Picking up her mother had been more eventful than she had hoped. Of course when you had somewhere to be, things seemed set on making you late. So all Imara could do was lean her head back against the headrest as her mother’s friends all came out demanding to hear about the young man in her life. There was no avoiding it…
So after tons of ‘Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am...I’m still not getting married Ma’am’....Imara finally got her mother in the car.
After all that, she would wait to bust the bubble that she had agreed to call Mathias her boyfriend. That would only have made it all worse and she was mentally tired from the 50 questions. So instead she asked about the cabin for the weekend.
Also a bad idea.
So as she banged on Mathias’ door, she was just grateful for the freedom. Her father had saved her when he came out and saw the tired look on his daughter’s face. He had literally picked up her mother and carried her inside. That had been while she could get away.
“Hey, I know you are in there.” Imara chuckled at the door.
---
Mathias was in fact, there, he heard the door and had gotten up from his couch to go answer it. He’d changed out of the suit and into something a bit more… comfortable. Just a t-shirt and his work out pants mainly, because he was home and had nobody to really impress that night except Imara and he knew Imara didn’t care a whole bunch about clothing. Answering the door, he smiled and motioned her inside. “Come on in,”
“Can I get you anything? Beer, wine, water?” He could see just from her face and hair and eyes that she was a bit frazzled, and the last thing he wanted was for her to start dealing with the paperwork in such a state. “Then we can head over to the office and take a look at the paperwork, I have it all laid out.”
He did in fact, have it all laid out in a logical arrangement on his desk. Prospectus and possible building locations and rent and other financial information along with the business plan as a whole.
---
“What do you have cold?” Imara stated as she slipped inside the open door and her eyes quickly began to scan for the four legged master of the house. A quick clicking noise came from her mouth as she called for Fergus to come to her. It was something she had been working on with both Fergus and Mathias. The clicking was used more in hunting as it was faster and an easier sound than screaming out ‘Hey Dog!’.
Now if she could just get Mathias to come when called…
Looking back at him, she shook her head. Nevermind, he already did.
“Mom’s friends found out about the man in my life. It was twenty questions and more advice than I wanted to deal with. Seems there has been a betting pool that I was a lesbian.” Imara shrugged and walked into the living room where she saw Fergus laying. “Lazy pup! Don’t take after your Master.” Imara chuckled, dropping down to pet him.
---
Mathias laughed softly. “Who won the bet that you weren’t?” He asked, before moving into the kitchen as she moved into the living room. Pulling open the fridge he pulled out a couple beers and cracked them open, dispensing with the pop tops in the trash and bringing them out to her. “This is the coldest thing I’ve got right now, I just put the water in the fridge so it’ll be a bit more before that chills down.”
Shaking his head when she chided Fergus he chuckled. “I’m not that lazy, thank you very much…” he said with a smirk. “Or at least I try not to be.”
Handing her the beer, he noticed Fergus had perked up quite a bit now that she was over, and was already licking her hand and just enjoying the attention from her.
---
“Oh you aren’t as lazy as you used to be.” Imara said as she stood back up to take the beer. Her other hand came up in a simple gesture and Fergus sat. That made her smile. “Good. You haven’t undone the little things I have started.”
Smiling now, she looked back at Mathias and shrugged. “I don’t really know. Sometimes I think even my parents thought I was one. Honestly, whatever. I don’t care about that. I more care about hearing their romance stories of finding their husbands and all that bullshit. I don’t care how he stumbled over himself trying to pick you flowers…”
Rolling her eyes, she took a sip of her beer and pointed out of the living room. “Lead the way.”
---
Mathias chuckled and shook his head. “Nope, if anything I’ve been trying to master them with him, I’m not as good at the hand signals as you are, and I know it - but we practice them every day for at least an hour, sometimes more. Usually more if it’s a slow day at the dog park.” He nodded his head, and motioning with his hand, directed her down the hall to his studio/office.
All the painting and such were stacked against the far wall, the smallish desk tucked against the right hand wall as they entered. Mathias motioned to the rather comfy looking chair and grabbed the other one, sitting down in it so she could review the documents.
Fergus stopped at the door, sitting down but not coming inside the office.
