Public Relations [Closed] - Printable Version
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RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 05-18-2017
The phone call had woken Julianna up. She frowned at the number that appeared on the screen, because she recognized it, and since she was now only in charge of one rambunctious client, she didn’t have to guess. Of, course Renton’s response to her request to behave better would be met with a call from the county jail in the middle of the night. Agreeing to accept the charges, she sat up in bed, and didn’t say anything, instead she waited for Renton’s honeyed and playful tone to greet her on the other end of the line. It was the way he said her name, that instantly dissolved the anger and disappointment that had been bubbling. None of that carefree modulation, he sounded discouraged, monotone, almost sad. She sighed heavily into the mic as he asked for her help. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she reassured gently, before ending the call. She didn’t waste any time making herself more presentable, it wasn’t her preference to leave the house in black leggings and a Harvard sweatshirt, but she did so anyway. She pulled her hair into a low ponytail, grabbed her purse and ran out the door.
In her car, she called the county office to get more information on the situation. The casino wanted to press charges, so she couldn’t just pick him up, she’d have to bail him out. The amount wasn’t staggering, but she felt it was a little much for the alleged charges, but she stopped at the bank nonetheless to get what she needed. It was fine, she’d end up getting more of it back when she got the charges dropped, and she’d make the C.A.F. make up the difference.
At the jail, she spoke to a receptionist, and filled out all the proper paperwork. She worried about Renton and how he was doing as she was stuck doing all of the clerical nonsense.
“You can wait right there,” the clerk told her with a severe tone that made her ears twitch. The woman pushed Renton’s belongings, secured in a plastic bag, through an open section in the divider and pointed to a waiting area. She followed instructions, ballet flat tapping impatiently against faded linoleum as she waited. Her ears fell to the side as she spotted Renton being pulled out of the back of the building and towers her by an overly aggressive officer. Blood covered the front of his face and his shirt. She stood to meet him at the door. When the officer un-cuffed him, Julianna took his hand and pulled him closer to her as if to protect him from the deputy.
She tsked against her teeth and used the sleeve of her sweater to gently paw at the blood that stained his chin. “Are you alright?” She touched the back of her hand to his face, softly. “Did they do this to you at the casino?” She raked her finger through the bangs that fell limp across his forehead to set them right.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 05-19-2017
Renton kept his eyes trained on his feet as he was shuffled out from the cell by a prodding and forceful officer. He was … ashamed of his state before Julianna and felt a deep sense of disappointment in himself that he had to reach out to her for help. It didn’t improve his self-esteem either to have been reminded that he had no one in life to turn to in his time of need. His appearance reflected a sense of inner discord. His shirt was stained with blood, his tie unknotted and hung around his neck, even his suit jacket was askew on his shoulders.
His shame and pain melted away at the touch of her hand. A soft touch. He reached for it like a life raft and raised his eyes to hers.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he was pleading with her to hear his side, eyes glassy with emotion. “They said I tried to fight.” He showed her his pristine knuckles as proof that he’d been wrongfully brutalized. “I didn’t.”
He tentatively took the packet of his personal effects from her. His hat was inside, crumpled because one of the casino security guards had knocked it off him and stomped on it. He removed the hat and worked at pushing it back to shape. It appeared it would never be the same.
“I just want to get out of here. I don’t want to go to prison, Julianna.” The hat was held loosely in fingers weak from fear. He was on the verge of tears.
He felt it was over. That this would be it for him and the CAF would send him back to the slammer forever. A blacksite probably given his history. Julianna alone seemed to be the only one who had the power to prevent that at this point.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 05-19-2017
“I know,” she murmured, holding his emotional gaze with a sympathetic one of her own. She stopped wiping at his face, most of the blood had dried and it was an effort in futility. She didn’t actually know, and she wouldn’t until she reviewed the case in the morning, but she believed him, and that made the difference. She rolled up her bloodied sleeve towards her elbow and took one of the hands he’d held out as evidence. She rubbed her thumb across his knuckles. Her ears drooped off the side of her head, and she relinquished his belongings when he reached for them. She squeezed his hand, before releasing it, turning to finish the last of the paperwork while he attempted to salvage his hat. Signing her name with sharp pen strokes to the final document, she shoved it back through the window and took Renton’s hand again. “I’ll take care of it,” she promised, he sounded so small and so scared and all she wanted to do was protect him; take care of him. “You’re not going to prison, okay?” She cupped his face in her free hand and forced him to look at her, she repeated the words until he nodded an affirmation that he believed her.
