***

Let it never be said that Hoya Gold was a woman that caved under pressure.

Her drive back home was smooth and unhurried. After all, she still had some time left, and eve if she didn’t, Hoya wasn’t one to speed through anything, not least driving through intersections and residential areas.

The moment she parked in front of her home, the story was a little different. Once Hoa’s feet touched solid ground they moved so fast she may as well have been an after image,  flitting intangibly by the stunned steward who had been waiting with a small card in his hand.

Of course, Hoya hadn't noticed any of that. Her eyes were on her door and once she was in her room. They were scanning through her evening dresses for something to wear. In the meantime, her hands were taking off her earrings and the other jewellery on her body.

When Hoya finally settled on a mulberry purple  midi dress, she flung it unceremoniously onto her bed before grabbing a shower cap and heading towards the bathroom for a quick shower.

“Doe!” Hoya remembered once the cold water hit her skin, “can you get me some accessories? Shoes and a small clutch?”

“Do you want anything specific?”

“Uhhh,”an image of the dress flashed through Hoya’s mind. “No, just something in a complementary colour? I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself today!”

“Understated?” Doe’s tone was a little disbelieving but Hoya let it slide.

It wasn’t everyday that she would go to a formal dinner without looking like she was dressed to kill, or at the very least turn a few heads and have their eyes fixed on her till she graciously gave up the floor. Of course, that was usually when she was hosting.

This evening was a much quieter affair and although she was one of the main players, it was more for business than pleasure, and more than having her ability to command a room be the focal point,  her other strengths were supposed to shine.

The ‘less eye-catching’ dress was a form fitting number with  a floral lace that extended from her chest to the high neck and sleeves. Golden studs and a sleek little ring on her left ring finger were all Hoya wore as accessories.

Like she said, she was going with a simple look. In any case, with the level of detail on the lace, anything else might have looked too much.

Since it would take too long to put her hair into a neat doughnut bun, Hoya settled for a failsafe high ponytail and the softness of her round face were once again in full view.

The moment Doe was done with her  with her light makeup, Hoya’s wine red lips curled up into a smile. “Perfect,” and she did say so herself.

Grabbing a thin black coat to ward off some of the evening chill, Hoya slipped her feet into a pair of strappy black platform heels and strode out of her room. It was only when she reached the main door that she stopped and looked at Doe, her eyes roundening with realisation. “Uh, by the way,” she asked, “where  exactly am I going?”

The holographic lips pursed in disappointment. “Tut, tut, tut.”

This is what Hoya meant by Doe being too emotive for his own good. Rolling her eyes, Hoya was about to take her mobile phone and search through her emails herself when Steward cleared his throat.

“...” How long had he been standing there? They said a good butler was as silent as air but goodness a girl could do with some warning.

“Miss Gold.”

“Hem,” Hoya coughed into her hand and straightened her posture that had become askew, a little like a frightened cat, but who was doing that comparison, Hmn? Definitely not her. “Mr. Stewart.”

Just like her, Doe, who had been playing the little menace, straightened his own expression to mimic the serious dutiful look of the seasoned steward.

Tch, Hoya rolled her eyes at him. What a poser.

Like nothing was amiss, the straight faced man nodded and handed over a small ivory envelope, “This invitation came in the mail for you.”

“Today?” Hoya took the envelope and looked at the same ivory coloured card in it. A red hibiscus motif centred on a bed of printed golden leaves was the defining feature on it, as most important details usually were. “The Cha family?”

“According to Mrs. Gold, it came yesterday. Unfortunately she left it in her bag.”

Which was conveniently in her hovercar parked somewhere too troublesome to retrieve, Hoya finished for herself.  The occurrence was so common that Hoya had begun to wonder whether her mother was testing the efficiency of the Gold Industries security system that had been installed on her vehicle.

“Oh, it's an invitation for tonight.” Hoya’s eyes flashed with surprise. Paper was still widely used, but people hardly sent invitations by post anymore. The most they offered, aside from a word of mouth invite and a quick text was an email.

Hoya didn’t know whether to say they were thoughtful, traditional in their polite reminders or both.

Midway through her thoughts Hoya didn’t forget to offer Doe a side eye that read, ‘You thought you were doing me?’* I found out anyway so there!

Ah, and as if Hoya would let it go with just a little teasing.

As! If!

                                                                             ***

“Where to?”

Hoya looked at the small round bot wearing a little metallic white collar with a small black bow tie and matching black cap.

Hoya had to admit he really had a flair for the dramatic. “You know, it's really amazing how you can manipulate that metal suit of yours.”

“It was a necessary upgrade.”

Yeah, For his theatrics.

Whether or not Doe saw Hoya’s eye roll from the rear-view mirror, he calmly and professionally repeated, “where to this evening, Miss?”

Where did that black and white movie accent come from? You know what? Hoya conceded, never mind. If he wanted to play, she’d bite.  “The Crimson Courtyard, and step on it.”

*Local slang for you thought you were playing me but you played yourself/ I’ll never be played.