MIO FIORE

UPPER HAND

“I don't like this color, Joe." I pointed to the chart he laid out on the table for me, "The lime

is horrible. They want summery colors, not something to blind their eyes.

Joe nodded, "Alright, how about a mustard?"

"No." I said walking around the table, mustard was not a 'summer color. Not the tone that came to mind when I thought about mustard anyway. I looked out of the high-rise building down onto the street at the view of cars and busy city dwellers rushing to wherever they needed to go.

"Think more sunflowers if you want yellow, more pink, more green, more bounce."I pointed out.

“I’ll look into some sunflower shades." He said. I could hear Joe clean up behind me from our

meeting and check my watch, perfect, I had ten minutes till I had to meet one of my clients, maybe I could make a quick coffee. My brain was still throbbing even after I took a few more panadol which was strange. shouldn't the tablets have kicked in?

“Um, Krystal?"

“Yes?" I asked turning around and staring at the bright blue eyes of my worker.

“What about that favor I asked you about?" I nodded, "I am thinking about it."

We spent a few more minutes talking about the plans before he left and I walked out to the staff room for that coffee. There were a few workers that were on their break but it was mostly empty which let me enjoy the limited peace that I got. I stirred in my milk as I saw the receptionist walk in smiling, "There is a "You know who I am," at the main desk Miss Hart." she said shifting on her feet pulling her tight skirt down.

I frowned, You know who I am?

"Who?" I asked washing my spoon.

He's about five-eleven, grey eyes and actually between you and me is pretty h-"

"Oh." I said, "oh" I lifted the glass to my lips smiling, "Send him to my office." this was going to be entertaining. I took my own sweet time to go to my office, talking to people on the way, going back to the kitchen to reheat my coffee, taking small sips before I neared the red door that was slightly open, I bet he was sitting inside irritated.

I opened the door and sure enough, he was there standing over my bookshelf holding something. I cleared my throat striding in and he turned around his grey eyes reminding me of a storm, oh boy he was angry. In jeans and a white shirt, it seemed he finally found that leather jacket that was thrown over my desk. Picking it up I hurled it into the seat and sat down, "Now, what brings you here."

“You know what." He said, ooh, he's using his angry voice at me. I turned in my chair leaning

back so I was comfortable for this conversation,

“No, not really."

Aiden strode over in two easy steps, his palms slamming onto the table as he leaned over, "You canceled the card."

I cleared my throat, well the news did reach him faster than I thought, it had only been half a day.

"Not Cancel." I said, well that wasn't possible as the manager said he wanted both our signatures, of course, mine was signed and it was waiting in my bag for his, which I will con out of him one way or another, "Froze"

“I don't care, make it work." I flinched as the card was thrown at me and I looked at the white and yellow card on my lap and picked it up, well now I had access to both cards, this was pretty good. I quickly placed it in the top draw and shut it close.

"It won't work for a week," I said

“Why not?"

"Because I said so." It took a lot of strings to make it happen, and a lot of...excuses, such as I lost my bank card and couldn't let anyone use it and I needed it frozen as I got my replacement but I was going out of town so I had to get it once I came back.

Okay fine, a lie. Which I don't do, but sometimes you just had to lie for good reasons, and this was a good reason, so, it was a great reason.

Aiden threw his hands into the air frustrated running them through his thick black hair, "What

about my cruise?" he was acting like a toddler.

“That's a shame, I guess you need to reschedule it or maybe find a job to get some money to go on that cruise." I reached for my coffee.

It was actually pretty disgusting to see a grown man throwing a fit, god, not manly at all

I jumped in my seat, nearly spilling the coffee, as his fist came down onto the table, "You've messed with the wrong man Krystal,"

He was so close I could smell the chewing gum.

"That really scares me, now if you go I can get back to work to earn some money."

He opened his mouth to say something and then decided not to, thank god. He made a deep noise from the back of his throat scratching his strong jaw before turning around grabbing his jacket.

Good riddance.

I now had both cards, and the upper hand.

*

*

My stomach grumbled as I walked out of work. I barely had time to eat all my lunch, all I could fit in was nibbled here and there and now I was starving.

Perhaps I shouldn't have had that much coffee either as my stomach was slightly in pain. Maybe this coffee obsession was getting a bit out of hand, I really shouldn't have that much coffee.

I could either drive through and pick up some...fast food that was mainly junk or go home and cooks something, Rebecca usually didn't work for dinner, I was usually home fairly early to cook and do some more work.

Work.

I looked at the pile of bags on the seat next to me all containing different blueprints for the

interior decoration project, as great as it was having so much to do, sometimes I think I love

work a bit too much that the relationship was unhealthy.

I was aware of that but at the same time I had all these projects I had committed to and because of delays and all these other issues they were now all happening at once rather than the planned schedule making me really overwhelmed.

I felt like I could cry behind the wheel because of how stressed I was feeling, and I had no one to help.

I didn't have time to go through take-out and wait for food, maybe I can go home, cook and eat and work at the same time.

As I drove into our driveway I noticed there were other cars there and frowned, who was it? It wasn't till I saw the number plate I sighed, great, I wonder what excuse he came up with now.

Of course, he had to go call my parents every time he wanted something because he knew they were my weak spot.

Arsehole.

I grabbed all my work carrying them in both hands as I kicked the car door shut not even bothering to lock it. No one wanted to steal such an old car that had more service problems than an old person.

Walking up the stairs I realized the main door was slightly open, of course, he never locks and closes the door properly.

Walking in I could hear the slight chatter, and of course, the smell of food made me walk into the lounge room and not upstairs to dump all my things.

"Krystal, finally you are here, what time is it?" My mum stood up from the couch with her glass of hot fruit tea and I dropped all the heavy bags onto

the chair rolling my shoulders, "Don't you have a watch?" I asked, a bit harshly than I intended.

"Don't be rude." I could hear my father's voice. Well, really you're the rude one rocking up past ten on a weekday just because a grown man was throwing a fit.

What's that wonderful smell, I was hungry. I walked towards the kitchen hearing my mum say

something but of course my mind was purely on food. There was food, glorious food, well, pizza but that will have to do.

“What are you wearing, why are you dressing like a man?" The questions were non-stop.

Here we go!

I paused as I took out a plate and looked at my neat attire, "These are female clothes?"

"A suit?"

"A female suit." I pointed out, besides it wasn't even masculine, I bet a man wouldn't wear this shade of grey or the cut, and the blazer screamed female and had gold buttons. It was neat and perfect for my work.

I couldn't wear skirts and risk flashing everyone when I bent over to pick something nor would I wear it when it was so cold in the morning and night.

"How about a nice dress?" my mum asked.

"No." I piled some pizza onto my plate going to sit on the barstool, "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"What you don't want your mother to visit you? Oh so grown up aren't you."

I rolled my eyes as I bit into the still-warm pizza my stomach grumbling as a thank you and wiped my mouth with a tissue before I spoke, "No, you just were here a few days ago," when I had to make the stupid excuses for Aiden who was too busy spending my money on fish eggs.

“Well your husband has brought something to my attention." she took a sip from her tea, her eyes locking in with mine the entire time.