“Let’s go.”
Julianna pulled Renton along by the hand and led him to passenger side of her grey Jaguar that was parked outside. She pulled the crumpled tie off of him and helped him out of his wrinkled jacket, before opening the door for him. When he was secure inside she closed the door and walked around. She dropped the tie and the jacket in the backseat, before sliding inside and pulling her purse off the floor near Renton’s feet. She rummaged inside until she found a package of make-up remover wipes. She handed him one, wordlessly, for the blood on his face.
She didn’t ask where he wanted to go, just drove him to her apartment. They didn’t talk; an indie CD played strumming guitar and smoky vocals at a low volume to fill the silence. He didn’t protest her choice of locale, and she assumed it was because he didn’t want to be alone.
“The bathroom is through there,” she pointed to an adjacent space off the side of the main room as she let them inside the condo. “You can take a shower. I’ll make some coffee and find you something to wear.”
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 05-21-2017
Renton was grateful to be in the custody of Julianna. She took care of the paperwork for him and immediately took back his hand as they walked to the car. It felt...comforting to be under her care. Renton found himself tucked safely into her car and wiping away the blood that stained his face with a floral scented makeup wipe. In the course of cleaning his face, Renton learned that the blows landed on him hadn’t busted up his lip like he’d originally thought. All the blood had been entirely from his nose. It was a wonder it hadn’t been broken. Early signs of bruising marred his cheek bone and jaw on one side of his face.
He didn’t feel any need to ask where she was taking him. He assumed it would be to her home and he found that he wanted that more than anything else. Her house smelled the way he expected it to. Homey and clean.
He thanked her somberly before shuffling off to the bathroom. Renton lingered in the shower probably longer than was polite but he took the time to collect himself. He used Julianna’s products liberally almost as if to shield himself in the smell of her. He exited the shower and dried himself in one of her over-sized fluffy towels. He wiped the mirror clean of the fog and evaluated the injuries that had been done to his back and stomach. Gingerly, he pressed at bruising that colored the area along his ribs and side. Renton didn’t like violence but he was familiar enough to know how to position himself to take the blows as protectively as possible. Nothing was broken but he would be sore for a while.
He secured the towel around his hips and crept out of the bathroom to locate Julianna and the clothes she’d promised to locate for him. Wrapped in her scent and towel, Renton felt somewhat better. He followed the smell of fresh brewed coffee to the kitchen presenting his half bare and bruised body to her without any shame. He felt he'd already exposed the worst side of himself to her, there was no sense in hiding anything.
“Thank you. I’m so sorry to cause you all this trouble, Julianna.” The contrition was heavy in his voice. He was truly sorry for having put her out. “I didn’t have anyone else to call.” He admitted, hanging his head in a way that sent wet locks of dark hair over his forehead. “I promise I’ll re-pay you for the bail money.”
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 05-21-2017
Julianna looked up at him from her phone when he entered the kitchen. She had already begun to work on the case, while he was in the shower, but she put the device down when he appeared. She had changed her bloodied sweater; this one was grey but still had Harvard in bold lettering across the front. Her leggings had been replaced with silky pajama shorts. She picked up a mug, already filled with coffee and decorated the way Ren liked it and walked towards him. “It’s decaf,” she explained, cutting off his apologies and promises of repayment as she pushed it into his hand. “I laid some clothes out of you on the bed,” she nodded her head towards her room. “Something in there should be comfortable enough for now.”She reached up and slicked wet hair away from his face. She pressed her hand against his cheek, and silently inspected the bruising that colored his fair skin. She gingerly probed his nose with her thumb, but she dropped her hand when he flinched. Julianna glanced down at the rest of him, his injuries distracting her from how fit and attractive he was. He was moving well enough that she didn’t suspect anything was broken. “It’s no trouble. You can call me for anything, Renton.” She caught his gaze and looked up at him with a genuine sincerity. “I’m here for you.”
Moving back to the counter and her phone, she went back to business while Renton went to change. She gave him a few moments alone, while she finished up a preliminary report before she joined him in the bedroom. A few knocks on the door, alerted him that she was coming in, even though he’d never closed it. She crossed the room, moving close enough to smooth her hand down his back. Rounding the opposite side of the bed she plugged her phone in and dropped it on the nightstand, she pulled back the blankets and slid into the bed, fluffing up some pillows against the headboard to lean on.
