4.44 pm
"You're sure she'll see us?"
"Yes," Carmen said, her teeth clench as Mark pulled up behind a purple SUV. "Shit, the bimbo beat us to it."
Looking tired and on edge, Carmen and Mark ran out of their SUVs only and ran straight Sherrie, Jeff and Michael.
"Team Red," Michael said, looking relieved, "I was trying to catch up with you guys. I guess I'm going back up to see Ivana. Bye Jeff. Bye Sherrie."
"Wait… you're leaving me?" Jeff asked.
"Yes! Bye now! Mark, Carmen! How are things going?"
"Well, we're going to see Ivana."
"You know her?" he asked as they went into the exclusive apartment building.
"Yes, I met her last year at a writers' convention. She was signing books at the same table as me."
"So you won't have any trouble getting in to see her?"
"I hope not."
"At least you're good for something," Mark muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Carmen asked, her eyes narrowing on the older man.
"Nothing."
"No, no, no, you said something. And I wish you'd have the guts to repeat it."
Michael swallowed and stifled a sigh. He's jumped out of the pan and head first into the fire.
"I said that it was about time you made yourself useful."
"Excuse me?"
"I've been dragging your ass on this team ever since the game started."
"What the hell are you talking about old man?" Carmen asked, pressing the STOP button on the elevator."
Michael sighed and pressed his back against the wall of the elevator, wishing he'd tagged along with Sherrie and Jeff instead of hooking up with Carmen and Mark.
"I'm saying that I know how unhappy you are to have gotten stuck with me."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, oh…"
"I'm sorry Mark."
"No you're not. And damn it, looking at your angry face all day wasn't a ball for me either."
"Fine, good. You know what, I don't like you, and you don't like me. We've established that much. Question is, are you willing to give up three millions bucks just because of that?"
Mark took his time and stared down at Carmen's defiant little smirk and he grunted, reaching past her to press the RESUME button.
"No."
"Good, neither am I. so we're stuck together old man."
"I guess we are. Bitch."
"Why Mark, that's the first time you've said anything nice to me."
Michael followed Mark and Carmen out of the elevator, shaking his head.