Of Kings and Aces

16| Good Luck, Ace

I finished at the office at eleven P.M. on Friday, absolutely worn out since I had all of Wednesday's meetings moved to Friday. I kicked Bart out around nine because I could not stand his chatty ass while concentrating on the papers in front of me. I debated whether to go home or stay, but it was a Friday night so naturally, the boys were looking for me.

"What do you mean you're still in the office? Jaxx has been here an hour ago!" Seb complained. They were in some bar in Rockwell, drinking.

"Because he is a torpid jerk," I said too quickly before regretting it, "and he needs a break. Tita Ella's well, you can ask him if he wants to talk about it."

"We know. He just came from the hospital because they had to run a battery of tests on her. Anyway, get your workaholic ass here," he said, this time sounding less angry. I cut the call before he thought of something else to ask.

Twenty minutes later, I turned off the lights in my office and finally stepped out. As I locked my door, Seb called again.

"Are you that eager to see me?" I chuckled.

"Where exactly are you? No lying, and be precise!" he threatened, but he was laughing.

"I'm right in front of my office door, which I am about to lock right now." A loud click echoed in the empty corridor.

"Great! Could you bring Jacob with you? He said he was still there on the IT floor, slaving away in his rathole. Told him to be a gentleman and meet you at your office."

"You guys are friends now?" I asked disbelievingly. Why did everybody like him so much?

"Uh, yeah? He's a cool cat. Fits right into our clique, don't you think?" he snickered.

"We don't have a clique, Regina George," I rolled my eyes and leaned against the door, checking the time on my watch.

"Yeah, we do. Oh wait, you weren't invited," his laughter blared through the phone. "But anyway, bring the dude over," he ordered, still laughing.

"I'd love to," I paused for dramatic effect before telling him 'no' until I realized he already cut the call. "Hello? Seb?"

I stared at my phone for several moments while facing my door, my feet glued to the floor. Bringing Jacob should not be a big deal. He was friends with them. I'm, well, acquainted with him. There should not be any problem, right?

Then why the fuck am I standing here, immobile, having another internal battle whether I should take him or fake an excuse not to? I groaned. I was being an ass and if I could, I would kick myself to get this stick out of my ass.

I knocked my head on the door a couple of times before the sound of someone clearing his throat made me jump and hit my head and shoulder heavily against my mahogany door.

"Ouch! Son of a," I hissed as I rubbed my forehead. Eyes squinting from pain and from the brightness of the light, I focused on the tall figure standing a few feet from me, leaning on the wall with his legs crossed. His hands shoved inside the front pockets of his dark trousers. The messenger bag ran across his body, crumpling his shirt over his chest as he stared down at me. When our eyes met, there was nothing else I could focus on. The light blue shade of his shirt reflected in his eyes, making them look a shade lighter and crisper. God, how are his eyes this beautiful?

He cocked his head as a small awkward smile turned the corner of his lips up.

"So, uhm, should we go?"

I nodded and walked past him. God damn it. I am so screwed.

When we got to the address Chino sent, it was not just another bar. It was more refined, with most of the people still in their business or office clothes. There were several different parlors, one with billiards, and another was quieter where the occupants looked like older business people. It reminded me of those upper-class gentlemen's clubs they used to have in London. When we got to the room with the bar, the ambiance was more comfortable and the people were chattering noisily.