Michelle knocked on the door to Tony's apartment ten minutes before seven. He opened the door and smiled, removing the pizza from her hands and asking her to come in. She smiled and followed him into the kitchen.
"I noticed the ledge out on the front stairs, you could really imagine the stars without the ambient light from there." she joked. He smiled.
"Well, the moon's full tonight. Maybe we can cuddle up out there after dinner." he suggested.
"That sounds good to me. Now let's eat, I'm starving."
"Mmmm… hang on a minute." he stopped her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly. "I've wanted to do that all day."
"Good. I wasn't the only one." she replied.
They finished their dinner quickly and headed out to the front porch, Tony's arm snaked around Michelle's waist the entire time. They got to the front of the building and headed over to one of two parallel granite stoops on either side of the stairs. Over the outer edge was a small garden that looked very well maintained. Tony climbed up the two feet to the rail and helped Michelle up after him. She curled up between his legs and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Wow, the moon's really bright tonight." she commented, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah. Look, there's a shooting star!" he pointed out, showing her where. Her eyes grew wide as she watched it fall. "Make a wish."
"Why?" she replied, turning her eyes away from the sky to his face. "I have everything I've ever wanted right here." Tony smiled and pulled her lips to his, kissing her gently and lovingly. She smiled against his mouth and buried her fingers in his hair.
"What in the hell's going on here Almeida?" Tony broke away from Michelle to see Chappelle standing directly in front of them. Michelle's face turned red and she jumped off of Tony onto the stairs, folding her arms from the cold. Tony looked over at her and then back at his boss.
"Ryan, what are you doing?" he snapped, standing so that he was at eye level with the other man.
"I could ask you the same thing Tony. You know better than to sleep with a co-worker. You of all people!" he shouted. Michelle shivered and closed her eyes. What would Chappelle think of her now?
"That was WAY out of line Ryan!" he shouted back. "First of all, we're not sleeping together, and second of all, even if we were, it's none of your damn business!"
"I should go." Michele whispered nervously, trying to hold back tears.
"No Michelle, baby, please stay." Tony begged her, holding out his hand and stroking her arm comfortingly. She gave a small smile and Tony turned his focus back to Chappelle.
"It is my business Tony. If you're screwing around with a employee you're abusing your position, and I'll have to take you out of play." Ryan explained. "As for you, Michelle, sleeping with the boss seems so below you. Maybe I was wrong to consider you for that promotion if this is how you plan on getting ahead."
At that Tony lunged forward as if to strike him, but when he felt Michelle's hand on his shoulder he stopped.
"I can defend myself Tony." she whispered. He turned and looked at her with concern in his eyes. She nodded and looked up at Ryan. "Carrie said that to you, didn't she?"
"This has nothing to do with Carrie." he retorted.
"She told you that I was sleeping with Tony so that he would promote me, didn't she?" she questioned calmly.
"She's the one who told me you two were having inappropriate contact, and now I find you making out on your front porch! I have all the proof I need to suspend both of you." he threatened.
"Ryan, Carrie's a bitch." Tony snapped bluntly. "We have been through hell in the last three days. We're both grieving and trying to understand what the hell happened. I'd personally prefer being close to someone who understands what I've been through and who I can help through this. Michelle means a lot to me, Ryan. I'd rather be here with her than with anyone else in the world, and if that means losing my job, fine." Michelle became teary at his confession.
"You're gonna sacrifice everything for a quickie with an employee?" Chappelle questioned, clearly fuming.
"I'm in love with her, and I intend on making this last. You're not going to ruin that for us Ryan. No one will ruin that for us." Tony grabbed Michelle's hand and led her back into the building.
"Fine!" Ryan yelled. "But if this interferes with your work, you're gone."
Tony slammed the door behind him, leaving his boss standing on the sidewalk, yelling at the wind.
