Work Text:
~o~
“Could you just tell me why you did this to me?” Miorine Rembran, the young business genius, fought against the tiny voice inside her head asking her to block this terrible friend on all her social media. “I thought we were friends! You traitor!”
Secelia Dote, another business genius, laughed, and her mocking tone made Miorine growl. “We’re friends and I want to see you at the party because I love you, you ungrateful brat”, her perfectly manicured hands patted her friend on the back. “But you need a date for the event or the vultures won’t leave you alone.”
Miorine was aware of her situation, Secelia too.
“I can deal with them, thanks. I don’t need your help.”
“Must I tell how bad things went with the Jeturk heir last year?”
Mentioning the Jeturk family was bad enough for both of them to put on an uncomfortable face. Miorine even growled.
“Guel Jeturk was a violent asshole!”
“And how about Zenelli, your number one fan?”
Miorine shook her head. “He was obsessed with me, a total controlling freak.”
Shaddiq Zenelli was her childhood friend and Miorine really loved him as a friend, almost as a brother, however the guy accepted her dad’s idea to pretend to be her betrothed to keep up appearances, which resulted in him becoming an obsessed, controlling man. Miorine hadn’t even accepted the idea yet and Shaddiq was making lots of plans on her behalf, without even asking her opinion.
Miorine discovered he had been in love with her for a long time, but she had never seen him like that. Shaddiq was her friend! After she rejected him, he lost interest in her and they barely talked to each other.
Secelia smiled.
“See? You need to consider your other options. I’ll help you.”
“Okay.” Miorine sighed, “So what’s your plan, oh dear friend of mine?”
Secelia chuckled. “I’ll tell you everything, but let’s get some drinks first.”
Miorine and Secelia left the corporate building. Their favorite place was a mafia-themed bar downtown, and accompanied with jazz, beer and fried snacks around, Secelia finally spoke.
The plan was simple: a blind date for the Benerit Christmas Party.
Miorine wasn’t sure about the idea.
“I don’t want to meet a random man,” Miorine was devouring a full plate of fries. “As soon as he hears I’m Delling Rembran’s only daughter, he’ll ignore my horrible personality and ask about my shitty dad’s money,”
Secelia snickered. “I’m not talking about a man.”
Miorine frowned. “It’s a woman?”
“Of course, darling, it’s obvious you prefer a woman since you have no interest in any man, you barely tolerate your dad!”
“Oh right…”
“And Rembran papa is a terrible father but he’s not a homophobe. Points for him.”
Secelia was right. Her family company has always supported workers fairly. Delling Rembran only cared about hard work and good results. Men, women, trans, straight, gay, whatever; he didn’t care. Delling Rembran just wanted hard and honest work from them.
“So, what do you say? A probably nice, unknown lady or a man chosen by Rembran papa?”
Miorine grunted but finally nodded.
“You win, but if she talks about my family business or money, I’m out.”
“It’s a deal.”
~o~
The Group Benerit Christmas Party was the only event where all the members, big corporations and small companies, shared the biggest hall in the main corporate building.
Expensive champagne for everyone, a five-stars buffet, an orchestra playing christmas music, a giant christmas tree in the center and people wearing their best high-class dresses to impress. Miorine already knew the scene and she wasn’t impressed. It was the same act every year since she was old enough to attend the event and drink alcohol.
Her father was surrounded by investors and potential business partners. And, as always, he looked grumpy and serious. Miorine shook her head and looked for Secelia.
Suddenly, someone bumped her from behind, and the pressing weight of a pair of ridiculous, big boobs against her back made her sigh.
“Good evening, Secelia.”
“You really came!”
“Of course I’m here, I’m a woman of my word.”
“You look nice!”
“You too.”
Secelia Dote was wearing a revealing, elegant gray dress. Miorine also had a nice dress collection despite her usual public outfits being office pants and long-sleeves jackets. Her choice for the night was a blue dress, long but tight, her mother’s gold earrings, blue high-heels and a blue purse with her phone and other stuff inside.
