Wanted For Pleasure: vol 2

Chapter 49: no friend, no fowl

a/n: hey readers, so if you read chapters 47 & 48 you were probably confused about the Cleo things and Morgan passing out but that was all a creative choice to time skip and flash forward in those chapters in Morgan's POV (meaning you can only see events she was present for, not Chris but since we're back in his POV you get the full story + later in this chapter Chris will story tell the missing parts), so this chapter will fill in holes and clear up any confusion that may be left, as well as jump back to the present to fix the timeline. ok? ok!

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"Enemy: A friend whose mask has fallen"

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𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔

I'm fighting to stay awake at this damn meeting. Time is not my friend right now, or any day in the office.

Russ is finally satisfied with the design. It's been a lot to say the least. I mean, from having to improve the energy efficiency of the house to maximizing the natural lighting, and going back to the drawing board over and over and over and over. Literally.

I'll be happy once this whole thing is done.

"Mhm." I mumble, waking myself up.

Russ is still talking on this damn Zoom.

I look at the time on my watch when he mentions lunch.

"Can't," I deny his invitation. "but thank you."

"Ah, I see. Big plans with Morgan?"

I don't like him to bring her up. In fact, I wish none of these people knew about Morgan at all after that whole accident in The Hamptons and at that ball.
I'm not ashamed of her — in fact, they like Morgan— but I want to keep these worlds separate.

And anyway, I don't have any big plans with Morgan. We're not currently talking because of this whole Cleo situation. I don't let Russ know that, though. So, I tell him a lie just to get him off my case and off of my laptop.

"Finally." I talk out loud to myself after my client ends the online meeting.

I help myself to a drink from my steel flask (canteen) that's kept in the bottom drawer of my desk.
Whiskey, my favorite.

That'll put some hair on my chest, as my Dad used to say.

After another taste, I stash the canteen away and close my eyes. Just for a minute, I need a nap.
I always say it, sleep just isn't the same without Annie.

"HEY-O!" Someone busts in my office. Loud.

Another voice follows with a "que pasa, brotha?"

Phil and Frank. AKA, Chip and Dale, Dumb and Dumber, mother and fucker, ass-holes.

Phil pushes my feet off the desk so he can sit.

"What are you doing, guy? Half off wings at that bar where the girls serve you in bikinis." He gets all excited.

"That place is dirty, they always have rats and shit. And, aren't their wings terrible? They gave you food poisoning last month." I remind him.