after this night (camren)

20. Lauren

"The best" I said as I closed my eyes, feeling like we were partners in everything at last.

......

Another pair of Advil did wonders to mute the throbbing in my skull, but the dull ache was a useful reminder of what I was up against as I pushed open the door to the Pizzeria shorty after noon the next day. The smell of greasy chips and tomato filled my nostrils. Waiters bustled around delivering plates of peperoni and hawaiian to the lunch crowd.

It was your standard order Pizza restaurant with thick menus and illustrated pictures of well-known Italian monuments.

Fitting, I reasoned, as a hurried waiter rushed over.

"One for lunch?"

"No. I'm joining someone. You can tell Mr. Mahone I'm here"

The waiter looked confused, "Sorry. Who should I tell him is here?"

"Tell him the girl he's expecting to see"

"Okay" the waiter said, narrowing his eyebrows briefly at the request before turning on his heels to find the man in charge.

Moments later, a tall man in a sharp suit strode over to me. He had thick, dark hair and muddy-brown eyes and some what of the worst teeth I had ever seen. He wasn't thin, he wasn't fat; he was simply the sturdy type.

He extended a hand to shake.

"Lauren Jauregui" I said.

"Austin Mahone. I had a feeling I'd be seeing you. Come" he said, gesturing grandly to the restaurant as if he were quite proud of the joint he'd taken over on a debt that went belly-up, "There is a table for us near the kitchen"

"Fantastic" I said coolly, as if this were just another lunchtime business meeting.

After we sat, a waiter handed me the menu, "Thank you"

Austin tapped the menu, "Everything here is delicious. But may I personally recommend the spicy meat feast" he said, bringing his fingertips to his mouth and kissing them as a chef does.

"Consider it done" I said, pushing the menu to the side. I had every intention of not only talking to Austin, but breaking bread with the man. If there was one thing I'd learned in my years as a lawyer, it was that the more you knew about the opposing side, the better off you were. And the less fear you showed, the more likely you'd win the points you wanted. Besides, I had a hunch Austin was the type of man who would act supremely gentlemanly to a worthy adversary.

I planned to be just that.

"So, you messed up the nose of my new guy" Austin began, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"It got in the way of my fist"

Austin scratched his neck, as if he were a dog itching fleas, "He shouldn't have been there. He's too hot-headed to be on the street"

"Yeah?"

Austin shook his head, and blew out a long stream of air. A man frustrated, he placed his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers, "Matthew was supposed to give her the message, but he came down with the flu, he claimed" Austin said with a scoff.

"I'm guessing that's the last time he'll duck out of work for a sick day" I said dryly.

Austin laughed, throwing his head back and letting loose several deep chuckles. Then he took a deep breath, and the laughing silenced, "What are you here for?"

"Seems we have something in common, don't we?" I said, establishing first our mutual interests.

"Brown"