Mistakes were made

After Violet’s departure, I browsed through the food she had brought. Just as I thought, the plastic bag contained cans. Four cans of dog food to be precise.

I was given a choice of either waking up my inner beast, being hungry, or going out to do some shopping. I picked the last option.

Let’s keep those cans for truly desperate times. There are other things I have to buy anyway.

To kill some time while shopping, I was trying to figure out the right way to handle Vio. As the youngest child, she had some leeway with both sides involved in our home war. However, that didn’t mean that she was in the position of an innocent bystander. From time to time, the emotional shrapnel hit her as well. Finally, she had been half-forced to pick a side and decided to join the less talented one. In other words Victor’s camp.

The problem was that this idiot had been convinced that the whole world was against him and he had ignored her admission form. That put Vio into a precarious situation where she became alienated by almost everyone around her. Only our father, who tried to maintain his neutrality and acted as a buffer zone, was willing to show her some attention and kindness.

Nevertheless, she never went back on her word and was supporting Victor no matter the cost. It was highly unlikely that she was doing it for her own gain. It would be way more profitable for her to support Viktoria or at least become a neutral party like father did.

When I looked at it from an optimistic point of view - she was just a kind girl who took pity on her poor brother and wanted to help him.

When I looked at it from a realistic point of view - as she herself didn’t possess any outstanding talent, she identified with Victor and could see the reflection of her own future in him.

When I looked at it from a pessimistic point of view - she was acting as a spy for Viktoria and provided her with any and all information about Victor plans.

Can I still call Victor an idiot after taking into consideration the risk of a pessimistic point of view?

Actually yeah. I will still call him that no matter what. Even if that was true, instead of rejecting her he should have made an honest attempt to change her mind and convince her to truly join him as an ally.

After seeing Violet today’s reaction I was pretty sure that her stance was somewhere in between the optimistic and the realistic one. Also, the act of spying on Victor was now practically useless as he was defeated a long time ago and chased out from the home.

Anyway, I got distracted and drifted away from the first question. How should I handle Vio?

Victor’s previous stance was like a wall that didn’t retaliate but also never paid her any attention. But I was the one in control now, all I had to do was to grab a big hammer and demolish it piece by piece.

Still, there was a bigger problem. Just who exactly broke into my flat last night and why?

When I was back home, I found an unread message on the smartphone. Vio sent it ten minutes ago. As my jacket's pocket was remarkably vibration-proof and the phone was in a silent mode I didn't notice it till now.

[Are you really willing to pay for EVERYTHING I want?]

I typed a short ‘yes’ and sent it to her. Her answer arrived before I could even unpack one of the bags.

[Took you long enough. What to do ~ What to do ~.]

[Just state your demands I surrender.]

[Hoooo~ my proud scum brother is willing to listen to me? What are you plotting?]

[Not plotting anything. It’s just that… I can’t always fight with my cute younger sister, can I?]

Did I overdo it?

The answer came few minutes after I finished unpacking everything.

[Tomorrow. 1 pm. Café Nirvana. I will make you declare BANKRUPTCY.]

[Yes your highness.]

That was one of the most expensive cafés in the city. She was really aiming for the position of my financial black death. But! This conversation was a precious gem that I saved and moved into a new folder titled ‘My little sister can’t be that easy to tame?!’.

When I gave it a second thought, I decided to change that folder’s name to ‘Precious memories’. Otherwise, if this phone was to ever fall into her hands it would start a little apocalypse. That was a coward’s move I know. But it couldn’t be helped. I was really starting to think of this little devil as my own little sister.

As an afterthought of the yesterday's dilemma, I sent a message to Silvie.

[Can we meet? - Victor]

Short and simple. Let’s hope for a positive answer.

I still haven't found a solution to help her on a personal level, but other than that it is the best way to obtain more precious info. I even bought a tribute to get on her good side. All girls love sweets right?

After the shopping, cooking, and grooming it was getting close to noon. Since I was running out of things to do from my list, I started planning the future.

For tomorrow I have a scheduled meeting with Vio. As for Monday - let’s try going to school. Victor’s suspension period ended some time ago. And for the rest of today, maybe doing some physical exercises and...

*Ding*

A single ring of a doorbell.

Vio? No way. Viktoria? I hope not. Silvie? That was fast, she had to run here in a hurry.

*Ding* *Ding*

“Coming.”

