ds-free mic. "Don't catch a col

tting the call before he co

shire and Santa Monica, th

pped it in the mirror. When she pressed the red wax against h

nter cupholder, capped the empty brass tub

ok the westbound ramp toward downtown

ghts of her corner office, marking citations on a

ir vacuums in the hallway did Alex pack

ocked the front door

ice cut through the dark

e," Ale

by the console, and a hard-shell Rimowa suitcase sat at the foot of t

ng room, where Basil sat on the leather so

re you so late?

paring tomorrow's fede

se is completely dark," he snapped, tossing his tie onto th

, letting the geography of

pink blush sat against the seam, and three thin fingern

atches for two second

salon," Alex said.

ed, his jaw tightening fo

ery highly of your ge

iced arrogance. "I expect you to look the part. Without me, you wouldn't have

mind for future ret

Basil snapped. "I'

heavy bathroom door clicking shut bef

loset, pulled a heavy black trash bag f

here eight years of anniversa

Tiffany pendant from their second y

age," Alex whispered

h

he diamond studs from year three, the Cartier sapphire broo

graduation off the shelf, letting

ter stopped in

a white towel draped across his broad

print the revised paten

yourself,"

e tomorrow's funding

reviewed them on you

king," Bas

ule was very demand

strings of the trash bag

ed. "I have a preliminary injunctio

s hands stoppin

ook a heavy step forward, crowdi

glare witho

no," A

il hissed. "I pay y

ery cent of it

t the bulging black

bag?" Basil demanded. "D

y time you disappointed me," Alex said

, his chest heaving. "You think you ca

need to slee

tepped around his shoulder, he

when I'm speaking to you!

the bench, his private phone ra

e inner pocket, glaring at Alex's

h, pressing the green button and hitting

edroom at full volume, breathless and giggling. "You left your Rolex