“Aw, I think it feels swell.”
Julie wasn’t having it. “Look, dude, I’m as happy as anyone to see you lost the stupid fucking durag, but… what the hell are you doing here?”
Kingmaker turned back to give her an elbow bump. “Here to check in on your conquest. Not to mention the hot supermodel girlfriend you were after.”
“Ugh, dude, shut up,” Julie said, a hand over her face. I smiled dryly at him.
“You must be the illustrious Kingmaker,” I said. “Julie’s always told me she’d be ashamed of the association if I ever met you.”
He put his hands out like he was DJing on an invisible deck. “A king like Julie ain’t ashamed of nothing.”
“I’m really fucking ashamed,” Julie said.
“Well, Mr. Kingmaker, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, “and as you can see, the plan is progressing along nicely. Though, what’s this about Julie wanting a hot supermodel girlfriend?”
“It’snothing,” Julie said too quickly. Stephen Shale looked dumbstruck.
“Wait, Miss Boss, are you… you and Ms. Warrick, you…”
Amber looked wide-eyed at him. “Dude, you didn’t notice she’s pining for her?”
“Shush!” Julie said. Kingmaker ignored her.
“Aw, she didn’t tell you? Back in our first consultation, Julie said she wanted to score a hot supermodel girlfriend.”
“Kingmaker!” Julie shot hotly. “He’s justsayingthings, please don’t—”
“Then she goes to her first networking event, meets a hot supermodel, and you wouldn’t believe this. Snapped at me when I called you the hot supermodel. She had me write down a list of all your best attributes like how you’re funny and smart—”
“Idid not ask you to make that—I specifically told younotto write it down!” Julie screeched while Amber was now clasping a hand over her mouth in laughter. Kingmaker jabbed his thumb towards the ceiling.
“I got it upstairs in my clients folder, if you wanna take a look.”
“No! Do not—I swear to god if you show Helena that document I will rip it in half and then ripyouin half—”
Julie was so cute like this. I smiled wider. “I’d love to see it.”
“Helena!” Julie pleaded, looking like she’d wither and die. Kingmaker puffed his chest out.
“Solid, yeah, just give me one second.”
“Don’t you—Kingmaker!” Julie called after him, but once he’d left the room, she melted into her hands, groaning. “Why did you sayyes?”
“Well, quite simply, it’s because I want to see it,” I said.
“Helena Warrick.”
“Wait,” Stephen said, “so you two are a couple?”
“No,” Julie protested. “Just… we’re just working…”
Amber whispered something in his ear. He flushed deeper. “Oh,” he said.
“Did you not even realize Julie was gay?” Amber said, and Stephen shrugged.
“I don’t like to assume.”
“Yeah, neither did I, until I heard her say literally one thing about Helena.”
