“Keyra!” I turn at the counter of the coffee shop, seeing Charlie.

“Charlie.” I smile, putting my to-go cup down and hugging him.

He’s as crisp as ever, perfectly groomed and not a single thing out of place.

“I haven’t seen you at our usual haunts lately, you leaving me to the circuit alone?” He asks, referring to the networking I usually do.

“Just taking a little break. Recharging. You have time to catch up?”

“Yeah.” He checks his Apple Watch, swiping his finger over the screen. “I think I can do that.”

“Wonderful.” I lead the way to an empty table tucked into a corner and sit, putting my tea in front of me and letting the cup warm my hands. “Do you mind if I chew gum? My stomach’s been a little upset this week and gum’s the only thing that makes it go away for whatever reason.”

“Of course. Wouldn’t want you to sit here miserable. How’s everything been?” He leans forward, deep brown eyes earnest. So trustworthy, that face.

“Pretty good. I just got back from vacation. My father had someone else take the reigns for a bit while I was away.” I unwrap the piece of mango gum carefully, wanting to keep the paper intact.

“Oh really? Seemed business as usual when I dropped by a few times to chat with our esteemed new mayor.” He sits back, flagging down one of the waitresses that are milling around in the morning rush. “Can I get a chocolate chip scone, please? Thanks.” She hurries away.

“You didn’t even notice I was missing?” I scoff, popping the piece into my mouth. “My feelings are hurt.”

“Hey, you’re a busy woman. I figured you were off handling one of the many things you juggle.”

“Nope, I wasn’t around at all, phone off and everything.” I pause, pushing my cup aside and leaning against the table. “Which is why my ship wasn’t being run properly.”

He furrows a brow, smiling a bit. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that if I were here, you wouldn’t have gotten away with your little blackmail bullshit for even half a second.” I tap the table, lacing my fingers together.

He cocks his head, his voice tight. “I haven’t seen you in awhile, and the first thing you do is accuse me of blackmail?”

“Actually, the first thing I did was give you a hug.” I chew and pull my bag to me, plucking a few papers from the top. I grab a pen from the zippered side and circle a few things before I turn the sheets to him.

“This.” I tap a line with my pen, “Is the shell account you used to hide,” I tap my pen on another line, “This account.”

I switch sheets and pull out a highlighter, “And this is the main account you intended on using to hide,” I highlight a line, “This overseas bank account.”

“How did you get these? This is private information.” He snatches the sheets, his voice low and angry.

“Yes, they’re private if you’re not me.” I pull out two more sheets, one with a large photo on it. “This is your meeting with your scapegoat, the person who originally went to my father and received the first payment. All $10,000 of which, I expect to be returned in full.”

“None of these proves that I was behind any of this. And what reasoning would I have?” He grits.

“Oh my gosh, you are so right. As for motive, I don’t know and I simply don’t care.” My phone buzzes on the table and I answer it, putting up a finger. “Yes? Oh? Wow, I can’t believe that! Of course. I’ll wait to hear back from you.”

“Who was that?” He asks quietly, shoulders tense in his Brooks Brothers suit.

“It looks as if the NYPD received information about a blackmail attempt on the mayor, and very quietly and quickly obtained a search warrant for all of your residences.” I gasp in mock surprise. “How crazy is that? How much do you want to bet that one of your safes has exactly what they need? Willing to bet, let’s say, $10,000? I’m sure they’ll pass along your confession when they receive it.”

He’s practically shaking, he’s so angry. But we’re in public, and the last thing Charles would ever do is make a scene. I knew we were similar in the regard, so I made sure I caught him early and off-guard.

“What do I need to do?” He exhales, face almost set in stone.

“First, sign this full gag order, and this NDA.” I slide the sheets toward him that I’d gotten with the help of a helpful judge that’s a family friend, and he signs without even reading.

What a bad habit that is.

“What now? How do I avoid prison?”

“Oh…you don’t.” I stand, tucking everything neatly back into my bag and grabbing my gum wrapper with my to-go cup.

