Power relations

-15 months later-

The sound of the red Mustang is resounding through the whole street. It's been a while since the last time she visited this specific address. More precisely, it only happened once. During a storm that poisoned her life for months after that. The idea itself sounded crazy enough to make her show up once again. Lorena already has an answer to the question but she's simply too curious to miss out on the opportunity to visit the company. Cameron's company. It sounds insane and something tells her that it doesn't only sound that way.

The lawyer doesn't even have to get out of the car to hear the noise, striking through the engine's sound and the pulled up windows. It's deafening. The music mixes up with shouting and the sound of maniacal laughter. Lorena fixes her attire before heading to the front door, her heels clicking on the pathway leading to the porch. Somebody's snoring gently in a hammock, completely undisturbed by the hellish conditions. She's not bothering with knocking, there's no point in it. Thanks to her quick reflexes, she avoids an unpleasant meeting with half a pair of an extremely dirty combat boot but she can't evade having some of the dried mud getting onto her neck and blouse. The jangle starts to decrease as the woman sweeps the dirt off of herself. She can feel the eyes focused on her movement, looking around slowly. Some of the faces are familiar and some are new. A half naked guy runs out of the kitchen with colorful breakfast crunchies stucked into his beard, holding the other pair of the boot. The grin slowly fades from his face, dropping the shoe on the floor, he strokes his hair back with a theatrical movement before fixing his run-down boxers.

"Christmas came early this year, lady! You don't even have to unwrap your present."

The look on Lorena's face would be threatening enough for anybody to know not to mess around. Her smile cuts like a razor blade.

"I'm looking for Donna." She passes the sizable Romeo but makes a half turn from the kitchen. "As for you, I'm sending my commiseration to your mother. Obviously, she needs it."

"Lorena! Thank you so much for coming here!" Donna rushes to the lawyer, slightly pushing the half naked man to the side. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."

"Me too." Her gaze moves over Donna's shoulder, meeting Cameron's eyes. Considering the expression on the programmer's face, the idea wasn't her brainchild at all.

"Tell me you didn't call her to my house."

"Cameron, calm down, please."

"No! We don't need her! We don't need you! Thank you for coming here in your expensive shoes and designer clothing but I don't want you to be snobbing around in here!"

If the plan was to make a scene, it's a success. If it was anything other than this, it's a tremendous mistake.

"I'm a little confused. Who's asking for whose help? You dragged me here and told me, no no no, promised me that there won't be any hidden tricks. You lied."

"I will fix this, I promise. I'm asking for five minutes."

"Five minutes."

"Thank you."

"Don't waste your own time."

I know it hasn't started out the best way, but I hope the past few days were enough for you to think it over and consider all the possibilities. We're perfectly fine when it comes to the tech part but we can't deal with the legal side. Mutiny has a great potential but it can't function the way it should because we're constantly finding ourselves face to face with missed charges and obligations. It grew over us and I'm worried that we're going to fail this whole thing because we don't pay as much attention to the law as we probably should." Donna can't sit comfortably on the bar stool. She's too stressed out. She's been like this for a while, especially since the first meeting with the lawyer at Mutiny ended up the way it did. The fact that she accepted her visit and gave her another chance to talk it through is enough to hope for the best outcome. She called the babysitter in the last minute, it's a miracle she could even make it here on time.

"Where are you exactly in the 'we'?" Lorena sips from the wine, she can't be fooled. Donna came alone. It probably means something. Most possibly that Cameron either doesn't know about their meeting or she does but is still against it.

"I know how it looks and you're probably right. But it's not about Cameron or me or anybody else. It's about how far this thing can go and I'm very certain that it has a long big future. The reason why I asked you specifically is because I trust your expertise and I know you are someone who can truly get things done. Will you help us or not?"

"It's wonderful that you think way further than the founder of this company herself and I appreciate your interest. But I think I'll go with no." The air freezes for a moment in the room, Donna blinks with disbelief.

"But... Excuse me?"

"It seemed like a decidable question. And I picked no."

"Why would you do this? I'm not asking for a favor, you'll be paid. As we settled before."

"Look, I've seen enough. You're incapable of taming Cameron's hysterical outbursts, yet she's obviously keeping you under full control as her general servant. It's not your fault. You've taken way more on yourself than you ever should. I've already wasted too much time on excuses, so long story short: you can't pay enough for my tolerance."

The loud knock on the door breaks the stretching silence. Donna would attempt to make the lawyer change her mind but she already deployed all of her best reasons for that. The real shock comes when Gordon appears in the door but unlike his wife, he hasn't come alone.

