Josef Kostan sat in his chair, spinning around in it a bit. It was all he could do to pass the time of this dull morning. He didn't have anything planned for today and, since Mick and his other buddies were busy, he found himself in his office.
I wonder where Mick is, he thought to himself, trying to pass the time. Maybe he has a case... nah, he's probably just off with Beth. I wonder if he finally got the stones to tell her how he feels... God, I hope he does and I really hope she feels the same. Not only because Mick's my friend but mostly because I can't stand hearing him complain and be all heartbroken.
"Sir?" his secretary, Brenda, said though the intercom.
Josef planted his feet on the ground, stopping the constant spinning motion he had. "Yes?"
"There's a very angry woman on line 1. She told me to tell you that, and I quote, if you do not pick up that phone now she will make sure that she kills you herself."
"I see," Josef said, pondering over that thought for a moment. What angered woman was trying to kill him this week? "Alright, I'll get it."
"Good luck, sir."
Josef chuckled to himself momentarily before picking up the black phone on the corner of his desk. "Hello?"
"Josef Kostan, I do not owe you anything!"
Brenda was right, this was a very enraged woman he was about to deal with. If it was any other woman he might have felt something other than amusement, but he knew this voice and tone well enough that he had trouble not being amused. He knew it would be only a matter of time before he heard from Ms. Vittoria De Luca.
"Can't last a day without talking to me? And, as I remember, you should owe me something. How's your boss?" he replied, fueling the fire. He should know better, but that hasn't stopped him before.
"She's thrilled with the interview from hell. What did you say to her, better yet, what did you do to make my boss think I'm some savior from heaven?!"
"Is that gratitude I hear?" Josef said, the slightest of smirks forming on his lips.
"No, it's rage. Lots and lots of rage."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Not even a bit? Too bad."
"I'm going to burn you alive soon. I do not owe you anything."
Josef held back a laugh. "Oh, but I believe you do. After all, I did save your reporting job. Are you really gonna kill the man who saved your career?"
Pause. "I appreciate what you did but I didn't ask you to so I shouldn't have to 'owe' you anything."
"But I did anyways, so you should owe me. From the inner kindness that you have deep within your heart."
"Do I sound like a girl with 'inner kindness'?"
"You sound like a bundle of joy."
An aggravated sigh could be heard from the other line, causing his smirk to grow. "Why? Why'd you tell her that 'interview' went well, when it clearly didn't?"
"I did it out of the inner kindness that I have deep within my heart," Josef said, nearly losing it when he heard her suppressing her annoyance in a form of a strained groan.
"I see. And the roses along with a note that said "You owe me" was just you being Josef Kostan?"
"Yes."
"I owe you nothing and I am leaving now."
"I'll call you later if I think of something you could do for me," Josef said, smirking as he heard her muttered curse before she hung up the phone.
Vittoria turned out to be more amusing than he had originally thought. It wasn't that she was just amusing and attractive that made him want to talk to her more often. It was her attitude. She didn't fall at his feet like all the other women he met. Instead, she acted as if she couldn't stand the thought of him.
Acting, he thought to himself, is the key word in that sentence.
