"Tell me more about this… Valentine Richést…" Empress Bing Qi Ling blew on her hot beverage, causing the liquid within to... churn, before taking a sip.
At this point, there were many who were very interested in this young, charismatic and handsome man on the rise, Valentine Richést... definitely an exciting topic of conversation!
"Do spill the tea..." Empress said meaningfully, with a smirk.
Sally obligingly added some milk to her steaming hot cup, the white liquid spilling into her fine vessel... of Earl Grey that was on the table.
(Shameless... the readers cursed, but nevertheless, they continued to read, since they were gentlemen and ladies, one and all, scholars and scholar-ettes of culture... ✨)
"…Something about the 'Future of Humanity' Project…" Sally spoke, as she nibbled and enjoyed a thick, yummy slice of big black chocolate cake.
Sally briefly explained what she had heard at the World Ball - that Valentine was using this project to provide people the opportunity to create a more secure genetic legacy for themselves, and in the process, a brighter Future for Humanity!!!
This would be done by providing people with access to Education and Training based on proprietary, constantly improving Epigenetic research, that would allow both themselves and their children to continuously improve their genetic quality!!!
"What do you think, Auntie?"
"Humph… If it sounds too good to be true… then it probably is!" Empress replied, as she dunked her teabag a few times into the cup, to inject and mix more flavour into the hot liquid as well as this sentence.
"It won't hurt for us to consider what he is offering… but regardless, I think we need to bake our own cake, take matters into our own hands, and come up with our own measures to secure our Future."
Empress Bing Qi Ling was currently enjoying an egg tart, which was wobbling, glistening and with just the right ratio of refreshing custard to pastry with just the right amount of flake...
Speaking of which... oh that reminded her!
"Sally, how is your egg bank and ex vitro pregnancy research coming along?"
That's right. Valentine would not be the only one to play at this genetic game. Sally already had her "Hope Faith Love" Charity, which was providing a better future for many, but beyond this, she was also aiming to launch her own self-created, technology-based enterprise, "Endless Freedom".
The idea of "Endless Freedom", as the name suggested, was to give Women even more options, such as the option to cryogenically preserve their valuable and limited eggs, and empowering them to have greater control of their own Futures.
For example, they could then have the power to have kids via surrogacy, or even via a groundbreaking ex vitro pregnancy!!!! - a pregnancy that allowed for a child to be nurtured and born outside the womb - thereby bypassing and or mitigating the risks, time constraints, and resource-intense costs of the traditional parental pathway!
In this way, Women would truly have more freedom to live life on their own terms, and access to more opportunities, all whilst still retaining the option to have their own kids and to become a parent at a later date if they really wanted!!!
In short, the aim was to give Women a never-before-experienced opportunity, an 'Endless Freedom' that they had, historically, never had before, to pursue their life, dreams, goals and careers - by decreasing the innate pressures of female biology!!!
This possibility of "Endless Freedom" would be an incredible gift for all women around the world…
"It's going well, Auntie. Ex vitro pregnancy is now possible, but I haven't decided what to do with the technology yet..." Sally said, as she teased at the various frosted-sugar-dusted, cream-filled offerings on her plate... Some were yellow, some brown, some white, and yet all responded to her touch...
Sasuga (as expected) of Sally! After curing cancer, releasing her award winning music, promoting her designer label, being Hollywood's highest profile actress, and still living a double life as Allie going to University, what couldn't she do?! Allowing for pregnancies to occur outside a person was just another day at the office pretty much. No sweat!
Of course, there were still limits to even the pinnacles of science. This technology did not take away the essential role of parenting and mother-child bonding which was a wonderful, if not always possible, part of life - something that Sally was carefully keeping in mind as she aimed to create her own perfect, ideal future, and which would, all going well, hopefully include her own beautiful children…
She also had to consider how best to roll it out responsibly so that it would be a technology that could be used to help and not its reverse.
