Serial's pov
"Careful Serial, if you keep being rude, Fynn might just get bored of you"
Somehow, I couldn't get Amani's last words out of my head. And it was messing with me in the worst ways possible. It made me jealous and a little nervous that she might actually choose him. In all honesty, I didn't even know her, only met her once and I was already laying claim on her. It was reckless, and stupid and crazy and ...my brain fumbled for a word. Anything because I rarely was stunned out of words. All of this very un-Siri-like, and that realization made me feel worse than I already did. Yet somehow it felt like this mysterious woman was subtly rewiring my brain and making me go against my own codes. This was definitely not going to be good. It never was.
Then again, it didn't feel like I have a choice though, my emotions are all over the place because of her. Now that I think about it, even if she had a choice to begin with, she could only choose me. Not that I was going to give her much of it anyway. Especially not if all I'm up against is the narcissistic Amani. Besides, there was no way any woman or man could resist a Lockheart. My brothers were living proof. Blaze literally pursued Amy to the ends of the world, got her to work for him as a secretary and then married her. Tray fell in love once in high school and is now engaged to Eli. Yet there was something about her gaze that told me that she absolutely would reject a Lockheart.
I don't believe in glitches, I do however believe in bad programming. Bad programming creates exceptions. Like Yna. Like Fynn. Unlike Yna, Fynn was a major glitch because she presented two exceptions: The I will forever hate blondes' exception and the regular I do not fall in love exception.
For the longest time, I absolutely hated blondes, so I never dated them. Because of the 'situation' with Elena in the past, I'd set codes to avoid them at all costs. The first exception was the fact that I was attracted to a blonde woman in the first place. It sounded ridiculous. But she was smart, almost calculating under that calm exterior. It made her feel like a layered piece of cake that I want to devour. I wanted to peel away through the exterior till I discovered the core and exactly what she was made of. She intrigued me in the most basic way I had ever experienced.
The second exception was the fact that I was even being emotional about this. I was jealous, worried, nervous and aroused at the same time. No woman or man had ever managed to make me feel more than two things at a time. Serial Lockheart was a brick wall of composure and the only one who had ever come close enough to dismantling this wall was my father, Howler. On the day he suggested the engagement to Sarafynna. That still rattles me a little.
And honestly, it is a mixture of annoyance, admiration and disappointment. Yet here I am, an odd tangle of unwanted emotions for a woman named Fynn.
Then it suddenly occurred to me that in order to fix this bad programming, I needed a new code, not exactly new but perhaps a modification, I thought to myself.
"Blonde ban means brunette resurrection". I should probably print that on a shirt, I whispered in amusement.
A distraction is probably what I need the most right now. A plus one. Someone I was equally attracted to. Someone more readily accessible, someone that wouldn't turn me into a competitive adolescent needing attention because they're jealous of their love rival. And I had a perfect one in mind. Yna.
As I stared at the gold-embossed invitation in my mind, I was determined to test this new code of mine, tomorrow at a gala I initially had no intention of attending. Almost funny how Tray had talked about this weeks ago. Since we barely made any public appearances, I was surprised he was interested in something so performative especially given his infamous nonchalant demeanor.
Either he had his own agenda or Blaze's love sickness had gotten to him. Speaking of Blaze, I had thought he'd be back from his business trip by now. He absolutely loved galas and being the center of attention. Maybe that's what love does to you. I huffed a little at the thought then grabbed my phone to send a text.
"Yna, I need a plus-one for Tomorrow's Gala"
It was a minute before I saw the reply.
" Don't you think it's a little too late to be looking for one? its 11pm"
"Yes, that's why I'm asking you"
"What??, Don't you think it's a little too late to ask? Also, you didn't even ask, you told me"
"Doesn't matter, I need you there"
"I can't, I have something urgent to take care of. Also, I don't work overtime for Yuriat Furniture, find someone else".
"There's no one else Yna, I want you".
"I really am sorry, but I can't. I barely attend these events and when I do, I'm either a secretary in a suit making business connections where needed or a background character stuck to the walls. I don't even have a dress"
"I don't think you're doing your part in getting this merger signed between the Lockhearts and Yuriats, Yna. Denver will not be happy to know that you thwarted his progress by refusing to go to one tinny tiny little gala with me"
Yna huffed in annoyance, feeling cornered.
"Fine, I'll go but I have to leave early"
Serial smiled proudly feeling satisfied with that answer. He immediately sent Blaze a quick text about potentially having lunch with Amy and getting her to help him with picking out a present for a female acquaintance. He replied with a simple yes and then practically begged him to go to bed. Jeez, Siri felt like he'd accidently walked in on his brother naked. Embarrassing and very on brand for Blaze, he knew how to make a person feel clingy.
Anyway, once the entire plan was set into motion, he looked at his watch and grinned in excitement. It was surely going to be a very eventful gala tomorrow.