I want to say that I was completely prepared for the meeting with Tosh and Harrigan. I'd done my research, I'd even beat some makeup on and tamed my hair into a straight ponytail. It had been about three weeks of beating out the plans with Luc and now that we were settled on the shape of the final project it was time to bring in the contractors. I'd been in meetings with Tosh and Harrigan before, not as the person running point, but enough to know what to expect and strategize on my approach. I was in a red jumpsuit which I hope says that I'm classy and ladylike and a warrior and not to be messed with and please take me seriously but also I'm not a threat to your masculinity. I needed them to think of me as somewhat of an equal, a colleague, because I'd need to work with contractors for my own firm and they were considered by many to be the best around.

They'd be great partners for my firm and this was an opportunity to start that working relationship. It was part of why I was here alone and not with Lucas, I need to establish myself as my own entity and this was a great first step at that. Their secretary, a hazel-eyed brunette with a low cut shirt and a wonderful buxom cleavage, smiles at me. I smile back and explain what I'm doing here, she says they'll shortly be with me in the conference room and then jumps up from her seat to lead me to it.

She opens the door, the same friendly smile on her face, her eyes sparkling hazel orbs of sensuality as I realize she wasn't smiling at me but someone in the room. I follow her gaze and guess who is here looking like a youth minister who used to be a Abercrombie model

Poor secretary, I consider telling her he only looks at artsy brunettes with thick wing liner, flower crowns and sad blue eyes but before I can he turns his gaze to me. He looks over my outfit and I consider telling him to sod off or get me a stylist but I change tact.

"You came to babysit?" I tease in greeting as he pops up from his seat and towards me

"The last time I trusted you to meet with someone, Funke, you stole a great commission from right under me" he replies, his words soft and lush, a small smile on his lips

"Which commission? This commission? That we're working on together, now? Are you admitting I deserve it?" I wonder lightly

"That we're being forced to partner on this by my brother-in-law? I barely have any say in this entire project." he clarifies

"I'm so glad you keep bringing that up every tenth breath you take because if you didn't I'd surely forget it." I shrug up at him wondering exactly what this was

Were we supposed to hug? Shake hands? Kiss on the cheek? Dap up? He's just standing there even though it's clear to both of us that he got up from his seat for some kind of greeting ritual. We're just standing here like two absolute dimwits, bodies awkwardly close to each other as I consider just leaning in and hugging him to get it over with. Just a small friendly hug that says, hey I appreciate that you've been so supportive despite how utterly cruelly ambitious I've been. He's just staring at me too, probably considering how much shorter than him I was even with the heels. He's about to say something when the door opens again.

Tosh and Harrigan walk into the office, interrupting us, mostly Lucas if we're being completely honest.

I turn to the two men, smiling professionally at them as Tosh sizes me up. I step slightly back from Lucas and almost go into a superhero hands-akimbo pose.

"Gents...we have a hot one." Tosh announces, his gaze slightly too present as it moves through my body

I could be imagining it but I think Lucas just moved in front of me as if to divert the fuck out of that creepy pervy gaze. We exchange a few arbitrary greetings as I try and figure out how to assert myself in this absolute wanker fest. Tosh is being very macho, more macho than he usually is and I'm trying my best to not dash him some sense as he talks at my chest again. Luckily the assistant with the full chest interrupts the course of things by offering us scotch. It's way too early for scotch but I was prepared for and could use some alcohol to draw out my more assertive side.

"Methinks the lady would prefer an apple cider Bea. She couldn't possibly be able to deal with scotch..." Tosh says, which is perfect timing

"Actually I was thinking of getting some wine but... wouldn't it be more interesting to see which of us can't deal with scotch?" I offer, glaring at Tosh while smiling at him

Harrigan for the most part had been quiet, unaffected, studying the plan and chuckling here and then when Tosh said something wankerish. Lucas had this look on his face that I'd never quite seen before and Tosh was looking around like he needed a translator.

