Page 28 of All Twerk, No Play

Mallory cleared her throat. “If there’s plumbing, could we do a coffee bar?”

Both Alexander and I winced. He explained, “Your insurance premium will skyrocket. Workers comp in case your employees get burned, or increased liability if a customer slips.”

“Food licenses will slow down the buildout and require you to follow food safety regulations. You could sell pre-packaged food that’s made off-site,” I said, turning to Alexander. “Do we still have connections at VitaGreen? They owe you.”

“I love their cold-pressed juices,” Mallory said as Alexander’s scowl was replaced with a cocky smirk, a momentary glimmer of the ruthless shark who used to share my office—and my bed.

“Your brother here led their acquisition of several juice factories to expand to national distribution.” I ran my hand over his shoulder, gently grazing his bicep. “Remember our celebration after they finally signed?”

His cheeks flushed. Yeah, he remembered how after the ink dried, we had a private celebration.

That deal earned us both the 'Young Lawyer to Watch' award, and the bonuses hadn’t hurt, either. I’d spent mine on a rental property and offered to bring him in as an investor.

My hand lingered on his arm long enough that Grace narrowed her eyes. She shifted closer, interlacing her fingers with his. “Isn’t that the bonus you used for our house’s down payment?”

His shoulder shifted away. “Guess I was saving it for something special.”

My palm lingered in the air before I smoothed my dress, guiding them through the Employees Only door. “We can decide on food service later, let’s look at the office space.”

Mallory sighed in disappointment at the small desk the previous tenants had tucked into the corner. I dug my fingernails into my palms, restraining the urge to scream about the amazing price I was offering, how if she would commit already, she could update it to her heart's content.

Before I left real estate as a career, I stopped being a buyer’s agent because clients are too damn indecisive. I didn't have the patience for their wishy-washy shit like my mom did.

‘We’re not coldhearted snakes chasing a sale, Vickie,’she told me once after a particularly emotional client meeting.‘We’re matchmakers. We help our clients find the perfect space to live their dreams.’

My stomach twisted as I tried to keep my face impassive. “This could be your office space, since you probably won’t need much.”

It was a tight fit, the air heating as we all squeezed into the poorly lit concrete storage room. Mallory asked, “Where would Grace sit?”

My teeth clenched. Why was everything always about fuckingGrace? “She’s only part-time. Does she need a desk?”

“She’s the studio manager, of course she does,” Alexander said sharply.

I faced my business partner, ready to snap that he should stop cutting me off at the knees. Grace raised a peaceful hand. “No, Alex, Victoria’s right.”

“What?” Alexander and Mallory chimed in unison.

“I can run payroll from home. I don’t need a desk,” Grace said.

“But the workshops, the staff scheduling …” Mallory moaned. “You need to be here. In person.”

Grace gently touched Mallory’s shoulder. “I already quit, you know that.”

Wait … Grace quit? Did she get a job somewhere else? Would she move away, opening the door for Alexander to do the same?

I schooled my features into concern.

“And I didn’t accept your resignation,” Mallory said, hands on hips.

“Then I’ll keep quitting,” Grace replied. “I’m already so busy at the hospital, now I have even less time.”

“But Alex is here,” Mallory whined. “He can do bedtime some nights.”

Bedtime? Is that why he was always leaving the office early, because she had a strict bedtime for him? I bet he loved that.

Alexander rested a hand on Grace’s lower back. “I’ll do what I can, but it’s not fair to Grace to spread her so thin.”

“You know this is the right move,” Grace said, rubbing her palm over Mallory’s bicep. “Expanding the studio, doubling the classes, running workshops … all that will give you the money to hire a full-time studio manager. Somebody who can make this place their number one priority. We both know I can’t do that.”

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