As I pass by the bar, I take a couple of bottles and ask the bartender to uncork them for me. This is definitely a party, or maybe we don’t know how to organize family reunions at home.

I’m sure Crystal will be happy to visit Miller and his new bride. There, he can quit 23 Media Inc and start his own fucking vineyard.

Why do I even care? I should be happy for him, shouldn’t I?

Forty-Three

Miller

Eva Gyles is an attractive woman. She’s smart too. The lady knows I have to be polite or I can lose the account.

What she didn’t know is I have my limits and a Claire. Also, I never sleep with my clients. I could’ve put a stop to her advances the moment she started them, but it was fun to watch Claire shooting imaginary daggers toward Eva and me.

I was too busy trying to look interested that I never saw Claire leaving. Tony said she was not feeling well. I hate myself for not paying enough attention to her. What if she’s sick?

When I arrive at the house, she’s sitting by the porch on one of the patio chairs. There are a few bottles of wine on top of the coffee table.

“Did you drink them all?” I ask, taking a seat on the chair next to hers.

She shrugs.

“What’s going on, Claire Bear?”

“I hate that nickname, Milo.”

“Have you told your dad?”

She smiles. “Fine, I don’t hate when he calls me that. Only when you do. But you should be having a chat with your family about all your lies, including your nickname.”

“Mine is a stupid nickname, yours is cute.”

“You worked fast with Eva. Is the account yours?”

“Nothing happened between us,” I assure her.

She laughs, takes one of the bottles, and drinks from it. “Please, she was almost sitting on top of you. If you can be anything tonight, at least be fucking honest.”

I take her bottle and drink from it. “She was groping me, that doesn’t mean I was turned on or willing to take it further. I’m a professional.”

“You’re anything but. Why didn’t you have sex with her?”

I glance at her and don’t respond. We exchange the bottle of wine until it’s empty. Then, she grabs the next one and starts it. The night is quiet, except for the few crickets that chirp occasionally. If she didn’t hate me so much, we could be hugging, watching the full moon illuminating the fields and enjoying the silence.

“So you believe me that I didn’t touch her.”

She nods. “You like to take your time. What’s that rule you have, make sure your partner enjoys it as much as you do.”

“When it comes to sex, I only have one rule.”