___
At the same time, regardless, Sally herself wouldn't settle for second best. Even if it were a current given in life that her eggs needed fertilization by sperm, then she wanted the best quality, someone who was equally successful and who also understood and empowered her… or else it would be a deal breaker.
This might seem harsh, particularly if a potential partner might be ideal in certain other ways, but Sally felt responsible for raising her child, and she knew that only a happy and fulfilled partnership would be worthwhile pursuing - otherwise, well, a company of cats and a garden of potted plants would be better than being chained and shackled in the misery of an unhappy relationship...
Yes, being a mom was a potentially joyful thing, but it also carried potential risks and burdens. Even with her ex vitro pregnancy technology easing the burden, there was still the time commitment and social expectations that would be associated with being a parent.
What did you think of Valentine? Would he be a… good match?
This question was a natural one and needed to be asked.
Valentine clearly represented a promising ideal (particularly in light of the… alternatives), and together with both their rapidly advancing technologies, resources and assets, if they discussed things, in all probability, it might be possible to come to some kind of… agreement!!!
"…If it seems too good to be true… huh." Sally mused.
It was strange. Sally's [All Nurturing Life] intuitively, like a flower turns itself to face the sun, responded to Valentine on one level sensing an opportunity for immense growth and potential.
And yet, her [Women's Intuition], the [Intuition of the Ice Queen] was telling her that there was something that wasn't *quite* as it seemed… it was the feeling like Valentine was too good to be true…?
Normally, her two gifts acted as the perfect filter, her [Women's Intuition] giving her the perfect read on a potential partner candidate, whilst her [All Nurturing Life] allowed her to test their potential compatibility… but in this case, even though all the signs were quite positive… Sally somehow felt a little… apprehensive.
It possibly wasn't fair to be this suspicious… Valentine was probably a great person... Maybe she was just overthinking it?!
Empress Bing placed a hand on Sally's and squeezed it gently.
"My dear… In the end though, it is true that you have to give him a chance. Why not meet him, and see if it is a good fit? It doesn't appear that there would be anything to lose."
"Oh." Sally for some reason suddenly had a thought. For some reason, as she thought of Valentine, and considered, really considered the proposition, the Image of… 'that guy', Bob suddenly surfaced!!!
Perhaps this was the niggling doubt that was in her heart?!?!
"Hmm… But what about that guy, Bob?! Should I approach this as a business proposition, or something… more?"
Sally was currently considering her possibilities and weighing them up to see if it would be a good fit for her goals…
Empress Bing, gave her a sympathetic look of understanding, a look, woman to woman, that spoke of the difficulties of being way too attractive and having too many choices and options than to know what to do with.
"Ah. That's something for you to decide, dear. Though I think deep down, you already know the answer..."
Empress' eyes softened. Having spent time with Sally, she knew better than anyone that even though Sally appeared cool and indifferent on the outside, inwardly, there was nothing more she wanted than to be embraced, fully understood, by a real person that was truly capable of affirming and bringing out the full power of her natural gifts… But the problem was… did he even exist?!?!
Empress at this point experienced the classic, age-old feelings that all parents go through when considering their children's futures, trying to weigh up and assess the benefits vs. the shortcomings, feeling partly excited, and yet partly helpless…
They wanted the best for their kids… but this would have to be weighed up against what their child wanted for their own happiness, and the uncertainty of not knowing the future - ultimately, a parent could only try their best… in the end, the decision and outcome was out of their hands.
One thing was for sure.
Empress Bing Qi Ling knew that Sally would never agree to such a partnership solely based on a business proposition.
Her future partner would have to demonstrate themselves as someone capable and exceptional not only genetically, financially… but also emotionally, spiritually…
It was all or nothing…!!!
Sally wanted the Whole Package… but was it possible??
Sally glanced at the card, lost in her thoughts, before sighing.
At this point, time waited for no one, and action was needed.
There was only one way to find out.