Dani

You downed your drink and made your way back to the floor to mingle. You had a few more offers from an old man here or there looking for some time with your wife, but you quickly exited those conversations... Back to the bar it was.

You tried not to give off a "fuck-off" attitude, but the propositioning that all of these old men seemed to be interested was taking a bulk of his talking. There were a few interested female-led firms, but, of course, they were all a bit scared of Dani. You needed to get to the bottom of it, if not for your own sake, then for Aubrey.

You found her sitting on her own, enjoying more wine. "Mr. Doe, what a pleasant surprise. Did you miss me already?"

You took a deep breath. "I've been trying to drum up investors, but the ones that aren't trying to fuck my wife are too scared to do anything because they're scared you'll retaliate. Why? Why are you trying to sabotage me? Is it something against Aubrey?"

Dani gave you a curious and somewhat playful eyebrow raise before speaking. "They're waiting to see if I'm going to make a move. That's what the nobles do when the queen has not made her ruling."

"What are you even talking about?" You hated this cryptic thing that Dani seemed to have about her. It was like she enjoyed being obtuse.

She motioned for you to sit across from her and, with a resigned acceptance, you took the seat. "Why do you hope to do as a lawyer?"

That was out of left field, but you'd humor her for now. "Well, I wanted to be a lawyer because—"

She cut you off, "I did not ask about then. I don't care why you became one; I am far more concerned with the one you are and the one you will become. So I will ask again: what do you hope to accomplish as a lawyer? What is your goal?"

She made it sound so abstract. There had to be something she was looking for, right? "I want to give everyone a fair chance, even if I don't think they deserve it." You had more detailed thoughts, but this didn't seem like that kind of conversation.

"What about a murderer?" She continyes without missing a beat.

"Well, they're still human and they still have rights to a lawyer and a trial by jurt, no matter how hard kind of person they are. I'm not saying I like it, but I can't just pick and choose who I think deserves rights and who doesn't. Where is all of this going?" You weren't here for a philosophical debate you were here to, at the very least, network and build connections. Dani was currently in the way of that.

"That is some fine conviction." She leaned forward, her cleavage even more obvious now. She narrowed her gaze for a moment before leaning back. "They're waiting to see if I poach you."

"What? Why?" That sounded so ridiculous to you.

She stood up and took another sip of her glass. "If you want more answers, meet me at the hot tub in a few minutes." She set her glass down and walked away.

This woman was beyond frustrating. You weren't even speaking to get professionally anymore. You were ready to just tell her off. "Fine. If she wants to go to the hot tub, then let's go to the hot tub."