Clap! Clap!
The sound of Averna's distinctive clapping signaled the simultaneous opening of both the elevator and the gigantic mahogany doors leading to the building's residences.
Through the glass door, Averna walked up to her two personal male guards with identical pristine white hair and sharp, well-kept, creased navy blue suits.
Both had on similar wingtip shoes, with black socks and white-rolled handkerchiefs in their pockets. In their hands, they had several team-issue Japanese KA-BAR Edge knives, keeping them ready to use in any situation.
"Ma'am." They both greeted her in a monotonous voice, bowing in unison.
"Daron, Brandon." She acknowledged each in turn. She was never one to enjoy the company of so many people; therefore, she opted out for the best two that money could hire.
They gave a little nod, keeping a straight face.
Averna could feel the hot breath of the liquid-cooled air conditioning unit, which had been programmed to keep her cool and comfortable.
She stepped inside a dark gallery with thick, white, marble-like walls. Fully automated, solid-black molded strips made up the flooring.
The room was equipped with four motion-detecting light switches and several video cameras, which were all searching for signs of movement. A huge, thick, flat-screen TV connected some of the machines in the room's center.
The TV screen displayed a live feed from the guards on duty, who were also monitoring the elevator doors for any signs of activity or operation. For her privacy, they only displayed heat signatures from her room.
Averna walked towards the elevator and placed her palm on the fingerprint reader. She felt a slight vibration, and then it glowed a soothing green color.
"SAI, take me to the floor labeled '1'." Averna spoke to the AI.
"Miss, Floor 1 has been authorized with your fingerprint; you can proceed." The AI responded.
She took a look at her wristwatch. It was already 6:30 p.m.
The elevator doors slid silently open, and she got in and said, "SAI, heat up my bath."
"Of course, Miss." SAI replied as the doors slid shut behind her.
In the elevator's silence, Averna glanced around. The elevator was about 6 meters in diameter, with a transparent, dark red, soft-glass door on the front panel, which was made of a material similar to bullet-proof glass. The clear glass door featured a fingerprint reader, specifically designed to recognize only Averna's prints.
The interior of the elevator was a simple, retrofitted mahogany design with a padded full-length glass window, which could be morphed into an opaque glass for privacy. The elevator did not have a doorbell, a bell tone, bells, push-buttons, or any other means of receiving or letting someone in or out. The only way to get into the elevator was to put your finger on the fingerprint reader, and if you're an authorized user, the elevator would open. That was the only way in and the only way out.
The doors opened to the faint sound of mechanical gears grinding at the bottom of the elevator.
'Nothing feels better than home.' Averna thought to herself, stretching her arms and legs and extending her body as she felt the tension in her back ease.
The elevator cushioned her landing as she stepped down onto a thick, beige, carpeted floor.
With another soft chime, the doors slid open, and Averna stepped out into the hallway.
The hallway was dimly lit by several hanging, bulbous, white spotlights that were focused on each and every centimeter of the floor.
Marble, polished to perfection, made up the hallway floors. The walls were also made of the same material as the floors, polished to perfection. The ceiling was an unimaginable, intricate, marble-like pattern that repeated itself at nearly every centimeter.
The hallway was lit by the same spotlights installed in the elevator, but now they were mounted on the walls and pointed right at the ceiling as they focused their beams of light on the marble pattern.
There was a subtle, soft hum in the air, which was the result of a constantly running undercurrent in the air conditioning.
Walking towards the door to her room, Averna spoke once again, "SAI, open my door."
"Of course, Miss."
The doors slid open, revealing a huge white, triple-paned window that looked out upon a small garden, with a large, round, ceramic fountain in the middle of the green lawn.
Averna stepped inside, and as soon as she crossed the threshold, the door slid shut behind her.
"SAI, turn on my television." She placed her handbag on the counter next to the door.
"Miss Averna, the television is turned on; viewing channels are ready for you." SAI replied as the TV screen flickered to life.
The TV was positioned on top of the marble desk, facing Averna. It was a massive, flat, white, 80-inch plasma display that was attached to a larger, flat, white control console with several large, multi-function buttons. Behind it was a large, built-in, white, leather armchair with a support cushion for her back.
An electronic news channel, broadcasting live over the internet, dominated the television screen. The video feed was coming from a network and news station in an Italian city.
Averna walked over to the control console, changing the channel in a haste. "What an eye sore." She said it under her breath.
SAI was listening to every single word Averna was saying and analyzing the conversational tone.
"I'm all ears, SAI." Averna addressed the AI, programmed to track and assess her emotional state.
"The news is filled with the paparazzi team—We Scoop You Lose; I highly disregard paying attention to them." SAI replied, and Averna shook her head, taking off her coat and ankle-strapped heels.
"I doubt they'll pose a threat to me," Averna scoffed. "They thrive on gossip, after all; that's all they are good at."
She was wearing a white, silk, floor-length gown with a silver slit and a bodice that lifted up to reveal a portion of her chest, back, and shoulders. The gown was open at the mid-thigh and was trimmed with silver mesh and buttons in the front.
"Too bad I have to get rid of such a beautiful dress." She muttered, slipping the gown off her shoulders and revealing her lace-trimmed, sheer black bra and panties.
Averna took a look around the room and said, "What a waste of space." She muttered to herself, walking towards the bathroom.
The bathroom was fully automated, equipped with a beautiful whirlpool bathtub that was sunk into the floor in the center of the room and walled off by glass. There was an LED-lit display above it, showing the temperature of the water, which was set to the perfect heat.
"Lights." Averna spoke to the AI.
The lights automatically dimmed, and the bathroom was lit by soft, white LED lighting.
Averna stepped in and shut the glass door behind her.
The glass door opened automatically when she stepped in.
Pulling off her last piece of clothing, she stepped into the tub, which began to fill with swirling water, the temperature dial increasing with each ripple, and Averna was mesmerized by the beautiful, relaxing sensation.
"Oh, this is too good to be true, and I intend to keep it this way." Averna spoke to herself.