---
“Only an hour?” Imara chide with a half smile as she walked down his hallway and turned into his studio. She didn’t even need his motion before she went to take the chair behind the desk. Placing her beer on an empty corner, she inhaled glancing at the papers. “Where to start…”
Imara reached out to look at the list of locations he was reviewing when her eyes caught the dog in the doorway. Blinking, that made her smile.
“Well well well. I’m impressed. Maybe your Master isn’t completely hopeless after all.” She smiled and eyed Mathias this time as she glanced down at the papers. “So, location, Which one is the top runner and why?”
---
Mathias had to think about that for a few moments before he turned his attention fully to her. “There are three locations I like the most. One is downtown, one is here in the suburbs, and one is in what I can only assume is the warehouse district. I like the one downtown because it gets the most foot traffic… But it’s a bit too small for my tastes and the rent is higher than I’d like. The one here in the suburbs is… Pretty middle road, it’s roughly the right size, and the rents about where I’d like it - but I’m not sure how much traffic we’ll get. The one in the warehouse district is huge and dirt cheap… But I doubt we’ll get much in the way of foot traffic out there at all, and any high end clients will probably not want to be so close to what they’d probably consider riff-raff.”
He made a face at that statement though. “Really I like the one in the suburbs the best, it makes the most amount of sense to me but that’s just my thoughts.”
---
For a moment she sat there, flipping back and forth between the three he had pointed out. She was clearly comparing pieces of info on each one before finally laying all three out in front of her. “So, as we discussed earlier, you are not looking for the high end I don’t want to sweat to even look like I’m working out club. That means this one…” She picked up the one for in the city, balled it up, and threw it into the trash can. “Is out of the running already. That looks more like a future day spa place anyway.”
Then she returned her eyes to the last two. “So, do you want people of the suburbs or do you want the tough guys who think they can beat the s**t out of you?”
---
“The latter set I know, and could cater to, they’re the guys that go to the Gym I go to now, the ones that wake up at five to go run to the gym so they can get some good bag practice in. They’re the guys that would pay decent money to learn MMA - which is probably what I can teach the best. They’ll be good to the equipment, I just gotta make sure they don’t get too rowdy or get into unsanctioned fights in the ring, that’s all.” He waved his hand. “But I doubt they’ll give me the same return as the first group, at least not in the same way.”
She was right about the first option, it was a trash idea and he knew it, besides, you went to a gym to sweat your a** off and get stronger. It wasn’t about looking pretty and clean when you walked out. You should be looking like you ran through a minefield with a steak tied to your back and a very hungry lion chasing you.
“So I guess option three is the better option, I will just have to invest in some decent security.”
---.
So she took the second option, the suburbs, and did the same thing: balled it up and threw it in the trash. “Good. Dealing with soccer moms wanting to get back their pre-baby body is not my thing.” She rolled her eyes and took a long drink her of beer.
“Now that that is settled, it’s time for part two…” She handed him the info on the building. “You need to call the person to get in there and take a look at it. From top to bottom. Get someone who knows buildings in there as well. It’s better to find out any problems now than later down the line. Like hell you want a match going on and the lights to go out.”
“And speaking of return, let’s be honest, which is more important. The number of people who sign up to use a gym or the number of people who show up? Besides, you can do that entire cross fit thing as well as the MMA if you really wanted to break things up.” She shrugged again and started looking over other items. “The bottom line is, like I said, picking your target group. If it’s MMA, which I think is smart, then that means you need to get back out there and get your name known. Then your gym is going to be more of an interest to people. You are also going to want to try and back some others once you get running but we will worry about that then.”
She grabbed a sheet of investors and started skimming down the list. “Too many…” She mumbled leaning back in the chair.
---
Mathias nodded. “I talked with a guy who owes me a favor or… five… And I’ve got a fight in a month.” He said with a nod. “Went in to the initial weigh in and I’m back in the middleweight division, which will be interesting. It’s a qualifier for the Amature League, but there might be some pro scouts there he said - but he said not to get my hopes up cause I’m so old.” Mathias took a sip of his beer and let out a grunt. “So this is my last beer for the next month or so, I gotta go hard into the gym starting next monday”
With that, his gaze went over to Fergus and he bit his lip. “If… I’m gonna do this - like… seriously do this… I’m gonna need help with Fergus. Because I’m not going to have the amount of time I do now. He’s great for helping me with runs and the guys at the gym love him, but he’d go nuts if he had to spend all day there - and… that’s really when I’m going to have to do.”
