Maurice sat at his computer, furiously typing as Nancy paced back and forth, dictating. “...as such, Lanover Industries will not only be renewing our grant funding but increasing it by twenty percent. Our dedication to the education and excellence of the next generation of engineers, architects, and builders remains strong.”

“Damn, this is genius,” Maurice said, sitting back, looking it over. Nancy shot him a smile as she walked back into her office.

“Get that down to Sean so he doesn’t have a fit about last-minute additions.”

Maurice nodded, grabbed a folder and followed her in. “Marketing approved the new logos and forwarded everything to the developers. They said the new face should be available by the end of next week,” he said, laying the folder on her desk.

Nancy had removed her blouse and was changing into a sports bra. “No, I want to see it by the end of this week. Doesn’t have to be functional, but I’m going to be giving final approval at each step.” She adjusted herself in the sports bra before sitting to pull on her tracksuit pants. “Let them know I’m going to micromanage this.”

“Will do. Mr McLendon confirmed the board’s reservations for the Waldorf,” Maurice said, as Nancy pulled out her socks and trainers. “He sends his regards and that his staff will be on hand when they arrive for the royal treatment.”

“Chris is such a treasure,” Nancy said as she pulled her top on and grabbed her bag. “Let’s send him a bouquet with two tickets for Phantom.”

“Three,” Maurice said, without looking up. “Remember, his daughter loves theater.”

“You’re right. What would I do without you?” Nancy said, patting his shoulder as she walked by.

He followed her out, face buried in the folder and said. “Be half as effective?”

“Half’s a little generous, don’t you think,” she smiled over her shoulder as she entered the elevator. Maurice looked up with a wounded expression that made Nancy laugh.

“You can make up for being horrible by bringing me some of that Thai food you keep raving about!”

“Good day Maurice!” Nancy waved as the doors closed.

The sun was into its afternoon decent as Janine locked her door and descended the steps. She spyed Ken across the street, leaning on his mailbox wearing a loose tank top, shorts, and house shoes. Ken dressed impeccably when ever he left the house. Yet here he was, lounging in his front yard looking like he just rolled out of bed.

She followed his gaze to Ikher’s house, where their shirtless young neighbor was mowing his lawn. Janine’s laugh as she walked over snapped Ken out of his daze.

“Did I just catch the fox watching the hen house?” she asked.

Ken shook his head, holding his hands up. “Just admiring the scenery officer.” He glanced back to Ikher and sighed. “Oh, to be young.”

“I’m gonna tell him to cover up.”

“You better not,” Ken pointed at her without breaking his gaze.

Janine giggled and poked him in the bicep. “Don’t let Jason catch you admiring the scenery,” she said before walking over to Ikher’s yard and leaning on the fence corner. Ikher was almost to the fence when he noticed her, smiled, and stopped.

This close, Janine understood Ken’s daze. Ikher was cute, but the sweat rolling down his taught bare chest and nicely defined abs was something stare worthy. His shoulders and arms were strong without being bulky. Her gaze lingered on the pelvic lines going down into his boxers.

“Hey, what’s up?” he said, pulling the towel he had tucked in his back pocket and wiping his face as he approached.

“Uhhh, not much,” she said, pulling her gaze to the tattoo on his right shoulder. It was a radio tower on a heart with signal waves going out in all directions. “Is that your dad?” she asked, pointing.

Ikher looked at his shoulder and grinned. “Yeah.”

“I like it,” Janine nodded before looking at the rusty reel mower. “That thing even work?”

Ikher glanced at it, then back to her, shrugging. “Sorta. I need to get it sharpened or buy a motorized one.”

“Let me know, I can take you to pick one up.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Though I might ask you to do my lawn in return,” she winked.

“Bet!”

A car door closing drew their attention to the tall blond woman walking over in a tracksuit putting her sunglasses on.

“Hey Nance! Did you manage to fit me in?” Ikher asked as she stopped at the fence.

"That depends. Can you do Saturday?"

Janine, standing next to her, could see Nancy looking Ikher up and down from behind the sunglasses. Her snort at that drew Nancy’s attention, but Janine just smiled in return.

“Yeah, sure. Same time as usual?” Ikher said, bringing Nancy’s attention back to him.