It feels like a bizarre daydream, a picture he envisioned for at least a thousand times. A picture that dissipated as soon as he opened his eyes, leaving him with nothing but her absence and the helpless rage that overtook his lungs, constantly gripping on his guts, scratching his skin from the inside. After all those months, countless days and never-ending nights, he got used to the feeling. The permanent hunger that couldn't be satisfied with anything. Whenever he tried, the only thing he could attain was to deepen the contrast between her and everybody else.

Now she's sitting within arm's reach, returning his gaze but keeping her silence obstinately. It's not hard to tell that she's outraged but she's keeping it under control. She's offended by his intrusion, showing up without a word, uninvited, taking advantage of a situation that he's got nothing to do with, using it without a flinch of an eye to get what he wants. The Joe MacMillan method, cross anyone and everyone, take what was destined to be his, may it be true or just his own misconception.

They sit in silence, staring at each other like they have nothing to say when in reality, there are simply too many words to be expressed. Yet, they're choking on them instead. All those pre-thought dialogues are meaningless when the only thing that separates them is a length of a single step.

Joe inhales deeply, letting the long missed, familiar scent to spread through his veins, filling every inch of his body with lust. His muscles are stiff, ready to attack in any second. Even the smallest sign won't be left unnoticed, if only Lorena wouldn't be lingering with that. She knows exactly what the man is waiting for, the same scene has been played over a million times. Everything is different now. She's already steps ahead but she's not willing to reveal her cards just yet. She needs to calm down, she can't let Joe provoke her to the line where she'll most likely lose her mind. Once that happens, there's no turning back.

"Did you find what you've been looking for?" She's uncrossing her legs, taking the heels off, placing them accurately next to the armchair. The man's getting late with the answer. He can't help it, it's like a Pavlovian reflex, swallowing hard by the sight.

"Not really. What I've been looking for found me instead." Lorena's lips curl upward with a tiny sarcastic smile, her expression seems to be impressed.

"Good for you." Her hands stop midway to the table acknowledging that her glass is empty. She looks back at Joe disappointedly. His words sound bitter.

"It's been a long time."

The lawyer can sense the blame in his tone, making her inhale through the nose irritatingly. He still knows how to annoy the hell out of her in less than a second, and she still reacts in the same old way. Lorena gets up from her seat, making her way to the bar. She answers above her shoulder.

"Not long enough, if you ask me."

Wine is out of the question. The situation calls for something way stronger, something that has the potential to successfully soothe her nerves. Lorena grabs a bottle of cognac by the neck, pouring it liberally into a crystal glass. Every move she makes is observed by the man, devouring her through his eyes, hoping it will lessen his hunger but all it does is making it worse, pushing it to the level of untameable.

The woman takes a few steps but she's not going back to her previous spot, purposely extending the distance between them. She leans her back to the counter, smelling into the rich, golden liquid, immediately frowning with disgust. Not even Joe can make her overcome the massive dislike she has toward the full beverage. She places the glass on the marble surface, leaving it untouched.

"You've got balls, Joe. You must be given credit for that. But I don't really have time to waste on you, so why don't we get done with whatever it is you came here for? Make it quick. I'm listening." There's a provocative look on the lawyer's face, arms crossed on her chest. She aware of how her words make the man feel. Every single one is like a slap on his face, turning the tables around. Making his blood boil.

It's a well-deserved return of a favor, his paycheck for angering her the same way, though being fully unaware of it. She will not back down and let him win the duel. Not this one, not this time. Joe should have been more prepared before storming back into her life, but he was careless. He looks nothing like the last time she saw him.

Lorena knew what she should've done, but she was unable to move, the muscles in her body refused to cooperate with her brain. She should have listened to her common sense screaming inside of her head and resist the urge, she should have turn around and walk away but it was physically impossible. Every nerve was aching, burning slowly under her skin. She made a dangerously big mistake. All of the things she heard made it all worse, cutting into a wound that hasn't had the time to heal. That single door between them meant nothing, it couldn't save the woman from a hurricane. The first look. All she wanted was a quick moment but her gaze was glued to the man, absorbing every inch of him. His body, his brokenness as he was sitting there all on his own. His face buried in his palms. She swallowed but the bitter taste couldn't leave her mouth. She knew it was unfair. She should have been impeached as well, being responsible for not taking legal steps against blackmailing, hacking, malpractice on every level of the management. Yet, she wasn't even questioned about the mistakes, not a single word was shared about what should've happened differently. Lorena's presence was less than moderately stimulating for Nathan. In his head, he was already preparing himself for the final confrontation with the only chargeable person behind the downfall, the real mortal enemy of Cardiff Electric. Joe MacMillan.