“Let’s get to business,” Miorine noticed a group of young, single heirs looking at them with interest in the distance. “Where is she?”
“Come with me.”
Secelia guided her to the buffet table. Soon afterward, Miorine noticed they were heading to a small group at the end of the long table. Eight people, men and women, all of them around her age. Their outfits looked like one or two hundred bucks cheaper than her own clothes. The group was properly dressed for the occasion, Miorine respected that.
“Good evening everyone!” Secelia smiled at them and they looked happy to see her.
“Good evening!” The leader of the group, a lanky young man, spoke for all of them. “Thank you so much for inviting us, Miss Dote.”
“I know, I know, I’m really great, right?” Secelia put her arm around Miorine’s shoulders. “This nice girl here is my friend, and she’s here for… You know…”
The group understood.
“She’s outside on the balcony”, said a girl with big, pink hair. The pink-haired girl looked at Miorine, and frowned. “You better be nice to her or you’ll meet my…”
“It’s enough, Chuchu. I’m sure everything will be fine,” said another girl with black and blue hair. “Thanks for tonight, she’s waiting for you.”
Miorine frowned and looked at Secelia. She had really planned everything with her blind date’s friends! After a deep breath, Miorine stepped out.
“I’ll introduce myself later, I promise. Now, if you will excuse me.”
Miorine stepped onto the balcony, the crisp night air biting at her skin. The sky stretched wide and clear, scattered with stars that gleamed like distant diamonds.
It was a beautiful night - one of those rare, perfect nights.
And then, she saw her. A tall girl, with her fiery red hair catching the moonlight, skin with a rich shade of brown, and eyes like the deep oceans, pulling Miorine in.
Miorine’s throat tightened.
The girl wore a simple black dress with matching heels - functional, but perfectly suited for the occasion. She also had a black backpack. Her strength was evident too, soft yet defined muscles in her arms spoke volumes.
However, the beautiful image shattered as soon as the girl opened her mouth.
“G-Good e-evening!” The girl said very nervously, and could barely keep a look at Miorine’s eyes. “I’m S-Suletta Mercury, it’s a p-pleasure to meet you!” She then bowed twice as if she didn’t know what to do.
Nervous, loud and lost. Miorine frowned.
“So… You’re my blind date.”
Suletta nodded and Miorine threw the first bait.
“I’m Miorine Rembran. Nice to meet you too.”
Rembran. A family name that turns heads, a symbol of a modern-day royal family. The kind of name that commands respect and makes gold diggers salivate. Yet, the girl only smiled, nodding nervously, as if the weight of it all hadn’t quite settled on her.
“M-Miorine,” she seemed to taste the word, “your name is beautiful,” Suletta said with a happy smile.
Miorine frowned, something bumped in her chest. “Don’t talk to me so familiarly.”
Suletta moved her hands and corrected her posture, unsure. “Miss… Miorine?”
“Better. Now let’s go inside and eat something.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As soon the hungry (but not for food) heirs saw Miorine Rembran with a tall girl at her side, they stepped back. Miorine caught their glance. She should thank Secelia… and maybe also take the opportunity for a proper date with the lady beside her, because Miorine always kept her word.
The portions were small, barely enough to fill a plate. Afterward, they wandered through the hall, where there was little to do but admire the surroundings. Miorine noticed how Suletta looked at everything with wide-eyed wonder, as if the opulence was entirely new to her. They stopped by a towering Christmas tree in the center. Suletta seemed particularly fascinated by it.
“It’s your first time here, isn't it?”
Suletta nodded. “Miss Secelia invited us and I…” Suletta mumbled and looked at the Christmas tree again.
Miorine glanced at her date. “And?”
