Seven days after moving her into Genie's brownstone, Priya unpacked the last box at the stroke of midnight.

Given the tight timeline, she'd hired a team of professional movers to go through her parents' townhouse, pack everything up and shipped it off to a short-term storage facility, while she carted her belongings into a U-Haul.

Six boxes and fourteen bins of clothes and sundries later, Priyanka Seth no longer lived in Chelsea. Genie's guest room was tight with cracking plaster walls but trimmed in detailed crown moulding and bits of exposed brick showing through gave the space an edgy yet modern feel.

The floors were rough but original hardwood. If she deigned to upgrade the second floor the way she had the main level—this place would truly be something.

"Thanks again." Priya heard the fuzzy sound of a female voice and pressed against her bedroom window, and watched as a pretty blonde waved to the neighbouring unit before skipping down the street.

Each morning she saw a different woman leaving his place. A couple she recognized as regulars. Tuesday and Thursday's women were always the same, but the remaining days of the week were all varied as the line-up of gelato at Bartolli's.

Wandering around to the kitchen, Priya smiled at the note Genie left on the professional grade stainless steel fridge. A walk-in that would've brought a tear to any Michelin star chef's eye.

Welcome home. Be sure to try a bottle of burgundy. '85 was a brilliant year.

"Thank you, Genie, don't mind if I do." Tonight was her first official night in the brownstone. Rich wine seemed like just the thing after a long Sunday of unpacking before she dove into the Oculus brief to prepare for the closing meeting next week.

The cellar was in the basement. Rows of cedar wracks and dim lighting. Priya roamed, taking it all in. Slipping bottles from brackets and stroking her thumb across the weathered labels. Genie was a proud collector of some of the best vintages around the world. After the disaster in her brownstone, she'd lost a significant fortune in rare wine. Some of which she'd gone to great lengths to replace.

Returning upstairs with the suggested '85, Priya popped the cork and sighed at the rich, earthy red.

Let it breathe, she could almost hear Genie chiding, and made sure to empty the bottle into decanter.

Twenty minutes and it would be perfection. Just enough time to scrounge up an at-home cheese board.

Music ripped through the walls. A sudden sharp blast so loud Priya dropped the now empty burgundy bottle. Glass struck hardwood and shattered. Scattering shards of dark green glass across the kitchen and into the living room like a bomb.

"Scheisse," she cursed and pressed a hand to her chest. The music thumped so loud she'd barely heard the bottle break. Whoever lived next door was trying to wake the dead with Kings of Leon.

Barefoot, she carefully tiptoed around the shrapnel and stalked out the front door. Furious, she marched down her steps and up the short stack to the neighboring unit and beat her fist against the door.

It took almost two minutes and a lot of pounding before the music dropped and the locks clicked. The door pulled open and a in the haze of Priya's anger, she vaguely registered a scorching display of male perfection.

Dark hair  pulled away from a strong, compelling face. Liquid honey eyes bright against dark gold skin and a whole lot of sweaty muscle. 

"You," she thrust a finger at him. Dressed in workout gear and dripping sweat, he blinked at her with stunned eyes. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" she demanded. "What the hell is the matter with you?"

His lips pulled into a thin smile.

"I don't know if you realized that people actually live next door to you, but as your new neighbor, let me be clear that blasting music anywhere after ten pm is unacceptably rude. Well?" She spread her hands after thirty seconds of awkward silence. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself? An apology? Something?"

Raising a brow, his eyes skimmed over her. He then turned around and shut the door.

In her face.

Priya rocked on her bare heels. Gaped in disbelief. Did he seriously just...? Furious, she marched back to Genie's home and slammed the door for good measure. Of all the rude, dismissive—not only had he refused to apologize, he'd basically told her to get lost without uttering a single word.

Shoving her feet into a pair of beat-up converse, she went to work sweeping up glass. Thirty minutes later, she'd only just dumped the last dustpan of shards into the trash bin when a gentle knock at the door caught her ear.

Tucking away the broom and pan in the narrow closet, she wrenched open the door and blinked down at a package on her doorstep. A square, all white confectionary box. Casting a glance across to her neighbor's door, the lights were all off and the music gone.

Stooping, she opened it. Inside was a collection of muffins. Blueberry and lemon but she could also smell something spicy.

