Angel

Chapter 16

Mattie

I'd been working on the Meadows files for a few hours now and my eyes were beginning to blur. A knock on my door drew my attention and I looked up to see Nova's mismatched eyes watching me intently. "You look like you could use a break, Angel," he smiled.

Closing the files, I grinned, "Yes, please."

He held his hand out and then pulled me into a hug when I stood. "Let's go get a cup of coffee or something," he suggested.

"Sure, just let me lock everything up," I said as I pulled away and began putting the files away. I stuck my head in Raven's office on our way out and gave him the cabinet keys. He gave me a cheeky grin when he saw Nova with me.

"Be good you two." I rolled my eyes and giggled.

Nova took me a few blocks down from the firm to a quaint coffee shop that had pergolas dripping with fragrant vines and blooms, a cobblestone-style floor, and an open patio area. It was like being in a tiny botanical garden setting. We sat drinking our coffee for a few moments content in each other's presence when suddenly he asked, "Can I put my name on Violet's birth certificate?"

"What?" I sputtered.

"Nevermind, it was presumptuous of me to ask," he muttered.

I scooted my chair closer to him and took his hand. "Nova, that's not it, you just took me off guard is all. I would love for you to be on her birth certificate. That's how it should be, I mean, you're her father for goodness sake."

His shoulders fell in relief and he crushed me to him, "Thank you, Angel."

Our lips found their way to one another and we got lost until I ran out of air. We pulled back, foreheads touching and I whispered, "Um if we're doing that, can we add your last name as well?"

His tear-filled eyes met mine, "Are you sure? I mean, I hope someday you'll let me change yours as well." He gave me a hopeful smile that reminded me of when Violet was trying to get her way. Damn, she already acted so much like him. I can only imagine the new tricks she's going to learn from all of them.

I returned his smile, "I think I'd like that someday too, but for now, how about we keep Theriot and simply add Weiland to her name?"

"That sounds perfect, Angel," he said, giving me another breathtaking kiss. "Guess I should return you to the office before the others think we've run off," he chuckled as we cleaned our table and started walking back. Just before we reached the firm, he asked, "Can I take you on a date? I mean, a real one with just us?"

"I'd love that, Nova," I said softly and gave him a last kiss before entering the building.

"Damn you move fast," I heard a voice snort as I passed the reception desk. "Did they already dump you?"

I turned to see Trish sitting near the desk with a hateful sneer on her face. "Why are you here Trish, "I demanded.

She gave me an exaggerated look of pity, "Oh you poor thing, I guess you don't know. Mr. Henshaw called me in for a meeting this morning. Guess your, hmm, talents aren't quite enough for them and they needed someone with a bit more experience."

I felt like I was going to be sick. Why would they call a meeting with her? I looked at the receptionist who quickly bowed her head, confirming what Trish had said. She really did have a meeting with them. I squared my shoulders and gave her a smile, "Well, I wish you the day you deserve, Trish," then turned around and walked out of the building. I already had my purse from grabbing coffee and Raven had the file keys, so I didn't need to go back in that building. I hailed a taxi and headed home.

Brandon

"Have you seen krolik?" Raven's voice growled over the intercom.

"Um, not since we left the parking garage this morning. Why, what's up?"

"Damnit," he muttered. "She went on a break for coffee with Marc, but she hasn't come back for the file keys. Do you think they..."

"Let's just send a text and find out. No need to panic, big guy," I teased.

Brandon: Hey Marc and Mattie - are you two still out for coffee? After a few moments, a response popped up.

Marc:? What? I dropped her off at the firm over forty minutes ago. I watched her walk through the doors before I left. I'm calling her now. It felt like forever before he answered, and then my heart sank. It's going straight to voicemail, guys and she isn't answering texts either. What the fuck happened after I left?

Corey: You said you dropped her off at the front door?

Marc: Yeah, I watched her walk into the main doors before leaving. Check your fucking cameras!

Raven: Oh fuck! This isn't good.

Brandon: What isn't good, what happened, Raven?

Corey: Trish happened. I had to call her in to sign some non-disclosure documents and remove her as a contact for several cases. She was in the lobby when Mattie arrived.

Raven: You can see krolik getting upset, then her body language shifts and she says something to Trish and walks out of the building. I should have just shot that fucking prostitutka.

I sat staring at my phone. She left. She didn't even give us a chance to explain, she just left. Fuck that!

Brandon: I'm driving to her house. Even if she isn't there, I can try to find her.

Axel: No need. She's here at the aquarium with me. Cor, Bran, and Rav you three need to do some serious fast-talking and ass-kissing. Trish led her to believe she was being rehired, and apparently, your receptionist didn't deny it.

Corey: He's right. Once Mattie walks out Trish and Amanda seem to be laughing and very cozy.

Axel: Take care of your shit boys. Marc and I will try and explain things to her, but tonight you three have to beg for fucking forgiveness - and no, I don't care if you didn't do anything wrong. She should have been warned about that woman being anywhere near the building or the three of you!

I slammed my phone down. Why the fuck did Corey do that? Hell, I didn't even know she was in the building and now, I'm in trouble because of his stupidity.  

Author's Notes:  Ahh, some of you already guessed Trish wouldn't go away quietly...