“What do you mean?” He hisses. “I signed your shit. Show some good faith.”

“I showed good faith the minute I sat down with you instead of slamming your face into that glass for thinking you could mess with my family. I really don’t know why people keep making that mistake.” I shrug, stepping to the side as the waitress sets down his chocolate scone. “Enjoy that scone, Charlie, because you’re finished here.” I turn on my heel, prepared to leave but I remember something.

“I hope you have the cash to pay for that scone because your accounts are frozen. Some pesky little cyber bug.” I turn away, but laugh, feigning like I remember something else. “And your passport has been flagged.”

I clap him on the shoulder. “Good luck, Charlie.”

With that, I leave the shop and walk out to the street, pulling out another piece of gum because the flavor’s gone from mine.

This? This is what I do best.

“Marissa?” I hold my phone, following the sidewalk crowd to the subway entrance. “Do you have time to catch up today?”

* * *

I walk into the Journelle store on E 17th and spot Marissa near a side display. She turns as I walk up, pleasure lighting her face and I bend to hug her.

“Hello, darling.” She beams, squeezing me tight.

“You look well, Mar. Thicker, too.” I wink and she strikes a few poses where her butt is sticking out, and tips her head back making her jet black hair fall down her back.

“It’s like everyone in California has these amazing bodies, and you know how terrified I am about going under the knife, so now I’m one of those do you even lift? people.” She holds out a deep green balconette bra. “Didn’t wanna buy it, so I built it. Representing for my Latina hotties.”

“Well, you’re slaying. Are you shopping for something specific?” I finger the lace on the edge of a corset, running my fingers over the boning. “Someone specific?”

“Ha.” She scoffs, waving a hand. “This is all for me. I don’t want a man within ten feet of me after that cabrón.”

“Men do suck sometimes. I’m sorry it went to shit, but I’m glad you’re back here now.”

“Me too. So many people I missed. Congratulations on a successful run, by the way.” She says, checking the tag on a thong.

“Hey, I just guided things a little bit here and there. My dad did the real work, being genuine.”

“Yeah, okay. You and I both know how much behind the scenes work goes into this life and these politics.”

“Can’t argue with that.” I notice a gorgeous pale blue semi-sheer set with gold embroidering on another display and can’t stop myself from heading towards it.

I check the tag and my eyes widen, and I pull out my phone. “Holy shit.”

“What?” Marissa comes up next to me. “Oh, that’s beautiful. You have to try it on.”

“I am. After I call my sister and yell at her for not telling me she’d expanded into other stores!”

“Dios, that’s Michaela’s brand?”

The phone rings and Mickey answers quickly, “This is your favorite hooker, what’s up?”

“You hussy. When were you going to share about Bold & Co. being in Journelle?”

“Ohhhh.” I can hear her smiling. “Well to be fair, I thought I’d have a chance to tell you at dinner tomorrow. How was I supposed to know you’d be shopping before then?”

“You should’ve told me the minute the deal was inked. Lord, this is phenomenal.” I finger the soft tulle.

“I wanted it to be a surprise.” She pauses. “Surprise!”

“I’m not even mad because this set I’m looking at is beautiful and I’m going to try it on. They better not be out of my size, Mickey.”

“I’ll gift it to you if they don’t.” She promises, and I grin, motioning to a sales assistant.

“Deal. Love you, congrats.”

“Thanks, sis, love you too.” We click off and I turn to the assistant. “Do you have this set in a medium thong and a 34C bra?”

“I’m sure we do. I’ll start a room for you and put it there. Are there any other sets you want to try?”

I look around a bit and point out a few more. Marissa picks out a few too and she hooks an arm in mine as we head to the dressing rooms.

“So, is there someone who’ll be seeing this other than you?”

“As a matter of fact, there is…” I pat her arm. “Try on first, gossip second.”

“Deal.” We separate, and as I’m unzipping my dress and looking at the reflection of the sets in the mirror, an idea comes to mind.

I pull up my contacts, and shoot off a quick email then set my phone down again.

Time to try on these gorgeous pieces.