He huffed a bit and looked at her, obviously not wanting to ask it but knowing he needed to. “Would… you mind watching him for me after this weekend?”
---
“Age smage.” Imara huffed as she put the list back down and rubbed her eyes. That was going to take some fishing and some narrowing down. But she needed to see how well Mathias stood up against people who knew how to throw a punch and had muscle to back it up. Senshi fighting was good and all but it was nothing like playing in a ring. Anyone could see that.
“Don’t worry. I’ll drink for both of us then. Nothing stopping me.” Imara was smirking as she drink a long drink from her own before his question hit her. She had seen it coming a mile away and it honestly made her roll her eyes. “I figured that was part of the deal of me moving in here.” She stated without much emotion as she put the beer down and eyed the dog now laying in the doorway. “He’ still a baby so needs a pair of eyes on him more. However, those…” She said pointing across the room to his paintings. “How are they going to take it?”
She meant the galleries which, she had noticed, they had not been back too since the meltdown.
---
“They’ll deal, I mean, I’ve pretty much done everything I’ve been paid for so far this year, and if I go into an artistic lull it might be good, cause then people will either think I’m working on some new crazy project or I’ve stopped doing art. If it’s the later then the price of my paintings that I haven’t sold will go up since they’ll be my “last works” and all the fun s**t.” Mathias said with a small nod.
He blinked for a moment and then smirked. “So when should I expect you to move in, then?” He asked softly, curious since the last time they had spoken she had not been against it but hadn’t seemed to have pinned down her decision to move in or not.
He was looking forward to getting back into the ring for real. It would be nice to have rules and a solid fight to look into, instead of having to deal with the life or death fights that had been going on as of late.
---
“Within the month.” She said ever so casually as she grabbed some of the forums for starting a business. “These will need to be filled out soon so you need to select a location. The process to get it through the right channels isn’t always the smoothest.” She set them back down and tapped on top of the stack. “Alot of these you do need the location picked out and proof of money as well as at least a 5 year plan. Any luck on the last one?”
She was moving on from the comment of her coming into this house. It was the best thing for many reasons but she hadn’t broken it to her family yet nor did she have any idea how much she was going to be forced to bring. Her room was basic and most her weapons would end up staying at her parents until she could proper cases.
Which reminded her.
“How do you feel about firearms in the house?”
---
“I have no qualms with them as long as they’re properly cared for and stored… Dad kept a few in the house for when he wanted to go to the range and stay sharp… I grew up as a military brat, guns don’t bother me…” It was why he had chosen to take the bullet for her in the first place, because he’d known that of the two of them he was the more likely to survive. That his body was the more likely to not let the bullet go through the shoulder, and stay lodged. Yeah, it had cost him a bit of patrol time, and his shoulder really hurt when it rained anymore, but other than that he’d recovered pretty damn well.
“You’ll find the five year plan in the manilla folder on your right, It’s based off my discussion earlier with Quinn, he’s all in still - thank god. I got off the phone with him a bit earlier today, so the list of investors is down to just him and his dad pretty much. Easy to keep happy at least.” He said with a chuckle. “But basically, the goal is to get established and break even by the end of year one - hopefully be making a profit by year three and possibly expand by year five if revenue allows…”
---
“Mathias, one year?” She dropped everything and gazed at him like he was nuts. “You will be lucky to no longer be investing your own money after three years...more like five years.” She shook her head realizing now just how clueless he was. Frankly she was scared now to open that folder. So instead, she pulled it over to her and leaned her elbow on it.
“Okay. Are you sure you want to do this?” She said gazing straight into his eyes now with a very serious look on her face. “You are looking at some hard times for awhile where you are going to need to be smart about your money. And while I know where you get a large part of your income, you can’t use that related to your business because then people will start looking into things. How come column A and column B aren’t adding up. Things like that. In reverse, you also can’t start magically being able to afford more things in your day to day life as well. Then they will think you are stealing money from your business. Follow?”
