Page 7 of Beginning at the End
“Don’t be.I know a few lawyers.When we get inside, I will call one and see if they can help.”He smiled.“I would do it now, but I have my hands full.”
She chuckled.“Not much farther.”
They walked to her building, and she used the fob to unlock the door, pushed it open, and pulled it shut behind them.“There’s a working elevator, so that’s good.”
Den grinned.“I used to live in a fifth-floor walk-up.”
They got into the elevator, and he said, “You don’t have a ring mark.”
“I only wore it when I had to.It never felt right.”
When they got to the third floor, she exited and led the way to her apartment.When the door opened, she held it while carrying her new borrowed laptop.
“The apartment came with a desk.You can put those here.”She waved at the flat surface.
He grinned.“Pop out the laptop, and I will set it up.Once it’s working, we can go and grab some food before you crawl into the data and don’t come out.”
“I am on a strict financial lockdown right now.So, noodles?”
He smiled.“How about burgers?My salary extends to that.You are a coworker, after all, and this is a work evening.”
“Fine.If you hook this up, I will run out and get the burgers.I know a place.”
“It will only take a few minutes.We can go together.”
She quirked her lips.“You are willing to be seen with me?”
“I would love to be seen with you.”Den unpacked the three monitors, set up the laptop, plugged everything into a surge protector, and turned them on.After that, he set up the link to the work drives.It took him eight minutes.
“It would have taken me a lot longer.”
“Well, I do it for a living.Come on.I will wash up, and then we can find that burger.”
She smiled.“Okay.”
She waited, and when he had dried his hands, he looked around.“Minimalist.Nice.”
“Not really my thing.I am comfy cozy, but until I have a place of my own, this will do.I don’t have much stuff.”
He smiled.“Lead the way.”
She paused and scrubbed her hands quickly before joining him at the door.She double-checked that she had her fob and some cash and her sad little phone.They headed out, and she bolted the door, tapping it to make sure it locked.
“Slightly OCD?”
“Yeah.Now, tell me about this lawyer.”
Den grinned.“It’s my brother.”
She glanced at him in the elevator.“I didn’t think dark elves had brothers.”
His eyes turned to her in astonishment.
She was grinning when they got to the main floor and walked across the lobby.
He was next to her and said, “How did you know?”
“Oh, I just know things.Part of my charm.”They walked with her heels clicking as they moved down the street to a shop that spilled light onto the sidewalk.