Priya picked up the box. It was still warm. These weren't muffins from the freezer or plucked from some 24-hour mom n' pops.

These were made from scratch. A home-baked peace offering. Evident by the scrawling, hand written note on the inside of the lid.

Sorry. Won't happen again.

#

Blueberry, lemon and ginger.

She'd eaten one muffin last night with a glass of wine and another this morning, warmed quickly in the oven and then slathered in butter. They were fluffy and delicious, sweet enough to be indulgent but perfectly balance with salt and spice.

She was still savoring the lingering notes firing across her taste buds when Daniel Chu's name flashed on her phone.

"My office," he said and hung up before she'd barely managed to utter a syllable.

Priya returned the phone to the cradle with a whistle.

Jessica Borlack, a petite white girl with baby fine hair and take-no-bullshit attitude, swiveled in her chair with a smirk. "Was that Daniel?"

Priya's head popped up. "Why?"

"He was storming by ten minutes ago looking for you." She crossed a leg. "Told him you were doing a coffee run for Ms. Nagao to buy you some time."

Scheisse. "Thanks."

Jessica slid the end of her pen across her bottom lip. "Trouble with Oculus?"

"It's fine. Everything is fine." Priya plucked her steno from her purse, the pen slotted through the spiral spine and bolted for Daniel's corner office. He sat behind his desk, an ankle crossed at the knee. Flashing cobalt an yellow argyle socks against a rich blue suit and crisp white shirt. His salt and pepper hair crisply styled, as always.

His eyes lifted from his screen as she brushed her knuckles to the door.

"Ms. Seth," he said and gestured to the seat facing his desk. "Close the door and sit down."

Doing as instructed, Priya crossed her legs and crossed her ankles. She'd picked out an expensive tapered legged grey pant suit for today and a sharp white dress shirt buttoned to the throat with a dainty bowtie. Straddling the line between masculine and feminine, a look that Cait would approve and appreciate.

Daniel dragged his eyes over her and shook his head. "We need to have a little chat about your attitude."

Priya's hands fell to her lap, the steno pad clutched in her fingers. "I don't understand."

"You've been dodging me since the dinner last week."

"I haven't—"

"As you know we're on the verge of closing Oculus," he continued, steam rolling right over her. "No thanks to you pulling a disappearing act after our little conversation."

Priya swallowed around the lump in her throat but kept her chin raised and eyes unapologetic. "The dinner was over. I was well within my rights to leave."

Daniel picked up the fountain pen on his desk, rotated it between his fingers. "We're having a little get together with the senior partners of the firm and the core executive Oculus team tomorrow night prior to the closing. A final opportunity to really anchor the hook in deep. I'd like you there.

"I don't—."

"The COO, John Dimitrov has requested your presence, personally."

Priya swallowed a scathing curse. Of course he did. The leering letch had practically undressed her with his eyes all throughout dinner.

"Seems you've made quite the impression." Daniel winked. "Just as we'd hoped."

"If it's all the same to you'd, I'd rather not."

"This wasn't up for debate," Daniel answered. Carefully returning his pen to his desk. "You asked to be part of the team."

"I'm happy to handle things from the periphery with a degree of professionalism. But I won't be paraded about like a hired escort."

"You begged to be part of this. Begged."

"I know but—"

"Did you already forget I know about your little afraid with Hadrian? Imagine," he spread his hands, "what would happen to you once the word got out. Priyanka Seth sleeping her way to the top. That's all anyone would see. The pretty young girl who bested Aurelio's son. They'll start to wonder who else you slept with." His hand stroked down the length of his tie and the muffin she'd enjoyed this morning soured in her stomach at the implication.

"Now that we're on the same page, I'm going to do you a favor, Priya." Rising from his desk, Daniel fastened the button on his blazer before sliding his hands into his pockets. "I will reset this last hour and pretend you haven't shown me that you're a colossal disappointment. My assistant will forward you the calendar details. I expect you to be there, on time, with a smile, and prepared to put your best foot forward. Or else pack up your desk and move on to another firm." He eased onto the corner of his desk and pinned her with ruthless eyes. "Am I clear?"

Priya struggled to catch her breath. "You...you can't fire me."

