Badly Behaved

It’s for the best.

After a night of no sleep, it took a miracle to get myself presentable by Anthony’s standards, so I had no energy left to put time into my outfit, so I kept it fault-free with a black pantsuit and shoes to match.

It’s perfectly basic. Anthony should approve.

I slip by the reception desk as I begin to curve around the corner; I pass a coffee station and slow at the sight of the lovely latte button.

Scanning the area, I spot the cups and pull one from the top, placing it over the big red circle, but when I push the button, nothing happens.

“Can I help?”

I spin to find a young woman with brown hair and eyes to match.

“You mind?”

She smiles and steps up; within a minute, I’m thanking her and headed for Anthony’s office.

He’s on the phone when I enter, his back to me, so I round the room, coming up in front of him and his smile alone makes for a nice night.

Placing the call on hold, he lowers his cell to the desk and steps around it. He grabs my hand, kissing my knuckles and his smile grows wider.

“Nice to see you, too.”

“Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. Today has been a shitstorm.” He chuckles. “Mind if I finish this call, it will only be another ten minutes or so?”

I lower myself into his chair, a tall back, mohair with molded wood, and place my hands along the fine shine of his desktop. “Do as you need, Mr. Blanca,” I tease—playful banter is the second ‘must do’ on my mother’s list, and with the way his eyelids lower, I’d say I’m not so bad at it.

He slips closer, grabbing my shoulders from behind, and leans toward my ear. “Thank you, Ms. Filano. I have a feeling you and I will be explosive.” My eyes shoot forward.

Well, that was a first.

His light scruff brushes against my skin and my shoulders draw up slightly, his lips pressing gently to my cheek. “Enjoy your latte, sweetheart, only so many months before you switch to tea.”

A laugh bubbles from me before I can stop it, but when I see his smile is kind, his eyes still warm, I swallow it, summon a smile of my own and then off he goes.

And he never comes back.

A half hour later, the pretty brunette knocks, only peeking her head in once I’ve called for her to do so.

“Mr. Blanca had an emergency meeting with his accountant, I’m afraid he won’t be finished in time for your early dinner, but I can still call it in for you?”

I’m already walking around the desk before she’s finished.

“No, that’s not necessary, I can grab something on my way home,” I tell her as I slip by, but as we make it into the hall, I jerk to a stop, spin and ask, “Do you mind making me another latte to go?”

Her smile is sly, but she tries to hide it, and when she hands it to me, it’s with a wink. “Have a double.”

As I walk from the hall, I pass a large glass room, Anthony tucked inside with two other men.

He gives an apologetic smile.

And I lift my latte in goodbye.

Give up coffee for tea, he said.

Yeah, right.

I mean... right?

Tanner, my sister’s shadow, thanks to my parents, is still in the exact place I left him.

He sees me coming as I pass his window and he shoots from his door.

“Miss—”

“I told you, Tanner. No miss. And before you say you didn’t expect me so early, it’s fine. Get in the car, I can open my door.”

I know he wants to argue, but I’m already tugging it open, so he slides back into his seat.

“Home?” he guesses.

I nod, looking out the window at the parking lot full of black cars and silver SUVs, the typical clean and clear choices of elegance. We won’t even mention the ‘I have money’ models of choice, likely an unspoken requirement for the hardworking staff inside the building.

My mom owns a ridiculous Tesla Roadster in Florida, which was a gift from a client. She considers it average and hates it, but it stays parked in front of our house there, day and night. It’s washed regularly but not by her because, well... image is everything.

Like her, I’d guarantee not one of the vehicles here belongs to the lawyers of Admiral Law—they couldn’t possibly be bothered with driving themselves.

Imagine all the work they could get done in the back seat?

Sighing, I close my eyes, settling into the seat a bit and only when Tanner clears his throat, do I open them again.

Once we’ve turned onto my street, the first thing I spot is a familiar convertible, and Arsen and the boys who live with him in the grass playing catch.

So, the second I get home, I head for my room, change into a simple dress, and head for the safe hidden in the back of my closet.