that look of disapproval you see in dirty old man hentai, but she didn’t seem to mind. She had fucking... What the- collapsable table? In front of her seat, and was using an iPad with keyboard and mouse to scroll through emails. Her heels were crossed perfectly, and I swear I didn’t hear a single wrinkle move on her suits.

"Do I smell bad?" I asked.

"I do not smell anything from you." She answered lengthily.

...

"You’re not kidnapping to torture me, right?"

"I am not."

...

"What’s the deal with airplane food?"

"I never used commercial aviations."

...

Fucking awkward.

"What about my apartment?"

"I already told the movers to collect your things," Eirlys said, not even looking up. "Try not to panic, I requested them to throw away anything wet."

"... Define wet."

She spared me a glance, then returned to texting. "If the mover deemed it unthinkable to pack."

Alright, no more small talk then, fuck you.

The drive lasted about thirty minutes, and twenty of it was on the highway. Looking outside the tinted windows, my eyes gazed upon a world that was blurred into a vague clear sky and rich people sky-high buildings, we were in that part of the city where securities and government interest were at the highest, the part that made up only 1% of the populace, but 90% of the income and 50% of businesses and malls.

I was half-convinced the house we stopped in front of was a museum or some kind of embassy... The wheels stopped rolling in front of a walled estate covered in ivy, with a black metal gate that opened without a sound. The car pulled up to a stone path lined with glowing white garden orbs, and then we were there: The Sonder’s mansion, one of them at least.

Eirlys stepped out first, her heels making the softest taps against the polished driveway, and I followed like a stray mutt, just wasn’t sure if I should be amazed or overwhelmed.

The air smelled like lilies and something faintly... Citrus? Metallic? How does that mix? Maybe from the orchard I glimpsed behind the gates. I followed the heiress (I think she was) as we walked through the tall, intimidating double doors, painted marble white with gold veins, filthy rich smell.

The main hall was ridiculous, there was a chandelier hanging above with such brightness and intricacy that some illuminati astronaut must have unalive a star with dynamites and froze the explosion in glass.

There was a staircase that split halfway up into two curling paths, I took great noticed of these floors, floors that were so shiny I could see the crust of my hoodie reflected in them, and I immediately understood that I was the dirtiest object in this entire structure. Hell, if I find a rat in here, bro would probably gag upon smelling me.

On either side of the entrance, there were modern sculptures of strange abstract shapes that probably cost more than I’d made in my life.

The carpet in the hallway alone probably had better texture resolution than those in the Darkmoon Adventure PC version.

Wow, I’m that chronically online, huh.

"This place has thirty-six rooms," Eirlys said off-handedly as she led me inside, her heels barely making a sound on the tiles. "You’ll be staying on the third floor, west wing. You may direct your attention to the head butler, Hamilton, for any questions."

She didn’t slow down as we passed a room that looked like a private library, inside were tall dark shelves filled with leatherbound volumes, all perfectly arranged by height, the otherside was a fireplace glowed quietly under a painting of a golden field.

Then there was the dining hall: so lengthy that I couldn’t see the other end, with a table that could seat thirty. One wall was just floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the backyard... There was a koi pond, of-fucking-course there was a koi pond.

"Gym’s over there," she said, pointing to a room with mirrored walls and black mats. "Pool’s outside, sauna’s next to the home theater. But no food in the VR pods or the game room, I’m strict about that."

"You’ve got pods?" I asked, voice cracking like I was a teenage boy seeing his first boob.

"... We manufacture them so yes, you’ll get a new one in your room, I think the one in your apartment is in need of extensive deep cleaning."

I nodded, trying not to sound amazed or insulted, instead I glanced my eye back at the giant mansion.

We took a turn into the west wing, where everything felt quieter. The hallway here was dimmer, softer, and doors on either side were labeled not with numbers, but names. I saw a lot of strange names, perhaps the workers here? And at the end of the hallway, there was one said "Eirlys" in calligraphy, another had nothing yet, and like 3 more empty room down the spacious and empty, soulless hall.

"This one shall be yours," she said, stopping in front of a door and handing me a keycard, "You can decorate however you want. We’ve got an interior designer on call if you’re that kind of person."

"We’re... We’re neighbors?"

SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR A GL PLOT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Ahem.

I kept my composure and nodded as I received the high-tech keycard, grateful and weirdly nervous... I wonder if I can modify this keycard to open any room in this entire mansion? It would be absolutely nice.

Entering the room for the first time, I saw that it was absurdly clean with minimalist furniture, all smooth corners and matte surfaces. And a door that led to a personal bathroom.

Some-fucking-how, a random room that no one uses was more decked-out than my apartment.

There was a window the size of a movie screen overlooking the garden, no pod was installed yet, and my PC build wasn’t here... Now this is boring.

I wonder if I get my own butler or servant? Like a cute girl that wears a maid dress and address me as "madam" or "master" while bowing and cleaning my room with white lingerie... Oh god stop it, stop it Cory Jay Smith, you are embarrassing yourself with these thoughts.

I looked at Eirlys, who was uninterested in me, and was texting something on her phone, I guess that was the end of her free time?

Before I could say anything, I heard something coming from the hallway.

"Sister! I made a perfume for you! And... gasp, Cor... CORY?!"

The familiar voice of Hailie Sonder.

I turned around to see her, and my jaws dropped.