---
Mathias watched her for a few moments and then nodded his head. “I know that it’s going to be hard… I know I can’t use that money for anything related to the business. I can’t prove where it comes from and the last thing I want is to have everyone and their brother watching me trying to figure out if I’m just embezzling or using the damn place as a drug front.” Neither of which would be accurate, and nobody would believe the truth but…
“If I have to, I’ll stop taking money when I patrol, it’s pretty easy to leave the wallets cash in the wallets. It was useful when I was a starving artist, but now, as a thriving one, I think I can afford to lay off the petty theft from drug dealers.” His eyes met hers and he tried to think of something smart and witty to say, but nothing was coming.
“If this is going to be as hard a road as you say, then god damn am I glad you’re along for the ride with me, I don’t think I could do it alone.”
---
“While I don’t want to tell you to stop that, because it is a very nice source of income…” Imara had to sigh because she also had to admit she benefited from it. “It might be wise and for the best. Worst comes to worst, we can shove it into my area so it looks like it’s coming from me or my father handing me cash because he doesn’t want his daughter getting behind on bills.” She shrugged. “There are ways around it. The bottom line is you can’t magically be asking for a loan or money and suddenly have a s**t ton. Talk about a red flag.”
“So I hope you like Ramen or whatever I can bring home.” Imara was smirking. Oh they would still eat well. Her own skills and her family would make very sure of that. Still, it was fun to tease.
To his last comment, she just shrugged. “Truth is if you were starting a food business I would have laughed at you and walked the other way. Nearly all of them fail. A gym isn’t much easier but at least not everyone and their uncle is getting into the business. But you have the backing for this and the experience in seeing what makes a good gym and what doesn’t. You just lack focus. A big picture is only as good as the small details to get you there.”
Imara turned her eyes back onto his desk and shook her head. “Ironic. When did I become a teacher?”
---
“When you decided to teach me, and that’s fine, you make a great teacher.” Mathias said with a small chuckle. “I’m eager to learn and I want this to succeed. I know it’s a risk, but it’s one I want to take on. It’s a big step for me. Plus, I want to open it up to other officers, give them a place they can train and not have to worry. Give them a place they can relax and let their hair down and just… work out their frustrations with this war.” He let out a slow huff. “We need more of that, I think… Morale seems to be pretty much in the shitter.”
Which was bad. People started to flee in droves when that happened.
Shaking his head he turned his attention back to her. “If you want to launder the money then I’ll let you handle it. I’m not good beyond balancing a checkbook, that’s about it for me. I’m not an accountant, or anything remotely close to knowing how to balance books. That’s why I need you.” He said with a small smile. “That and your business brain because as you can see. Big picture I can handle to a degree, but those devilish details get me every ******** time.”
---
At the mention of other officers Imara leaned her head back and threw both hands against her face. “Mathias, I am not even going to get into the logistics behind how some of that is a horrible idea. Meaning well and being smart...no.”
But as she drew her hands down, she shook her head. “No, time will tell on those. Let’s get this place up and running first. We have a location. Next step is to check it out and make sure it will work. What we see here and in real life can be vastly different things. From there, I’ll fill out the paperwork to turn in. You worry about getting yourself in shape to make sure no one forgets your name...for a good reason.” She added with a smile.
Imara reached for her beer and growled a bit when she realized it was empty. “This place is also going to need a name when I file all of this. And I’ll need several checks. City wants to be paid to look over paper work.”
---
Mathias grabbed the empty bottle and swapped it with his mostly full one, holding the empty bottle he nodded his head. “See, this is why I need you. I was about to do something silly again and it would have led to more trouble than would have been worth.” He chuckled and nodded his head. “I’ll check it out tomorrow and get an appraiser as well, just to be safe.” He was sure he could call in a few favors… Probably call his Dad… The old man would be shocked but he’d get him in touch with the right folks… Well the right family folks anyway.
“I’ll come up with a name, or you can if you think it’ll be safer…” He said with a small grin. “Since I’m sure mine will probably end up hokey as s**t.”
“Just let me know what size the checks need to be and filled out to and I’ll get them to you…”
---
“You know, if I was any other woman.” Imara started as she eyed his beer and then him before rolling her eyes and happily drinking it, “I would jump at those words. Or just ask for a blank check.” She snickered.