"Just for your reference, this is the time when you should break the silence. Correct me if I'm wrong, but something tells me that you're the one waiting for some kind of a plea. If this is the case, I can assure you I have nothing to confess." The tension is rising slowly. The lawyer's tone remains silent but sharp, the best way to hit the softest spot.

"Nice place." Joe doesn't move his gaze away from the target, not letting himself to get distracted. The statement itself is way more of a reproach than a compliment. He's hurt by many things and the number keeps on growing the more he gives himself up to anger. They both know the reason behind why she moved and picked herself a new home. This one is untouched. It's pure from memories and passion. Pure from pain. There's nothing to remind the woman of him, nothing to help her remember his touch. She did it all on purpose. To cut him off completely.

"Nice haircut." A little grin sits on Lorena's face while waiting for the expression of realization to appear on the man's face. He came here thinking that she can be deceived while he couldn't even believe his own lies.

Joe was informed about her being in Dallas for a while now though she never moved a finger to let him know. Never looked for him, never cared to get in touch. He wanted to find her, he really tried. But every path made him crash into a wall. The last drop in the glass was the day when her house got sold. He needed a minute to face a fact that was continuously refused to be seen: she was gone and he might never see her again. From all of the things that ever happened between them, nothing felt the way it did. Nothing was more painful than missing her.

"Nice tan. Were you enjoying yourself?" He sounds way more provocative than he should but instead of calming down, he's aiming for the heavies, ignoring what the consequences might be. A thought that couldn't leave his mind. "Or someone else?"

Lorena grunts with disbelief, shaking her head slightly. She's offended. She wouldn't care about Joe making a joke out of himself, but the way he spits these words out makes her palms itchy.

"Good to know you're still an asshole. Not like I was expecting something else."

"Answer the question." There's no doubt about it being an open challenge.

She doesn't like to be pushed to the limit, but the list of people who can actually do that consist rarely more than one name. She's aware of the risk and it would be a shame to lose a game with nothing but aces in her hands. The anticipation on Joe's face turns into rage within two seconds as it becomes clear that she's not about to take up the gantlet. Instead, she flashes a threatening smile at the man, pushing herself away from the counter, taking a quick step toward him.

"You know what? I have a better idea. Let me show you something!" She walks with easy steps as the pastel peach, floaty dress waves around her body, emphasizing the sun-kissed skin tone. "See this magical device? It bears the ability to unite or separate spaces, but the best part is that it works according to my will. Especially since it's my property. Get the fuck out." She's holding the door wide open with a tiny evil smirk vibrating on her lips.

Joe stabs his stare into her eyes, contemplating whether she's being serious or not. It's not a question who's got the upper hand. He's thrown out. He gets on his feet, followed by the lawyers eyes as he's getting closer to her. Their staring contest stays as intense as ever, he's not wasting time to look away while grabbing the door by its side and slams it loudly with a wide move. He takes a step forward but Lorena gets him by surprise when she remains motionless, not backing away as he expected.

He's towering above her, a never-failing move to irritate her the way he always did and started to enjoy it even more since she refused to feel intimidated by it. He leans down without a warning, stroking her lips with his thumb. The familiar softness sends a chill down his spine, like finding an oasis in the middle of a desert, he's easing the thirst from her mouth. It doesn't matter how long he had to go without having it, he never forgot the taste of her tongue. She draws back from the kiss but leaves zero time for Joe to wonder, the slap on his face comes as naturally as the prelude itself. They're both standing mesmerized by the element of surprise. Lorena wasn't playing around with an alibi smack, she went in with full power and considering how much she's been against physical aggression all her life, she nailed the task perfectly. If only her hand wouldn't feel like she was attempting to crash a brick wall with it. The man looks astonished by the sudden change of events, it's the second time in a row he gets something fully unexpected from the woman.

"I will make you pay for this." He makes sure the threat sounds legitimate, gripping Lorena by the arm.

"I dare you to try it."

There's no hesitation in his move, smashing the lawyer against the door, pushing her into it with his own body. Joe can feel her chest heaving underneath him, the hot little breaths against his neck. He's restraining himself from ripping her clothes off as much as he can but he's getting closer and closer to the end of his self-control. He's rock hard, craving every inch of her as they're grinding on each other in ecstasy. Her hand wanders to the most aching point, moaning with delight as she's seizing it through the fabric of his jeans. Her fingers move higher, finding their way underneath his shirt, alternating scratches with caresses. He's not heating up under her palms, there's nowhere to enhance it. He's already blazing, his body pleading to be touched.

