Page 67 of Hard to Judge

“Of course,” he grouses. “What are you getting at?”

“He hired me to complete this job. That’s what I’ve done.”

“You were supposed to go through me,” the captain heading to jail within the hour yells.

“I’m not good at taking orders.” I end the call, toss the cell onto my desk behind me, and continue watching the snow fall outside. The phone jitters and whines and dances on my desk for the next several minutes. Each time, my smile grows.

“Shouldn’t have allocated tax dollars to your shell companies, asshole.”

I scoop up the phone to tell him as much. It’s a distraction. One I need. One not to be. The name on the phone is the one I need distraction from. I drop the phone as though it burned me.

“Fucking Arlo.” I sit back in my chair and try to ignore the searing in my gut.

I love you, Hotaru.

The first and last time he told me he loved me, he walked out of my life for years. I’d like to think this time is different, but this time is perhaps more volatile than the last. If I lose him, there will be nothing left of me. I won’t recover.

I love you, Hailey.

The words ring in my ears.

He loves her enough to make a life with her. I’m the sideshow.

A knock reverberates through my corner office, pinging off the glass walls. It’s that odd time between Christmas and New Year’s when only a few people flit about the entire forty stories of the building. I didn’t bother closing my door.

I turn and find the young guy from the main reception desk cowering in the doorway. “Yes?”

“So sorry to bother you, sir.” He has a proper British accent. “I have a message from Mr. Judge.”

For the life of me, I have no idea why this guy is shaking in his boots. Like I told Arlo, I’m not a monster. I even greet most people I cross in the hallways. Well, nod more than greet, but it’s not like I step on this guy’s toes every chance I get. “And that message is?”

He winces, and it’s comical. “Answer your fucking phone, or I’m going to stop paying for it.” The guy practically hides himself behind the wall. “And get to his office right away, or else…”

I bite back my smile. “Or else?”

He goes red in the face. The part I can see, at least. “He’ll hunt you down, turn you over his knee, and spank you like the bad boy you are.”

My laugh erupts so forcefully my abs shake.

The guy’s mouth goes as wide as his saucer eyes.

“Thanks.” I wave him away. He runs like he heard his mom call his name.

Sure enough, there are several missed calls from Arlo, not just the one I declined. Reluctantly, if not a little more levelheaded, I leave my office and head down the hall to the opposite side of the building, to an office that mirrors my own.

Mio’s desk is empty, along with every other desk I see on my way.

I slip inside without knocking and close the door behind me. “You could just fire me. My contract work is way more fun than your books. Your records are so meticulously kept, they’re boring. I never get to send anyone to jail.”

“I hope it stays that way.” He turns away from the window and faces me. “Have a seat.” He points at the chair I helped myself to a few days ago.

“I feel like I’m in the headmaster’s office.”

He pulls on his super dorky headset and dials a number.

“Never mind. Headmasters don’t wear headsets.” I sit and kick back in the chair, loving the grimace he shoots me.

“Hello my siren, I’m sorry to interrupt you at work, but I need your help with something.” His gaze narrows on me. “Yes, it will only take three minutes tops. I need to teach Hotaru here a lesson.”

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