“Lucky for you I’m not like other women and I don’t have a budget for shoes.”
“Anyway, make sure you also get an inspector out there. Or three. What some may say are no big deal, others are iffy about. Once you make up your mind, we will move from there. As for names...no, that I’ll leave to you.” She added with a smirk. “This is still your place Mathias. I plan to make sure you just don’t sink it before its time.”
---
“Well that’s why I love you, you’re not like other women,” He said with a small grin before shaking his head. “Alright, I’ll come up with the name and get some inspectors over too. It won’t hurt to have the place gone over with a fine tooth comb for what they are asking for it.” He thought about it for a moment before nodding his head.
“I will probably call my old man, he’ll have to mediate for me, but I know I have some contracting and construction folks in the family, they might be able to fly some people down on the cheap, especially since I seem to be taking after the family proper…” He laughed a little. “This… might be the first time he and I actually have a phone call that doesn’t end in angry shouting.”
This was a strange feeling for Mathias, one that he couldn’t shake. “Oh god, this must be what being an adult feels like.”
---
Imara almost split her beer at those words. Her hand was able to grab hold of it in time before her eyes jerked back to look at him.
“You...Mathias White….are willingly calling your father?” It was clear she was in more surprise than anything. “That is something I never thought I would hear…”
Looking away from him, she pulled the drink to her lips and shook her head slowly. “If this is you adulting, I’m worried what will come next.”
---
“Well god willing not two and a half children, but we already have the family dog.” He chuckled as he motioned his head to Fergus, who had long since laid down outside the door and was watching them with half open eyes. Tired puppy was tired.
“But yes, I think I need to give him a call, if nothing else to let him know that the four years of school he put me through didn’t go to complete waste. That in and of itself will be all the gratification I need.” He said with a small chuckle.
“Besides, it’ll make my Mom happy if I start mending fences, she hated when Dad and I fought, never wanted to chose between the two of us. It’ll make her happy to know she won’t have to be away from him next Christmas, maybe.”
---
“For your mother’s sake then, I hope you are right. But that doesn’t mean that this comes as any less of a shock for me after you have basically laid it on the line how much you hate the man.” Imara threw back with a warning look before she rose up and leaned forward on the desk.
“Something tells me I’ll be spending alot of time in here.” She sighed, dropping her head forward as she shook out her neck. It wasn’t as if she hated the work. Frankly she was good at it. Problem was starting up a business and running one had NEVER been in Imara’s plans. No, her life plans had always been just to pack up and travel. To use her writing to see the world.
Frankly she couldn’t remember the last time she wrote ever since she met Mathias. Looking over at him, Imara sighed and gave at half smile. “You really have changed more than just yourself.”
---
“Oh, I still hate the b*****d, don’t get me wrong but…” he sighed a bit and shook his head. “I… know when I need help… He can get me that help… Besides… It’s time to at least to try and bury the hatchet, I can’t hate him all my life… Well I can, but that’s not fair to my mother, or you if you ever wanted to meet the man… I mean, I know you like to travel and he’s seen a s**t ton of the world in his time so I’m sure the two of you could swap stories for days…” He laughed a bit at that, shaking his head.
“Mmm, If you want this can become the main office, I was going to move it all over to the Gym once it started up but…” he shrugged a bit. “I guess it really doesn’t matter where you’re working out of does it?” He said with a small nod.
As she sighed and gave him a half smile, he got up and moved behind her, reaching out gently to start rubbing her shoulders lightly. “Well I’m not sure exactly what I’ve changed, but if it’s a good one, I’m glad I did.”
---
“Mathias, it’s your family. I’ll still look at you like you are insane though.” She smirked but shook her head at the next comment.
“No, the office needs to be in the main building. If you put it here, I’ll either never stop working or never start. Separation of home and work is good for the body and the mind. Trust me…” She stood up turning to smile at him. “You don’t want me to see me get mad at taxes at 3am two walls from where you are sleeping. And neither does Fergus.”
Shrugging off his touch she let her smile slip. “Honestly Mathias, that has yet to be decided. I can tell you that if you would have asked me even a year ago what I would be doing right now, this would not have been my answer.”