Lorena knows it's over. Fighting her instinct is redundant, a long lost game. She tried to reach the same heights but the experience was irreproducible, making her even more mad at Joe. Every time she attempted to ease the pressure, she caught herself thinking about him, how his body feels next to hers, his moves, his spectacular talents. Nobody could satisfy her the way he did. Nobody could overdo her expectations with him in her mind. The only time she made a good use of his constant presence within her thoughts was while shooting clay pigeons, replacing the flying objects with him. She rarely missed a shot. The thought makes her giggle but she keeps the information for herself.

"You want to include me in the fun?"

"Aren't you having fun already?" She's out of breath, Joe's pressing the air out of her lungs with his weight, bending down to reach her neck for a bite. The lawyer's reaction is as tasty as her skin, whimpering with pleasure by the sweet pain.

She pulls the man's shirt up, indicating what she wants to do. He's withdrawing with half a step, letting her stroke the white textile off his chest before dropping it on the ground. Lorena can't stop feasting her eyes on him. He seems even bigger and wider than he used to be though the most delirious part is that he was always a considerable size. Her fingertips moving slowly across his skin, relishing in the smooth sensation but it's not enough anymore. She's unable to resist the urge, leaning forward to reach him with her lips, she kisses his pecs, drawing little circles around his nipples with her tongue, nibbling on his shoulder. Joe forgets to breathe, his head dropped back with delight. The more he feels her, the more he wants and the more she gets into it the greater her fury becomes.

Dramaturgically, this could be the perfect moment to drop the man out once and for all like he would deserve it, making sure he'll never forget the ordeal. But it's not about him. It's about Lorena. It's about the feeling that should've faded by now. The fever that should have been cured by the time and the distance. Yet, she's holding onto him like her life is depending on it, inhaling the smell of his skin. His arms curl around her back, wrapping her into the safety of his embrace though she's never been in bigger danger anywhere else. He lifts the woman up, squeezing her buttocks tightly as her legs go around his waist.

"How should I take you?" She grabs his chin firmly, leaning close to his mouth but refusing to accept the kiss. She grips on his hair strongly with her other hand, the smirk she usually spares for nobody but Joe appears on her face.

"Do you really think it's you who's going to decide?" His palm slide under the dress, stroking up on the bottom of her thigh, giving the slightest little press through her panties with the side of his thumb. He's watching her in awe, her eyes close instantly, biting on her lips to muffle the sound of her whine.

"Apparently, yes."

"You dirty bastard."

"Your insults are music to my ears."

He carries the lawyer to the kitchen, unzipping the back of her dress on the way but he's too impatient to wait until it will be gone, sneaking underneath the light fabric. The moment he puts her down the peachy outfit falls to the floor, revealing the white lingerie, making Joe moan with anticipation by the sight. Lorena's hands move quickly on his jeans, barely ripping it away. They shiver with excitement when their skin finally meets. She doesn't shy away from getting into his boxers before getting rid of it, watching closely as he's flinching by her touch. His lips parted with desire as she's grabbing him, her moves unhurried and tight, driving him insane. Her eyes never leave the man's.

"Did you miss me, Joe?"

He grabs her wrists and turns the woman around, grinding against her roughly as she's arching her back to him. He goes down to his knees, taking the white lace off, following it with his lips all the way down to her calves. He straightens up and frees her skin from the last bit of clothing, covering her shoulders with kisses, biting on the nape of her neck. His fingers sliding to her core, finding her drenched with lust.

"Not less than how you missed me."

Joe doesn't warn her before sliding himself all the way inside. She's more than ready to take him, yet the unexpected move leaves her knees weak. They moan together by the exquisite sensation, remaining motionless to relish in the moment they've been longing for all this time. Calling it incredible would be nothing but a serious understatement. Leaning on the counter, their fingers entwined. They both know it won't be long before the explosion. Their bodies can't take it. His movement is slow and sensuous, his sighs burning the soft skin on Lorena's back. She turns her head for a kiss, feeling him going deeper and deeper with every thrust, whispering his name into his mouth. She's reaching back to grab his hips, hypnotized by the experience. She's not simply seeing stars but the whole galaxy in front of her eyes. The moment his fingertips brush against her most delicate spot, she's reaching the limit of pleasure her body can take, bringing Joe with her to the highest point while tightening around him, her walls convulsing with the overwhelming force of the climax, making him groan loudly into her skin while releasing himself.

The tremble can't seem to subside. Even the chilly marble surface of the counter can't ease the fever. Joe fondles her sides, his hands never stop on her, bathing her in kisses and strokes. The only thing he doesn't indulge her with is honesty.

"Don't accept the offer." Lorena's look is only moderately surprised.

"This is what I call pillow talk. I don't know if you realized it but you're not my boss anymore." She can feel the man grinning against her skin. "You think I can't handle Mutiny?"

"I think Mutiny can't handle you."