We have so much to talk about!You brought aguy!
Hard to argue with that.And maybe, he was dying a little to tell someone about Sami and him, someone who was ready to believe in a happily ever after and didn’t deem him out of his mind.
No matter how often he did the court jumble, it never went any smoother.There should be one centralized place for all counselors’ submissions.And yet, who was responsible for accepting what seemed to change daily?
Civil proceeding?Sixth floor.Oh, the claim supersedes thirty thousand dollars?You need to be on the eighth floor.Actually, you’re in the wrong building altogether, honey.What’s that, you filed this here last time?Let me just make a call.Surprise, you were right all along, and itisthe sixth floor!
The hours of his life Baz had lost to bureaucracy were truly criminal.No one prepared him for that in law school; procedures had sounded breezy and straightforward.
Good thing Eevee was working at the Catfé today and didn’t waste her lunch break waiting for him to complete the seven circles of hell—oakmoss and lime.Baz drew a deeper breath, sniffing the air like a dog looking for a bone.He wasn’t hallucinating.Was it a coincidence that someone wore the same cologne, or… Baz gasped when he found him.
Sami, leaning against the wall by the staircase, absorbed in his phone.The black suit crinkled around his shoulders; his ankles were crossed.The very picture of cool, calm, and gorgeous.
He shouldn’t.He was the one who had demanded to keep their thing away from the workplace.The less attention they drew to themselves, the better.
Then again.
Sami was his opposing counsel.It was no secret they knew each other.Who could fault them for having a conversation in public?
Baz bit back the smile, transferred his weight to the front of his feet for a stealthy approach.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” he said, leaning in to get as close to Sami’s ear as possible for maximum surprise—Sami merely raised his eyebrows under the ginormous side-eye.Boring.
“Who’s stalking who now?”Sami’s voice was full of a warmth that did not translate to his stoic face.Look who had developed a poker face all the sudden.But would it withstand Baz kissing him?
Which Baz wouldn’t try to find out!Obviously.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m not here for you, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Shame.I’d have time to disappear into the bathroom.”
Sami made a sound somewhere between clearing his throat and a hum.His tongue wetted the corner of his lips.“Are you trying to turn the tables on me?That’s hot.”
Not until now he hadn’t, but the courthouse did have plenty of rooms that were not made of glass, one of which ought to be empty.
“You’re the one who said I’m lacking reckless experiences.”
Sami bit his lower lip.Baz could see the debate he had with himself whether he should or not.If only.
“I’m kidding.Actually, I’m meeting Eevee for lunch.If you’re hungry, you could join?”
“I’d love that, but…” Sami’s eyes drifted to something past Baz.The flicker of softness ran from his face.“I’m on duty, so don’t look so happy to see me before you give our undying love for each other away.”
His shoulder crashed into Baz’s as he walked by.What the…
Subtly as he could, Baz glanced over his shoulder, just when Sami approached a man Baz recognized as Gerry Webster, the paralegal on their case.Ian and his perpetually frozen, now ridiculously spray-tanned face joined barely a second later.Whatever he was saying, it had Sami’s shoulders drooping.
This timid work-Sami bore precious little resemblance to his Sami, the real Sami.Which was no surprise.His Sami was fundamentally different to Ian and all he stood for.The fact that Ian let some paralegal into a meeting over his associate, despite all the grunt work he made Sami do, was offensive.Why did Sami put up with it when he deserved so much better?
Well.Dunkeld Wilson was always looking for talent.Perhaps, once Baz won, with Sami’s consent, he could use Erika’s favor to suggest a new, future star employee.
Ian’s scolding glare swept over him like Sauron’s eye above Mordor.Baz held his head high on behalf of both of them.
At last, Ian turned on his heel and strutted off.Sami didn’t look back.
Baz should text him to make sure he was all right—
