chapter 9

Yasmin scowled as the man rested his full glass on the marble pillar with the sculpture. She picked it up and then collected more abandoned beverages. She saw Emma exit the kitchen and moved behind a pillar to avoid the Clipboard Queen.

She waited a few seconds for the uptight woman to pass before she hurried back to the safety of the kitchen. Rafael tensed as the door opened and then relaxed as she moved through the door.

“Was she that bad?”

“She wanted me to remind you that you’re supposed to only pick up empty glasses”

“Oh please, if I don’t deliver drinks Elliot and Kai will be run ragged.”

“I know. But she wanted me to remind you”

Yasmin rolled her eyes and began loading the empty glasses into the dishwasher. She got to the glass that was full and glanced sideways at Raphael.
“Maybe, you shouldn’t. Does it even taste good?”

“It’s an acquired taste”

Raphael frowned, Yasmin moved to dump the glass in the sink and then quickly took a gulp. His eyes bugged out of his head.

“Yasmin!”

She poured out the remainder and swallowed, her body shivered against the strong and unpleasant flavor. She licked at the air and frowned.

“Ok, even if it's free, it's not worth it.”

“What if Emma had walked in?”

Yasmin cocked her hip to one side, pausing as it bumped into the counter. She looked down and shuffled sideways before resuming her pose and speaking in a valley girl voice.

“Ohmygod, Do you think she’d want some?”

Raphael sighed deeply before he responded.

“I know you two don’t get along, but maybe don’t go out of your way to antagonize her. She is our boss at least for the event.”

She idly rubbed at her hip and then pouted.

“Ok finnnnnne. You’re such a dad”

He frowned in disapproval at her comment, unaware that this reinforced her statement. Yasmin tugged at the bottom of her vest as it had ridden up a few inches from her movement. Raphael popped open another bottle and finished what he was doing before she had walked in.

Yasmin picked up the tray of freshly poured drinks and sauntered towards the door. Raphaels gaze lowered to her bubble butt that pressed against the confines of her slacks. She pressed it against the door and he swore it spread across the surface more than it had previously. He raised a hand and opened his mouth to say something but she quickly moved out of the way as Kai swept into the kitchen.

They set their empty tray down and looked at Raphael expectantly. He closed his mouth and wrote off what he had just seen. It looked like she had more junk in the trunk for a moment there. He began pouring more drinks for Kai as they waited.