“This is n-not the Christmas party I i-imagined,” Suletta confessed with a low voice, her voice tinged with sadness. “Please, don’t tell Miss Secelia! She’s so kind, and this is an important event for my friends and…”
“I see,” Miorine said, her voice soft and neutral. “It’s a corporate party, full of rich people with no Christmas spirit. Not exactly a normal party.”
“Oh, that explains everything”, Suletta smiled, her expression brightening. “I’m not rich, so… this is all a bit new to me.”
“Can I ask how you met Secelia?”
“Of course!” Suletta’s face lit up. “My friends and I started a workshop for mining machinery. We are really proud of our machines. They have got better sensors and scanners that make a huge difference!” She beamed. “Burion Systems acquired us, and they have been great, letting us work freely. Miss Secelia’s been incredibly kind and supportive.”
“I see…” Miorine nodded, thoughtfuly. “I thought some of your friends, or maybe you, were heirs like Secelia… or like me.”
Suddenly, Suletta seemed nervous and Miorine was surprised.
“My family’s company is part of the Benerit Group, where my older sister is our heir.”
“Is your family here?” Miorine asked, glancing around the hall. “Who are they?”
“My f-family owns the Vanadis Institute,” Suletta stammered, “B-but they prefer more normal Christmas parties with the whole extended family. Right now, they are getting everything ready at Grandma’s house. Like I said before, we are not rich like the people here…”
Miorine wanted to ask more, but she noticed how tense Suletta seemed, so she held back. She knew about the Vanadis Institute - it was making numbers with advanced medical research and the development of improved prosthetics. But Suletta wasn’t involved in that world, instead she worked for a startup founded by a group of fresh graduates, who were chasing big dreams.
But Suletta’s family business wasn’t Miorine’s concern, so…
“I’m not a fan of parties like this either,” Miorine admitted, her words making Suletta glance up in surprise. “Let’s make the most of it, though, and enjoy ourselves. This is a date, after all.”
Suletta’s expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as her nervousness melted away. “How?”
“Let’s get out of here,” Miorine suggested, her voice light. “Come on.”
And just like that, they slipped away from the lavish party, escaping the opulence of the building.
They made a quick stop in the underground parking to change clothes, as per Suletta’s suggestion. Their dresses and high heels were hardly suited to walk on the icy streets. Suletta’s car was parked nearby, and she always kept a spare of clothes in her trunk, because her job often left her covered in dirt and grime.
By the time they stepped back onto the street, thick coats, boots and warm pants had replaced their fancy outfits.
“I’m sorry I didn’t have anything smaller for you,” Suletta said quickly, glancing down at the oversized clothes.
“It’s okay. You’re tall, I’m not,” Miorine replied with a grin, feeling surprisingly comfortable despite the size difference. Even the boots, though larger than her usual size, fit well enough. “You ready?”
Suletta nodded, but her eyes widened when Miorine slipped her arm through hers, pulling her into an easy confident walk.
“Let 's go.” Miorine said, her tone casual but warm.
Suletta blushed but smiled, clearly at more ease now.
~o~
The streets were alive with Christmas lights, decorations, and music; much better than the tunes blaring at the party. Miorine couldn’t help but notice the genuine happiness shining on Suletta’s face. Even the street food seemed to taste better than the buffet at the event. Miorine had a soft spot for junk food, and Suletta had noticed that, too.
They devoured fried chicken and sipped cheap beer from a cozy food truck, and then wandered aimlessly through the festive streets, taking in the storefronts, the twinkling lights, and the small ice rink where teenagers skated and played hockey. They stood there for nearly twenty minutes, watching them clash on the ice.
Miorine even laughed when her date, completely oblivious to the teams, cheered for a goal, her excitement infectious.
It was nearly midnight when a glowing ice cream cart caught Suletta’s eye.
“Let’s get ice cream, Miss Miorine!” Suletta’s face lit up with a wide grin.
