Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 112

"Don't like him?" Chloe asked.

"Oh, I like him well enough," I said, "but I went cross-eyed after two minutes of looking at the reports he emailed me. It's a lot.

One of the only patrons of the the Mudd not gawking was the blonde in front of me who was too busy scrolling through her phone to bother with whatever was happening around her. However, as soon as I said Chandler's name, she glanced at me, and from the way her face lit up, could tell she immediately recognized me.

This coffee shop attracted a lot of people like me who had - until recently been part of the middle class, but there were a lot of upper middle class that enjoyed the folksy, hipster environment of the Mudd. Most of them were able to afford the time and means to keep themselves trim and looking their best, and this woman was no exception.

She appeared in her mid-thirties with light, honey-blonde hair from a bottle that hung around her in gently layered waves with cute bangs that came dangerously close to falling into her lovely hazel eyes. She had a strong, Roman nose and a pair of plump, cupid's bow lips covered in an understated shade of lipstick that probably wasn't far off from her lips' natural color. Her perfect, white teeth almost sparkled as she smiled at me. The high heels she wore made her almost exactly my height, and she was clad in a wispy black-and-white skirt that stopped just below her knees and a loose blouse with a plunging neckline that showed off an enticing amount of cleavage. My very male brain immediately judged her to be at least a D or even a DD-cup.

"You're Marcus Upton," she said, surprise in her tone. "I saw you on the news!"

She offered me her hand, and I glanced around to see if everyone else was still paying attention, Much to my chagrin, most of them were still eyeing me, whispering to each other with phones still out.

Erin and Chloe had better be right, I thought to myself as I took the woman's hand.

"Yes, ma'am. And you are?"

"Carla Tanaka," she said, offering a bright smile as we shook.

I glanced at her left hand and saw a wedding ring set, the engagement ring had a large princess-cut diamond that bordered on gaudy. Her last name must have been given to her along with the ring. "Good to meet you, Mrs. Tanaka."

"Oh please," Mrs. Tanaka said with a wave of her hand, "Carla, please. And is this your... wife?" She looked at Chloe.

"No," I said, "this is Chloe. She's my bodyguard."

"Bodyguard! Oh, how nice!"

Her body language changed subtly as she leaned in close and said, "I heard how you're interested in taking over your grandfather's role in his company, Good for you! My husband owns a lot of shares in VistaVision and is on the board. I don't usually go with him." Her gaze dropped from mine to look me up and down as she said, "Though, I might start going if you'll be there. It's always filled with boring old men. Though, I have to admit, Chandler is fun. Amber too, when she was on the board."

"," I started to say, but was cut off as she continued.

"A friend was supposed to meet me here for coffee this morning, but she canceled. I was planning on getting something anyway. but I don't really want to sit by myself." She gave me a look that put Ashlee's bedroom eyes to shame as she said, "I don't suppose you'd be interested in keeping me company?"

What the hell was happening? Was this married woman hitting on me, or was this some sort of secret corporate espionage? I mean, what were the odds of someone with shares in VistaVision just happening to be at the coffee shop frequented? Was she here to keep an eye on me? Was I going to get blackmailed by simply talking to her? I glanced around at the few phones still out, even more uncomfortable with their presence.

"..." I glanced at Chloe, but she was staring at the specials board very intently, appearing to be purposefully avoiding our conversation.

"... would love to," finally said as I turned my attention back to Carla, "but I'm actually meeting a friend here too."

"Aw," she said, giving me a little pout with her beestung lips. "I'm

sorry to hear. Listen, I'd love to meet up for coffee or drinks

sometime and get to know you more. You're the newest member of the billionaire class and all. You probably don't know any of the people you should, yet. I could introduce you! I know so many who would love to meet you!" She held out her hand, "Here... give me your phone. III give you my number."

"... It's out of battery."

Carla wasn't phased by that. "Well, I-"

"Excuse me, ma'am. What can I get for you today?"

Saved by the barista.

Carla gave me a look that I couldn't quite read and then placed her order. Once she was done, she turned back to me. "Well," she said, "I don't want to kee you. It was really nice meeting you, Marcus. Here," she said, reaching into her purse and handing me a card, "My card. If you ever need anything or have some free time and want to grab a coffee or lunch, just call this number."

I took the card and glanced at it. It was a business card for a massage therapist, with her name printed just under the title 'New Design Massage Therapy and Holistic Treatments.

I pocketed the card, looked back up at her, and said, "Thanks, Carla! It was nice meeting you too!" I watched as she walked away, her ass swaying enticingly in that skirt. She seemed genuinely helpful, but still I wasn't sure. My first impression was that she

was giving off some strong Ashlee vibes, and I wasn't ready to take on a second sticky situation like that.

Fuck me.. I get a little money and suddenly I can't beat them off with a stick.

I placed an order for us, then Chloe and I entered the main sitting area and found two small, available tables sitting near each other. There was just enough distance between our tables to afford Dillon and me a modicum of privacy while close enough to let my bodyguard do her job. John and one of the other bodyguards were sitting near the window and the other was sitting on the opposite side of the room.

"So, someone is looking for a new sidepiece," Chloe said as she pulled an e-reader out of her bag.

"Sidepiece?" I said. "No, I'm not. I've already got my hands full."

"Not you. Her. Or she's just looking to upgrade. This is her husband," she said and handed me her phone. I glanced across the room where Carla was sitting in a plush chair staring at her phone. Then I took Chloe's phone to see the image of an old Japanese man who looked to be in his sixties. He may have been pushing seventy. Hiro Tanaka.

"Oof. Gold digger," I said.