Page 8 of Pride & Precedents

"It's very thoughtful, Ms. Sanchez. Thank you." She gives me a tentative smile and her hand twitches, reminding me to move mine away.

"You're welcome," she says, her voice breathless.

The air in my office suddenly feels thick with possibility. I lean back to put more distance between us.

"What about you? Are you and your family spending the holiday together?" She shakes her head, her expression sad.

"Rory doesn't want to risk it in case she gets a call that production has restarted, and Gabe said he and his roommates are going to do something since we're not doing the family thing. It'll just be me, 'A Christmas Story', and my own special gift basket from Rory." She leans forward and winks. "Mine has alcohol." I quirk my lips.

"Keeping the good stuff for yourself, I see."

"Ididhave to carry three of those baskets all the way from the Bronx. I think I deserve the hard stuff." I ignore the naughty connotation of her words.

"I think everyone does."

She laughs and turns to leave.

"Ms. Sanchez?" I call after her. She looks back at me. "Merry Christmas."

Chapter seven

Camila

Present Day

I can tell something's off with Henry. He usually replies back right away with questions on the dossiers, often calling me to confirm details and ask clarifying questions that sometimes lead to pivotal insights into the client. Today, it's been radio silence. If not for the much appreciated kudos this morning,—which I more than earned, since I was stuck at the office until almost eleven—I wouldn't know he even received the completed files. He also looks surprisingly clammy and hot for someone who goes by Sub Zero. Maybe he's coming down with something.

I reach the door to the conference room just as he and Mr. Bannister arrive, still discussing the details from the dossiers. He lifts his shoulders in a barely perceptible shrug to ease the tension in his obviously stiff shoulders (also unusual) and presses his lips into a grim line before smoothing his face into its usual placid facade. What is going on with him today?

There's a question in my eyes which Henry avoids by averting his gaze and pulling open the door to the conference room. Isuppress a sigh and follow him into the room, taking my usual seat in the row of chairs along the wall.Someday I'll get a seat at the table. Just one more mid-term and then the hellacious bar prep begins.

Ms. Watanabe is seated directly across from Mr. Bannister and she is a vision. Hair as smooth and dark as ebony cascades to the middle of her back. Some uber-professional women opt to downplay their femininity, but she's emphasizing hers, showing a hint of cleavage in a fitted burgundy dress with cap sleeves that reveal her svelte form. Her eyes are captivating, like Mulan in the animated movie.Shit. That's probably racist, but it's also accurate.Her eyes are almosttoobig, which would be enough to make her beautiful, but her full lips in a matching burgundy shade make her striking. Looking at her makes me question whether I've been too closed off by only dating men. It also makes me wish I bought more than frozen yogurt and a cardigan on my last trip to Bloomingdale's.

Those too-big eyes widen slightly when they come to rest on Henry and I notice him shift in his chair from my seat behind him. Something isdefinitelyup. Do they know each other? Sheisexactly the type of woman he tends to go for: stunning and unapproachably attractive.

After the initial awkwardness, the meeting proceeds as normal. Ms. Watanabe is as impressive as she looks, and just joined our biggest competitor in the environmental division. Maybe she can finally crack the mystery of why NYC water seems to almost bubble right out of the tap. It certainly does make a good bagel, though. In a decision that surprises no one, she signs the retainer agreement before the meeting is even done; BBS&Pisthe best, after all. Mr. Bannister is beyond thrilled, practically fawning all over her and insisting he treat her to a celebratory breakfast at Buvette.

The three of them collect their designer briefcases, straighten their designer clothes, and head towards the elevators for a chic breakfast billable at $1700 an hour between the two partners. I sigh wistfully at my live viewing of "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous: Corporate Edition" and head back to eat my tuna sandwich at my desk. When he's back, I definitely plan on grilling Henry about what really happened in this meeting.

Henry's not back from breakfast until almost noon, which has given me enough time to brainstorm no less than five scenarios for his weird behavior this morning.

Option 1: He's been body-snatched, and we are in the early stages of "Soylent Green".

Option 2: He had a wild night last night with one too many Earl Greys and he's "hung over".

Option 3: He and Ms. Watanabe used to press their equally sexy bodies together on a regular basis.

Option 4: Ms. Watanabe used to date one of his brothers and he's got a bitter grudge for the heartbreak she obviously left in her wake.

Option 5: Something is going on with his family that's too bad for even him to bottle up.

As he passes me on the way into his office, I notice his tie is a bit loose and he's even got the top button of his shirtunbuttoned.What?!Option 6: He just triedcrackfor the first time because that's the only way he'd come even close to a dress code violation. He doesn't even notice when I follow him in before he can close the door behind him. He simply sinks into his chair and stairs off to a spot behind me, deep in thought.OK. Time for an intervention.

I clear my throat to get his attention.

"Sir?"

His eyes focus on me like he just realized I was in the room, and he sits up straighter in his chair.

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