6
Lincoln
Lincoln stepped off the elevator and pushed through the double doors of CBI, Creed Brothers, Incorporated.
He walked down the cool grey hall, decorated with contemporary light installations, and rounded a corner. “Madeline, how are you gorgeous?” Lincoln flirted.
Madeline, the receptionist, looked up from her desk and pursed her lips. “I am blessed and highly favored, Mr. Creed.”
He grinned. “Good to know.”
Lincoln loved teasing Lucas’ receptionist. Madeline was a no-nonsense, middle-aged, extremely religious African American woman who had been working for the company for over twenty years.
“It’s good to see you back in one piece,” she offered.
“Thank you, ma’am. He in there?” He walked toward Lucas’ office door.
“Yes, but now isn’t a good time. Please, sir, have a seat.”
Lincoln squinted at the receptionist. She’d never curbed him before. He was always able to walk freely into his brother’s office.
He glared at Madeline. Even with her darker skin, he could see a blush crawling her cheeks. Something wasn’t right. “Madeline?”
“Trust me, Mr. Creed, you’ll wanna have a seat.”
“Ooo-kay,” Victor acquiesced with a frown.
Lincoln was still curiously eyeing Madeline when he walked over to the waiting area and took a seat. She quickly dismissed him and returned her attention to whatever she was working on. He sat for fifteen minutes before he decided to leave.
Just as he stood, the door to Lucas’ office opened. Bella emerged with a disheveled ponytail. Her wrinkled t-shirt was tucked into her jeans and her gun belt was missing a loop. Lincoln chuckled softly as he made his way over to her.
“Hey, Bella. What’s up?”
She startled a bit and turned to face him, brandishing the guiltiest of smiles. “Oh, hey, Linc. Does Lucas know you’re here?”
Lincoln smirked with a tilt to his head. “I don’t think he’d care. Are you on duty, Detective?”
Bella tucked one of many loose strands of hair behind her ear and nodded.
“Well, if I were you,” he moved closer, “I’d find a mirror.”
Bella recoiled and self-consciously ran her hand over her hair. “Excuse me?” she asked, feigning offense.
“Girl, you got that whole ‘post-coital chaos’ thing going on.”
Bella’s face was awash with embarrassment as she turned to see if Madeline was paying attention. She wasn’t. Or, she was pretending not to be.
Lincoln pressed his lips together and tried hard not to laugh.
“Shut up, Linc,” she scolded in a hushed tone.
Bella turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him standing alone. Lincoln shook his head and chuckled as he entered his brother’s office where Lucas was walking out of the bathroom, drying his hands with a towel. When he looked up and noticed Lincoln, he tossed the towel on his desk and smiled.
“Hey, baby brother,” he beamed.
Lincoln chuckled and closed the office door. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I’m having a good day.”
