Fox Life

Gale led the group to his car, and Iris a saw small shape resting on the front seat. The girl was thin and pale, her arms like twigs. On her head, there was a mane of golden hair identical to that of her brother, just longer, up to her shoulders.     

When Gale opened the side door, the girl opened her eyes, which were bright green, and looked at all of them in confusion. "Brother…" she whispered in a shaky voice.     

"I'm here." Gale bent down to pick her up, and the girl latched onto him like he was her lifeline. "There, there, no need to be scared. I'm not going to leave you, all right? I promised."     

"But what about mommy and daddy? They're gonna be angry with Lily," the little girl whispered, tears collecting in her eyes. "Mommy said I'm not allowed to leave until I learn everything."     

Gale stiffened, and his eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, but he soon calmed himself. When Lily raised her head, he was smiling at her. "Don't worry about it. I talked to them. Trust your big brother a bit, will you?" He laughed then, the sound haggard, but the kid didn't notice it.     

The girl's eyes brightened, and she started looking around with newfound interest. Her expression was still guarded, but while holding onto Gale's neck, she looked straight at Iris. "Who are they?"     

"Friends," Gale said, patting her head. "Now let's go to my place, okay?"     

"Okay!"     

In the car, Kyro sat at the wheel with Iris at the passenger seat, since Lily wouldn't leave her brother's side. The moment he tried to put her down, she started shivering and crying, extending her hands at him to pick her up again.     

Iris watched all of it with uncertainty in her heart. The child seemed to be wary of strangers, so how was she supposed to earn her trust? Although Iris had agreed to help, she had no real knowledge about how to work with mistreated children. Her degree was in economics, not child care…     

'I'll just have to come up with something on the spot,' she decided, moving her gaze from the rear mirror and to the road ahead of them. On their way, her eyes flitted past Kyro, and she realized that she might not see him for a time now.     

It was a dispiriting thought. They were just moments away from something, and now it seemed miles away once more. After this was over, would they return to how they were? Or would his emotions have cooled down, distance having allowed him to regain his old routine that didn't include her?     

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kyro asked, sparing her a quick glance.     

Embarrassment threatened to wash her face pink again, so Iris threw out the first excuse that came to her mind. "I'm just a bit worried. Although I agreed, I don't have that much experience with children."     

Any, to be exact, but she didn't think it was the right time to mention that. From the looks of it, Lily seemed like a lovely girl, just that earning her trust might be something of a challenge.     

"It's gonna be fine, just do what you can. Gale will find someone trustworthy once we deal with the immediate crisis."     

"What's going to happen now?" she asked in a soft voice, so the two in the back wouldn't hear.     

It wasn't the first time Iris heard the mention of problems, but neither Kyro nor Gale bothered to expand on it. They talked as if everyone should be perfectly aware about what the future held.     

Kyro sent her another glance, then focused back on the road. "This news is going to be all over the country by tomorrow. Gale's image will suffer, and the company's as well. His parents are extremely influential, so they won't just give up on their daughter, and they'll do all they can to win and damage us in the process."     

"You'll be busy then." It wasn't a question, but a statement.     

There was a nod in answer, and Iris looked out her window. The day outside was bright and cheerful, even if it was evening, but her heart was heavy. She didn't want to be away from him, but her presence around wouldn't help him. Everyone would be much happier if she just stayed with the little girl.     

Disappointment rose in Iris, but she swiftly clamped down on it. The little girl wasn't the one at fault here. She was a victim, and it was her parents that deserved enmity. They were the real cause behind the situation becoming like this.     

"We're here," Kyro said after a long while.     

Iris looked out the window and saw that they had arrived at another apartment building. It was around thirty floor high, and they went up to the highest. Once they passed through the door, Iris saw a spotless apartment.     

It was cleaned till it shined, and every little item was placed where it would look the best. Nothing was out of order.     

"Does anyone really live here?" Iris asked, feeling uncomfortable. This looked like something for sale rather than lived in. There wasn't a single personal thing anywhere in the open room or what she could glimpse of farther away.     

"I don't spend much time home," Gale explained while carrying his sister into one of the rooms down the corridor.     

When he was gone, Iris turned to see that Kyro was just standing by the doorway, not taking off his shoes. "Aren't you going to plan stuff with Gale?"     

"I will, but I'll go grab Jimmy as well. He's our legal mind."     

"I see." Iris watched him type something on his phone, and her heart ached. When he left, she would have no way to contact him. It would all depend on him if he ever came to visit her. "Can I ask for something?"     

"Hm?" He didn't even look away from his phone, clearly focused on what he was doing.     

Iris bit her lip, then took a deeper breath. "Would it be too much if I asked for a phone?" Kyro stopped writing, and she saw him raise his head. "It's doesn't have to be a good one! Just any old one would be fine! It's kind of weird not to be able to contact anyone…"     

It hadn't been weird when she hadn't had anyone to contact. She knew that he would always come back home, so what need did she have for a phone? If something happened, he could just send a message to his other Skype account, and she'd see it on the computer.     

"Are you now doubting my ability to afford you a phone?" Kyro asked with amusement in his eyes, and a nervous laugh escaped Iris' lips. Her clenched heart relaxed once she saw that he wasn't angry. "I should have thought about it myself. I'll get you one on the way back."     

"Thanks!"     

She beamed at him in joy, and he chuckled at her enthusiasm while shaking his head as he returned to his conversation on the phone.