S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“What topic?” Kasumi asked curiously.

“At some point within the next few days, you will learn of a new entertainment company that has come out of nowhere and managed to sign three divas,” Rowena stated.

“Huh!” Kasumi replied before asking, “An unknown entertainment company has somehow managed to sign three divas? How and which three?”

“Myself, Lorelie and Aphrodite,” Rowena replied with a smirk before adding, “Also, it’s not a new company but a takeover and rebranding of an old one.”

“Huh!” Kasumi said again before saying, “I have so many questions. Why is Diva Lorelie the biggest celebrity in the universe, signing with an unknown entertainment company? Why are you? And what about your contract with Dynamic? Why is an entertainment company signing Diva Aphrodite?”

“Well, the owner of the company is inviting Aphrodite because he has some unique ideas regarding the adult entertainment industry, and he managed to get me and Lorelie to sign because he has some…. Unique advantages over the other entertainment company owners,” Rowena replied while smirking.

“Ok, but that doesn’t explain how he managed to sign you and Diva Lorelie,” Kasumi replied before asking, “Who is the owner, anyway?”

Rowena didn’t reply and instead flashed her signature smirk while pointing down with her right index finger.

Kasumi looked at her in confusion for a moment as she tried to understand her meaning before her mouth and eyes widened in surprise as she asked, “Adam? Your boyfriend is the owner?”

Rowena nodded happily while saying,” Yes.”

“So by unique advantages, you meant his cock?” Kasumi asked with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

“Being able to fuck the boss definitely has its perks,” Rowena replied with a perverted grin.

“As long as he doesn’t get bored with you and toss you both aside, you perverted two-thousand-year-old brood.”

“No chance of that happening,” Rowena replied happily.

“Uh-huh,” Kasumi replied in a tone that clearly said she wasn’t so certain of that.

“Do you plan to cancel your contract early then?” Kasumi asked with barely disguised jealousy.

“Yes, and from the jealous tone in your voice, I get the feeling you would like to do the same,” Rowena replied.

“I mean no offence,” Kasumi said quickly before explaining, “but you know better than anyone that Dynamic Entertainment isn’t the same company I joined.”

“No offence taken; we have spoken about this in the past after all. The question is what you plan to do about it.”

“What can I do? Unlike you, I’m not even halfway through my contract yet and I can’t afford the termination fee.”

“I can probably help you with that,” Rowena said with a smile.

“I can’t let you do that,” Kasumi said immediately.

“It’s not like I can’t afford it with my accumulated wealth.”

“Maybe so, but it would still put a large dent in that wealth, and I refuse to let you do that.”

“It’s my fault you signed with Dynamic Entertainment in the first place, so what’s wrong with me helping you get away from them?”

“It’s not like you forced me to sign with them; I made the choice to sign.”

“After I put in a good word for you and convinced you about how good a company it is…. Was.”

“Exactly. It was a good company to work for. At the time, what you said was true and it was a great company to be signed to before the previous owner passed away.”

Both women fell silent for a few moments and glared at each other, refusing to accept the other’s stance, until Rowena sighed and said, “Fine,” prompting Kasumi to smile triumphantly.

“How about we do it a different way?” Rowena asked, causing Kasumi’s smile to change into one of suspicion as she asked.

“What do you mean?” 

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not scheming anything.”

“Please,” Kasumi scoffed while rolling her eyes before saying, “How long have we known each other. I know when you’re scheming something.”

“Alright, alright,” Rowena conceded as she held both hands up in the air before she returned them to stroking Adam’s hair while saying, “I’m only trying to get you to join Spector Entertainment.”

“Spector Entertainment? Is that the name of Adam’s company?” Kasumi asked with interest.

“It will be once the name change is finalised. He acquired Royal Entertainment from the Terran Imperial Family and just put in a formal name change request with the Universal Company Registration and Management Body,” Rowena explained.

“I’m surprised the Terran Imperial Family sold a company to someone who is supposedly from outside the known universe and therefore has no reputation,” Kasumi remarked in mild surprise before nodding as she said, “It was wise of him to change the company name, though.”

Rowena nodded in agreement and smiled happily as her friend gave her new boyfriend a compliment.

“Look at you getting all happy over me giving him a compliment, if I didn’t know better I would say your already falling in love with him,” Kasumi teased before asking, “Why didn’t you just tell me that you wanted me to join Adam’s new entertainment company, you know I would be more than happy to if both you and Diva Lorelie are joining it.”

“I didn’t want you to feel pressured. I know how much you’re already under with trying to escape this betrothal before you turn a hundred and ten,” Rowena said with a sad look.

“I still have three years before I turn one hundred and ten years old and revert to my true form for my tail merger.”

“However, once your tail merger is complete, you will be forced to perform the life-mate ceremony with that bastard, won’t you?” Rowena asked with a frown.

“Yes,” Kasumi replied with a sad sigh. ”If I can’t find a way to get my betrothal annulled, my family will force me to do it.”

