I stretched under my silk sheets as I attempted to open my eyes but quickly regretted it when I was met with blinding rays of sunlight. "Shit." I hissed, wincing at the brightness that shocked my pupils immediately snapping my lids closed. Rolling over on my left side I began to settle back into my slumber when a light knock filled my loft. I groaned, feeling the bed dip beside me I slowly let my eyelids drift open enough so I could look over my shoulder seeing blue eyes staring back at me. A women with tattoos covering her arms, short brown hair that was matted to her face, and an eyebrow piercing smiled at me, "Who the hell are you?" God damn, how much did I take last night?
She popped her head up, scrunching her eyebrows letting a small pucker deepen in between them, "I'm the girl you fucked last night."
"Oh, yeah." Flipping onto my back I placed a hand on my forehead and yawned, "Were you any good?"
The mystery girl sat back up again and just stared at me, before she slowly laid back down in time for another knock to reverberate against my door.
"Okay! I'm coming." I shouted, growing more annoyed as I forced myself out of the bed. Kicking the sheets off I sat up and swung my legs over the edge, wiggling my toes before I placed them on my rug, "And you're going." I said to the random woman laying in my bed. I stood, feeling the chill of the morning nip at my skin. Another knock and an exasperated sigh fell from my lips. Picking up the sweatpants that were thrown over the chair near my computer I bounced on one leg, trying to slide them up. Once that frustrating task was over I shoved on my sports bra and slid open the dark metal barn door.
I smiled seeing Eliot bounce Atlas up and down as they walked in, "I never heard from you after I responded to your thumbs up emoji so I-" his eyes gravitated towards my hook up from last night who was in the process of pulling her jeans up, "I'm sorry are we interrupting something?"
"No, we're all done." I said, looking at Atlas' bright green eyes, with a little brown surrounding the pupil. He sent me a lopsided smirk and Eliot handed him over to me, grabbing a baby bottle out of his duffle bag and ran to the kitchen. This kid sure came out with a full head of hair, similar in the tight curls as Eliots but a light shade of brown. Like chestnut.
"Oh my goodness is this your kid?" mystery woman asked, leaning down to get eye level with Atlas.
"Um yes." Eliot said, walking back from the kitchen, shaking the bottle.
"He's so precious," she began to gently pinch his sides and he giggled, "Hello! Hello! Oh, baby! Hello!" she cooed in some attempt at ridiculous baby talk. God please stop. As if she read my mind her eyes glanced up at me and she blushed, cleared her throat and stood straight up, "We'll do this again sometime."
"Yea…sure." I answered dryly. She dipped out and Eliot slid the door shut behind her.
"Let me guess," He picked up a thong that must've been hers, raising his eyebrow, "Your Sex Ed Teacher?" His wide, Cheshire-like smile reached his sharp, hazel eyes. Warm toned golden-brown skin was flawless as usual. Fucker. I was always jealous how he never had any blemishes.
"Hey, it's important to practice safe sex." I snatched the underwear back and tossed it over my shoulder then brought my hand to support the arm I was cradling Atlas with. Eliot came up on the other side of me and slid his arm across my back and pulled me against him, bringing the bottle up to Atlas' lips. Leaning down he pressed a soft kiss against my temple, soon after sniffles reached my ears.
Shifting my gaze to him I kissed the tear that was running down his smooth cheek, "Don't mind me. I'm just feeling a little…vulnerable."
"I promise not to tell." I whispered.
We both shifted to Atlas who was suckling the nipple of his bottle, eyes fluttering as he fought off the urge to fall asleep, "Who would've thought. You and me. Parents." Eliot's usually deep, timbered voice was light and almost gravelly as he held back his tears.
"It's pretty scary, boys and girls. Think it's too late return it."
"We could try," He sighed heavily and curled me into him once again, "Hell if our parents could fuck up then so can we."
We were silent for a beat, I stood there entranced by the child in my arms, "I don't want you to worry. About money, I mean. If you need anything…"
"No. We'll be alright. Thanks though."
A comfortable silence fell over us as we gazed upon our son. Eliot slowly pulled the bottle away from Atlas' lips as I moved him to lay against my chest, and he instantly began to rest his head again my collarbone, his arms aloft and it was almost like he was dreaming of cuddling the mother. Tiny toes peaked from the bottom his blanket, dangling in the open air of my place. His head, a crazy mass of brown curls, not yet rubbed bald from lying in his crib, wobbles beneath my hand. I want to drink this moment in, this moment with my little boy in my arms.
