[Back in the Bar]
"Shawn," Anna slurred dramatically, hooking her arm around his neck and pulling him in far too tight, "I dare you to switch sides now that you’re getting paid well enough."
She squeezed a little harder, clearly enjoying herself.
Shawn’s eyes bulged. "Anna... I... can’t... breathe," he croaked, patting her arm frantically.
Just as he thought this was how his life ended, Betty suddenly burst into loud, heartbroken sobs.
"Wuaaaahhh—"
Both Shawn and Anna snapped their heads toward her.
Betty had slid off her chair halfway, clutching her chest as if she were in a dramatic movie scene, tears streaming down her face with zero sha.
"Shawn," she cried. "Does this an you won’t love anymore and you’ll find soone more capable and prettier and corporate for you?"
"What?" Shawn yelped, panicking now for an entirely different reason. "Where did that even co from?"
Anna imdiately released Shawn’s neck. "Oh my God," she gasped, pointing at him. "You broke her heart."
"I did nothing!"
"You sold your soul," Anna accused, poking his chest. "You work for my husband now. Betrayal."
Betty sniffed loudly. "I knew money would change you," she whimpered. "Next you’ll stop eating street food and drink green juice."
Shawn dragged a hand down his face. "I literally just stopped you from drinking a third glass."
"That’s emotional neglect," Anna declared.
Before Shawn could defend himself, Anna grabbed him by the collar again, shaking him lightly. "Say it. Say you won’t abandon us."
"I won’t abandon you," he said quickly.
"Louder," Betty demanded between sobs.
"I WON’T ABANDON YOU," Shawn yelled, earning a few amused glances from nearby tables.
Satisfied, Anna finally let go and leaned back in her chair, nodding seriously. "Good. Because if you did, Daniel would end you."
Shawn stiffened. "Please don’t remind ."
Right on cue, a familiar presence settled behind them.
"End who?" Daniel’s calm voice cut through the chaos.
Shawn went rigid.
Slowly, Anna turned her head. "Oh hi," she said brightly. "Perfect timing."
Daniel took in the scene in silence. Shawn slightly disheveled. Betty red faced and teary. Anna very clearly drunk and far too cheerful.
His gaze settled on her arm still draped possessively around Shawn’s shoulders.
"...Interesting," Daniel said.
Shawn swallowed. "Sir, I can explain."
"You don’t need to," Daniel replied evenly, eyes never leaving Anna.
Anna squinted up at him. "You’re late."
Daniel sighed, one hand already reaching for her wrist. "And you’re drunk."
Betty pointed accusingly. "He made us emotional."
Daniel glanced at Shawn.
Shawn shook his head fast. "I swear I did not."
Daniel helped Anna to her feet with practiced ease. "We’re leaving."
Anna pouted. "But I wasn’t done bullying him."
"You’re done," Daniel said firmly, then glanced at Shawn. "Both of you, go ho."
Shawn nodded imdiately. "Already planning on it."
As Daniel wrapped an arm around Anna’s waist, she leaned into him, smiling smugly.
"See?" she whispered loudly. "Told you he’d show up."
Daniel looked down at her, expression unreadable. "You’re explaining everything in the car."
Anna only grinned.
***
The mont Daniel closed the car door and settled into the driver’s seat, he let out a long breath, rubbing his temple like a man who had just survived a natural disaster.
The expected a friendly eting, but it turned out to be a disaster.
Anna, anwhile, was far too comfortable.
She imdiately unbuckled, scooted closer, and leaned across the console, her chin resting on his shoulder. "You took your ti," she murmured sweetly.
Daniel started the engine, eyes fixed straight ahead. "Anna, sit properly."
She ignored that completely, her fingers tracing lazy little patterns on his arm. "Are you jealous?" she asked innocently, blinking up at him.
He shot her a warning glance. "You nearly strangled my employee."
"He worked for first" she corrected however got a glare in return.
"I was testing loyalty," she said seriously. "He passed."
Daniel scoffed. "You’re drunk."
"I’m honest," she corrected, leaning even closer. "There’s a difference."
Her breath was warm against his ear now, deliberate, mischievous. Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "You’re not helping your case."
She giggled, clearly pleased with herself. "You showed up too fast for soone who said he was busy."
When Shawn called Daniel and said he was busy, she had to snatch the phone from him and coax her husband to co and pick her.
But she never thought he would co so quick.
His jaw flexed. "I had to co when you were this drunk and almost strangling your employee"
"That’s concern," she teased. "You care."
He exhaled slowly. "Anna."
She finally sat back halfway, only to sneak her hand into his, lacing their fingers together. "Relax," she said softly. "I’m ho now."
The softness caught him off guard.
Daniel glanced at her, really looked at her. Flushed cheeks, bright eyes, stubborn smile. His grip loosened just a little, thumb brushing over her knuckles.
"You give trouble," he muttered.
She smiled wider. "You married trouble."
He shook his head, a reluctant smile ghosting his lips. "Next ti you drink, you call ."
"And ruin all the fun?"
"And save Shawn’s life," he countered.
She laughed, resting her head against the seat, still holding his hand. "Deal."
The car fell into a quiet hum as they drove on, Daniel focused on the road, Anna humming softly beside him, entirely aware she had won this round.
By the ti they reached ho, the city lights had thinned, the silence between them stretching heavy but charged.
Daniel parked the car and turned off the engine. "Co on," he said, unbuckling his seat belt. "Let’s get you inside before you decide to wrestle the furniture."
Anna did not move.
Instead, she stayed seated, watching him far too intently for soone who was supposedly tipsy and tired.
"Anna," he called her na slowly, sensing trouble. "Out."
She smiled. Slowly. Dangerously.
Daniel reached to open her door, but before he could, Anna leaned across the console, blocking him. One hand planted on the seat beside him, the other resting lightly on his chest, just enough to stop him.
"I don’t want to go inside yet," she said softly.
Daniel stilled. "Why not?"
"Because," she murmured, inching closer, "you look very serious right now. And I don’t like serious Daniel."
Her face was inches from his now, eyes bright, lips curved with mischief. The faint scent of alcohol mixed with her perfu wrapped around him far too easily.
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