To answer her question, Eve flagged down a passing waiter. âCould I get a frozen cosmo, please?â
âAnd Iâll have a Midori Sour,â Lina added.
âComing right up, ladies.â The waiter disappeared behind the bar to place their order.
With an exaggerated sigh, Eve dropped her black leather designer bag onto the nearby cocktail table and sank back into her chair. âWell, get ready to hear my latest horror story.â
âSpill it.â
âWell, you know I had to sit through one of those dull-as-hell board meetings this morning, but I do that every month. Today, it was even worse because I met the guy whoâs taking my job.â
Linaâs expression conveyed her empathy. âI know you were crushed when your parents told you.â
She shook her head, feeling her emotions rise just thinking about it. âIt amazes me that they didnât even talk to me about it before they made their decision. Iâve been training my whole life for this, and now Iâm losing out, just because they doubt my abilities.â She knew her parents hadnât set out to hurt her, but knowing that they didnât believe in her at such a critical time was a truly painful thing to accept.
âWe both know youâre fully capable of running FTI. Donât worry, theyâll come around.â Lina placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. âWhatâs this new guy like, anyway? Isnât he a friend of your dadâs?â
âYes.â She rolled her eyes, thinking back. âHere I was expecting a baby boomer but the brother who walked in couldnât be more than thirty-five. So, of course, Iâm wondering what a guy this young could possibly have over me, in terms of business acumen and all that.â
Linaâs brow hitched up. âReally? So what does he have?â
She recalled the things Darius had said to her when heâd introduced himself. âHeâs young, but experienced. Heâs educated, has owned a software business previously and apparently invented the first smartphone operating system before retiring a few years ago.â
âWow. Sounds impressive.â
She sighed. âWell, he must hear that a lot. This man is so damn arrogant. I mean, he just walked up in there as if he was just crowned king.â
Lina didnât say anything, but rested her chin in her hands.
âIt gets worse. This isnât the first time I met him.â She grabbed her purse and unzipped the outside compartment, fishing out her phone. âRemember the guy in the elevator the other day, the one I told you about?â
âOh, yeah. You said he was in the picture I sent you from our girlâs weekend at Emerald Isle.â Lina pulled her own phone out of her skirt pocket. âWait, do you mean the new CEO is Elevator Volleyball Guy?â
She nodded. âYes, and I was so shocked I said that out loud and completely embarrassed myself.â
Her friend looked thoughtful for a moment, as if her lawyer mind was working a case. Then, she asked, âIf this is the same brother in the picture, with the washboard abs...â She sucked air through her teeth. âGirl, I donât know how you managed not to lay hands on the brother.â
Eve frowned, placed a hand to her forehead. âWell... I...I mean, we...â
Lina slid forward until she was perched on the edge of her seat. âWhatever it is, you better tell me.â
She hesitated for a moment, then caved to the scrutiny. âHe hung around after the meeting. He boldly pointed out that he was attracted to me, and then...kissed me. I didnât stop him, even though I could have.â Seeing the glint of mischief in her friendâs eyes, she shook her head. âNo, Lina. Donât start.â
âAs an attorney, I can tell you that if thereâs an antifraternization policy on the books at FTI, youâd better steer clear of him.â Lina leaned back in her chair. âAs your girlfriend, though, Iâd say youâd better take that stallion for a long ride, honey.â
Eve clamped a hand over her mouth to cover the peals of laughter, but they escaped, anyway. âLina! Youâre outrageous.â She found herself wondering if the company had such a policy, then quickly pushed the thought away. âIt doesnât matter if we have a policy against it or not. Iâm not the type who can date someone I work with. It would ruin my focus.â
âWhatever. Like lusting after this dude is going to make you razor sharp.â She winked.
âIâm done talking about this with you, Lina. Now itâs time you told me about your drama.â She scanned the room, wondering where the waiter was with their drinks. All this talk about Darius had her craving the alcoholic beverage.
Lina scoffed. âYouâre complaining that a good-looking man is after you. Iâm not getting any play at all. Girl, I havenât been on a date in two months.â She held up her forefinger and middle finger to emphasize her statement. âTwo months! Iâm about to go straight up crazy.â
âAnd whatâs your excuse? You donât meet any successful, eligible men in the world of law?â
She rolled her eyes. âNo, thatâs not it. Everywhere I turn, thereâs some fine man in a suit. Judges, other lawyers, that fine-ass bailiff down at the courthouse...â Her words trailed off, and she appeared to be imagining said bailiff in her mindâs eye. âBut unlike you, Ms. Executive, I have to be very careful not to violate ethics codes.â
âI could understand that. But is there really a law keeping you from getting busy with the bailiff?â
âShut up!â Lina shouted with mock irritation, tossing one of her silver stilettos at Eve in a playful manner.
At that moment, the waiter approached with their drinks. After almost dropping the tray down on the cocktail table between their two chairs, he left. Eve and Lina continued giggling as he moved away, and then went back to gossiping.
* * *
Darius strolled into Tibbs Music and More, maneuvering the large protective case holding his bass around until it was safely inside the store. He let the door swing shut behind him and made his way over to the counter. As he walked, he bopped his head to the strains of Esperanza Spaldingâs âLittle Fly,â which played on the storeâs PA system. He enjoyed the music of the young bassist, and also found her wild mane of curls to be very sexy.
Behind the counter, Murphy Tibbs stood, rifling through a box of receipts. âHey there, Darius. Time for Miss Mollyâs tuning and maintenance, eh?â
He nodded as he lifted the case up and set it carefully on the counter. âSure is, and you know I donât trust anybody with her but you, Murph.â And that was the truth. Miss Molly was a G. B. Rogeri upright bass, a copy of an instrument originally played by its famous Italian namesake. The bass was top quality, fashioned of hand-planed, hand-varnished maple and spruce. Though Miss Molly was a bit deeper than the average bass, she was an absolute dream to set up and play on stage, and she still fit into a standard case. The one heâd purchased for her, made of Kevlar, had set him back two grand on top of Miss Mollyâs $4,500 purchase price. But when he was on stage, jamming with the band and getting lost in the magic of the music, he knew it was money well spent.
âIâm sure you know I value that trust.â Murphy slid the case closer to himself, then carefully moved it to the floor behind the counter. âIâll have her ready for you