Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 215: Lick Lick Lick

She yanked her hand back like she'd touched a live wire, her cheeks burning.

She'd tried to fluster him and ended up flustered herself. That wasn't even the first time.

Chandler slid the diamond ring onto her left middle finger. Her slender, pale fingers and the brilliance of the diamond caught the light in a way that was genuinely stunning.

He bowed his head and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand.

The room went completely still, and then someone started clapping, and everyone else followed.

Serena clapped her small hands for a moment, then remembered herself and turned to check on her father.

Matthew, who'd been standing motionless, came back to himself and joined in with quiet, measured applause.

His expression carried more emotions than he could count, but a smile found its way onto his face regardless, even if it carried a faint, bittersweet edge.

Mariella had found someone worthy of her. He should be glad for her.

It stung a little, and he knew it. But he also knew he wasn't the right person for her.

This was right. This was good.

Number One began clapping as well, though something wistful moved through his expression as he did it.

He stayed quiet throughout, keeping to the background as he always did.

He was quiet by nature, so nobody noticed anything unusual about it.

The champagne was opened, glasses were raised, and the team drank with genuine warmth to celebrate their boss and Captain Zimmer.

It was only an engagement dinner, but it felt exactly like a wedding celebration.

After the drinks had made their rounds and the meal had wound through every course, Mariella gave a sharp clap of her hands and called the table to attention. "There's something I need to go over with everyone."

The team looked toward her and waited.

"Does anyone still have cash on hand?" Mariella swept her gaze around the table. "If you do, spend it. Because when the brutal temperatures hit, the only thing cash will be good for is starting a fire in the stove."

The room fell quiet, but no one disputed it.

The disaster had dragged on for months, the floodwaters hadn't receded, and the official warnings of extreme cold were already circulating. Things were getting harder by the day.

The fortunate thing was that Celestine Ridge had held together like a sanctuary. Without the raiders stirring up trouble, they'd barely felt the full weight of the catastrophe pressing down on them.

But they all understood the larger picture was deteriorating, and with the currency losing value fast, whatever cash they were sitting on needed to move before it became worthless.

Number One was the first to speak. "What should we do with the cash we have? Tell us, Ms. Townsend."

Mariella gave him an approving look and continued. "The government commandeered a retail store to distribute grain, fuel, and essential goods to survivors. I'm not suggesting we compete with desperate people for those basics. We don't need grain, and we don't need fuel. But survivors need cash to buy from that store, which means cash still has one last use left.

"Starting tomorrow, take all the cash you have and set up outside the store. Survivors can trade their gold, silver, and valuables for cash, and use that cash to keep their families fed. You bring the valuables to me, and I'll trade you back anything you need.

"Weapons, gear, food, daily essentials, all of it is available. If you don't have to cash in right away, you can hold with me and claim it whenever you're ready."

The engagement ceremony had wrapped up, and Mariella was already back to running operations.

The window before the brutal temperatures arrived was narrow, and every hour counted.

"After you've converted all your cash tomorrow, instead of coming straight back, head up to Hillcrest Range and gather firewood and branches. Collect everything that'll burn, so we have fuel to run the heating when the cold sets in." Mariella laid out the next day's assignments with the precision of a field commander.

Number One acknowledged it. "Understood."

"Same structure as always. Dr. Lester and Serena hold the base and stay out of field assignments. Captain Zimmer runs with me. Everyone else follows the second-in-command. Three groups, three objectives, everyone has a role."

Lucky let out a sharp bark, making very sure he hadn't been overlooked.

Mariella gave him a pat on the head and smiled warmly. "Everyone full and rested enough? Dismissed. Get some sleep. We've got a full day ahead of us tomorrow."

...

Mariella returned to her room and waited, but Chandler didn't appear. She slipped back out into the hall to find him.

Instead, she found Number Five standing at the corridor window alone, working through a beer in silence.

"Still not done drinking?" Mariella was mildly surprised and walked over.

Number Five turned around, and it was too late to hide the bottle. She offered a rueful smile instead.

Mariella caught the quiet melancholy in her expression. "What's going on?"

Number Five dropped her gaze, seeming to weigh how much to say.

"You don't have to tell me anything," Mariella said evenly. "I'm asking because I care, not because I'm trying to pry."

Number Five finally spoke. "Last night I noticed Number One drinking by himself. I wanted to sit with him and he turned me down."

Mariella raised an eyebrow.

"Tonight he's locked himself in his room again. I knocked and he wouldn't open the door." Number Five let out a self-deprecating laugh. "All I wanted was to be there for him when he's struggling. He won't even give me the chance to do that much."