Superficial (DE)

Six.

'Godfather of Sorvino crime family arrested'

'Sorvino crime family Godfather, Giovanni Sorvino, found guilty on all charges— sentenced to life'

'All twelve jurors in the Giovanni Sorvino Vs. State of New York trail found dead month after guilty verdict'

Cerise chewed on the back of another pen that had fallen victim to her anxious tendency as she slowly scrolled on her MacBook with her index and middle finger— researching.

She furrowed her brows as she clicked on the photos of the slain jurors— going through them one by one as her heart nestled into the pit of her stomach. Though it probably didn't seem like it to most— being a criminal defense attorney was a dangerous job because they worked side by side with some pretty notorious, callous individuals. Michael had had some crazy ones himself; Cerise herself remembered a client of his that had threatened him when she was younger. Michael hired 24/7 security for them until that trial ended.

Of course he'd won.

Her phone suddenly began vibrating on her desk top, startling her. She quickly looked away from the screen only long enough to answer it, placing the phone between her ear and shoulder as she continued to scroll on her laptop.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Harvey—,"

Cerise pursed her lips together as she sat back in her chair to warn off the smile that threatened to spread on her face— recognizing Brandon's voice.

"This is she," Cerise answered properly with a sassy smile.

"Are you busy later?" He asked.

Cerise chewed on the inside of her lip as she stared at her computer screen before glancing at the time— 6:09 p.m.

"For?" She questioned.

"Dinner,"

Cerise twisted her lips to the side as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear— the line falling silent momentarily. "Brandon I'm not trying to give you the wrong impression—,"

"Wrong impression pertaining to?" He asked.

"Us—," She said in sort of a whisper.

Brandon chuckled lightly making Cerise's cheeks flush with warmth. "Are you not allowed to have any healthy social relations outside of work?" He asked again.

"I am," Cerise confirmed, her cheeks rosy and warm to the touch.

"Okay then,"

Cerise chewed on her lip as she stared at the computer screen, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Fine— I had something to ask you anyways,"

A knock at her office door prompted Cerise to sit up quickly and lower her laptop screen. "I gotta go," She whispered, promptly ending the call. "Come in,"

Michael opened the door slowly, clearing his throat as he looked around his daughters office the way he used to do in her room when she lived at home. "I'm going home for the day," He informed.

"Okay," She said simply— her energy towards him still off set.

Cerise had finally started coming back to the office just a few days prior. Her and Michael had yet to have a conversation since their argument— though Cerise didn't expect much from him because he's never been the type of parent to write his wrongs, more so just sweep them under the rug and let time "do it's thing".