Page 35 of An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle 1)
g attention. Sort of. “I don’t know if I want one or not. It depends on what the agreement looks like when I get it.”
“You have an appointment in five minutes with Josephine Martinez,” he says as we wait for the elevator.
“Is she an attorney?”
“Josephine?” He laughs. “No. She knows as much about law as your average crime show fan.”
“Then who is she?”
“You’ll see.”
* * *
Annabelle
When we reach the lobby, a woman in either her late twenties or very early thirties stands up from one of the plushy chairs. She has beautiful bright chocolate eyes, a surprisingly small nose and a mouth that looks juicy from a liberal use of dark pink lip gloss. Her hair tumbles behind her shoulders in chic, thick waves, artful highlights mixing with the dark brown strands. Her bright burgundy dress seems almost painted on, but somehow it isn’t tacky. She looks sophisticated, fashionable and stunning as she walks in a pair of impossibly high stilettos, a black lambskin bag hanging from her arm.
“Elliot.”
“Didn’t take you long,” Elliot says, giving her a quick hug.
Their familiarity sends a flash of ugly heat through me, and I look away.
“Josephine, this is…Gigi.”
I scowl at the name. The subtle pressure of his hand at my back tells me to keep quiet.
She extends an expertly manicured hand. “So good to meet you, Gigi.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“So. She’s the one you told me about?”
“Yes.”
Her gaze sweeps me from head to toe. “What are we talking here?”
“Pretend her house burned down, and she escaped with what she’s wearing.”
Josephine purses her mouth. “I can do that.”
“Great.” He turns to me. “Don’t forget our dinner.”
“We have dinner?” I don’t remember him telling me that. On the other hand, I might’ve lost track of it since he’s told me a lot of things in the last few days.
“Yes. I’ll text you the details.”
“Actually we can’t,” I say.
“Why not?” he asks, as Josephine discreetly retreats to give us privacy.
“Today’s a school day. I have to be home.”
“For what? Your sister’s fifteen; she can take care of herself for a few hours.”
“I need to make her dinner.” I don’t tell him Nonny is perfectly capable of nuking frozen leftovers.
He frowns. “I can take care of that, but our dinner is non-negotiable. We still have a lot to go over.”
