A Strange Habitat

"But-" I gasped and took a pleading step toward her.

She lifted a staying hand that stopped me.

"I know. I've already tried everything. But with your past due. They won't do the surgery without it."

I stared at her, breathing raggedly in misery.

"She needs that surgery, Angel." She urged.

I know!

"Can they really do that?"

"They can in this state." She nodded.

No!

"Elizabeth..."

"I've already stalled all I can. $5,000 tomorrow or they won't do it. Before surgery." Her words stuck me like blades.

"I..."

She was already walking away.

Where the hell am I going to get that?

I couldn't possibly take it from the Meridian account like I had before. Logan will definitely miss it ontop of the $20,000 he already is.

I chewed my lip until it bled on the Taxi ride home. Feeling utterly hopeless. What am I going to do?

I knew I could ask Logan. But it was highly likely he'd refuse. Or if he said yes, it would be in exchange for something utterly filthy. And even if I did that and he went to pull from the Meridian account, he could find out what I'd already done and still refuse to give it to me.

That thought made me shudder.

"Cold back there?' The driver asked. Reaching for the knob.

"Only towards men."

Truthfully, I now found my ex-husband so distasteful that I'd rather bang anyone but him.

Even Porter.

Porter...

I could hear his voice echoing in my head. Saying he had that money in his savings right now. I was pretty sure dollar signs chinged in my eyes as I sat back and began logging into work's online drive. Skimming files until I found his. Popping it open I read until I found an address.

Hopefully a current one.

I told the driver we were switching destinations.

"City girls..." He grumbled.

"What was that."

"Nothing." He tossed over his shoulder. Muttering under his breath after that.

"More money for you." I called. "Don't be salty."

He silenced after that, but I continued glaring at him in the mirror.

I swear all drivers in this city are crabby bastards.

We pulled up-front and I eyed the five-story apartment building askance. It looked a hundred years old with chipped bricks.

I looked around, wondering if someone would try to steal my bag. But the only one around was a couple kids riding bikes down the block.

I hit a buzzer and someone very formal answered. "What floor, Ma'am."

Ma'am?

"I don't know. I'm here for Kane Porter."

"Top floor, Ma'am. But he hasn't returned yet."

I beat him.

The door hummed than unlatched.

Nicer building than I thought. I admitted.

Good security any way.

I entered a vaulted foyer. Turning a slow circle. "Whoa."

"It is rather impressive." The man behind the desk greeted me formally. "Mr. Porter is typically not in for long at this time. Most of his..." He paused to eye me. "Ladies...Prefer to come in the early hours of the morning. When he's off."

"I assure you. I am not one of those..." I gave the same pause he did. "Ladies...I'm his boss."

"Well then." He reached under the counter and pushed a button that made an elevator in one wall, open. "He's a lucky employee."

I whipped my head to blink at him before laughing aloud. "I guess he is."

I climbed into the elevator.

"Top floor." He called.

I pushed the button and the doors closed. Taking me up. And up. Then dinging and opening.

The floor looked like glossed mahogany.

I almost hated stepping on it in my heels. I looked both directions but saw only one door along the eight foot hall. Confused, my brows drew together. I walked tentatively to the door. Knocking a few times, even though the man had said Porter wasn't here.

I have to beg.

The sooner this is over, the better.

I blew a nervous breath. He'll say yes.

I couldn't imagine Porter daring to tell me 'no.'

I wandered a small circle before taking a seat on the plain wood bench across from his door. Two massive plants parallel to it. I probably only sat there for about ten minutes but it felt like the longest eternity in human history.

I heard the elevator ding and saw familiar glossed dress shoes stepping from the elevator. He had a long stride and reached his door, pausing before turning to it to eye me from head to toe. His brows drawing together. He adjusted one arm on his glasses in a strange gesture I couldn't define.

But I'd seen him do it before.

His face was unreadable.

He never has an expression.

"What are you doing here?"

I rose and walked confidently to him. "I want to continue our conversation from earlier."

"I'm not going to tell." He said dismissively.

Of course he's not.

I felt a weight lift off me knowing I was right.

He's the safest person in Chase & Walker Investments.

This ought to be easier than I thought.

"If you want to talk, you're going to have to walk with me. I have things to do."

My brows raised. "Well, don't we have the authoritative tone?"

His head whipped to me. "We aren't in Chase & Walker, Angel. You ain't my boss."