I’m not used to having anyone serve me anything, so my brain takes a beat to understand before I can answer. “Yes, please.”
He fixes me a coffee and sits back down, tucking his tie away from the plates as he does.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Slada asks me.
“I’m okay.”
“Do you have blurred vision, headache, or vomiting?”
“No, I’m okay.”
“Good, this is good. I’m here because a woman did that to you.” Slada’s smile reminds me of a shark baring its teeth. “I’ll pay her a visit today.”
I look to Declan for an explanation, but he’s texting someone.
“What are you going to do to her?”
Declan puts down his phone and looks at Slada, who shrugs. “Whatever you say. You’re the boss here.”
Declan smiles. “I am, aren’t I? Dina, what would you have me do?”
I sip the coffee. Damn. I’ll have two of these. “Have her suspended. She isn’t supposed to grab my hair and slam my head against the table.”
Declan sighs. “Or cut off the hand she used to grab Dina’s hair.”
I giggle. “Or that.”
Slada cracks her knuckles as she stands. “Will do, boss.”
“No wait,” I say, horrified. “We’re still joking, aren’t we?”
Slada raises an eyebrow.
“Cutting off a hand is a little severe. I’m sure a suspension would suffice.”
Slada snorts. “Then I’ll suspend her. From the bridge or a crane?” Slada looks me dead in the eye. “Because that’s how the Crossbows do it. We have to maintain their reputation.”
“Get her fired. She can resign her post.”
“That’s better,” Declan says. “But not enough.”
“She can resign her post and move to the country, never to be seen again.”
“Ew. What’s that? Mercy?” Slada puts her hands together the way Declan did when he really wanted me to listen. “Please don’t make me show a violent powermonger mercy when I don’t have to. She needs a lesson, not forgiveness.”
“That’s fine,” Declan says. “Use your best judgment.”
Slada smiles. “See you around, Dina.”
Once Slada leaves, Declan and I share coffee in silence before the workers start on the terrace outside the bedroom. They’re making a lot of noise, and if I’m going to listen to hammering this early in the morning, at least I can try to figure out what the hell they’re building. They’re closing the terrace with thick glass. Does Declan plan to put plants in there? Is it a garden house? That would be pretty. It’s a nice idea.
I bet the view from up there is beautiful. I’ll go up when the men are finished.
I reach for the pot of coffee when I notice Declan staring at me. “Did you say something?”
He shakes his head. “Do you see anything you like?” He points up at the terrace.
“The view is the best in the city.”
