Test of Strength (6)

It was close to midday when Iris woke up. And it wasn't even due to herself. A certain fluffy creature was walking over her legs and meowing. She raised her sleep-heavy head and looked at the noise maker.

Lucy glared at her with his dark blue eye. Upon noticing her awake, he chose to come over and share his displeasure straight at her face.

"You're heavy," she told him in a muffled voice when he sat down just below her neck. Iris felt like her chest might cave in at any moment from the weight he put on it.

As she was about to push him away, a pair of hands came and lifted Lucy off. The black furball meowed in complaint, his tail swishing threateningly, but did not claw at Kyro.

Iris glanced at the owner and his pet, and couldn't help a chuckle that escaped her. The two shared an identical frown, as if competing on who could pull it off better. When they heard her make a noise, they turned as one, their eyes narrowing.

Self-preservation kicked in, and Iris thought to jump away, but she was too late. In a fraction of a second, Kyro put away Lucy and rolled over to catch her in place. "And what were you laughing at just now?" he asked in a mild-mannered voice, as if they were conversing casually on the street.

"N-nothing," Iris staggered out, her cheeks going red. He was way too close, keeping her caged between himself and the bed as he loomed over her. "I n-need to…"

No time was given for her to finish. Kyro lowered his head, and their lips met. A little surprised, but not unwilling, Iris answered with awkward eagerness.

When they finished, Iris was all flushed and out of breath. She escaped the bedroom on swift feet, not forgetting to send Lucy a threatening glance. The evil cat had rolled off the bed the moment she stood up and was already hobbling to the kitchen and his food bowl. Next to it, he meowed again, demanding his food.

"I have the mind to just ignore you," she told him as she took out his wet food and poured it into his bowl.

After that, she made coffee while Kyro took a shower, and they sat down to eat breakfast. "Is it going to be okay if you miss work today?" she asked carefully.

Kyro looked at her, a tight smile on his lips. "A bit too late for that, don't you think?" Half of the day was already gone. "I'll just have to make up for it tomorrow."

"You're gonna work overtime again?"

As she asked that, a strange glint passed through Kyro's eyes. Instead of answering, he looked at her, like really looked. His gaze seemed to be trying to see right through her.

"What is it?" she asked, shifting in place uncomfortably.

There was no way that this was her fault. Gale had arranged that night out, so why was Kyro looking like that at her?

"How much do you dislike public events?"

"Public events?" Iris thought about it, not really seeing the connection. "I don't care for them, but I don't think I dislike them?"

"Then would you be willing to attend a gala with me?" Kyro asked, his voice neutral, not showing anything that was on his mind.

Iris' first reaction was to refuse—she would feel beyond out of place in there—but then she bit her lip. Was that really the right choice? If she wanted to stay with Kyro, didn't that mean she would have to start going to events like that? It would be beyond weird if she never appeared in public.

"What if anyone looks into who I am?" she asked instead of replying.

"I'll think of something, don't worry about that."

"Mhm…" If ignoring that problem, she didn't have any good reason to not go. "I guess fine then…"

She wasn't too comfortable with it, but with Kyro, it might be okay. No one would care about her anyway. It wasn't like she was some kind of celebrity or anything. Who would ever bother with her?

Even if Iris knew she was lying to herself, it was better than nothing. Otherwise she might chicken out.

"What's the event for?" she asked to distract herself from the thoughts of journalists and being under everyone's scrutiny.

"Charity. It's an annual event held by Dioscuri to create a good public image. All the money collected is donated to abandoned and disabled children."

"That's nice," Iris murmured, her fear level rising by a notch. Annual event? It was even more prestigious and out of her league than she'd thought!

Still, she hid her discomfort and nodded in acquiescence. It would all be for the better. Didn't she say she wasn't going to hide anymore?

With a deep breath, she calmed herself and asked, "When is it going to be held?"

"Saturday," Kyro said, looking a little awkward. "I know it's a little late, but I kind of forgot all about it…"

Iris wondered if she could still refuse. There was only two days left! She didn't have a dress, let alone the confidence to pull it off!

"You don't need to worry, I'll—"

The phone rang, and Iris stared at it with a death glare. Could Jane actually have come again? Just how much self-assurance did that woman have to be able to visit a man with a girlfriend every day like that?

"There's a package for you," the guard said. "Do you want to come pick it up here, or should I let the deliverer come to your place?"

"Is that deliverer the woman from before?" Iris asked, her voice dropping by a few degrees.

"No, she's not around."

Someone actually just sent them a package? Iris glanced at Kyro, who was watching her with a little surprise, then started saying "Okay" when there was a sound of a car horn from outside.

"Jane F. Norwood wishes to visit your residence. She said Kyro Hemming will want to see her."

With a pained heart, Iris looked at the man by her side. He looked clueless about her distaste and just nodded his head.

"Let her in," Iris said.

There was a slight worry in her heart, but she didn't think Kyro would do anything to embarrass her. And if it came to it, he should take her side.

At that thought, her eyes lit up with interest. Maybe this was a god-given chance for her to show that woman who mattered more here.