His eyes were more brilliant than I could describe, his fingers more delicate. He felt so light laying against me, smaller than a bag of sugar. A sudden surge of protectiveness went through me, knowing that no matter what, I would do anything, support him in anything, and be anything for him.
"You know I would've let you fuck me if I wanted to get pregnant and if I wasn't afraid of your lover beating the shit out of me."
"Sto-op." Eliot said, rubbing his fingers over the soft curls of our son.
"I mean it. He could take out Mitch Tilson."
"You mean Mike Tyson." He corrected, softly throwing a punch to my chin.
"Whatever."
We chuckled together as I handed Atlas back to his dad, who cradled the newborn in his arms.
"You had plenty of chances, you know." He said, nudging his shoulder against mine.
"And I took advantage of a few if I recall." I slid my pinky into Sonny Boy's open hand and watched as fingers curl around it, he slept on not bothered.
"Wasn't half bad."
"Now you tell me. You mean I could've been straight this whole time?" I playfully scoffed.
Yes I admit. We had a few drunken nights together and he's right. They weren't half bad.
"I wouldn't say that. Something tells me you wouldn't be the same."
We shared a look, like heaven-spun autumnal. He had a gaze that you could look into forever. It was the sort of gaze that was home, hearth, and hearty food.
"Well, then, it's just as well." I replied, feeling our love draw us closer. He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. It wasn't romantic, it was love. Real, genuine love. Our kisses always allowed our vulnerable selves to speak freely, it's our pure youth and the joy we felt when we were riding our bikes down the street. He pulled away, softly gripping the back of my neck putting his forehead against mine, "What would Theodore do if he saw you kiss me like that?"
He chuckled slowly, "He knows our love is different and that it runs deep. Speaking of, you two should try to get a long more."
"I do try, he's just jealous because he thinks you love me more than you love him. And he's right."
"Look we have a child now."
"Yes, you and me."
"And Theo. One way or another we have to try and find some peace between you two."
"Fine." I groaned, in a very dramatic long and suffering kind of way to which Eliot gave me a fake laugh in response. Atlas began to stir in his father's arms, yawning the cutest yawn I've ever seen in my life and I mimicked him, because I was quickly becoming bored of this conversation.
"I thought we could try something small. A nice, civilized, home cooked meal." He placed a kiss on Atlas's forehead.
"Seasoned with a dash of rat poison."
"I was thinking garlic. There's this chicken thing I want to try. It has forty cloves. Think you can stomach it?" he continued, running right over my comment.
"The chicken or Theodore?" I picked up the small duffel and handed it to him as he walked with Atlas to the front door. I slid open the door and pressed the button to the elevator. My favorite thing about living in this building's luxury lofts is that the elevator can drop off anyone directly in front of my door, assuming they have the code to do so.
"Friday? Early? So you can still hit the bars?"
He asked stepping inside, pushing the button to what I assumed was the lobby. I sent him a smile and nodded, blowing a kiss to Atlas before they descended, disappearing from my view.
I leaned back in my chair, propping my feet up on my desk and crossed my ankles. Looking around the room I observed the faces in my office as we watched Jim's ad for mayor. Everyone on his team seemed enthralled, even proud of the crap that they assured me would 'blow my mind'. Regina on the other hand was harder to read, her edgy features highlighted with from the light peeking through the blinds while she stared at the commercial with such intensity. My eyes kept catching the glimmer of her diamond earring but would disappear when she adjusted herself on the couch and her lightly curled hair would partially cover up the area. Naturally my gaze fell to her cleavage, and when it did an intense electric shock went through me, coming from my pelvis and settled in a throb at the base of my stomach.
Heat radiated around my core causing me to clench my legs tightly together.
"Citizen, war hero, cop, chief of police. Jim Vanguard. You can sleep at night knowing he's the mayor. Paid for by the committee to elect Jim Vanguard."
Glancing over my shoulder I noticed Ruby had her head resting on her hand, eyelids drifting shut before they would snap open when her head bobbed forward while Jefferson was throwing a paper ball in the air, catching it effortlessly and tossed it back up, repeatedly.
"Well, what do you think?" Jim asked, using the remote to stop the clip, dropping it on his chair once he stood.
I twirled the tip of my pen against my lips as I smiled, "If I want to sleep at night, I could take a Xanax. Or I could watch your ad." I answered easily.
