Page 82 of Dial L for Lawyer
"Mr. Kingsley says to give you your own key with full access. This will work on the elevator to the penthouse."
"Wow," I say, taking the card like it's Excalibur. This little piece of plastic feels heavier than it should—the permanence, the trust.
"I'm not sure what to do with this," I admit, pocketing it before I can second-guess myself.
"Just scan it," he says, clearly not understand how monumental this is.
I float to the elevator and scan the card. The penthouse button glows instantly, no resistance. Magic.
The penthouse looks exactly as I left it, except now it feels different knowing I have a key. Like I belong here. Like this could be real.
The landline rings the second I walk in.
"Hello?"
"You answered." Caleb's voice is warm, pleased.
"It was ringing."
"Yes. But you answered my phone."
"Should I not have?"
"No, I like it. I like the idea of you answering my phone when I'm not there. Very domestic."
"Why didn't you just call my cell?"
"Because I wanted to picture you in my apartment, answering my phone, wearing my clothes." A pause. "You are still wearing my clothes, right?"
"I’m wearing my clothes. But I’m about to change back into your shirt. Just your shirt," I say, then add because I can't help myself, "Nothing else."
His intake of breath is audible. "Serena..."
"You asked."
"Where did you go?"
"I had to meet someone for coffee."
"Anyone I know?"
"Maya. She wanted to tell me she's leaving Luminous."
"Really? That's... sudden."
"Yeah. She says she can't work there after how they treated me."
He's quiet for a beat. "What else did she say?"
"She got a new job but can't say where. NDAs or something."
"Interesting timing." His voice shifts to lawyer-neutral. "Did she seem... different?"
"Maybe? Really friendly. Almost too friendly. Kept hugging me."
"Maya doesn't strike me as a big hugger."
"Right? But she’s hugged me the last two times we spoke. It was weird. But maybe she feels guilty about me getting suspended or something."
