Page 5 of With Us

Cat eyes looked up at me, her lips parting slightly. The errant piece of hair fell back into her face.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Luc beat me to it.

“Boss,” he said sharply, already heading for the door.

Fuck.

“See you soon, Dahlia.” My voice was a low rumble. Turning, my long strides ate up the distance to Luc. “What is it?”

He ran his hand through his hair, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “What is it always? Work. Why do we do this again? I should quit and go spend my days in a cubicle somewhere.”

“You’d lose your mind.”

“I’m already doing that.”

“But not from boredom.”

“I could go for some boredom.” He looked around at the city street packed with families, tourists, and the typical rushed workers. “Just heard from Simmons, over at Elio Pharma. He’s requesting a meeting.”

“Where?”

Luc jerked his head toward the black SUV parked at the curb. “He’s on his way to the office now.”

My annoyance was growing to anger. I approached the vehicle as the driver got out and opened the back door.

“Mr. Amato,” the driver greeted, though his face showed little. Dark glasses covered his always alert eyes. His mouth was set in a perpetual scowl, and I couldn’t remember ever seeing him smile.

“Thank you, Niall.” Climbing in, I looked out the darkly tinted windows as I waited for Luc. My view of Dahlia was blocked by the giggling gaggle of women.

With her upturned face and parted lips, she’d looked at me expectantly when I’d asked her name. She’d been waiting for me to ask more.

And I would.

But not until Luc did his job.

“Dahlia,” I said as soon as he got into the car.

Taking out his phone, his thumbs moved across the screen quickly. “Got it.”

Pushing all thoughts of her to the back of my mind, I took out my own phone. “What’s going on?”

“He wouldn’t say, just demanded a meeting. My guess? Contract regret.”

The familiar thrill set in. My mind went in twenty directions, analyzing the possible scenarios and reactions.

As Niall weaved through traffic, the constant stop and go making me glad I hadn’t driven, Luc and I ran through the relevant information to prepare for anything Simmons could throw my way.

When we arrived at my high-rise, I got out, not waiting for Niall. My anticipation built, and I realized I’d be disappointed if Simmons only wanted to discuss routine questions.

“Window cleaners need to come,” Luc said to himself, his steps falling in with mine.

“What we need is some rain.” The spring weather had been unseasonably warm and dry. The grime and smog from the city polluted the air, clinging to buildings. Clinging to my nostrils, skin, and mood, too.

“Since you haven’t gained control of the weather… yet,” he added, “I’ll get a crew here by the end of the day.”

Separating as we went through the revolving doors, we made our way into the vast lobby, bypassing security. Eyes were on us, whispered conversations and hushed speculations following my every move. I punched in the passcode for my private elevator, the doors opening immediately. Entering, I pressed the button for the third floor from the top.

“Cleaners will be here within an hour,” Luc said as the doors slid closed behind us.

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