Boaz ran through his mental list. Thinking of something, he quickly went down the stairs and entered his home office. He shuffled the data files around on his custom kazinoir desk, barely noticing the deep blue patterns of the inlaid kyanite.

“You really are going, then?” Boaz paused and looked up. His cousin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

“Of course. She asked for my help.” He resumed searching the data files. “Everything is in order and I’m trusting you to take care of any issues that may arise.” Finding the one he was looking for, he straightened with it in hand. As he moved towards the door, his cousin shifted just enough to block the way.

“Is there something that you needed, Ronan?” Ronan huffed at this.

“You know I’ll take good care of the company, Boaz. It’s just…” He trailed off, gazed up at the ceiling as if searching for divine inspiration.

“Just what?” Ronan shook his head before looking Boaz in the eye.

“It’s just…why her, of all people? You have thousands asking for your time every day cycle and you choose her? What kind of hold does she have over you?!”

“Ruth doesn’t have anything over me, Ronan. She-“

“Then why? I can’t believe you’re going with her! A small time scavenger nobody of all people. Don’t you have people who handle people like her?” True, Boaz did have people he called to take care of unwanted pests, but Ruth wasn’t unwanted. Nor was she a pest.

Ronan continued to rant. “She’s clearly taking advantage of you, using her womanly wiles and sob story. It is clearly suspicious! Why can’t you see-“

“Since when have you known me to be easily swayed by a pretty face.” Boaz interrupted his cousin, a sharpness to his voice. “Of course I investigated her.”

“I investigated her, her mother, her ship, and her claim on that salvage. She is a licensed scrapper, registered with Chaddash Corporation. Not a scavenger as you oh so eloquently stated.” Boaz took a deep breath and let it slowly out.

“She’s the real deal, Ronan, now move. I need to finish packing.” Clearly unhappy, Ronan stepped aside as Boaz pushed past him.

Boaz ascended the stairs two at a time back to his bedroom. He slid the data file into his bag and sealed it shut. Taking one last glance around the room, sure now that he has everything, he headed back down the stairs.

He was not surprised to see Ronan still standing there. His cousin was not one to just let things go after all. Tenacious. Boaz was the same, but he did not have time for another confrontation. He had promised to meet Ruth at three, a quarter hour from now.

“Take care, Ronan. Don’t let Michel bully you too much.” Ronan opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed and shook his head.

“Take care, Boaz. Don’t get into too much trouble.”

Boaz could not help but give his cousin a crooked grin.

“No promises.” And with a lazy salute, he was gone.