Page 28 of Strictly Business

"Why not?" Kai finally looks up.

"Well, for starters, we don’t have the time or monetary resources right now."

"Says who?" Nina asks.

"Says the pending approval from the board. This hasn’t even been launched, and we don't even know if—”

"I think we can pull some strings," Finn interrupts me.

"I think having some kind of physical evidence on top of the figures is a great way to prove to the board what you're doing here," Nina shuffles the papers before filing them in her bag.

"Great, then it's settled.” Kai stands from the table and reaches his hand out towards Finn. "Make sure you let us know when you selected a date, we'd like to join."

"Of course," Finn says and grips Kai's hand. “I'd be happy to have you guys there."

"Up for a drink?" And just like that, the switch has flipped from business to personal. It’s honestly kind of shocking how quickly it happens.

"Kai Villa, you know the way to a man's heart."

"Don't tell my wife."

They share a chuckle before Finn turns to me. "Same time tomorrow?"

"I'll bring the bagels." I smile and Finn returns it grabbing his bag; he presses a chaste kiss to Nina's cheek and follows Kai out of the office. Turning away from the door, I'm met with the smirkiest smirk I've ever seen on Nina's face. "Don't start," I warn.

"I'll bring the bagels?" She mocks me. "I'm sorry, but what happened to not being able to work with someone as arrogant and self-absorbed as Finnley Sheffield? What was it you called him... Oh, right, the Devil himself.”

"He's not that bad," I grumble.

"I'm sorry, what? I couldn't hear you."

"I said, he's not that bad."

Nina giggles as she picks up her purse. “Nick should be landing in a few. You should come over for dinner.”

"I don't want to impose–"

A tight smile on her lips, "I said, you're coming.”

“He brought you breakfast?” Nina practically screams. I shush her not wanting Nick to hear in the kitchen. “Don’t shush me!”

“It doesn’t mean anything! He was having a momentary lapse in judgment.”

“Bagels from Brooklyn is not a momentary lapse in judgment, Michaela.”

“Finn brought you bagels from Brooklyn?” Nick appears from the kitchen with a fresh glass of wine handing it to his wife before kissing the crown on her head.

“It doesn’t mean what you think it means,” I say.

“And what do we think it means?”

“You think Finn bringing me breakfast all the way from Brooklyn has some significant meaning, when it’s probably because he was over there looking at the space he wants to purchase. It doesn’t mean anything. Nothing. The bagels were just bagels, nothing more.”

“Who are you trying to convince?” Nick asks. “You don’t have to convince us, but it sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself.”

Nina smirks behind a sip of red wine. God, they’re obnoxious. Not everyone is secretly in love like them. Not that it was much of a secret, they were too damn stubborn to apologize and move on. “I’m just glad you guys are getting along, even if it’s only for the next week. I still don’t understand why you didn’t get along anyway.”

“Because he’s an asshole,” I say simply.

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