Leaning back against the desk, Imara crossed her arms under her chest. “I wanted to travel. To become one of those people who was paid to see the world for the stories they wrote. It’s been what...at least 8 months now since I even touched my computer to write. Let alone got on a plane and took off. But, the plus side is if this works, it’s more stable.”
---
Mathias nodded and when she shrugged off his hands he moved back to his chair, looking at her for a moment as he thought about things. “I honestly never thought I would open up a business, but you’re right - if this does go well it will be more stable. I already told you though, if you need a vacation all you gotta do is say where and when. We’ll figure out how to get you… us… there…” He said with a small smile. “I don’t want to take away what you’re passionate about, I want to make that clear.”
“But you are right in that regard, neither Fergus or I want to deal with you about ready to kill the calculator at 3 in the morning. I mean I would have no qualms with it, but Fergus needs his sleep.” He motioned his head to the puppy who had since fallen asleep outside the door.
“I’m gonna assume you haven’t eaten dinner yet, yeah? I’ll make us something here in a bit if you’d like to stay?”
---
“And see, there it is changed again.” Imara chuckled looking over at Fergus before shaking her head. “Lazy pup.” She chuckled.
“I guess I’m just coming to accept what all meeting you has changed in my life. Outside of the elephant in the room. Which, we seem to have been doing very well about avoiding lately.” Imara eyed him but held up a hand.
“So what are you making? That will depend on if I stay or make a mad dash for the door.”
---
“I dunno, what do you feel like? I have plenty of burger and steak in the fridge, I can do pasta pretty well, got plenty of that.” He laughed a bit. “I gotta get back into the gym eating habit, so lots of carbs and protein for me for the next… month or so.” Also fruit, there was going to be a lot of fruit.
“So if any of that tickles your fancy then I can wander into the kitchen and start cooking, otherwise we can go out somewhere nice?”
It was strange, now that they were official it didn’t really feel all that different than before. “As far as the elephant in the room goes…” Mathias added as he slowly stood up and rolled his shoulders. “I don’t see a reason to talk about it right this minute because it’s not why you’re here. Besides, we can worry about that particular… issue… later.”
---
“You always like to avoid the topic of the war, don’t you?” Imara caught his eye and shook her head, hair coming before her eyes. “And what we are responsible for if you can help it Mr. Rosary.” Throwing her head back, Imara shrugged. “Don’t blame you. It sucks in the long run because we have to deal with bat s**t crazy like Amphitrite and others who seem to care more about being powerful than anything. Or senshi that want us dead and to harm those we love…”
The thoughts made her shiver.
“Anyway, you decide on dinner. It’s your body that is going to take the beating, not mine.” Imara walked over to where he was sitting and reached out to grab his nose, jerking his head from side to side a bit. “So you need to eat what you feel is right. I can adapt or snack.”
---
Mathias chuckled and as she reached grabbed his nose and shook his head, his own hands came up to grab either sides of her face, once she released his nose, he pulled her in for a quick kiss, before letting her go. “Mmm… Amphitrite can burn for all I care. She’s shown me very little in regard for trusting her, watch yourself with that one though, she’s overly ambitious and ambition tends to lead to poor life choices.” He clicked his tongue at that and sighed.
“But yeah, I know we have a responsibility, it’s just nice to not have to worry about it sometimes. You let em do that.” He said with a small chuckle before he slowly rose out of his chair to head for the kitchen.
“I’ll see what I come up with, maybe we can get the best of both worlds.”
---
Imara watched him, arms coming to cross under her chest as he walked towards the hallway, Fergus cleary waking up as they moved. “Call me when you are done. I’m going to review a few of these things and see if anything has changed since I last saw them.”
And so she slipped back into the chair and pulled it close, hands going out to some of the papers while the other grabbed the beer. Dear lord what was she getting herself into…
How long she was flipping through things, running numbers, and overall just getting a headache, she didn’t know but what she did know was her beer was empty and she was past thirsty when she rose up. All the paperwork had been moved around by when it needed to get in, what she needed for it, and if Mathias had to do it.