On the other side of the door stood a tall woman in a beige coat. One that would cause 5… maybe 6 out of 10 men to turn their heads. I gave her an extra point for the pretty, long, silver hair flowing down her shoulders.

“Good morning Mr. Ando.”

“Ehmm… good morning.”

Another person who knows me and there is still not even a small trace of her in Vic’s memories. This is getting really annoying.

“Can I come inside?”

“Yea-, Yes of course.”

I waited for her to remove the coat and winter boots and led her to the living room. I was also curious about the long cardboard tube she held under her arm.

“Tea? Coffee?”

“Thank you, but there’s no need. Let’s get this over with Mr. Ando.”

Get over what? Should I play it by ear and pretend that I know everything or press the stop button?

Too many mysteries all around me, let’s press the button.

“Mr. Ando?”

“Yes, of course, let’s get it over with. Let’s start with your name. Who are you?”

The woman… wasn't surprised? I was expecting some kind of drastic reaction or at least a little bafflement. But there was nothing. She simply gave me a curious look as if looking at an interesting specimen.

“Forgive me Mr. Ando, but it’s not a good idea to lie to me like that. I would prefer not to take this matter to the court and I’m sure you want to avoid it as well. If we take into con-”

“Please, wait a moment.”

“Yes, let’s not talk about the matter of law. After all-”

“No, no. Stop. I didn’t mean it like that. I really don’t know who are you or what are you talking about.”

“I’m really sorry, but even if that is true it won’t change the fact that our agreement still stands.”

She passed me the tube and took out a piece of paper from her bag.

“Now I’ve kept my part of the deal. This painting is all yours, Mr. Ando. All according to our contract.”

Agreement? Painting? Contract?

That paper she had was identical to the one that Silvie had shown me yesterday. Even the names of the parties involved were the same.

“I will give you a week to transfer the money to the given account. I trust that there won’t be any problems on your side - Mr. Ando - and we won’t have to involve your family into this.”

Scamming me and stuff, with that I can easily cope, but why is this woman trying to include Silvie into this?

“I’m not paying.”

The everlasting smile on that woman’s face got stronger right after my denial as if she was waiting for those words.

“In that case Mr. Ando we will meet in the court. As it is stated in our contract, in case you’re not able, or refuse to pay, the legal action-”

“This contract is invalid.”

“Poor excuses. For someone from the Ando family, such behavior is really unbecoming and...”

She didn’t listen, just kept on blabbering useless stuff.

“Silvie Toril is a minor so this contract is invalid.”

I wanted her to realize that I'm not as much of an idiot as she thought I was.

“Oh dear me. That’s really flattering. Do I really look that young?”

“What?”

“Mr. Ando, that Silvie Toril you’re talking about is me.”

“Impossible. Silvie’s a young girl.”

“Oh! I got it. Did you by chance confuse our names during the meeting on the rooftop? The girl you’re talking about is my daughter Aurora.”

She passed me her ID. I was speechless. It had her photo and the name Silvie Toril on it.

Did I really make such a huge mistake?

“One week. Don’t try to make any more foolish excuses Mr. Black Sheep.”

She dropped the act and her fake smile. It actually helped me to shake off the daze.

“Still… the contract is invalid.”

“Yes, yes. The court will decide it.”

“I’m a minor you know?”

“Hah! You’ve run out of jokes? Don’t try to make this old lady laugh, it won’t help you to pay off the debt.”

Instead of arguing with her I pulled out the provisional driving license from my wallet. And showed it to her in a way that made it look like a real one.

“Mr. Ando? I already saw it during our last meeting. This only proves that you’re lying.”

I removed the fingers from the distinctive part.

“Is this your old one? You won’t fool me with it. I already checked and know that you’re eighteen.”

Huh?! Was I wrong even about Victor’s real age?! Impossible!

“Ms. Toril I’ve got no idea where did you find such bullshit info, but I’m still seventeen.”

“I see that there’s no further point in talking with you Mr. Ando. I tried to be polite. Goodbye, we will meet again in the court.”

After using the word ‘court’ on me, for the same reason as one used ‘heal’ on the undead, she took her stuff and left the flat.

“Just what the hell… seriously.”

I fell without strength on the chair and accidentally knocked down the cardboard tube from the table. It rolled away somewhere far, at least for now I had no mental power left to pay it any attention.

Now that I think about it, yesterday she had never told me her name. I wonder how many other mistaken deductions I've made?

High time to put on my ‘dunce’ hat.