's Pers

efa

crystal counter and released a sigh, pivoting around to co

," he chuckled, movin

you a

retorted playfully. "Julius Smith," he int

replied, giving hi

r when I worked

ting to recollec

with a s

is last name is Smith, chances are the

get you to meet my daughter, but

onded dryly, surveying the room

tize that o

returning my focus to observing the ro

in seconds," he mused. "I just need to ge

om me is expens

Where does your n

nd looked at him. "Should

en

on?" I

," he s

umb as I restrained a laugh. "Desperate, aren't we? Mr. Deluc

nched up his face, puzz

ling for a refill. "Confidentiality keeps me

d his hand

eals unless they're on paper.

understandi

ured to the glass. I nodded once and caught

ey, plea

other end of the counter

the bartender mused, pouring he

he counter, wincing at the bitter punch on her tongue. Sighing loudly, she rested her elbows on the co

other one?" he ask

ng slowly, battin

e a neat m

swe

od

str

qui

ed, "Too

it is," h

asked, glancing at the gol

, Miss. It's dan

rfe

ly handed h

g the glass of her whiskey in

" he asked as sh

d her eyes in annoyance before

out a strained br

re tilting her head to o

his head

ld up the flask,

ma'am," h

... r

she was contemplating whether to turn around and say something to me

eciate that she remembers me

er around the room, watching as she subtly kept her flask behind her clutch and roamed around, talking to people occasionally as she slowly made her way tow

ere she walked and bumped right into someone else, sending a

tro

ted Tara waving m

whatever was left of my drink

r you," she laughed, slipping an a

m around her shoulders. "Ladies,

ile since we saw you," o

it h

" Tara wh

I finished

let us ask you tonight. How does Ro

," I said, backing away and walking past my father, going straight back towards the bar, but when I saw a group of my father's friends sitting there, talk

vator, I pressed the button to the top floor and once I made it up there, I found the sign to the staircase and climbed up

nd me, and spun around, slowing in my ste

as a way of work

ritten all over her and let out a

, standing beside her. "Miss me?" I ask

u once today in months, of course, I missed you,"

et, my thumb tracing the matte black polish before I flicked it ope

d through gritted te

even slower for emphasis, eac

snap it shut and hold it out of her reach as s

guez," I said, st

lling a strand of hair away from her face as it blew in the wind u

her little dry laugh told me she expect

its

he creamy-champagne white satin slip dress and the way it

since I last spoke

of her hands and securing the lid back on, slipping it into the inner pocke

e through the night

n your own. Absinthe is

nd, glancing at the door with her

er, spotting the painti

w that?" she scoffed s

of the man hidden behind a cloud of smoke, painted in

y, it's... mysterious. Anyone could have painted it, it could be

l, Camiela. I don't appre

ore sighing, "I'd better get going instead of

n response. "Go

she walked away and yanked the door op