Clay, my suspiciously attentive boss as of late shot up from his chair, "What my partner means is-"
"What I mean is it's fucking boring." I interjected. Why is Clay trying to save face? The ad is ludicrously horrible. It doesn't move me or speak to me in a way that would make me run right out and vote for him.
"Ms. Swan, do you mind if I ask you what you know about running a political campaign?" Diane questioned as she continuously clicked the end of her pen, clearly offended that I didn't like her stupid commercial.
"Not a goddamn thing."
"So then what are we doing here Jim?" Daniel added, placing his hand on the Chief's shoulder but it was quickly brushed off.
"Listen I may not know anything about politics, but I do know what sells. And right now you've got a product that no one is buying." I answered, finally taking my legs off the desk and sat up straight.
"You make him sound like he's a box of corn flakes." Diane huffed.
"Yea, that's exactly what he is," Ruby bluntly added. Standing from her chair only to sit on the edge of my desk, resting her hands behind her back.
"And lucky for you," Jefferson appeared by my side, securing the bottom two buttons on his jacket, "Selling corn flakes is what we do best."
"Ms. Swan, Ruby, Jefferson," Diane said in the fakest polite voice I've ever heard, looking at each one of us as she said our name, "Jim Vanguard has a fifteen-year record of fighting crime. As chief of police he's not only defended our streets, but also our traditions and our morals. His mandate to serve is based upon that commitment."
Jefferson scoffed and I couldn't agree more. Slowly I rubbed my temples with the tips of my fingers, "Would you mind sparing us the bullshit rhetoric? We all know you love your community, your flag, your mother, but it's not going to get anyone excited. Or in this case, you elected."
"This commercial was-was made b-by one of the best ad agencies in the state." Daniel defended, his cheeks went red, probably the from the look I had on my face. He's nervous…as he should be, "96 percent of the test group we showed it to reacted favorably."
"And who were they?" Ruby ran a hand through her hair, letting it rest behind her neck, "Insomniacs?"
"Our loyal supporters." Jim answered, but there was an edge to his voice. He had adjusted his tie over ten times in the last five minutes. It's true. I counted. And that told me his ego was feeling ganged up on.
"And you've already got their vote. What about the ones who are undecided? The ones who would never cast their vote for a law-and-order type of guy? You have to pull them into your camp if you want to win." Ruby pushed, her voice raising a little as it normally does when she's trying to get her point across.
"You came to us because you said you liked our honesty. Well, here it is; There's no way you're going to win with that." Jefferson pointed to the paused video on the flat screen. The advisors all looked at one another, huddling in their own private circle as they murmured under their breath. Relaxing in my seat I stuck the pen behind my ear, chancing a glance in Regina's direction. She was sitting on the couch with one arm thrown over the back of it, legs crossed, bouncing her foot up and down as she patiently waited. Her calves flexed under the movement and the only thought I had was wondering what her skin tasted like.
The back of my throat dried.
"I suppose you have a better plan." Jim proposed, but he was unable to look me in the eye.
Clearly my throat, softly I stood from my chair and walked around the desk to stand in their little huddle, "Do you work out?"
"Five times a week," He held out his hand, reaching for Regina, sending her a soft smile and she placed her fingers right in the middle as if this were a common occurrence or something that had happened so many times in the past that it had become a simple, rehearsed movement, "We work out religiously." An overwhelming sense of annoyance burned within me at the sight of their little idiosyncrasies.
"Any sports, Jim?" Jefferson continued.
"Basketball. Swimming. Rugby."
"Hobbies?" Ruby took up the last of the question and I felt her gaze rack over my profile as my eyes stayed glued to the way Jim rubbed over the back of Regina's hand…and my nostrils flared. What the fuck is this feeling? It wasn't quite protectiveness, but it also wasn't jealousy…at least I don't think.
"Yes, I like to build model airplanes."
Now this caught my attention.
"No shit," I let out a half chuckle, from the dose of nostalgia I was feeling. "I used to do that when I was kid. You too?" I asked Clay who's nonverbal response was to scrunch his eyebrows together.
"Sure, but who didn't? What's the fucking point Swan?"
"The point is, I can relate to it. Everyone can. But who in the hell is going to relate to some stiff in a uniform?"
My boss reached over to place a hand on my forearm, rubbing it tenderly, "Emma, take it easy."
