Page 46 of Carnal

"What do you mean?"

"You asked me to call you ASAP," I remind her.

"Oh. Duh! Sorry! Of course. So, you know Zara's birthday is coming up, right?"

"Sure. I already got her present. I just need to wrap it," I admit.

"That's sweet of you. What did you get?"

"Not telling you."

"Really?"

"Nope."

"Give me a hint."

"Sorry!"

Chanel whines, "You're no fun!"

I smile as the SUV parks in front of my office building. "Hey, I just got to work, and Dante's on his way in, so let's get back to why I needed to call you."

Chanel yawns again. "Since when does Dante grace you with his presence so early?"

"Today. So...?" I push. I love Chanel, but she can get off track easily. And Dante's SUV just pulled in front of mine.

"Zara's delusional," Chanel claims.

"How's that?" I ask as my driver opens my door. I slide out and step into the frigid air, trotting toward the entrance.

"She wants a tattoo for her birthday."

I groan. "She's too young to put something on her body for the rest of her life."

"That's what I told her!" Chanel exclaims.

I nod at the doorman and step past him into the warm building. I swipe my key card and push past the metal gate, saying, "Let me guess, she's not listening."

"You got it. I swear she just wants to push me. Now that she's turning fourteen, she also wants a credit card," Chanel informs me.

The elevator opens and Dante orders, "Hold it, Pina."

I hold in my groan, wishing I could avoid whatever conversation he has planned. I hold the door and tell Chanel, "Did you tell her to get a job?"

"Of course."

"What did she say?"

"That all the kids in her class already have tattoos, and it's not fair she doesn't," Chanel answers.

Dante nods and punches the code for our floor.

I scoff. "Just because the other parents want their kids to be spoiled brats doesn't mean she has to be."

"Yes! I said the same thing!" Chanel blurts out.

"So, what's the problem?" I ask.

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