So as she walked towards the kitchen, her eyes looked a bit red. “You are a b*****d…”
---
“Beg pardon?” Mathias asked, peeking his head around the doorway of the kitchen as he finished plating up some pasta and meatballs for the two of them. Fergus was busy chowing away at his own dinner, and Mathias was just then setting plates down on the table for the two of them.
“What did I or did I not do, now?” That was all he could think of when she called him a b*****d. That or she was mad about something else entirely and she was blaming him for whatever reason, but he wasn’t about to put it up to that yet.
“Dinner’s ready, as you can see,” He said while gesturing at the table. “So sit, and explain, please.”
---
Imara dropped into one of the chairs, her elbows landing on the table as she balls of her fists pressed into her eyes. “I said you are a b*****d for doing this…” Running her hands down her face, she looked up at him and let out a yawn.
“I remember now why I swore off ever doing this again. Well, last time I wasn’t flying solo so it’s even worse now.” Then her eyes drop to the plate of food and she shook her her head.
“Okay, half b*****d now.”
---
Mathias laughed a bit and he moved over to her, kissing the top of her head before moving to the fridge to get her some water to rehydrate her since he was sure she was someone dried out from the alcohol earlier. He settled for a water himself as well and joined her at the table, letting her dig in as she saw fit.
“You’ll just have to teach me as we go, I’m not opposed to learning and helping you out - and if you need an assistant you tell me and if/when we can afford one we’ll hire one. One you trust not to ******** s**t up and make your job harder.”
He watched her before he speared a meatball with his fork. “We’re in this together. We’re a team - Imara. That’s what being my girlfriend means. I’ve got you backways, frontways and sideways. If you need me you call me and I’ll be there as soon as I can. I mean it’s not really any different than it's always been but… I mean… Bah, ********, it’s the sentiment…” He took a bite then knowing it would shut him up before he got all gushy.
Imara hated gushy.
---
“You think I’m going to trust anyone with what I have to go through?” Imara commented giving him an evil eye. “Especially balancing out any other income and then putting up with you at home. No, if we hire anyone else it’s a front desk person. Allows you to run the place, me to be the one who hides in the back, and someone else with big boobs that everyone keeps coming back trying to take out on dates.”
“As for your sentiment, you realize half the time now I just ignore it right?” She poked one of the meatballs, cut it in half, wrapped the pasta around it and went about munching.
It was a moment later before she looked up at him again. “So don’t worry. I got it. You love, adore, and worship me. It works.”
---
He would have laughed, if not for the fact that he had food in his mouth and it would be been entirely rude to do so. Chowing down on his food for a moment he took a second between swallows to clear his throat and sip some water. “I’ll keep an eye out on someone for the front desk then, but I can’t promise boobs or otherwise.” He said with a small nod.
If nothing else, it would give him something to do beyond learning what he could as far what he could get her to teach him about the business. But he was thankful that she knew his feelings were earnest.
“I’m glad that you do, though I’m trying to be better about not letting it just completely derail the conversation, yanno?”
---
“I appreciate it.” Imara added in. “All that love and mush talk throws me off. Especially when I have seen the other side of you as well. Sorry Mathias, I’m just not interested in much more than a man who can take me down.”
“But you are getting better. So thanks you big lug.” She smiled going back to her meal.
---
“That is probably the nicest way someone has ever told me the like me for my d**k.” Mathias said with a small chuckle before taking another bite. “Thank you.” He was actually quite flattered. He knew Imara wasn’t the normal type of woman who let herself be ruled by her emotions. She was rough, she was blunt. She told it like it was. He respected and appreciated that from her. It was also, oddly enough, what he had fallen in love with in the first place.
He was okay with their current situation, even as it was growing more and more homely with each passing day. She was going to move in at some point during the month, and that was enough for him. They were committed to each other - and that was more than enough for him to be happy about.
If things went well - and he hoped they did - then he would see how things were in the future and go from there. He wasn’t going to plan things out. He’d tried that once and it had only ended with him getting hurt. No, he’d see where this went and if it went anywhere at all…
Well it would be nice.
“But, really, you’re welcome. Feel free to tell me to shut up and do you anytime you want.”
---
His words made her spit her water back up and into the bottle. All over herself, the table, and lord knew what else as she started to cough. “That…”she coughed again. “Was not what I meant.”