“Come here,” she insisted, quietly, holding out an arm toward him, clearly an invitation to join her to cuddle.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 05-24-2017
Renton felt his insides liquefy when she handed him a cup of hot decaf coffee. She remembered. He nodded his understanding about where to find clothes. Renton submitted to her touch and examination. She was gentle and thorough. He winced, cringing when her probing fingers found a sore spot on his nose. It was only when he displayed pain that she took her hand away. “Thank you, Julianna.” How many times had he said that already?
He didn’t know what to say to someone when they showed they cared about him. Thank them? Thank them for the trouble they went through for him. Now he was drawing Julianna into his whirlpool of misery and dilemma.
Renton moved off to get dressed. He hung the damp towel carefully and neatly on the towel rack in her bathroom before he dressed in the sweat pants and t-shirt she’d placed on the bed for him. He lingered around looking into her mirror at his injuries and feeling sorry for himself until he heard Julianna knock and enter the room.
She seemed to sense his self-loathing and touched him soothingly on his spine. Then she was inviting him into bed. He didn’t hesitate once she’d issued the invitation. Renton abandoned his coffee on her dresser and climbed into bed with her. He was careful not to jostle his injured side as he slipped beneath the blankets and cuddled against her.
Renton wasn’t shy, he rested his head on her chest and nuzzled there. One arm was tucked underneath him, the other draped across her stomach.
“I wasn’t trying to steal.” He insisted. Something about the physical contact started a flow of words he’d been keeping in. “The slot machine had a data error. I was trying to fix it. I didn’t even care about the money.” He could feel his voice begin to get heavy with emotion. “I don’t want to go back to prison over this. They’ll send me away to a blacksite because of my charges.” His hand against her side tightened and he buried his face against her chest.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 05-24-2017
His ‘thank you’s were met with murmured ‘you’re welcome’s. She would continued to say it as long as he did, because she wanted him to know that it wasn’t a problem. He wasn’t a problem. Julianna wanted Renton to know that she cared about him, that she would help him and take care of him, but she wasn’t quite ready to say those things. He would have to gather it himself from ‘you’re welcome.’As he climbed into bed, Julianna adjusted and moved with him until they were both comfortable. Arranged the way they were, she could look down on him, his expression lit in profile from the lamp on the side table. She traced the slope of his nose with and the curve of his mouth with her eyes, and for a moment, she felt a rage. A rage for the possibility that he could have been seriously injured; the possibility that that perfect incline of his nose, or the sweep of his cheekbones could have been ruined by some idiotic and overaggressive casino guard.
Julianna sighed and hugged Renton against her. One hand between his shoulders and the other in his hair. She let her head rest against his, lips pressed gently to his forehead as she pet his hair. She let him say what he needed to say, without interruption. He clung tighter, all but hiding against her, and she let him.
“You’re not going to prison,” she reassured him. Her lips moved across his skin as she spoke. Her hand had settled on the back on his neck, fingers brushing over the fine and curling hairs at the nape. Her tail had wrapped around them in a way that was comforting and protective. “We’ll take care of this.” Her words were meant to remind him that they were a team; that she couldn’t help if he insisted on fighting against her.
The kiss Julianna pressed to the edge of Renton’s hairline was more deliberate than the way she’d just been leaning against him. Her petting resumed, as she began to purr softly. A low, resonate noise, that would hopefully help lull him to sleep.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 05-27-2017
He was completely surrounded. By her scent. Her arms. The sound of her silky purr. “Thank you, Julianna, so much.” He whispered against her skin.
Renton couldn’t remember the last time he had fallen asleep in someone’s arms or the last time someone had brushed a sweet kiss along his hairline. The feeling of her fingers petting hairs at his neck sent a little shiver of pleasure down his spine. His lips pulled into a smile, “That feels nice,” he admitted as he exhaled deeply.
He felt … pampered, spoiled. And he was damn sure going to enjoy it while it lasted.
He nuzzled against her. A little bit of stubble scratching along smooth skin. He sighed deeply, his breath warmed the spot on her skin near his mouth. Renton relaxed and drifted off to sleep in her protective and caring embrace. What could be better.
Waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking seemed to suggest that the pampering would continue into the daytime hours. Though he was eager to eat, Renton lingered in bed snuggling into the soft sheets and into the perfectly fluffy but firm pillows she had on her bed. He loved it here. It was paradise. Much better than the digs the CAF had set him up with - though to be fair he’d done wonders with the place. But this, this was homey and luxury mixed all together.
Finally Renton got up from the bed and shuffled out to meet Julianna. “Good morning!” He chimed at her, smiling brightly as if his spirits were recovered. The only signs of last nights troubles were the bruises that marred his face. “That smells wonderfulllll.” He sang to her and scrubbed his hand through bed tousled locks.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 05-27-2017
Julianna let Renton sleep as she woke and prepared for the day. Most of her getting ready consisted of wandering around her apartment, drinking coffee and reading the morning paper on her tablet. Getting out of bed was easy, it didn’t take much for her alarm to rouse her, but truly waking up was a bit of a challenge. After two cups of coffee and a shower, Julianna was wildly more alert. She dressed herself for the day, including hair and makeup and Renton slept soundly through it all. Which was good, as far as she was concerned. The night had been long and he was no doubt exhausted. He could use the rest. Thinking of the way he had cuddled against her, prompted a small smile on the corner of her mouth.
She wore a short circle dress in dark blue with white paneled accents and black opaque stockings, a matching watch, and cute matching heels completed the outfit.
Julianna did not typically eat breakfast, but she cooked for Renton because she could and she found that she liked taking care of him. Though, she wished the circumstances had been more pleasant.
He appeared in the kitchen just in time for two crepes, filled with bananas and Nutella and topped with whipped cream to be set in front of one of the stools at the small island. A steaming mug of coffee, decaf, of course followed shortly after. Julianna rounded the island and moved nearer to him, she pushed at his bangs with one hand, as if straightening his bed head. There was something affectionate in the gesture. Her tail swayed, ears at attention.
“Eat quick,” she suggested, smiling and brushing his jaw with her knuckles. She settled into the second stool at the island with her third cup of coffee. “We have stop by your place so you can change, and we’re already running late.” Despite the suggestion and the explanation, she didn’t seem entirely too eager to leave.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 06-02-2017
Renton was all smiles and light dramatic gasps when she presented to him his breakfast. His smile faltered turning to something more surprised as her fingers combed in a doting sort of way at the hairs that hung loose over his forehead. He stared at her, eyes glancing briefly upwards at the ears pointed like satellites at him. All at attention...for him?He wasn’t sure what to do with it all and found himself momentarily enchanted by Julianna as if noticing her for the first time.
She reminded him of his food which brought him out of his reverie. “Yes, of course.” He smiled as he took up his fork. He put it down again and reached for her hand which he covered with his. “I can’t thank you enough.” He said and left it at that before he took his fork and destroyed that dessert breakfast she’d prepared.
Julianna took him to his CAF housing - an older apartment building with units rented out by the military for various uses. His was a studio apartment with a tiny balcony. He’d decorated it as well as it could be with knick knacks, books, and art that probably told more about his personality than he should have risked given that he was fully aware that his ‘home’ was monitored.
Renton opened his closet and thumbed through the fine suits and button downs he had crammed inside. He dressed in a black suit with subtle grey pin stripes with a crisp white button down. He took out two different ties and pocket squares in a dark blue and turned to weigh the colors against Julianna's outfit. Apparently he intended to match. Finding the right colors, he tucked the square down into his pocket and just hung his tie around his shoulders.
“I bet we could match all of our outfits.” He joked. “I have way too many ties, and shirt, and cufflinks, and just everything.” He laughed as he stepped in front of his bathroom mirror. He applied a modest amount of styling mousse to his palm and proceeded to tame the locks. He tied his tie and fixed it to his chest with a decorative clip.
Renton turned and held his hands out, he did a little spin for her and then stopped with his hands gripping his lapels in a dramatic pose. “What do you think?” He crossed the room and linked his arm with hers. “I think we make a fetching pair.”
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 06-02-2017
Julianna milled around Renton’s space as he dressed for the day. She surveyed the things he had collected in the small space. She wondered to them. Did they each have a meaning or a story? Or were they just little things he had scattered around to make it feel more like a home. Despite the personal touches the studio didn’t suit him; Renton had a personality that was too big for the place. She turned when he heard him approached. Ears swiveled towards him as he moved close enough to hold separate pairs of accessories against the bodice of her dress. She laughed lightly when she realized what he was doing. Her tail swayed as she nodded in agreement. “That would be cute,” she replied, briefly looking down at her shoes.