“Do you still suspect your family are behind the bad acting and producing of the recent TV and movie flops that you have acted in?” 

“Them or the Kasai family, or maybe both. It’s far too coincidental that every production I am part of ends up like that. Even the well-known and talented actors or actresses I have worked with have put on poor performances when working on the same production as me.” 

[[NOTICE.]]

“Huh!” Kasumi said in surprise as she heard a voice she didn’t recognise.

“Spector?” Rowena asked in surprise.

[[Affirmative.]]

“What’s going on? Is someone there with you, Rowena?” Kasumi asked with a confused expression.

“In a way,” Rowena replied before explaining, “Spector is the highly advanced AI onboard Adam’s ship. However, I didn’t expect her to speak up all of a sudden, as it normally only speaks when asked a question or has something important to say.”

[[I am always present wherever Adam is present. Plus, I am monitoring all communications in and out of the suite you are all currently staying in.]]

“So you monitored our entire conversation?” Kasumi asked.

“So you monitored Adam and me being intimate together?” Rowena asked.

[[Affirmative.]]

“Priorities, Rowena,” Kasumi said while rolling her eyes.

“This is a priority. Would you like to learn that you’re being watched and listened to while being intimate with someone?” Rowena snapped back.

“Fair point.”

“Do you also monitor Stacey and Lorelie’s intimate moments with Adam?” Rowena asked.

[[Affirmative.]]

“And they don’t mind?” Kasumi asked in surprise.

[[They were surprised to learn about it initially. However, because I can be trusted not to post it on the universal subspace network, they don’t comment on it.]]

“Or maybe they try to forget it,” Rowena responded.

[[Possibly.]]

“Well, anyway,” Rowena said with a sigh before asking, “Is something wrong? Do you need me to wake Adam?”

[[Negative. Adam is currently recovering the blood you just fed from him.]]

“So what’s wrong?” Rowena asked again.

[[I’m here to make a suggestion.]]

“Regarding?” 

[[The individual known as Kasumi Toki and her recent string of bad luck on her acting projects.]]

“Me?” Kasumi asked in surprise before adding, “Also, why did you address me as the individual known as Kasumi Toki when I’m right here?]]

“Spector tends to do that until it has…. Ummmm…. Gotten to know you better, I guess, is the term. In the beginning, she addressed me as Diva Rowena or Diva Rowena Nosferatu.”

“Gotten to know you better? It’s an AI, not an individual,” Kasumi replied in surprise.

“A highly advanced AI. You should see its construct. It’s crazy,” Rowena replied, and just as she finished speaking, a holographic screen appeared, showing Spector’s AI construct.

“Wow,” Kasumi said in surprise as she marvelled at the complexity and size that was Spector.

“See,” Rowena said smugly before asking, “What’s this suggestion you have regarding Kasumi and her bad luck?”

[[I am willing to use my capabilities to try and ascertain the true reason and perhaps individuals behind Kasumi Toki’s bad luck, for a price.]]

“A price?” Rowena asked with surprise before adding, “You want to negotiate with her?” 

[[Affirmative.]]

“What could I possibly give an AI in return that you would want or need?” Kasumi asked.

[[Nothing. What you will provide in return will assist both Adam and those who travel with him aboard me.]]

“What do you ask for?” 

[[First is that you sign with Spector Entertainment along with Rowena, Lorelie and Diva Aphrodite.]]

“I would like to agree, but I am still signed with Dynamic Entertainment and it will cost a lot for me to cancel my contract with them,” Kasumi replied apologetically.

“Then let’s make it a loan since you won’t accept me just directly paying off your contract,” Rowena proposed.

“Loan?” Kasumi asked curiously.

“I will loan you the credits to pay off your contract and a percentage of the earnings you make from working with Spector Entertainment will be paid to me until the entire loan is repaid. Plus, since you’re my friend, I will give you the friend interest rate of zero percent,” Rowena explained.

Kasumi thought for a moment before nodding and saying, “I can accept all of that except the zero percent interest.”

“Oh, come on, Kasumi,” Rowena complained while sighing.

“We all have our principles, Rowena,” Kasumi said adamantly.

“Fine, then three favours. You will owe me three favours instead of the interest rate,” Rowena replied before remembering something and looking down at Adam with a smile and as she brushed his hair, she said, “Dummy. You never did collect on the debt I owe you.”

“You mentioned something about that when we were on The MMM Show,” Kasumi stated before adding, “Fine, three favours, as long as they don’t go against my principles.”

“Deal and I know exactly what the first favour is going to be,” Rowena said with a scheming smile.

“I’m not sure I like that smile,” Kasumi said while thinking that she might have made a bad decision here.

Rowena didn’t respond immediately and instead looked down at Adam again before saying softly, “Sorry, darling. I know you didn’t want it to go this way, but I think you could make her happy, just as you make us happy.”

“What?” Kasumi asked as she couldn’t quite make out what Rowena said.