Grabbing for a paper towel, she held it too her face pretty sure she had water coming out of her nose. It burned like it anyway.
Once she was sure she wasn't choking to death, Imara looked back at him. “I meant I've seen the side of you that doesn't take s**t from anyone. Even me. Someone ******** with you, you ******** with them. Heck, most impressed I ever was with you was when you basically let all those over priced gallery people know what you thought of them. So yes. I like your d**k but I don't put up with you just for it.” Not anymore at least.
---
Mathias laughed a bit. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to kill you I swear.” He said, putting his fork down and making sure she was okay before he continued. “You’re right, I don’t take s**t from anyone, even you. But you don’t either, which is why I think you’re able to put up with me, even when I was at my worst.”
He chuckled a bit at that, dryly. “In any event, we have a good dynamic as far as I’m concerned and I’m interested in seeing where it goes.”
That ended that particular train of thought for at least then, as he took another bite and swallowed. “And those gallery bastards earned that little show I decided to give them, because god damn it they were being animals.”
---
“Humans should rise up to be more than animals.” Imara stated bluntly before her eyes went to Fergus. “No matter how loyal they are, they still serve something. An alpha. A leader...doesn't matter the name…”
Her voice trailed off and she turned her attention back to her meal.
“Anyway, anything else i need to put my eyes on tonight? “
--
“Nothing paperwork related, but if you wanted to say, hang out on the couch after dinner with some netflix and just you know… chill… we could do that.” He said, though it would be obvious by the way he was speaking that the words were completely new to him. Well not Netflix or chill, but the use of them in the same sentence was odd.
“Otherwise, yeah, no, there’s not much else work wise that needs to be done, unless you wanted to look at my last batch of commissions that came in before I stopped really taking them. They’re due to be shipped out here in a bit.”
He doubted she did but all in all it was what it was.
---
“Netflix and...Mathias are you a 16 year old and I'm going to jail?” Imara leaned again on her arm as she eyed him rather confused by that statement. “Because that does not sound like you.”
“Netflix and Chill. Ha. Isn't that the latest slang for a booty call between people sleeping together? Outside of that, marathoning series with pizza.”
---
“I guess it is? I mean I’ve been hearing it being used by the guys at the gym lately.” Mathias had to admit that slang was not his forte, at least not in the sense that it made any sense coming out of his mouth. “But no, I’m not 16 and you’re not going to jail.” He said with a small chuckle.
“I wouldn’t mind if you spent the night though, not gonna lie about that.” He added, before finishing up his plate and water and standing up to rinse them in the sink and slip them into his dishwasher. “But that’s if you’re up for it.”
---
“When do you ever mind if I spend the night?” Imara threw back, rising up to follow suit with her own dishes. Though she only got as far as placing them by the sink for him. Not enough room for two to fight over the water.
“Not tonight Mathias. I said it was for work and I meant it. Dinner was a perk though.” lifting her arms up over her head, she stretched a bit side to side. “You are just going to have to old off until this weekend. Think you can do that?”
---
Mathias laughed and taking her dishes, started to rinse them, but not before leaning in to plant a small kiss on her cheek. “Yeah, I can survive a few more days,” he said with a small grin. Once he was done rinsing the plates he threw them in the washer as well. “You good to drive after your two beers? I could drive you home if you need me to?”
He was pretty sure she’d be okay, but it didn’t hurt to ask. It was an easy task for him to just teleport home after he dropped her off if that was the case. “Just want to make sure you get home safe.”
---
“I'll be fine Mathias. They weren't strong and it's been a bit of time.” She waved him off as she fished out her keys.
“I'll let myself out. If we don't smack into each other, be at my parents house around noonish Friday. Don't bring anything nice or that you don't mind getting dirty.” She added with a smile.
---
Mathias grinned. “I’ll pack my good outdoorsy stuff, the stuff I know can survive a bit of mud and what have you on it.” He said with a nod. “Not afraid to get dirty and out in the slurry if that’s what it takes to get this done right.”
He nodded his head as she spoke about seeing herself out. “Noon, got it. I’ll be there.” He said with a small smile. “Have a good night, Imara.”
---
Torvil