“Yes. I’ll see you then.” She smiled to Ikher before turning to Janine. “Sorry to butt in. He’s all yours.” Glancing at her watch, she took off into the park. Janine watched her go before turning back to Ikher with an enormous smile.

“Boy, look at you!” she said, leaning over the fence and smacking his shoulder. “That’s an upgrade.”

Ikher’s brows came together as he shook his head at her. “Huh?”

“You went from a skinny annoying white girl to a rich big tiddy white girl. I’m proud of you.”

Ikher shook his head at Janine’s big grin. “It’s not like that. She’s married.”

“Guy, since when has that stopped anyone.”

“It’s really not like that,” he said, giving her his most stern face. Janine put her chin in her hand on the fence post and sighed.

“You can’t be this oblivious,” she sighed and pointed to Nancy’s blue sedan. “That car is way more expensive than Sergio, and I’m sure she didn’t get it at an auction.”

“So.”

“So, that means she isn’t hurting for money.”

“Well yeah, she runs her family’s company.”

“Exactly,” Janine said, holding her hands out. “Rich folks don’t come out of their cloud castles unless it’s for something specific. And in this case,” she grinned, poking him in the abs, “that something is you.”

“Oh, whatever! She was running in the park before I even moved in. And I had to twist her arm just to chat with her.”

Janine crossed her arms under her chest “Yeah! She’s being cautious. Making sure you aren’t gonna bamboozle her out of her reverse osmosis swimming pool or solid gold toilets.”

Ikher laughed and shook his head. “You’re hilarious, but you’re wrong. It’s just dinner between friends.”

“How many of these ‘dinners’ have there been?”

Ikher screwed his face up as he thought. “This’ll be the fourth.”

“Dude, she’s eaten at your house three times already? Just the two of you?” Ikher nodded. “Get out,” she laughed. “Those were dates.”

Ikher shook his head at her as he turned back to the lawn mower. “If you say so.”

Janine called after him. “Hey, I’m not mad at you! Everyone deserves a sugar momma. I’m glad you’re making moves to get one.” The fed up look he shot her over his shoulder doubled her over laughing. When she caught her breath, she waved his stern face away. “Look, for real. All I’m saying is, you’re out here looking like a sweaty little snack and your rich friend was giving you the hungry eyes.”

Ikher’s eyebrows went up. He thought for a moment before glancing down the path into the park. “Really?”

“Yeah, man. I know that look. I give it a lot.”

“Huh,” he said, staring at the grass. Janine shook her head, chuckling.

“Anyway, I need to get going. Have fun with that old thing and let me know when you wanna get a proper mower.”

“Oh hey!” he called. “After this, I’m going to a friend’s bar to watch the footba... soccer game. Open invitation.”

Janine’s lip curled as she recoiled from him. “Preciate the invite, but I hate sports. Plus, I’ve got some work stuff to handle.”

The Corner Pitch was a small unpretentious bar occupying a triangular corner lot in the commercial section of Oak Grove. Walking in through the front door, you were overwhelmed with football club banners from the ceiling and paraphernalia on the warm mahogany walls.

The bar, on the right side, had televisions hung from the ceiling, playing football or news. The left windowed side had several small two seat tables and lead to the back, which had the jukebox and bathrooms. This time of day was slow, so Eric and his bartender, Billie, were cleaning and getting things ready before the game rush started.

“What up!” Eric, wearing a black button-up shirt and a towel slung over each shoulder, called as Ikher walked in and sat at the bar. “What’re you having and who’re you rooting for?”

“Tea, some chicken strips, and it’s gonna be Arsenal tonight,” Ikher said, hopping onto the bar stool.

“What do you call an Arsenal fan with half a brain?” Billie said with a grin as she stacked tumblers under the tap. Ikher didn’t answer and just let his head hang to one shoulder as he waited. She always had jokes.

“What?” Eric asked with a big grin.

“Gifted.” Her toothy smile made her big freckled cheeks look even larger. Ikher laughed and shook his head.

“Aww man, come on! Why are we always on opposite teams?”

“I can’t account for your lack of taste, dude.” She shrugged, waving her hands down over her Chelsea jersey. She also had blue and white ribbons woven into her French braid. “At least you didn’t disgrace these hallowed halls with one of ‘Assenal’s trash jerseys.”