"No it's alright," Jim said, adjusting his posture so he sat tall, shoulders back and chest out, "I can handle the truth. Even if someone uses it like an assault weapon. So, what do you suggest?"
"Change your image. Stop selling yourself as a hero and start selling yourself as a man. An ordinary man who has the same cares and concerns as everyone else. The only difference is you're in a position to actually do something about it."
Biting his bottom lip bushy manscaped eyebrows furrowed, his moss colored eyes taking a moment to look at Regina again. Their expressions were blank but as they stared at each other it was obvious they were having a silent conversation. I marveled with a sense of small envy at the way they were able to communicate without using their words.
"Look," he finally started and I knew he wasn't yet convinced, "I know we came to you for new ideas but this is a radical change from the campaign we've running."
"Too radical." Daniel emphasized.
"Well it's up to you." Jefferson responded, "I guess you have nothing to lose."
"Except the election." Clay shot me a look but I just shrugged my shoulders. I'm not sugar-coating shit for this guy.
It got quiet, everyone was holding their breath, accumulating to the silence in the room. Regina was the only to make a sound, sighing as she tossed her hand over the arm of the couch. Folding my arms across my chest I lowered myself down, sitting just behind it feeling a pleasant buzz run through my body. Looking down I noticed how close her fingers were to my thigh.
"I mean would it really hurt to try it this way and see what happens?" she asked, gesturing with a wave of her hand. That tiny movement sent a heavy does of her perfume my way.
Fuck she smells good.
Gazing at her for a beat longer, Jim pursed his lips and with a slow nod of his head I saw his body relax, "No I guess it wouldn't hurt to try." He ran over his face, then let his fingers fall to his lips. He looked lost. But they say starting over is never easy, "How do we begin?" he groaned as if he hated to concede.
Daniel and Diane shifted uncomfortably, muttering incoherent words under their breath definitely not in agreement with the change of course.
"First we need to start by figuring out what makes you pop. What makes the consumer want to buy what you're selling instead of the competition. Something that will attract their attention for more than fifteen minutes." Jefferson adopted a far off stare and already I could see the wheels turning in his head.
"Maybe not just Jim, though…" Ruby trailed off as her gaze drifted to the women beside me, "What about you? What are your hobbies?"
Her body stiffened when she realized the question was being directed at her and then sighed as if she didn't necessarily want to talk about it, "Working out. Spending time with my family. Sculpting."
Sculpting?
Interesting.
"Siblings?" Ruby pressed, though she already knew the answer to that.
"Yes. My twin brother." But I didn't know they were twins. Hm, I wonder if Jefferson knew, "He's-"
"You know," An abrupt clap popped through my office causing everyone to jump, "Maybe you three can come over for dinner this weekend. We can talk about this new direction we want to go in. How about Saturday." And even though he was asking us, his hardened stare fell on his wife.
Awkward. Tense. Uncomfortable.
Still, none of these words would do justice to the intensity buzzing in the room. Jim didn't cut Regina off in a way that was abrasive but it was clear this was a subject that was triggering for him. Which means whatever dynamic he has with Neal is strained at best, and while family matters really aren't our business I like to have all the information when it comes to my clients. Especially the high profile ones.
I exchanged glances with Ruby and Jefferson, her face reading a more neutral response but Jefferson's brows were creased and his face was tense. Something is up.
Once again I let my sight drop to Regina who's eyes were immobile as the rest of her face, as if Jim's reaction was impossible to absorb any faster. I wanted to look into those deep, earthy, brown hues, to get a glimpse of what she was thinking right now.
"That sounds like a great idea." Clay answered, like he was trying to diffuse the growing tension.
"Great," Jim smiled, with a flip of the switch showed off that perfect grin then turned to me, "Emma, lovely to see you." Tipping his head towards me we exchanged a short handshake before he strolled out with Dumb Diane and Dumber Daniel on his heels. I'll say those two couldn't get out of my office fast enough. I watched them not to far away, making stiff gestures with their hands. Whew. They don't seem happy.
"Jefferson, Ruby. Can you help walk Jim and Regina down," he glanced over his shoulder to see her just now getting off the couch, "When she's ready of course."
They nodded their heads, eyeballing me as they passed with Ruby mouthing "be good" to me, and followed Clay into the main seating area. I glided back to my desk, unable to stop looking at this curious woman. As if she could feel me, Regina shifted under my heavy stare, taking small peeks in my direction until I finally garnered her attention enough that she stopped looking away. Her big brown eyes rested on me, not unblinking, but slow; and the effect isn't harsh, instead soft and inviting.
