Shadowrun: A Kiss to Die For: A Shadowrun Novella by Jennifer Brozek

Author:Jennifer Brozek [Brozek, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2020-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

Sumiko covered her mouth as she looked at the vid-clip of her kissing Aldric, then dropping the glass of wine as their families’ guards erupted onto the balcony. She looked like every disgraced trid starlet ever caught doing something wrong. “How?”

“One goes to a Tomohito party to be seen. You know he alerts the paparazzi. Of course they’ve got drones watching the parties through the window getting pictures. You’ve seen them in your magazines and on the news. How could you be so careless?” Kimberly shook her head and gestured at the vid-clip.

“No. How did they know I’m supposed to be engaged to Akihito? It hasn’t happened yet.”

Her mother paused, face going neutral, as she took a moment to think.

Sumiko didn’t stop the rage that pushed away her fear and embarrassment. “How did they know? Why do they think I’m already engaged?”

“Because it was announced in one of the Tokyo papers yesterday morning.” She had enough shame to look chagrined. “I guess, in the excitement, we forgot to tell you.”

“Are you kidding? It was publicly announced that I’m going to marry someone, and you didn’t tell me?”

“You’ve known for a long time you were going to marry him.”

Sumiko shook her head. “No. I’ve been told it. But I don’t want to marry him. You’ve never asked me what I want.”

Kimberly frowned. “We know what’s best for you. This is the one way to guarantee you a proper position in society, considering…” She shook her head. “You will marry Akihito Owada in two years. It will happen. You may not be happy at first, but you’ll see your father and I were just doing the best we could…especially with how hurt you were.”

“Considering…?” Sumiko didn’t hide her fury at the implications. “What do you mean “considering”?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, Mother. I don’t. Spell it out for me, since I obviously can’t be trusted to choose my own future.”

“Now you’re just being petty.”

Sumiko grabbed the electronic paper and shook it. “This is petty. I’m talking about my life. I’m surprised they don’t mention I’m mostly made of metal now.” She scanned the article to make sure she was correct. “What would your precious Owadas think of that?”

“They know. They’re the reason you have deltaware and the yearly updates.” Kimberly sighed. “We needed help to fix you. The Owadas…stepped in when they realized you were only a few years younger than Akihito.”

“They bought me?”

“What? No. Of course not.” Kimberly flushed as she turned away.

Sumiko stared at her mother’s back. Her stomach couldn’t decide if it wanted to be sick or just angry. “Was there a contract?”

“A contract?”

She stared at her mother’s back, watching it tense up. “Yes, mother, a contract. One fixed daughter for one marriage into the Owada family. One daughter to play bodyguard for the rest of her life. Was there a contract?”

Kimberly turned around and gazed at Sumiko. It was the kind of look she gave one of the servants when they messed up. “There was a contract, but not those requirements.

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