“I don’t think there’s such a thing as too many,” she joked as she followed him towards the bathroom. She leaned against the door frame and watched as he styled his hair into that signature and deceivingly careless look that’s she’d come to associate with him. “I’m sure you noticed my full closet.”
Pushing off the door she leaned back and observed as he posed for her, tail swaying her knees. “You look wonderful as always,” she complimented as he linked his arm through hers. She checked the watch on the opposite wrist as the walked together. “We are beyond late.”
“Let’s get some coffee,” she suggested, once they’d made it through security at the base. They were already behind schedule so they might as well make a day of it. Besides, she was enjoying this casual sort of moment with him. It was almost if he had warmed up to her overnight, and she liked this new rapport that had fallen between them.
“Then we will take care of last night’s incident.”
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 06-11-2017
“The cafe on base makes good decaf.” Renton suggested as they locked up his apartment. It was a practical suggestion given that they were late for work and could retrieve morning beverage needs at their place of employment. As they checked into headquarters and made their way to the cafe, Renton couldn’t help but feel the curious gazes of the agents as they passed. His face was marked with obvious bruising. Already he felt his notoriety increasing. He crowded close to Julianna as they walked as if there was a radius of protection around her that he could squeeze into. But he tried to keep his face pleasantly neutral as if he wasn’t aware of any more stares than usual.
Well, that is until a particular stare made itself known to him.
The brigadier general was already at the cafe and was sitting near to the counter browsing the contents of a manilla folder while he waited for his order to be filled. Two figured entered the upper periphery of his vision. It wasn’t sharp enough at that periphery to realize who the figures were but the color coordination registered to him as curious and he looked up quickly. His eyes did a double take. Just the eyes. Flicking up once and back to whatever he had been reading. A frown crossed his face and he glanced back up.
It was Julianna and Renton in color coordinating outfits. But - what was that on his face? Owen snapped his folder closed and moved to intercept them.
“‘Morning -” he said as he got closer, his frown deepened. The tone of his expression changed from something of displeasure to something of concern as he took in the marks that marred Renton’s face. He glanced at Julianna, as if to share his look of concern with her. “That’s fresh.” He remarked as he shifted around the file to tuck it under his armpit. Owen lifted Renton’s chin with his fingers and then probed at the bruises with his other hand. His touch was gentle but investigative. “Nothing broken a little fluid though.” He said in conclusion. “What happened here?”
Renton, normally unflappable and charming with the general, was somewhat frozen in shock. His lips parted as if he was going to speak, but no sounds came out as the taller man touched his face. When the hands fell away the spell seemed broken and his lips spread into a smile. “I got beat up for trying to fix a slot machine at the casino last night.”
The look of disapproval returned. “What did you do to the guy who gave you that?”
Renton looked briefly down at his feet. “I didn’t do anything to them.” It was a subtle correction to the number of assumed assailants.
Owen glanced again at Julianna seeming to ask if she knew about all this and what she was doing about it. “I want their names. Nobody gets away with beating up CAF agents. Were they private security or law enforcement?” There was an obvious threat in Owen’s voice as if he planned to avenge the damage done to Renton himself.
“It's fine, really. Julianna is -” Renton sighed with insistence.
Owen cut Renton off. “It’s not fine with me. Do you have any experience in personal defense? I want you in some combat training courses.”
“I -” Renton gazed at Julianna for help. He wasn't sure what to do with Owen's sudden...protectiveness? It seemed completely out of place. Renton could only assume it was because someone had damaged a CAF asset and the general didn't take kindly to people breaking his things.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 06-11-2017
Renton was walking almost too close to her. Julianna didn’t mind it, she figured his pride was somewhat bruised, that last night’s altercation had knocked him down a few pegs. She threaded her arm through his, and they walked together like this on the way to the cafe. Petting his arm, she kept him close and ignored the gazes for him, chin upturned, heels clicking. They seemed to notice Owen’s stare at the same time. They hovered in line for coffee, and Julianna almost pulled Renton closer to her as the brigadier general approached them. She turned her body towards the technician, pressing close to his side. Her hand other hand went to his arm, and she was clinging to him in a way that suggested something more than a friendly appreciation. Her ears pushed to attention and she resisted the urge to glare at Owen, unsure of the reason for his approach.