" We both know Angus is going to contract you to build this whether Whitlam and I are attached to the project or not. Which is why you can afford to be the absolute tossers you're being right now, but we can't afford to lose the commission. So I'll wager you your cooperation. if I win, you're attached to our project as contractors, if you win, we leave." I bargain, watching Tosh look over at Harrigan as if he was about to burst into laughter

"Unless you're scared... unless you actually can't deal with scotch..." I taunt them as amiably as possible

I'd already lost my girlfriend to this commission, I'd be dead and in hell before I lost it because of these wankers!

"You'll have to carry this one home Whitlam." Tosh declares competitively

"What are you doing?" Luc whispers to me

"She's feisty, I'll give her that." Tosh shrugs as the secretary pours me some whisky

"Trust me." I throw at Luc, even though trust was the last thing he'd give me

In about a half hour Tosh and Harrigan were both merrily drunk and I was closing the deal in an expert way for someone who'd just downed about five glasses of scotch. I didn't feel tipsy in the least either and had obviously had been more prepared than even Lucas had given me credit for. It was a complete coincidence that I had carb-loaded as much as I had last night, mostly post-breakup eating, but now, watching the two defeated tossers I almost wanted to thank Luna for breaking up with me and making me feel so bad all I wanted was an assortment of breads and fried doughs. I turn to Lucas with a wide triumphant smile, lifting my sixth glass at him. He takes it from my hand and chugs it.

"That's about enough. I believe my design partner has proven her point." Luc announces to the two men

Tosh had literally gone down on one knee, mumbling "what a woman" as he did and Harrigan was wordlessly bowing to me.

"We'll leave the contracts with your secretary for you to sign." I chime excitedly as I walk to the door, feeling so triumphant and powerful

I was channeling Gabrielle Union as I thanked Bea and handed her the contracts with instructions.

"After you, partner." Lucas offers, he always offered to walk behind me and I try my best to hold in the victory dance until the elevator dings closed.

I squeal in joy and do a little dance, flipping my ponytail and looking up at Luc with all the joy and relief in my eyes. I find that he was looking at me the entire time.

"We can take my car back to the office Funke. I'm heading that way anyway." It was more of a statement than an offer

He wasn't as excited about my victory as I was and it deflates me a little, I won't lie. The elevator dings open and he gently grabs my elbow and leads me towards the vending machine.

"First we're going to have to get some water into your system before the alcohol hits." He sighs as I mumble my disappointment

What the fuck was wrong with Lucas Roland? Why wasn't he as excited that I'd handled the entire thing on my own without his help?

I did it for the team you peng wanker!

He turns his gaze to me, prodding me to say it louder, but I roll my eyes at him and smile instead. if he was going to be a lemon about this, I could be one too!

"Thanks boss. You're too kind to us peasants." I chime sourly up at him

Am I mad? Did I not just drink two arseholes under the table to secure contractors for OUR project?

"Maybe if you weren't trying to prove yourself all the time you wouldn't be drunk at 4:37 pm on a Tuesday." he offers back as he buys some water

"I mean you did great today, obviously, you're wonderful and brilliant and all that, but you do understand what the word team means, Funke, don't you?" he wonders, handing me the bottle and watching me sip it

I'm pretty sure I just downed five glasses of scotch for the team love. Was this man seriously pouting because I hadn't sat back and let him handle Tosh and Harrigan?

"I'd love to chat about it and all babe but...my back hurts from carrying your career for you over the last two years." I reply,

He heaves at that, as if holding back something. I try to step back, because I realize I might have actually said that out loud and crossed a line, and the look on his face...

I'm not sure what happens exactly, I try to step back but then things get a bit lopsided, maybe because he grabs me, or maybe he grabs me because things get dizzy. All I know is that I end up in his arms and he's smirking a little bit and I sense that I might be maybe slightly tipsy.

"Ok there Atlas?" He teases as I tuck my hand into his and straighten up

Ok, I was tipsy.

"Are we heading to the office or are we standing here dancing?" I shrug, perhaps realizing I wasn't as sober as I thought I was.