Page 105 of Boss Level

King’s tail wagged harder, thumping against the floor, and Fallyn gripped his collar. “Puppy, sit.” She glared at me. Did she want me to sit too? “Don’t you have a meeting to be in?”

I doubted she was upset with me. I’d never had a problem with Fallyn before. All of this was in good fun.

“Maybe.” I grabbed the makeshift projectile off the floor and tossed it back toward the group. King jumped up and snagged the paper ball out of the air, then deposited it at Fallyn’s feet, waiting for her to throw it again.

I turned away. “She’s right, you know,” I called over my shoulder.

Fallyn’shareached me as I walked away, as did Nigel’s grunt of disagreement.

I found Elliot in the drawing room with my actual meeting. He introduced me to Brigham, we made some small talk, and Brigham dove into his presentation.

I gave him my full attention, making mental notes as he talked about what worked and what didn’t in his presentation. This wasn’t going to be a project for me, but some of the other partners may be interested, and when he was done I’d give him my feedback and maybe Jonathan’s name.

He got to a stat about coffee shops in the lower forty-eight, and I stopped him. “Is that number real? It can’t be.”

“I can cite sources.” Brigham looked offended that I’d question his numbers. “And yes.”

I let out a long whistle, impressed with the data.

“Don’t…” Elliot winced.”

“Puppy,no.” Fallyn’s shout came from the other room, accompanying the sound of running.

“Don’t whistle.” Elliot sighed as King ran into the room and jumped up on him. He was laughing, where Fallyn looked exasperated when she ran into the room.

Elliot scratched behind King’s ears and nodded at me. “His fault.”

“You were my favorite for about five minutes, Xander.” Fallyn huffed.

I laughed. This place was the same madhouse as always, and that was fantastic. I loved that seeing this was an extension of my world with Judith and Dominic. That she and I came from what we did—a small town with its head up its ass and families that were the same—to be a part of this. A world that was having fun. Creating. Living.

I couldn’t have planned something more perfect, though knowing Judith, this had been part of her master scheme the entire time.

* * *

dominic

I sat in the conference room of my law office, next to Sonya and across from the people whose contract she was signing. Misa was the representative for the Japanese distributor who was purchasing the manga rights to Sonya’s bestselling series.

My firm wasn’t big, it was me and a few staff members, but thanks to contracts like Sonya’s and Plaid Peanut Butter, we were surviving, and growing with a client base I was comfortable with.

I’d been going back and forth for weeks with Misa’s attorney, who sat next to her, making sure no one got screwed over in this deal. The contract was finally in a good place.

Misa’s English was flawless, with a light accent, as she asked a few final questions. Her attorney’s English wasn’t as good, but given that my Japanese was limited to about three words I’d picked up at the AcesPlayed offices, that I probably didn’t pronounce correctly, I wasn’t one to judge.

I highlighted a few places in the contract that had been sticking points, to make sure everyone still agreed with the final wording. When we were all solid, Misa and Sonya both signed.

We wrapped up the meeting with bows and handshakes, and saw our guests to the front door. Misa turned to Sonya. “I hear you have a restaurant here that’s…” Misa flushed, and ducked her head.

“Yes?” Sonya asked.

“Joystick’s?”

I hid my amusement behind a mask of seriousness.Joystick’swas a geeky-themed place with a tattooed waitstaff who were mostly male. It was like Hooters, but for geeks who liked sexy men.

Sonya nodded. “We do. Would you like to celebrate tonight?”

Misa nodded.

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