"Oh, yes I can." He smiled. "If you think being Marai's little pet will be enough to keep you safe, you're about to learn a very hard lesson, Ms. Seth. Now, go back to your desk and do your job."

Legs weak, Priya made it as far as the staff kitchen before they buckled. Bracing the wall, she inhaled deeply. Eyes closed and heart unsteady as her knees. Daniel's threat circled inside her head. A skipping record on loop.

She'd wanted a chance to prove herself as a valuable asset to the firm. To earn respect and attention—but this? This wasn't what she'd had in mind.

Blinking away tears, she dragged her knuckles under her eyes, ensuring her face was clear of all evidence of distress before marching to the other end of the firm. Marai Nagao's office door was open and she stood by the wide wall of windows overlooking Central Park—barking into her phone.

Sunlight played along the shaved fade on the left side of her head, her short wing of black hair loosely curled for added dimension and drama. Dressed in a teal dress with blood red pumps, Marai commanded attention.

Fearless, from head to toe. That was what Priya needed to be.

"If you think this is the end of the matter," Marai snapped, "think again. I've gone fifteen rounds with bigger fish. There's blood in the water, Johnson. I smell it and I'm coming for you."

Priya waited until Marai ripped the headset from her ear before she cleared her throat and stepped inside. "Ms. Nagao, may I have a moment?"

Marai spun in a slow turn. The muscles in her legs coiling like a panther. "What is it, Priya?"

Priya shut the glass door. Cleared her throat. "I need to speak to you about...about Daniel."

Marai arched a brow as she strode for her desk. "Trouble in paradise already?" She tossed the headset down and set both hands on her hips. "I don't have time for hand-holding today."

"I just—I really need your help."

"Stop. Right there, stop." Marai flagged a hand and Priya's lips slammed shut. "You know what I'm tired of, hm? I'm tired of everyone coming to me like I'm their at-work-mommy. I'm tried of being expected to take time out of my busy day to clean up everyone else's messes and solve everyone else's problems when I've got my own to deal with. I've been a lawyer for twenty years and in all that time I've been accountable to myself." She pressed a finger to her chest. "So do you know what I'd love to see? Just once? Someone else who can handle a situation on their own without turning to me to make it all better." Marai angled her head towards the door. "If you have a problem with Daniel, then I expect you to sort it out on your own."

"Please." The burn of frustrated tears seared the back of her throat. "You don't understand."

"But I do. The fact is I warned you about taking on this opportunity—about over extending yourself. A warning that fell on deaf ears. As my father would say, you made your bed." Marai slid her hands behind her thighs, smoothing her skirt against her legs as she sat down. "Now you've got to lay in it." 

"I haven't over extended myself," Priya snapped, too angry and flustered to check her tone. "At least, not in the way he wants me to. I am a first-year associate. I graduated from Harvard Law at the top of my class. I am a hard-working professional. But all Daniel demands from me is that I keep my tits up and my mouth shut—a direct quote from him at the Oculus dinner last week."

Understanding tightened the lines of Marai's jaw. "Well, that comes with the territory of being a woman, I'm afraid. You think it's any easier at the top of the ladder? It never goes away. Being a woman never stops being tough. It's up to you to be tougher."

"So, basically, you're saying I should ignore it? The things he said—the implications? Forget it all ever happened?" Priya scoffed.

"I don't care what you do, or how you do it, but I expect you to do your job. You asked for a seat at his table, now you've got it—don't you dare come running to me now, complaining about the menu."

"I don't deserve to be treated this way. I don't care if he's a senior partner. He should be dealt with."

Marai leaned forward and gathered her hands atop her desk. "Daniel Chu earned this firm close to twenty-seven million last year. This deal with Oculus will almost triple that. And once it closes, he'll have what he's always wanted. His name on the door."

Priya's mouth tumbled open.

"So you see?" Marai angled her head. "Daniel Chu isn't going anywhere." 

**AN**

Ouch, our girl has taken a bit of a beating this chapter. What are your thoughts on her frustrating neighbor and his apology muffins? What would you do about someone like Daniel?  Is Marai in the wrong here for expecting Priya to put on some big girl panties and handle this on her own?

I'm going to dive back into writing so more Sisterhood chapters are on their way. Stay tuned!