"Well it seems I misjudged you." I was pleasantly surprised when Regina's voice reached my ears. I though I'd be the first one to talk. My lips fell into an amused grin as I began shuffling some random papers around on my desk, feeling her watching me, "I'm sorry."
"For?"
"That night I met you. I thought I had you all figured out."
"I mean, if you thought I was a conceited asshole then you weren't wrong," My truth made her smirk and she step towards me, "And if I'm being honest…I judged you that night too." I admitted, seeing her eyebrows scrunch, "Am I annoying you?" I asked, circling my face with my finger, telling her the expression gave her away.
"Not right now. Jim calls me his little open book-because my face is so easy to read."
Honestly I'd never expended so much energy trying to figure out what someone was thinking in all of my life, "Actually, I find you very difficult to read."
"You much be a good reader then."
"I guess so."
Her jaw locked and she looked to the side, making the muscles in her neck stand out momentarily, nodding in the silence. Slowly, I cuffed the edges of some designs and gently tapped them against the desk, trying to straighten the papers out, "Maybe we should start over. No pre-judgments." Her eyebrow rose in hopes that I would agree, and with a bite of my lip while thinking it over, I concurred.
"Okay. I like the sound of that. By the way, sorry if I was too harsh earlier."
She chuckled lightly, shaking her head and took another step towards me. I glanced at the movement and my body froze for three full seconds before resuming this monotonous task, "Not too harsh at all. That commercial was fucking trash," That familiar heat made itself known at the way she said 'fucking', "You're actually quite good at your job." She smiled at me for a split second then turned her attention to the Manhattan skyline, glowing in the orange and yellow sunset.
"Thanks." Taking a deep breath, I continued on, trying to make a joke, "That's great to hear because with most clients I can get bored in five minutes."
Her eyelids narrowed and for a moment, looked miserable but once she glanced and saw me watching her demeanor completely changed and she started chuckling, "Just trying to impress us then?"
Slowly I slipped the papers in my top drawer, then slid on my desk, crossing my legs as I kept an intent gaze on her, "Say I was trying to impress you, is it working?"
"I'm still trying to decide."
The space seemed to vibrate with tense energy and I felt as though I could happily drown in it. Taking a risk I let my eyes fall on her again, only to see her checking her phone.
"Well, I should get ready for the next client." I started, ripping her attention away from the screen and onto me, "But if you need anything before Saturday Jim's camp has my number." What the…why would I say that? I hate when people call me about work, outside of work hours.
"Do your clients normally call you when you're off?"
"Sometimes," No not really, "Life…relationships…they can be hard, ya know. Especially for a couple such you two in the limelight that you are in, so..." That was a cheap way out, but I wasn't quite sure if I should bring up Jim and his peculiar reaction when she mentioned Neal just yet.
Regina nodded before taking another step towards the desk. She reached around me and grabbed a blank piece of printer paper, ripping the corner off and taking one of the many pens strewn near my computer, "Well, it'd probably be good for you to have my information anyway. Since you'll be helping us," bending over, she quickly scribbled something down in her amazingly neat handwriting and handed it to me, "Here's my email," Before I could respond though, she cut me off, "Wait. No I never check that," she laughed and reached forward, brushing her fingers against mine and took the paper back.
She wrote something else down and then set it on the edge of my desk. I leaned forward, picking it up and staring at the phone number written down.
"That's my cell in case you can't reach Jim for some reason."
"Sure, yeah." I leaned forward, grabbed the pen she was using and quickly scribbled mine onto another torn off corner. Taking the small piece, she gazed at the number much like I had then slid it in her pocket.
Her phone shrilled loudly, startling both of us. Regina looked down and a slight frown tugged her lips down but was quickly covered up when she looked back at me, "I have to go." She walked backwards, never breaking eye contact with me, "See you Saturday, Emma."
"See you Saturday." I said, smiling so that my lips pulled back, exposing all my white, gleaming teeth. Regina responded with a wink, managing to throw me off once again. Turning around she glided towards her husband and interlocked her fingers with his once she got to his side.
I took in a deep breath letting her tantalizing smell soar down my throat. The elaborate mix of her intoxicating perfume sat in the room and though I could've used the fresh air to clear my mind, I let my eyelids close, breathing slowly to savor her aroma that saturated my office.