“Ice cream? On a cold night?” Miorine raised an eyebrow skeptically
“Yup! It tastes better when it’s cold!” Suletta insisted
Miorine sighed, half-amused, half-tempted. “Okay, fine. But if I catch a cold, you’re going to be my servant until I get better, understand?”
Suletta’s face flushed a deep red, catching Miorine off-guard.
“What?” Miorine frowned, trying to read her expression.
“A-ah n-nothing!!” Suletta quickly averted her gaze, her eyes falling on a building with dazzling lights. “Oh, look! Those lights look like a Christmas tree! It’s so beautiful, right?”
Her forced smile didn’t escape Miorine’s attention, and it made her frown a little deeper. She tilted her head, sensing something was off.
“Um… I…” The Mercury girl faltered, clearly trying to find the right words.
Miorine was quiet for a moment, then casually said, “I like vanilla”
Suletta’s face softened, and she gave a small, relieved laugh. “I like chocolate.”
Five minutes later, the two girls sat on a bench in the central square, enjoying their ice creams. In the heart of the square stood an enormous Christmas tree, its branches draped in a sea of colorful lights that sparkled against the night sky. Families, groups of friends and romantic couples strolled by, enjoying the chilly air. Above, the clock in a nearby tower ticked toward midnight, ready to announce the arrival of Christmas.
“Do you have plans with your family?” Miorine asked, savoring the sweetness of her ice cream.
Suletta nodded. “I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“Good for you.” Miorine replied, her tone soft, almost wistful.
Suletta glanced at her, curious. “How about you, Miss Miorine?”
“Nothing special. Just resting, and eating cold pizza at some point.”
“How about your family? Do you celebrate Christmas?”
Miorine almost smiled, Suletta didn’t really know much about the Rembran family, after all. “Since my mother passed away when I was eight, my dad and I don't celebrate holidays anymore.”
Suletta’s smile faltered. She looked down on her ice cream, suddenly unsure. “Oh… I’m sorry. It was rude of me… I-I shouldn’t have asked”
Miorine placed her own ice cream gently on Suletta’s lips, as if to distract her from her own awkwardness. “It’s okay, my dad and I aren't really the festive types either. My mother was the one who loved all of that. The corporate Christmas party is only a formality”
Suletta’s face flushed, and she shyly licked the ice cream, not quite knowing what to say next. “I see.”
Miorine took a deep breath. “I’m just not really interested in celebrating days like this.”
Suletta nodded, her voice quieter now, as if she understood “I…I see.”
Suddenly, Suletta seemed to realize the bench beneath her was uncomfortably hot, her body shifting as though she were about to stand. She hastily finished her ice cream and pulled her backpack into a tight hug.
“Is something wrong?” Miorine asked, finishing her ice cream too.
“N-No! I… Um…” Suletta darted her gaze to the towering Christmas tree. “You… You must be uncomfortable, right? I’m sorry if I didn’t notice sooner.”
Miorine sighed, leaning back slightly. “I’m not uncomfortable," she said, her voice soft but firm. “You’re a great companion. Thanks for being my blind date tonight.”
Suletta smiled again, but it was accompanied quickly with a blush.
“And I’m having a fun time with you.” Miorine added.
“M-Me too!” Suletta beamed., her words tumbling out with a rush. “You’re so fun and beautiful and smart and interesting and…”
This time, Miorine felt her face warm, cutting Suletta off with a quick, “Ah okay, okay, I get it! Thanks.”
But Suletta didn’t seem to notice Miorine’s discomfort. She kept going, her eyes sparkling. “No, I mean it! I’m really happy right now… with you.”
Miorine’s heart skipped, and she suddenly needed more ice cream to cool herself. “Why did you accept to be my date?” she asked, hoping the question would shift the focus away from her flustered expression.
“My friends offered me when Miss Secelia asked for a volunteer for the blind date. They said I really needed to… Um… Get some game?” Suletta frowned slightly in genuine confusion.
Miorine snorted.
“I didn’t really get it but I still accepted.” Suletta continued, her expression earnest.
