Chapter 2 - TJ

The Sitting Duck is surprisingly packed tonight because of the local college game on the television. Everyone is here and engrossed in the game, but my eyes are glued to the blonde hottie who just walked in with a short man on her arm. From my spot, I can see her plump lips forming a frown, and as her date walks to the bar, she heads to the only open booth.

"I'll be right back," I whisper into Lex's ear before getting up and approaching the blonde.

"Hey," I say as I lean onto the edge of the booth's seat.

She looks up at me with bright brown eyes, and I realize that she must be barely twenty-one. A bit on the young side, but I'm already here, so I might as well flirt.

No harm in that.

"You look lonely, want some company…?" I pause, giving her a chance to supply her name.

"Lila."

She looks like a Lila with her big innocent eyes.

"So, Lila," I start as I take a seat next to her. "What do you do?"

Lila tilts her head to the side as if she's thinking. "I do lots of things. I like to walk my dog, or go for runs."

A laugh bubbles from my throat, but I stop once I see Lila looking at me with confusion.

Well. I guess she isn't joking.

"Oh." I'm silent for a moment as I try and think of what else to talk about since she clearly is a bit dull.

"What do you do for work?" I try again. This question cannot be misconstrued.

"Actually, I'm in school. NYU."

There we go, something interesting about her.

"What's your major?" I ask, leaning in.

She leans back and tells me all about how she is undecided and only going to school because she doesn't want to work yet. Her parents are paying for her degree, and she is torn between psychology and business. Both are entirely different fields of study, but I keep that to myself.

I listen intently but am bored. Lila is nice, but just a pretty face. I glance up once a throat clears.

The short guy she came here with is glaring at me.

"Can I help you?" I ask, sitting up to my full height.

He looks to Lila. "Who is this guy?"

Lila shrugs.

"The name's TJ, big guy. What's your name?"

He frowns and rubs the back of his head. I can tell he is unsure of how to handle me. Most guys cannot compete with me, especially when it comes to women.

"David."

David squirms, and I can tell he knows that if I wanted Lila, I could have her. He isn't wrong. I can have any woman whenever I want. But Lila isn't one that I am currently interested in pursuing outside of some light flirting.

"Well, David, I was just keeping your spot warm. I'd better get back to my buddies. You kids have fun."

I wave as I get up and see David's tense shoulders relax. He must have been really worried about losing out on Lila, which I understand. She's hot, and he's…average. Which is fine, no judgment here. Average guys need love too.

"Struck out to that guy?" Damon asks as I reach the table.

I push him as I sit down beside him.

"Nope."

Everyone looks at me. I rarely come back to the table alone.

"I was feeling generous. That guy needs her a lot more than I do."

They all laugh, but I feel tension in my back, letting me know that my dragon wants to get out. Sometimes when I don't get laid for a while, my dragon gets antsy.

"I need to relieve some tension."

"Because you struck out," Damon says again.

This time I stomp on his foot, and he smiles lazily at me.

"I'm going back to work. Anyone want to join me?"

Everyone nods, and we head back to Druk Technologies, which is a short walk from The Sitting Duck. We make small talk, but all of us are eager to let our dragons out.

We make it to the top and put on our new skins, which are now perfected. The skin slips over the body tightly. It fits like a glove, and I know in moments that I will be invisible to the whole world.

I take a running leap into the sky and feel myself shifting with the confidence that I will be invisible this time.

The shift is indescribable. There is a short moment of pain, and then freedom. It is like all your bones are cracking in the best way possible, and when I finally shift into full dragon, the cracking is done.

The air on my face as my agate dragon flies and preens to me.

It's been too long , my dragon breathes out.

I know, I promise to let you out more now that these skins are working.

My dragon is happy with my response and does a flip in the air.

There is nothing like flying through the skies over New York City, especially now that I know no one can see me. The sights are like no other. There are countless skyscrapers, but also Central Park. Being able to fly above it unseen is something that I will never take for granted.

I can feel all the stress and tension flowing out of my body as I fly. The cool air relaxes me infinitely.

Going as high as I can before the air turns crisp, I dive back down and fly as fast as I can, dodging buildings before I land back on top of Druk Technologies.

I am the last one to land, and as we head back inside, Lex throws an arm around me. "Tomorrow is the meeting with KobiTech's lawyer."

Everyone grumbles as we remember that we are being sued.

"We all have to be on our A game, because I hear their lawyer is no joke," Lex explains. "We all know we've done nothing wrong, so there's nothing to hide."

Lex is right, of course.

KobiTech played us, and they will get what is coming to them.

***

Sitting in my office, I throw a small ball in the air and catch it.