Her expression smoothed when he glanced at her, and she shared that look. There was a lot to be read in the concern way he looked down at her. She pressed her lips together, looking upwards towards Ren when Owen’s hands went to the other man’s face. The touch was gentle, but thorough, a realization dawned on Julianna as one of her ears fell lopsided.
All of that coldness. The snapping and the ordering around. The frowns and the distance. Owen cared about Renton. He just didn’t know what to do about it. She ceased clinging to Renton, Owen meant him no harm and she didn’t need to protect him .
“I’m handling it,” she offered, Owen was looking to her for confirmation. He wanted to know that this event would not go unpunished. She could sense that Renton was overwhelmed with Owen’s sudden show of care. The best thing she could think of right now was defuse the situation and send Renton on his way to working. He needed some bout of normalcy. “If you’re free today, Brigadier General, I could come to your office and brief you on the situation?” Her tail swayed behind her knees as she realized this was a moment to smooth over her rocky relationship with the general. “I’d would appreciate your insight on how to appropriately continue moving forward.”
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - saronym - 06-14-2017
The line shifted forward and Owen moved along with the pair. Their conversation was briefly interrupted when it was Julianna and Renton’s turns to place their orders. Before either could think of paying for the drinks, Owen silently presented the cashier with his credit card. That snap of plastic against the counter was counter argument enough for either of the two who might try to pay for their own drink: he wasn't having it. “Yes, that will be fine.” Owen agreed when they were able to resume the talk. “Let Miss Tiesel know what time you’re coming. I’ll tell her to move around my schedule as needed to accommodate you.”
Renton was mostly silent while the two of them agreed to a later time during which they would be privately speaking about him. Normally, he would, perhaps, have felt uncomfortable with the notion of anyone and especially these two plotting about him behind closed doors. He felt, rather, comforted by it, though. As if he knew they would take care of it. He didn’t need to worry.
But still, he had a reputation to maintain. “Do I get to come to my own meeting?” Renton chimed mischievously with a glint in his eyes.
“No.” Owen replied almost without letting Renton finish. “You have work to do. Julianna will brief you later.”
Renton opened his mouth as if to argue, but Owen beat him to it. “Your decaf, Bell.” He gestured to the coffee and then nodded curtly at Julianna to signal his departure.
With his decaf in tow, Renton frowned as he doctored the drink with cream and sugar. “That was weird. Did he seem -” he waved his hand looking for the right word, “like - nicer or something? Is he sick? Why don’t I get to go to the meeting?” He gave Julianna just the slightest jut of pink pouty lip when he asked.
RE: Public Relations [Closed] - megs - 06-15-2017
Julianna’s ears twitched, before pushing to attention at the snap of Owen’s card against the counter. Interesting. She didn’t feel the need to protest the gesture. Certainly not after the look they had just shared. Suddenly, she felt as if she knew some deep secret. It immediately altered her perception of the icy general, she was seeing him in a new light and all at once realizing she didn’t know enough about him to have judged him as harshly as she had. She realized she was staring at him, she blinked her gaze up and away from him, humming and nodding when he suggested she arrange a meeting with his assistant.
Smiling softly at Renton, when he asked about attending the meeting, she shook her head to state that she agreed with Owen. Julianna wasn’t entirely sure what they were going to come up with to deal with this transgression, but she knew it was going to be quite the blow. Silently, she pat Renton’s arm and allowed Owen to verbally shut him down.
They watched him walk away together, Julianna still feeling wonderfully enlightened. Motivated. She’d been intent on ruining the casino before the general had offered his help, but suddenly she was wildly more inspired. Leaning against the counter, she watched as Renton prepped his coffee and nibbled at the biscotti she had ordered, careful not to get crumbs on her dress. Her eyes rolled upwards, thoughtfully, as she tried to decide how to approach the conversation, without revealing Owen’s feelings.
“Nicer is one way to put it,” she agreed, sipping her mocha. “It was a little weird.” She shifted the coffee and the cookie into one hand and adjusted the presentation of his pocket square as he pouted. “Because you don’t need to go. This part of things is my job, not yours. You just focus on your own work and staying out of trouble.” Julianna stopped fiddling with his pocket square and lifted her hand to gently trace her knuckle down his jaw and towards his chin. “I told you I’d take care of it.”