Hoarding Resources In Apocalypse

Chapter 9

Ciro kept his voice measured and calm despite the tension radiating from Sarah's grip on his arm. "We're not married yet Sarah."

Sarah's fingers tightened until her nails bit into his skin through his jacket and her voice came out shrill and defensive. "YET. We will be soon though. Very soon."

Elena stood there holding her black credit card and watching this domestic drama unfold with the detached interest of someone observing a particularly fascinating social experiment. She didn't flutter or apologize with any sincerity at all. Her expression stayed completely neutral bordering on amused and when she spoke her voice came out flat and mechanical.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding."

It was the least sincere apology Ciro had ever heard in his life. Elena's dark eyes moved between him and Sarah with sharp intelligence and Ciro could tell she was reading the entire situation with perfect clarity. The way his body had gone rigid when Sarah grabbed him. The way he'd leaned slightly away from her possessive touch. The way his smile never reached his eyes when he looked at his supposed girlfriend.

Elena caught Ciro's gaze for half a second and one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted fractionally and then she winked so subtly and quickly that Sarah who was busy glaring at the checkout counter completely missed it.

Elena turned back to the cashier and reached forward with her credit card to pay for Ciro's fifteen-thousand-dollar purchase of tactical equipment and survival gear but Sarah lunged forward with surprising speed and physically intercepted Elena's hand.

"I'LL pay for it," Sarah announced loud enough that several other customers turned to look. She yanked her wallet out of her purse and fumbled with the zipper and Ciro watched her hands shake slightly as she pulled out her credit card.

He could see the calculation happening behind her eyes even as her face stayed set with artificial determination. This purchase would probably max out her card or come dangerously close to her limit but she was thinking it would all be worth it. Worth it to prove ownership in front of this beautiful wealthy stranger. Worth it to demonstrate that she was the supportive girlfriend who paid for things. Worth it to invest in appearing indispensable so she could secure permanent access to what she thought was his fortune.

Sarah swiped her Visa card and her whole body tensed visibly when the payment processor beeped and asked her to confirm the amount. Fifteen thousand three hundred and forty-seven dollars. She pressed YES with a shaking finger and her jaw clenched tight enough that Ciro could see the muscle jumping beneath her skin.

 Ciro bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud at the absurdity of watching Sarah bankrupt herself trying to claim ownership of him in front of a stranger who had already seen through the entire charade.

The transaction approved and Sarah let out a breath she'd been holding and turned to Elena with a triumphant smile that looked more like a snarl

Elena let out a long theatrical sigh and her lips curved into a smile that was pure amusement mixed with something that might have been pity. "Well your girlfriend already paid. How sweet and generous of her." She reached into her expensive leather purse and pulled out a cream-colored business card with elegant black lettering and handed it directly to Ciro while maintaining steady eye contact that communicated a dozen things Sarah would never pick up on. "If you ever need anything at all don't hesitate to call me."

Then Elena turned on her designer sneakers and walked away without a backward glance and her ponytail swung behind her like punctuation ending a sentence.

The moment Elena disappeared into the crowd of shoppers Ciro turned to Sarah and couldn't quite keep the laughter out of his voice even though he tried. "Thanks for paying for that Sarah. I appreciate it. But husband?"

Sarah grabbed him with both arms and pulled him aggressively close and her voice suddenly shifted into something sugary sweet and dripping with fake romantic warmth that Ciro could now see through as clearly as he could see through the bulletproof glass being installed in his fortress apartment. It was a performance. Every word. Every gesture. Every smile.

 "We're having a baby together soon!"

She announced it loud enough that the cashier looked up and an elderly couple browsing tactical flashlights nearby turned and smiled and offered automatic congratulations. Sarah beamed at them radiating pure joy and playing the role of excited expectant mother with Oscar-worthy conviction.