Chapter 224: Selling Him Out for Gold Coins...
Nora Nash smiled. "Wait until I get an Energy Stone tomorrow and put it in. You’ll see."
"You just put it in? That’s all it takes?"
"No, I still need to add a few finishing touches."
Faye Yardley said, "Oh," and after examining the wooden puppet carefully one more time, she handed it back. At the same time, she pulled two Energy Stones from her backpack. "Energy Stones, I’ve got some. One for the puppet, and one for you."
A flash of surprise crossed Nora Nash’s eyes. He took the wooden puppet and the Energy Stones, putting them away before raising his glass for a sip. Then he stood up. "Your private stash is always full of surprises. Well, I’m heading next door. Just call me if you need anything."
"Okay. But you didn’t just come over to talk about this puppet, did you?"
After all, he probably wouldn’t have mentioned the puppet before it was finished if Faye hadn’t asked first.
Nora Nash took two steps forward, raising his hand only to let it fall again. He smiled. "I just came to check on you, to see if you were having trouble settling in or if anything felt off. But now that I’m here, I can see I was overthinking it. You seem like the kind of person who can make herself comfortable anywhere."
’Looking up at him while I’m sitting down puts me at a real disadvantage,’ Faye Yardley thought. She shot to her feet. "Ha, thanks for the compliment. Let me see you out."
"Tsk, and here I thought you’d at least let me stay to finish my drink."
"If you want to drink it, then hurry up and finish it."
Of course, Nora Nash didn’t pick up the glass again, nor did he let her see him out. It was only a few steps anyway, and with a stride of his long legs, he was gone.
Before leaving, he did remember to snap his fingers, breaking the isolation Barrier that had enclosed the pool.
The moment he was gone, Bella Dillon transformed with a WHOOSH and leaped onto the pool deck. Wrapping a towel around herself, she stormed into the living room and pointed at Faye Yardley. "You—you traitor! You put some guy before your friend! You just sat there and watched him bully me! And here you are, drinking and laughing with him. How could you do this to me?!"
"What are you talking about? You looked like you were having so much fun in the pool, I didn’t have the heart to interrupt you."
Bella Dillon snorted. Fuming, she plopped down on the sofa, snatched the wine glass from Faye Yardley’s hand, and downed it in one gulp.
Then, Faye Yardley watched as her skin flushed from pale to pink. Her eyes glazed over, her head lolled to one side, and just like that, she passed out.
"You’ve got to be kidding me. Your tolerance is that bad? From the way you just chugged that, I’d have thought you could drink anyone under the table."
Faye Yardley grumbled to herself for a moment before sighing. She hoisted Bella up, tossed her onto the large bed in the guest room, and pulled the covers over her.
Back in the living room, Faye Yardley ordered another cocktail in a different flavor. She picked it up and took a small sip. This was her time, a moment of peace just for her.
"Dear Master, there is a new visitor at the door. Displaying visitor’s image now. Would you like to invite her in?"
’Melissa Chapman!’
Faye Yardley’s eyes widened. ’No way, is the auction on Coralisle really that big of a deal?!’
After a moment’s thought, she let her in.
The moment Melissa Chapman stepped inside and saw Faye Yardley, she looked even more shocked than Faye had been. "You—what are you doing here? Why are you here? You and... and him..."
"Melissa, come on in, have a seat. Want a drink? This is my place. Who were you expecting?" Faye Yardley then added with a sudden "oh," "You must be looking for Nora Nash. He doesn’t live here. Your intel is bad."
"Really? He doesn’t live here?"
"If you don’t believe me, look around yourself. Be my guest."
Without a shred of politeness, Melissa Chapman actually did search. She checked every nook and cranny of every room and even took a lap around the pool. When she returned, she looked much more relieved.
’The person in the guest room was just a woman.’
"Sorry about that. I thought Nora Nash was staying here. I didn’t expect to find you. You’re really not... involved with him?"
Faye Yardley mulled it over. "I can’t say we’re not involved at all. After all, we are friends."
Melissa Chapman snorted in displeasure. "At least you’re honest about it. You didn’t just try to deny everything."
"Want a drink? The cocktails here are pretty good. I’ve tried three different kinds already, and I haven’t had a bad one yet."
When Melissa didn’t refuse, Faye Yardley ordered another drink. A new cocktail promptly appeared on the bar. Faye handed it to her and asked curiously, "By the way, I read the last issue of the *Island Love Report*. Didn’t it say some navy captain was pursuing you? You weren’t tempted?"
Melissa Chapman’s expression faltered for a second. "Of course not! My heart belongs to Nora Nash, okay? How could I possibly be swayed by someone else?"
Faye Yardley said, "Oh," and raised her glass to her. "Are you here for the auction tomorrow?"
"Of course not. I only came because I heard Nora Nash might be here."
’What a warrior for true love. She’s really chasing him to the ends of the earth.’
But it was obvious Nora Nash had never been swayed by her. It looked like Melissa Chapman’s pursuit was going to continue for a long time, and who knew if she would ever succeed.
"Right, since you’re friends with Nora Nash, you must know where he is. Tell me his location."
"I can’t do that. He’s my friend. You’re just a woman who’s... madly in love with him. Why on earth would I betray my friend for you?"
Melissa Chapman pulled a card from her Storage Ring. "Here. There are ten thousand gold coins on it. Just tell me where he is, and the card is yours."
’It was impossible for Faye Yardley not to be tempted. But... she was living in this suite, eating his food, drinking his wine... all courtesy of Nora Nash. Wouldn’t it be too scummy to sell him out for some Gold Coins?’
Seeing her conflicted silence, Melissa Chapman’s eyes lit up. "You do know where he is! Quick, tell me. It’s ten thousand gold coins! That’s enough to buy plenty of things at the auction tomorrow."
Faye Yardley cleared her throat. "Let me ask him where he is."
She actually did it. She sent a direct message to Nora Nash: "Melissa Chapman is here. She’s offering me ten thousand gold coins to tell her where you are. Can I do it?"
Nora Nash’s reply was swift: "You want to use me to make money?!"
Faye: "Can I?"
Nora Nash was so exasperated he had to laugh: "Of course not! If you dare sell me out for ten thousand gold coins, I’ll spank you. If you need money, just ask me directly."
Faye: "..."
She looked up and met Melissa Chapman’s expectant gaze. Faye Yardley’s heart ached. A huge sum of money was about to slip through her fingers. She shook her head. "He didn’t say where he is."
"You have him on your friends list! Quick, add me. Let me know the second you hear anything about him." As she spoke, Melissa Chapman shoved the card into Faye Yardley’s hand. "Take this. Let’s be friends. Please, you have to take it! Come on, add me."
With that, Melissa Chapman pulled out her All World Communication phone.
’This is money to become friends,’ Faye Yardley thought, ’not money to betray Nora Nash. I can accept this, right?!’
Her body, however, was honest. She stashed the card in her backpack and added Melissa Chapman as a friend.
"So, now that we’re friends, you have to be honest with your friend, right?"
Faye Yardley blinked, a small smile playing on her lips. "Come on, let’s toast to our new friendship!"