Chapter 48
Back in her room, Mirabella hefted her suitcase from the closet, fresh from her trip to the county town, when her phone chirped with the tone of a new message. She paid it no mind, leisurely unzipping her luggage to rummage inside for a long box.
It was filled with incense sticks, each about the length of a finger. The supply was dwindling, but it was enough to last a month or two. Mirabella glanced at it, snapped the lid shut, and casually set it atop her desk.
Her phone pinged again with another message. Only after she stowed her sultcase away did Mirabella reach for her phone, het brow furrowing at the sight of two bank transfer notifications on the screen.
She unlocked her phone and opened the Messenger app. Both transfers were from her folks downstairs, and neither amount was small–cach had sent a neat sum of ten thousand dollars.
Rubbing her temple, Mirabella was puzzled by her parents‘ sudden and synchronized financial flair. After pondering for a moment she didn’t accept the transfers. Instead, she sent a question mark emoji to both.
Atmost immediately, her mother replied: [Sweetie, it’s for next week’s allowance. Grab it quick. “Heart emoji* Mom loves you)
Staring at her mom’s message, Mirabella paused for a few seconds before responding. [I’ve still got money on me.]
Delilah: (Oh, honey, just take it. A girl can never have too much spending money.]
Delilah: (And if you don’t take it, I might just have to spend this money on some new clothes for you!]
Mirabella glanced at her closet, packed with unworn clothes, and her lip twitched. She decisively hit the accept button.
Meanwhile, her dad’s message popped up.
Shawny: [Pumpkin, you said cash was inconvenient last time, so your old man went all the way to the bank to get set up with online banking. I just linked it to Messenger. Go ahead and accept it.]
Mirabella’s expression was a mix of amusement and exasperation as if to say, “Nice try on the modern dad act.‘ She quickly typed out her response.
The Pilt if I don’t accept, are you just going to find another way to give it to me?]
Shawny: [Heh, you’re so sharp, kiddo!]
The Pilt [Fine then.]
Just like that. Mirabella found herself the unexpected recipient of a substantial windfall. Even more bizarre was that she was compelled to accept the so–called ‘allowance‘ from her parents every subsequent day. They were completely unavoidable.
After ending the Messenger exchange with Delilah and Shawny, her gaze drifted back to the incense box on her desk. After a moment’s contemplation, she scrolled through her contacts list, found a number, and dialed.
The call connected quickly, and a cool, deep male voice drifted through. “Kiddo, what’s got you calling out of the blue?”
The word “kiddo‘ made Mirabella’s lips twitch involuntarily, but she had a favor to ask, so she let the nickname slide. “Are you free? I need a favor.”
On the other side of the line, James stopped his subordinate’s report with a wave of his hand, leaning back in his chair with a lazy air. “Shoot what do you need?”
“I need you to deliver something to my grandma,” Mirabella said, cutting straight to the chase.
James had braced himself for something serious, so he was taken aback by the simplicity of the request.
When Mirabella heard no immediate reply, she figured he wasn’t keen on the errand. “If you’re busy, forget it.” Then she planned to hang up when.
