You had to hand it to Kurt, if he was organising a party then something like this could be compared to a reception for the president.

You had to chuckle at the thought. There had already been a few receptions where you had walked into the White House.

This party was much more pompous, more lavish and so much glitzier. The sole purpose was to impress, no matter how rich or influential the guests were, they would marvel and clap with enthusiasm.

The atmosphere was ecstatic, it felt like the air was crackling with electricity. With a deep breath, you closed your eyes, leaned over the railing and took it all in.

It had been so long since you had found yourself in something like this, in the centre of the action, where all eyes could see you. At the beginning of Black Sapphire, voices had whispered your nickname.

Lady Sapphire, the woman of the Colonel of Dogtown. The public had actually given you this title. Kurt had taken it, decorated it with gold and hung it around your neck like a declaration of love.

And you loved it, melting away whenever he called you that. Between you, this nickname was a sign of trust. For everyone else, it was a reminder to behave properly towards you.

Your eyes wandered out of the window. The night had bathed Night City in a dark blue. One could see the colourful advertisements from the upper floors of the Black Sapphire, that painted the dark with vibrant colours.

From this angle, it almost looked as if this filthy town had been painted with oil and linen. Actually, it wasn't so bad in this place. Especially if all this could all be yours.

With a smile, you searched the crowd for Kurt. Surely he would lay all this at your feet. People were moving around under the balcony where you were watching the action.

Laughter filled the air, the clink of glasses and the clatter of high heels on the marble floor mixed into a noisy mass. Everything was so lively.

A smirk twitched at the corners of your mouth as the back of a black silk dressing shirt caught your attention. Kurt had swapped his simple black t-shirt for a proper shirt for the evening.

""To celebrate the return of my Lady Sapphire.", he had said with a smile as he dressed.

You had dragged your fingernails across his toned stomach, felt his muscles twitch under your touch and then undid the top two buttons.

"To give me a nice view.", you whispered in his ear and kissed his neck.

He had almost lost his cool.

But someone had to open the party, and who else but the Colonel of Dogtown himself?

You had used the extra time to change. To make the grand entrance extra dramatic.

"Shit...", a little impressed, Songbird stepped up to your side.

She was wearing a light green dress with purple feathers and simple high heels. She looked stunning in the outfit, elegant but nowhere near as refined as some of the guests present.

There was still something rebellious about her. You were a little doubtful that she would actually keep her end of the bargain.

But in the end, it didn't matter. You could still kill her.

"How's work going?", you asked with a wink and handed her a glass of champagne.

So Mi looked at the golden liquid for a moment before accepting it.

"Everything's ready.", she said with the first sip. "The access code is missing, then the mainframe is yours."

Satisfied, you raised a glass of champagne yourself to toast with her.

"You surprise me.", you admitted. "I didn't think you'd go for it."

A shadow crossed her face.

"Maybe I won't.", she smiled mischievously.

You chuckled.

"Please, you don't have the means. No one is helping you. And my offer is good."

"Too good.", she admitted and looked at the party below her.

"You think I'm betraying you."

"There's no reason to think you don't."

Rolling your eyes, you sighed. With a sweeping movement, you wiped a strand of hair from your face.

"I just want to live, So Mi. Without anyone sticking their dick in my business.", you said, taking a sip of champagne.

"And what about me?", her fingers clutched at the metal of the banister.

She shivered. You shook your head.

"I don't owe you anything. You don't owe me anything. The only reason you're doing what helps me is because we're threatening you

"I'm dying too!"

"Just like a thousand others a day. This is Night City. Death is nothing special. And you're not as much of a victim as you want to be."

Anger reflected in her eyes when she turned her head and looked at you.

"What do you know?", she hissed.

You met her anger with understanding.

"You sacrificed a president to save yourself, So Mi.", you reminded her. "You could have turned to the courts, honest people. Instead, you ran to a tyrant, a criminal."

"I - I never wanted her to die!"

"But you should have expected it. All this...", you pointed to the room, the party and the people. "This is the result of your sacrifices. You made decisions that affected others. It's not all your fault. But it's also your fault."

Trembling, she bit her lips and turned her head away. Metal clinked. A sob caught in her throat. But it was hard to tell if it was out of anger or frustration.

"Why?", she finally asked, black mascara running down her cheeks. "Why all this? Just threaten me, force me to work for you and then kill me."

"But I don't want that.", you replied dryly. "I have no interest in killing you. I want Cynosure. And because people don't work for free, I'm offering you a second chance. On the moon, far away from my business. Neither of us are saints, So Mi. Do as I say and then fly off to a new life."

"It's an empty promise!"

"It's business. Myers promised, commanded and went back on her word whenever. But this is Dogtown. We pay our depts. Give it a shot. Or die."