Her ankles were killing her after the gala. The high heels made her look even prettier than usual, but for beauty you pay a price and she was willing to pay a hefty price to look her best today.
Missandra took the shoes and placed them next to the bed. Then she ordered a champagne bottle and two glasses, with a side of fresh strawberries. She expected company and champagne was her go to celebratory drink. She was confident that there would be a lot to celebrate tonight.
She changed the TV to the news channel where the announcement would be, then she checked her makeup and reapplied her perfume. She wanted this night to be perfect. She wanted herself to be perfect. That's why she bought this apartment, just for today.
The white modern decor filled the room with an eccentric mood, the bonsai and the flowers breathed fresh air and the real wood was polished enough to reflect. Rose petals were sprinkled around the bed and the TV. The pink lights dimply illuminated the room and since she paid for premium lodging, the playlist of music adapted to the mood inside. Right now, it was serene but expecting.
She was in the midst of her second glass when her date came. An idolstar, a part of a famous singing group. He was her beloved from the moment she first saw their show. He was extremely charming and handsome, his toned body pushing against the tight suit he came in with. His beaming smile and long hair finishing his looks like a cherry on a cake.
"I am sorry for the delay, there was a shoot-out on the way and I simply had to watch." he said eloquently.
"You kept me waiting." She extended her arm and he gently grabbed it and kissed her fingers. Then she motioned him to sit next to her.
She was getting all tingley just by his mere presence. She was so close to the life she envisioned for herself when she was young. She was a step from fulfilling her promise.
"Strawberry?" asked Mihung as he handed her the chocolate covered fruit. She bit into a seductively, keeping the eye contact between them. Feeling the fresh and sweet taste of the fruit made her purr. Older she might have been, Missandra took care of herself very carefully. Be it the natural yoga, or the plethora of implants and tech-ups she acquired. Her beauty did not betray her now, when she saw the young man gulp at her lustful actions. But she would rail it down again, she wanted to see her speech before they got to the main act.
The music turned playful and romantic as she licked the rest of the chocolate off of the idol's fingers.
The boy regained his composure fairly quick, grabbing a glass and hefting it to the air.
"To your success, mistress."
To that she could drink.
The night was even better than she though it would be. She was getting hot and her restraints kept slipping under the boys tries to unclothe her. But she held off long enough as her speech was just to be broadcasted.
"We are happy to announce the launch of our processing language and sense unit rapid enhancer! P.L.E.A.S.U.R.E. is there for your enjoyment! Finely tuned for deepening the experience and increasing the strength of satisfaction!" Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Never again will your days feel mundane and empty!"
The speech continued and the waves of cheers and celebration increased with every point she was making. This was her triumph, her ticket to the elite.
A well-known journalist now stood up, asking the question Missandra answered perfectly.
"Hello, John Forward, Our Technik Daily, I have a question about the inner workings of this tech-up and the potential unwanted side-effects of the device?"
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Hello, yes. The potential side-effects were our primary concern as thsey are for every piece of technology directly connected and working with the brain. We have undergone numerous tests and trials to gouge out the potential glitches and I am happy to say, that we have made strides to having next to no glitches. Our test subjects have reported light headaches and harmless fever, which have both been amended. Additionally, with our warranty of over two years, you are eligible for a full brain transplant if needed, so you have nothing to worry."
The scene shifted back to the news anchor.
"The P.L.E.A.S.U.R.E. has taken world by storm, her company's stocks had almost reached the height of Fell-tech, and more and more people flock to the brain implant, promising to better even the average aspects of life. We will continue to monitor this occurrence and report any additional news. Next, game of sex or game of death, what is really happening in Harpers grove?..."
What would her younger self say?
She was sitting in a luxurious suite, with the personification of an ideal man, her success branded on every news channel and billboards anyone could see. She was the most important person for a full day in the whole of Rogue City.
She would say that their efforts weren't in vain, that all their sacrifices meant and led to something.
Suddenly Mihung's phone started ringing and he excused himself to answer it.
She prepared everything for the moment he came. She dressed down to her undergarments, prepared a couple of wax candles, popped a pill and turned the TV volume down. Everything was ready, Mihung would thank the god himself for leading him to this night. Even the music understood and turned to seductive and erotic songs.
At least it should have happened, but Mihung didn’t come back.
Even with drugs coursing through her veins Missandra grew restless and angry, the tone in music reflecting it with some harsh metal. How could the little boy spoil the biggest night in her life like this? She looked everywhere for him, but he wasn’t in the suite, he must have left.
She decided that she had to ruin his life after that. Nobody had the option to go against her wishes, especially now.
To blow off some steam, she sat down back at the TV again. She turned on some soap opera reality show, she was still too angry to understand anything that happened there.
Suddenly, the news came on.
"We are interrupting the transmission to dire news. The new brain tech-up known as P.L.E.A.S.U.R.E. has taken its first victims and more are dying every minute."
The image of a body with an exploded head showed behind the anchors. Missandra's heart froze.
"There are currently fort-eight known casualties with at least two hundred in critical condition and the number keeps rising. The announcement of this brain-device took place…"
Missandra's flooded with questions.
But we had so many tests, we did everything we could…how could it…how could I…
The music in the suite took on an ominous vibe, the lights turned red.
"New information arrived, explaining that interference with negatively charged electromagnetic poles is causing the devices to explode. This is the biggest mistake of the 22nd century, experts say. Even more in hospitals…"
Her heart couldn’t stop beating, the sound of it washing over her.
"You lost," she heard a familiar voice say. "I am coming…"
Images of people dying with exploded heads flashed through her mind, but she did not care.
Frantically searching on the tablet she looked at her company's stocks. They were lower than ever and still dropping.
The music started to build-up, its ominous sounds scraping her spine.
She was a step away from the life she wanted, but she fell down.
There still was a bottle of pills on the table and it called out to her. She hurriedly agreed.
She emptied the bottle, gulping down each and every pill.
As her mind started disconnecting, it flashed with images past. Her childhood, her father leaving, her making a deal with a demon, with a corporation that would help her if she proved useful, but would own her soul. She signed.
And now her lifeless body dropped an empty pill container to the ground, as the music reached its crescendo.