Outer Core by Sigal Ehrlich

Complete.
    â€œHey, baby.” I turn from the sketchpad on my lap to give Daniel a semi-hostile look.
    â€œWhat’s up?” He takes a couple of steps my way, where I’m working on a drawing, nestled on the living room sofa.
    I raise my hand his way, gesturing for him to stop. “Thank you for sending my friend to another country and failing to mention it.” I narrow my glare. “Unless you have one helluva excuse or an incredibly rare diamond on you, I would warmly recommend you stay back.”
    Daniel’s eyes light up in amusement which immediately dissipates my feigned anger. He makes a whole production of patting his pockets with one hand. He shakes his head, his mouth slightly twisted. “Sorry, no diamond.” A hint of a smile plays at the corner of his lips as he brings forward a pizza box. “Tony’s pizza instead?”
    â€œEven better.” I set my sketchpad aside on its face, trying to hide my own smile.
    â€œEver heard of the saying ‘Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts’?” He shrugs off his blazer and drops it on the sofa next to me.
    â€œOh, you trying to penetrate my gate is nothing I should be too cautious about, on the contrary . . .” I beam at him, only to be gifted with a wicked, sweetly wicked, smile.
    I watch Daniel as he kicks off his shoes and lowers to sit on the coffee table in front of me. I keep my eyes on him, more than enjoying his looks in a casual black tee and jeans. His hair is a bit longer than usual; a couple of lighter clusters of gold fall and cover his eyebrow as he turns to me with a slice of heavenly smelling pepperoni pizza. Melted cheese strings swing from either side. I take the offering and bring it to my mouth, closing my eyes, savoring the perfect taste. Daniel watches me, taking a bite of his own slice.
    I lick the salty, delectable grease off my lips. “I thought we told each other everything.” I raise my eyes, challenging his.
    Daniel takes another bite of his slice and swallows it down. “This doesn’t concern us . It’s about an offer I gave one of my employees.” I roll my eyes, a gesture he bluntly disregards. “It’s a good opportunity for her. You should be happy for her. She made a wise decision.”
    â€œOf course, I’m glad for her. I’ll miss her, that’s all. A lot.”
    â€œThere are planes.”
    Simple . Daniel Stark simple.
    â€œBut isn’t Thailand dangerous?” I ask; Daniel’s hostage experience there just a few months ago is still a fresh and taunting memory.
    â€œIt was a period of political instability. The situation has calmed down now. Bangkok is quite safe. Obviously, we’ll make sure the employees take the appropriate precautions. We’re in close contact with the embassy, and we’re strictly following the government’s travel advisories for the city.” He places his hand on my knee. “Hales, rest assured I’m never going to put any of my employees in danger. Now, can we stop discussing Natasha’s career and maybe talk about yours?”
    Where did this come from? “What about mine?”
    Daniel tips his chin toward the side table. “What were you working on?”
    I lick pizza off my fingers under Daniel’s more than engrossed stare. Giving my middle finger some good old-fashioned suction for good measure. Daniel’s irises darken at my little show. I smirk and reach for the sketchpad, flipping back some pages to hide what I was really working on. He takes the sketchpad and studies the drawing. A modern interpretation of Snow White in which Miss White is a badass president of an outlaw motorcycle club with the dwarfs as her entourage.
    â€œIt’s great.”
    â€œAnd you’re biased.”
    Daniel twists his mouth, drops the sketchpad onto his lap, and turns to gaze at me. Hazel eyes wordlessly scolding. “Hales, it’s fucking brilliant. And