Page 75 of Executive Decision

“What, Daph?”

“Later in a biblical sense, right?”

Cal sighed and looked around. “I don’t want that, Daph. Let’s say later as in… well, when can you get away?”

“Cal, you have a shit ton of?—”

“Daph, when? I owe you given my rude departure last weekend?—”

I took a deep breath. “I could get away tonight. Mum knows I’m seeing someone.”

“How?”

“She found my pills.”

“Pills?” Confusion spread.

I rolled my eyes.

“Oh,thosepills,” Cal got it. “Ah. Well, does she know?—”

“I’m not daft, Cal. She has no clue who it is. She thinks he’s a stranger. All she knows is that I have no intention of bringing him back home to North Astor Street.”

“Good,” Cal said. “Things are more fun on Superior. I will be here another couple of hours—mostly circulating. I’m not ignoring you. It pains me even to contemplate that. I’ll text you, but it’s not just… well, I want to hear about everything.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll try.”

I longed for him to brush my lips with his thumb the way he did or to kiss me gently. I wanted him to acknowledge me—really show that he was here for me. Instead, Cal faded into the background. As I watched him disappear to do his job, I spotted my mother on the other side of the bar.

I approached, sick of standing awkwardly alone.

“Mum,” I said. “I’m going to head out later tonight.”

“For what?”

“I have a date,” I said. “Sort of last minute.”

“A date? Still to come?” Disapproval spread.

“Yeah. He’s still at work, but I want to see him,” I said. “I am going to go to his. Don’t stay up. I just wanted to let you know I’m not going anywhere yet.”

She nodded. “Well, at least he has a job. A real one, right?”

“A real job, yes.”

My mother was convinced politicians didn’tactuallywork. She saw it as a silly job that made no money—likely because Chandler never made any and he never did much other than politicking. Unfortunately, Calwasa politician. But he didn’t need mymoney and was currently trying very hard to hold a machine city’s police union accountable for endemic policing issues.

“Alright, well, don’t do anything stupid. Ring me if it goes south,” Mum said.

“I will.”

28SQUEAMISH

Daphne

At Cal’s building,I was immediately permitted to go to the elevator that granted penthouse access. It wasn’t unusual for people to recognize me, but it was odd to see Cal’s security guards jump at attention to direct me to his floor. I sensed he’d explained how important I was to him, which warmed my heart and made me feel less like a girl going for a booty call.

The elevator doors opened to Cal drinking a beer at his kitchen island. He was still in his tux pants and shirt, but he’d tossed aside his jacket and tie. His shirt sleeves were rolled in a way that made me find him irresistible. Sadly, I was nervous to report my bit of news that was sure to halt this fun.

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