I know today is going to be crazy with the meeting, but my dragon is acting up.

What is going on? I ask my dragon.

She's near. I can feel it, my dragon explains.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

A knock on the door disrupts our short conversation.

"The meeting is starting soon. The lawyer's downstairs and on her way up," Liam says as he rushes me into the meeting room.

Everyone is already sitting, and I realize I must be late. I take my seat to the right of Pat, who shots me a wink.

The office space is vast, with large windows adorning the outside wall, giving us the perfect view of downtown New York. Our office is envied by our competitors, but we've all worked tremendously hard to have this office space.

Lex is sitting at the head of the table, his brown hair slicked back. His face is one of professionalism. To his right sits Damon. Damon's square jaw is tight, and I can see a vein throbbing in his forehead. Next to Damon is Liam, who is adjusting his glasses.

On Lex's left is Pat, and then there is me.

We make a great team, and I know that to anyone who doesn't know us, we must look intimidating.

Everyone stays silent as we wait for the lawyer to arrive.

We don't have to wait long before Nic, Lex's mate and assistant, knocks on the door and introduces the lawyer.

"Everyone, this is Taylor Montgomery…the lawyer from KobiTech."

I keep my eyes downcast so as to not give the lawyer much attention, but I can feel my dragon vibrating in my chest.

Look up, my dragon begs me.

At his command, my eyes start at her pointy black shoes and make their way up. The lady is wearing a knee-length pencil skirt that shows off her toned calves underneath nude stockings, which causes me to perk up. My eyes move to the curve of her hips, which is quite nice from the front, so I can imagine it is even better from the back. She is wearing a white turtleneck underneath a black blazer that matches her skirt. Everything about this woman's outfit screams put together, but when I reach her lips and I see how plump they are, I can feel my breath leaving my body. Her eyes are a deep green color that reminds me of the forests that my dragon loves to fly over when we have enough time to fly far away.

My dragon is almost panting as my eyes meet hers. Her eyes widen a fraction at the sight of me, but she quickly closes them for the briefest moment before looking away.

There is something about her face that is familiar, but I cannot place it. Her brown hair is pinned to the top of her head, but I can tell it is long.

"Hello. As Nic said, my name is Taylor Montgomery, and I am here on behalf of KobiTech," Taylor says in a soft yet strong voice.

The room is silent as everyone takes her in. This tall curvy woman has all of our attention.

"KobiTech has not yet made this lawsuit public and is willing to settle this out of court," Taylor starts.

"There will be no settling, as we have committed no crime," Lex speaks in his deep voice.

Taylor lifts one perfectly arched eyebrow.

"You have seen the email they sent, correct?"

Lex nods and the rest of us hold our breath.

"Then you understand that they do have proof that you illegally used their maps app for your own gain, Mr. Hutchinson."

We all look at Lex and can see the tension rolling off him in waves, his jaw clenching. Lex does not like being talked to like this.

"Ms. Montgomery, I do not like to repeat myself, but it seems that I must. We will not be settling."

"Yeah, settling is for the guilty. Which we aren't," Pat adds from beside me.

"Plus, how can someone like you believe KobiTech?" I hear myself asking.

Taylor cuts her eyes towards me, "Someone like me?"

I swallow. "Yeah."

Not explaining my words as I didn't want to cause any more tension.

"I've reviewed the lawsuit, and I know good evidence when I see it," Taylor explains.

My tongue curls in my mouth at her sass.

I like her mouth , my dragon preens.

Of course he likes her smart mouth. I mean, it is perfect. The bottom lip is just slightly bigger than her top, and both are plump and pouty.

Taylor licks her lips, and my eyes follow her pink tongue. I have no idea what has me so enamored with her beauty, but there is just something about her that is new yet familiar.

"Well, the evidence has to be fake, hot stuff. We have not been using the maps app for anything besides its intended purpose," I say with a wink.

I can tell my words bother her as her cheeks start to get red.

"If you think my client would use fake evidence against you, you are clearly mistaken. KobiTech is a trustworthy company," Taylor says.

"They are new and just trying to make some fast money," Damon puts in. "I wouldn't expect a D.C. lawyer like yourself to get that. It's not like you know New York law."

Hearing Damon insult Taylor causes my gut to roar.

"Whoa now, no need to insult the lady."

Taylor meets my eyes, and I swear the world stops for a moment. Then the moment is broken by Taylor looking away.

I wish I could gaze into her eyes all day, there is just something so kind yet determined in them.

Damon glares at me and I glare right back. We may be on the other end of a lawsuit, but that doesn't mean we should be insulting the lawyer. She's just doing her job.