other?"
"I'm sorry, I'll try not to be too long." He settled in his seat, getting comfortable, which suggested everything but a short talk. "I know you're only here for Bradley, to tidy up the few issues he was involved in. I'm very sorry about him. I know you both were close. His loss is going to affect all of us. It's a shame the mortals in this very country don't realize how many times he saved their lives."
She tried not to choke up at the thought of her old friend. They had their differences, their arguments, but were always there for one another when needed.
"Thank you," she said, keeping it simple.
"As you can imagine, he made our yearly get-togethers very…let's just say different. A little more organized, maybe even fun. He was the one everyone looked to. A lot less fighting."
Terry and Evelyn both glanced at Walter, who just arched his eyebrows and shrugged.
"Like you said," he continued. "It's a lot of ridiculous politics. Our kind fighting over a course of action, just to improve their standing. Worse than mortals. But I'm hoping you'd be willing to come back next year."
Victoria noticed the tension in Walter's shoulders, the way he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"But you don't?" she asked him.
"I don't feel the same as Terry," he said. "You didn't want to be there. That much is obvious. And only contributed when pressed."
"It was her first meeting," Terry said. "Your presence is definitely welcome. Patrick here would certainly agree."
"We're just using each other for sex," Victoria joked, just to see the looks on their faces. Only Evelyn laughed.
"So, what do you think?" Terry asked. "Can we expect you back next year?"
She wasn't sure what to say. As boring as it was at times, there was value in gathering to discuss the state of the world. Bradley obviously agreed, and everyone looked up to him, including Victoria. But the politics and fighting, she could do without.
"I don't know," she said, being honest. "Bradley used to try to drag me here. But we decided I best served behind the scenes."
"And it could still work that way," Terry said. "But come next year. Your age alone is a huge asset."
Walter coughed and chuckled at the same time. Evelyn grimaced, placing a hand on Terry's shoulder.
"Dear," she said. "I don't think that was quite the compliment you meant it to be."
"Sorry," he said, smiling.
They shared a quick laugh before all eyes fell on Victoria. They expected an answer. More specifically, they expected a yes .
She squeezed Patrick's knee.
"What do you think?" she asked. "Could New Delhi handle us painting the town red once again?"
He placed his hand on hers.
"I know I certainly could."
Sparks continued to fly between the two of them. Everyone at the table sensed it. Even Walter finally let out an amused smile.
A voice that didn't belong to anyone present cut through the air. It was as clear as a physical presence.
"I need you to get back to the hotel."
The voice was young, stressed, and familiar. It came from her purse, slung over the back of the chair. Her heart caught in her throat as the company present searched nearby for the source. Victoria knew they wouldn't find it.
"What was that?" Evelyn asked.
"I don't know," Terry said. "I wasn't the only one who heard it? Was that a cell phone?"
Walter shook his head. "I wouldn't know. I don't have one. I don't trust mortals and their technology."
"I think it came from Victoria's purse," Patrick said.
Attractive or not, she wanted nothing more than to slap him across the face. Instead, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled.
"Oh, God, yeah. I'm sorry. I should probably take this."
"That was a phone? Cell phones talk now?"
She had the perfect idea for a distraction. As she stood and grabbed her purse, she bent down and kissed Patrick once again on the lips. A
"I'm sorry, I'll try not to be too long." He settled in his seat, getting comfortable, which suggested everything but a short talk. "I know you're only here for Bradley, to tidy up the few issues he was involved in. I'm very sorry about him. I know you both were close. His loss is going to affect all of us. It's a shame the mortals in this very country don't realize how many times he saved their lives."
She tried not to choke up at the thought of her old friend. They had their differences, their arguments, but were always there for one another when needed.
"Thank you," she said, keeping it simple.
"As you can imagine, he made our yearly get-togethers very…let's just say different. A little more organized, maybe even fun. He was the one everyone looked to. A lot less fighting."
Terry and Evelyn both glanced at Walter, who just arched his eyebrows and shrugged.
"Like you said," he continued. "It's a lot of ridiculous politics. Our kind fighting over a course of action, just to improve their standing. Worse than mortals. But I'm hoping you'd be willing to come back next year."
Victoria noticed the tension in Walter's shoulders, the way he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"But you don't?" she asked him.
"I don't feel the same as Terry," he said. "You didn't want to be there. That much is obvious. And only contributed when pressed."
"It was her first meeting," Terry said. "Your presence is definitely welcome. Patrick here would certainly agree."
"We're just using each other for sex," Victoria joked, just to see the looks on their faces. Only Evelyn laughed.
"So, what do you think?" Terry asked. "Can we expect you back next year?"
She wasn't sure what to say. As boring as it was at times, there was value in gathering to discuss the state of the world. Bradley obviously agreed, and everyone looked up to him, including Victoria. But the politics and fighting, she could do without.
"I don't know," she said, being honest. "Bradley used to try to drag me here. But we decided I best served behind the scenes."
"And it could still work that way," Terry said. "But come next year. Your age alone is a huge asset."
Walter coughed and chuckled at the same time. Evelyn grimaced, placing a hand on Terry's shoulder.
"Dear," she said. "I don't think that was quite the compliment you meant it to be."
"Sorry," he said, smiling.
They shared a quick laugh before all eyes fell on Victoria. They expected an answer. More specifically, they expected a yes .
She squeezed Patrick's knee.
"What do you think?" she asked. "Could New Delhi handle us painting the town red once again?"
He placed his hand on hers.
"I know I certainly could."
Sparks continued to fly between the two of them. Everyone at the table sensed it. Even Walter finally let out an amused smile.
A voice that didn't belong to anyone present cut through the air. It was as clear as a physical presence.
"I need you to get back to the hotel."
The voice was young, stressed, and familiar. It came from her purse, slung over the back of the chair. Her heart caught in her throat as the company present searched nearby for the source. Victoria knew they wouldn't find it.
"What was that?" Evelyn asked.
"I don't know," Terry said. "I wasn't the only one who heard it? Was that a cell phone?"
Walter shook his head. "I wouldn't know. I don't have one. I don't trust mortals and their technology."
"I think it came from Victoria's purse," Patrick said.
Attractive or not, she wanted nothing more than to slap him across the face. Instead, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled.
"Oh, God, yeah. I'm sorry. I should probably take this."
"That was a phone? Cell phones talk now?"
She had the perfect idea for a distraction. As she stood and grabbed her purse, she bent down and kissed Patrick once again on the lips. A
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