Miorine swallowed, a wave of warmth rushing over her.
“I’m happy with my choice, because you’re wonderful, Miss Miorine.”
Suletta’s warm smile and sincere words disarmed Miorine.
“I’m grateful too.” Miorine whispered, her heart a little fuller than it had been just moments before.
Less than a minute to midnight, the people around them seemed excited and looked at the big clock, waiting.
After some silent seconds, Suletta surrendered and opened her backpack.
“Now I know you didn’t like holidays but… Um… Is it okay if I give you a Christmas present?”
“What?” Miorine’s eyes opened like saucers.
“I… Um… I prepared something for my date because it’s christmas… Is it okay for you?”
Around them the countdown started. Dozens and dozens of people counted the seconds with loud voices, with notorious emotion and happiness.
Miorine’s heart swelled, her cheeks burned as Suletta offered her a box wrapped in red paper, the box was inside her backpack the whole time waiting for the right moment.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!!” The voices boomed.
The people around them hugged and kissed each other. Fireworks exploded and filled the dark sky with a bunch of sparkling colors. Still, Miorine was able to hear Suletta’s voice as she handed her the unexpected present.
“Merry Christmas, Miss Miorine.”
Miorine was speechless.
Suletta was smiling. The fireworks made the illusion of her fiery red hair burning like a warm firepit on a cold night. Suletta’s next words finally smashed the first, thick wall of Miorine’s internal defenses.
“Thanks for the date, it was so fun!”
The first wall fell. The one that helped her to navigate in the corporate world. The wall that helped her to ignore the fact she was a neglected, alone child in a world full of snakes. Secelia was her only friend, but even Secelia stopped at the wall because Miorine used a window to talk to her.
And then, this young woman, Suletta Mercury, smashed the wall with a smile.
Miorine opened her mouth and quickly closed it again. Her face was so red and her heart was pounding so hard… The fiery business woman almost collapsed, but the Rembran blood pride helped her to stay still, her face up. She took the present and opened it. There were two articles: an elegant agenda for 2026 made of brown leather, a proper gift for a business person; and the other gift was an egg-shaped shiny rock. The rock was black with white spots, smooth and heavy, despite its size.
“What kind of rock is this?” Miorine looked at the rock.
“Obsidian, a volcanic rock, but this one has white spots. It’s special,” Suletta boasted. “I found it when we were in a mine for some tests last month. A friend of mine polished it.”
“It’s… Beautiful.”
“I know”, Suletta sighed in relief. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“It’ll look great on my desk.” Miorine couldn’t help but sigh. “Thanks for the Christmas present, but… I didn’t have one for you, sorry.”
A happy Suletta shook her head. “It’s okay. I had a lot of fun with you, that’s enough!”
Miorine licked her own cold lips. Suddenly, she looked at Suletta’s eyes with her business face. “Give me your phone.”
“Uh?”
“Do it. And unlock it.”
“I…”
“Now!”
“Eeek! O-Okay!”
Suletta quickly obeyed. Miorine added herself to Suletta’s contacts list and even took a selfie to complete the new profile. Next, she texted herself a simple message to add Suletta before giving her back her phone.
“Done. I’ll give you a present next time.”
Suletta blushed. “Next time?”
“You don’t want to?” Miorine frowned.
“I do!”
“Good. I don’t do anything interesting on New Years. How about you?”
“I… Umm… I’ll be with my family but… But… We can have another date!”
Miorine nodded. “It’s a deal.”
Then, Miorine held Suletta’s hand and made her lean down slightly.
“Miss Miorine?” Suletta was a cute, blushing mess.
“Thanks for the date, I mean it,” and Miorine kissed her on the lips, a sweet kiss. A brief kiss. “Merry Christmas.”
Suletta almost fainted. Luckily, Miorine held her hand and made her walk.
“Let’s go back to the party.”
“O-Okay.”
FIN
~o~