Eric chuckled, passing Ikher his tea. “She has a good point though. We need to get you some jersey’s,” he said, reaching under the bar and tossing a thick catalog in front of Ikher. Ikher paged through the book, his brows drew together the further he got in.

“Yo, these are expensive!”

“Yeah, it ends up being over two hundred after shipping since you’re buying direct,” Eric nodded, leaning on the counter. “Don’t sweat it, it’s not mandatory.” Billie emerged from the back, bringing Ikher’s food. “Not everyone’s as dedicated as Abigail,” Eric said, which earned him a nasty look from Billie as she set Ikher’s plate down.

“Yeah, don’t rush to buy anything,” she said. “Make sure it’s one you really want. Sauce for those?"

“Hot mustard, please.”

“Hey! Good to know your taste isn’t completely terrible.” Ikher, his mouth full, just glared at her.

“Don’t take it personal,” Eric said, laughing as he checked the beer tap levels. “Hazing is how Billie shows her love.”

“Yeah,” Billie shrugged. “I don’t mess with people I don’t like.”

“You must love me then,” Ikher said, before sipping his tea.

“Eh, you’re pretty cool for a gifted guy.” Ikher’s glare over the top of his glass gave her a fit of giggles.

He finished his food and hit the bathroom before the other regulars started showing up. On the way back to his seat, he saw Billie and Eric engrossed in conversation with a brown-skinned woman. She had dark auburn chin length hair and wore a long cardigan, jeans, and low top sneakers.

She stood with one foot on a bar stool, pointing at Eric. Eric leaned against the back of the bar, waving his hands in what looked to be a friendly argument. Billie was listening, head in her hands, with all her attention on the new woman. Ikher walked over and took his seat next to them.

“Hold that thought,” Eric said, holding up a finger to the woman. “Ikher, this is Katrina. Kat, this is our new buddy, Ikher,” Kat turned huge light brown eyes on him and did a double take.

“¿Ikher? ¡¿Eres Hispano?!” she asked, looking him up and down.

“Si.”

“¿Fuiste adoptado?”

“Ja! No, pero mis abuelos eran de Madrid.”

“¿Estas aquí para ver futbol?” Katrina put her hand on her hip.

“Si, Eric me invito. Con esperanzas de ver a España llegar al Mundial.” Kat laughed and shook her head.

As they talked, Eric leaned over to Billie, who was listening with a big goofy smile on her face. “Any idea what they’re saying? I can only pick out a word or two.”

“Don’t know. Don’t care.” Billie sighed, gazing at Kat, which made Eric throw a towel at her.

Ikher noticed and turned to them. “Oh, sorry. Yall don’t speak Spanish?”

Eric shook his head. “Nah, I took French in school. Je prenais le cours de français recontrer les filles,” he said with a flourish of his hands.

Billie covered her ears and glared at him. “Eww, take the sock out of your mouth.”

Kat reached over and smacked her hand. “French is a nice language,” she said, wagging her finger at Billie, who just sighed at her.

“Not as nice as yours.”

Kat laughed and shook her head at Billie. “All right, I need to meet my daughter for dinner,” she said, before turning to each of them. “It was good to meet you, Ikher. Eric, let me know what you think. Adios Abigail.” She purred to the last line to Billie with a sly smile as she waved before going out the door.

“Ugh!” Billie said, clawing at the air above her before dropping her hands to the bar and hanging her head.

Eric laughed at her. “If you need to use the office for a bit, just wipe it down when you’re done.”

Ikher looked from him to her, not understanding. “Everything okay?”

Billie let out a large sigh as her head dropped to the bar with a thunk. “No.”

“Billie has a small thing for Kat,” Eric said, spreading his hands to indicate something large as he backed through the door into the kitchen.

“The ones I really, really like are always super straight,” she said, raising her head to peer at Ikher over her arm.

“Dude, that sucks. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ve accepted my curse.” Billie sighed and waved to someone coming in before she glanced back at him lazily. “How do you deal with your curse?”

“Mine?”

“Your terrible taste in everything,” she said with a big toothy grin.

“Oh, come on!”