"Alex!" Hank Abraham greeted, vigorously shaking hands with the candidate.

Adeline picked up a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter.

Hank directed the man's attention over to her. "Have you met Ms. Preston?"

"No, I don't believe I have." Alex came over and offered his hand.

"AJ Preston." She introduced herself.

"My wife Yelina." He introduced as the woman joined their conversation.

Hank turned to AJ. "Rumor has it that you purchased one of the largest private collections of historic legal documents, AJ. Alex here went to Fordham."

"I wouldn't say it's privately owned. They're all going to be housed in the study at the store." She felt a jewel dig into her finger as her hold tightened around her clutch purse.

"Store?" Yelina chimed in.

The District Attorney added himself to their gaggle. "AJ recently acquired Ships and Stars Novel Enthusiasts. It's a bookstore here in Manhattan. There's the best little coffee shop there, and you even do custom bookbinding and acquisition, right?"

She took a rather large sip of champagne before nodding.

"That's adorable. I'm sure your husband is very proud."

"My partner is incredibly supportive of my work. Just as you are with your husband, I'm sure."

"The books she rebinds are incredible." The District Attorney fetched two fresh glasses, handing one to her.

Adeline considered the chances of a hairpin driving through her scalp to get out of this conversation.

"I didn't know you delivered." The DA pointed out. "I saw you dropping a book off at my offices just last week."

"It was a personal favor. You keep your staff so busy, I hate to be disruptive."

"Hmmm. Is Barba getting me a retirement gift already?"

AJ kept her eyes focused on the DA to avoid the tension that was raised in their little circle. "He needed the binding repaired on something. I had Nina do the work, I just brought it over on my way to lunch with John Munch."

"John's a bit old for you isn't he?" Hank asked her.

"Is age really a solid indication of a good partner?" She asked him. "I look for more reliable things, like experience, tastes, intellect. You can tell a lot by the whiskey a man drinks."

"That's a fantastic idea." The DA agreed. "I would love a glass of whiskey right now."

A woman across the room waved at their gathering.

AJ raised her glass at the woman. "That is my publicist, I'd better go say hello."

Their little group broke up as the men made their way to the bar.

AJ was practically taken out as a man stepped out of the men's bathroom directly into her path toward the ladies'.

"Excuse me." She attempted to be polite.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." He locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket. "Miss Preston."

"Mr Munoz." Maybe it was her years of dating Rafael, but it seemed clear to her that his tuxedo had shifted since earlier.

His dress shirt was no longer neatly arranged underneath his blazer. The shirt collar was level with his blazer collar as though he had taken it off and put it back. His blazer was unbuttoned and she could see his belt seemed to have jumped a loop. A brief glance confirmed the presence of a chub. He pulled his blazer closed and buttoned it.

"Excuse me." She gestured past him and he moved out of her way.

He had found a conversation close to the hallway that led to the restrooms. A conversation he ended once AJ appeared.

"AJ- Miss Preston." He called.

She stopped, turning to him.

"The work you do, books?"

"Rebinding, yes."

"I was curious if I could come by and see some of your work. Might make great gifts for my campaign team once this is all over."

"Did you have a particular title in mind?" She asked him.

"That depends on the outcome of the election." He smiled at her. "Can I get your information?"

She nodded.

He pulled his phone back out of his pocket, getting to the dial screen.

AJ spoke loud enough for him to hear but he still leaned into her as he listened to the numbers.

"What's 'AJ' short for, if I may ask?" He was on the save screen.

"It's just AJ."

"That's what your parents put on your birth certificate? A and J?" He had gotten so close that as he tried to laugh the situation into a comfortable interaction, she felt his breath fan over her low-cut bodice.

She straightened her necklace as she checked their surroundings. There was no one near enough to truly hear their conversation. "Yes, those are the letters in my name. As for what it's short for, that is reserved for only the most personal relationships."

"Well, it's still early." His hand brushed hers in a somewhat negligible way.

"I don't particularly care what the time is." She snapped, drawing her hand away from his.

"Maybe I could come by the store in a few days then?" He continued. "Or you could just make a delivery to my office, like you do with Rafael Barba?"

"Excuse me?"

"It's just so convenient that you deliver. I could do the same."

"I'm not interested in any packages from you, Mr Munoz." She crossed her arms so that her chest was out of view. "Remember what I said about tastes? Mine don't extend to married men. And I don't particularly enjoy last-minute jet-setting. Go find some low-rent slut to climb your coattails while your wife wins this election for you."

She left him there, walking to the bar and getting a drink.

"So you know Rafael?" Yelina asked AJ, walking up to the bar to join her.

"From the store, yes." She toyed with a few buttons on her phone. Swallowing the liquid in her glass, she gestured for a refill.

"He's just a gem, isn't he?" Yelina asked her.

"Definitely."

"What type of whiskey does he like?"

AJ focused all of her attention on the older women. "How could I possibly know that?"

Yelina smiled slightly. "I just figured if you were dropping by his office so late in the night, maybe you two had a drink on occasion?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You were at the Assistant District Attorney's office this afternoon." Yelina pointed out. "You're rather difficult to miss, all dolled up in that dusty building."

"Yet somehow you missed the fact that the District Attorney is my escort this evening. You did seem preoccupied with your husband's campaign. Almost more preoccupied than he is." AJ opened her clutch and produced cash to tip the bartender. "Does he know what you were up to? Dropping by and hoping your old flame would promise to make the mean ole police stop asking questions?"

"Jealous?"

"Of you?" AJ dramatically pretended to clutch a ring of pearls she wasn't wearing. "There's nothing appealing about asking your ex to cover up the fact that your husband likes to fuck girls half your age."

"But there is something appealing about sneaking around with a public servant who's past his prime?" Yelina hissed back. "Do you two go anywhere besides the bedroom?"

AJ picked up her phone and her clutch from the counter. "Rafael likes scotch. For our anniversary we went to Scotland and enjoyed a bottle that was older than the last woman your husband fucked. Based on your attitude, it clearly wasn't you."

"Is that supposed to validate your argument? People in a different country? They probably think he paid you."

"No, what validates my argument is that you're so bothered by what Rafael is up to. It's almost like you're second-guessing your decision to marry Alex."

"How dare you."

"I don't dare. I see how your husband has looked at every other woman in this room." She smiled and waved at the D.A. as he made his way to the exit. "My guess is he is going to screw that one in the bathroom before you leave tonight. He keeps eyeing her like a kid in a candy store and she is giving it right back."

Yelina followed the younger woman's gaze to a skinny brunette who looked barely old enough to drink.

"If you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a nightcap with my 'public servant'."