“Oh, fuck this and fuck you!” Fran yelled as she jumped to her feet and snatched the papers off the desk. “I’m done with this, and I’m done with you! I used to like you, Addison. I used to like your quick wit and your bloody headstrong attitude, but you’ve turned into an egotistical, haughty cow, and I can’t work with you any longer. You’ll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning!”

Before Addison could say a word, Francesca stormed out of her office and slammed the door, causing more than one painting on the wall to tilt from the aftershock.

***

A few hours later, Fran sat at her desk staring at the blank page on her computer screen. She wanted to type her resignation, but she just couldn’t. She couldn’t abandon Addison no matter how self-centered the woman had become. Fran pulled a drawer open and rummaged around until she found the emergency cigarettes she had put there a year before. Pausing for a moment, she tapped out a cigarette and lit it, immediately regretting her actions when her lungs began to burn from the stale, acrid smoke.

“You’re not allowed to smoke in the building. You know that.”

Fran raised her eyes and glared at the woman standing in the doorway. “Like you haven’t done it a hundred times yourself.”

“True,” Addison said, sauntering over and sitting down. “But then again, I own the building, so I make my own rules.”

Having had enough of the sour-tasting tobacco, Fran scanned her desk. Spying her coffee cup, she dropped the cigarette into the dregs it contained. “You won’t hear an argument from me on that one.”

Their eyes met, and Fran stared back without saying a word. Addison wasn’t the only one who had a stubborn streak.

“It seems I owe you another apology,” Addison said quietly.

Fran stiffened, and slowly a grin began to form. “Best be careful. This could become a habit.”

“I doubt it.”

“Me, too.”

“I don’t like to lose.”

“Tell me something I don’t know, Addison.”

“I’ll agree to whatever you’d like.”

Fran rocked forward so quickly that the arm of the executive chair banged into the desk. “What?”

“You heard. I have a business to run, and this has taken up far too much of my time, so the sooner we get this resolved, the better.”

“Are you serious?”

Addison locked eyes with Fran. “When have you known me not to be?”

“Good point,” Fran said as she grabbed her notes. “Well, the first thing we need to discuss is the living arrangements.”