The phone was ringing. After a day of nonstop phone conferences and transfer calls, Haruka could only stare at it. Finally, she rose from her seat, and headed for her alcohol cabinet.

Haruka twisted the cap off the bottle of brandy, and poured a decent serving into a stout, crystal glass. The door opened behind her as she threw it back in one gulp.

"M-Miss Tenoh?" Her secretary's voice was timid. It had been a stressful day for everyone.

Haruka turned around, thumbing the brandy off her lip.

"What is it, Charlotte?" she asked, her affable tone startling her secretary.

"Um, Eloise is coming to see you," she said. "I tried just calling you but you… didn't answer." Haruka set her glass down on the table, tracing the edge with one finger.

"Yes, I apologize about that. Thank you."

"Yes, Miss Tenoh. And, also, just to remind you, the new intern is coming in tomorrow."

Haruka pinched the bridge of her nose, thinking for a moment.

"That's a good thing, right?" she asked, half-jokingly. Charlotte laughed.

"Yes, it is a good thing. They take can the load off our shoulders."

Haruka nodded. "This may not be professional of me to offer, but would you like a drink, Charlotte?" Charlotte's cheeks turned pink.

"Sure," she said, cautiously walking in.

"Brandy? Gin? Whiskey?"

"God, Miss Tenoh, it looks like the set of Mad Men in here," Charlotte said, her eyes widening as they scanned the array of bottles. "A-a whiskey, please," she added in a small voice.

"It's a tradition I'd like to see thrive," said Haruka, deftly unscrewing the whiskey. It looked like diluted honey as it spilled into the cup.

Charlotte gulped as she watched Haruka fill it half-way.

"Thank you," she murmured, accepting the glass from Haruka. She slowly brought it to her lips, and took a small sip. Heat immediately spread to her cheeks and temples. She couldn't help but wince as the liquid seared its way down her.

"Did I put too much?" asked Haruka.

"Maybe a little," said Charlotte. Haruka took the cup, taking a generous swig.

"There," she said, handing it back to Charlotte. She barely reacted to the drink's acrid taste.

"It's good to relax oneself," said Haruka, leaning her hands back on the wooden cabinet. "It's good to take what you need, if you know what makes you happy."

Charlotte nodded, unsure of what else to say. She looked at her boss, lean and tall in her charcoal pinstriped suit. She really was quite attractive - it was easy to forget that she was a woman. Charlotte had always had a thing for the fair-haired boyish looking types, along with Cheshire cat grins and sardonic manner of dominating all situations. Haruka embodied all of this, and it was only the technical knowledge that stopped Charlotte, and other women in the office, from actively lusting after Haruka.

Still, some had given in to their curiosity. No one she knew personally, but she had heard stories, friends of friends. Some remained sure they liked men, and only men. And others…

Charlotte took another quick sip, a bigger one this time. Her eyes burned, and she covered her face, embarrassed.

"Why did you choose the whiskey if it was too strong for you?"

"I don't know. It always feels the most effective because of that, I suppose."

Haruka grinned. "You know, there are drinks more delicate than whiskey, yet much richer, more effective. Ouzo, for instance, is rather sweet, but its a pretty devastating drink. You'll probably still make a face after drinking it."

"I-I'll try it," Charlotte said. She took another small sip of the whiskey, and then set it down beside her.

There was a light knocking on the door.

"Eloise," said Haruka, smoothing the lapels on her suit jacket. "You can go home, Charlotte. Everyone else must have left by now. Thank you for entertaining my unprofessionalism."

Before Charlotte could respond, the door opened. A voluptuous woman with coppery full hair in a sequined dress strode in.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I thought Haruka would be alone," she said. Charlotte assumed she was Haruka's girlfriend, but her impassive expression was puzzling.

"This is Charlotte, my secretary. I was just giving her some of the St. Magdalene," Haruka said, drumming her fingers around the neck of the tall bottle. "Charlotte, this is my good friend, Eloise."

"Working for this one must be a non-stop party, eh?" said Eloise, shaking her head incredulously at Haruka's alcoholic collection. It was more the quality than the quantity; top quality liquor bottles gleamed impressively like a collection of antique art.

"It was a stressful day," said Charlotte. "It's not - we don't normally…"

"Honey, you don't have to explain anything to me," Eloise said warmly.

Charlotte smiled meekly. "I-I guess I should be going now. I'll see you tomorrow, Miss Tenoh!"

"Good night, Charlotte," Haruka said silkily.

When Charlotte closed the door behind her, Eloise strode up to Haruka, her hands slipping into Haruka's pants from behind. She lightly pressed her pelvis against Haruka's own. Haruka just looked down at her, her teeth sinking into her lip.

"This feels like a tease," she said. "A whole month…"

"I know," said Eloise, her lips brushing against Haruka's neck. "That's why we need to spend tonight together. I leave for Costa Rica tomorrow."

"Can't you still be mine while you're there?" Haruka's lay her face in Eloise's cinnamon-scented hair, breathing deeply. "Even a little bit?"

"No, darling," said Eloise, pulling away slightly so she could look up at Haruka. "This vacation is just me and Alan. Totally vanilla. No orders. Nothing." She sighed, dreamily. "It's going to be romantic."

Haruka made a face. "Delightful."

"You knew this was that sort of arrangement getting into this," Eloise said, raking her fingernails gently along Haruka's scalp. She hung her head back, quelled by the pleasurable sensation.

"You can always find someone else, you know," said Eloise. "I won't mind. That's our deal."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't like having a string of women. I'm not a shepherd."

Eloise chortled. "Are you sure? Because it seemed like you were herding that lovely young woman just now."

"You know what I mean," said Haruka. Eloise's expression grew soft.

"Maybe…" Eloise began, her voice cautious, "maybe you should be in a relationship? A real relationship with someone who needs the same thing you do?"

Haruka's jaw tightened. "Well, I wouldn't go that far."

"Why not? Don't get me wrong, it will be painful to part from the things you do to me… But if you find someone you love-"

"Someone I love?" cut in Haruka. "Really?"

"Aww, and here I thought you loved me," Eloise said, feigning offense. "But Haruka's just a lone wolf incapable of love, right?"

"Don't mock me."

"But isn't that what you think?" pressed Eloise. "You just want to fuck and nothing else. You probably won't recognize it when the person you'll love comes your way because you'll just think you want to fuck the shit out of her."

"You're not doing yourself any favors for tonight," Haruka said gruffly.

"On the contrary, it feels rather self-serving." Eloise giggled. "Now. Can I please get my fix of you before I leave?" She pressed herself against Haruka, lightly tugging her tie.

"Mm," agreed Haruka, face buried in Eloise's hair as her fingers traced circle down her back. "And Eloise?"

"Yes, love?"

"I plan on making you you very, very sorry for leaving me for a whole month."