"I still haven't met Sol Edelman, you know. Why are you hiding her from me?" she said, giving her brother a look.

Then he mentioned GABRIEL BLACK. She frowned, before scowling and huffing.

"He still thinks I'm a disappointment. You know he came to my work and told me that I shouldn't be working there because it doesn't uphold the Black family name?"

Her fingers tap aggressively against her arm.

"He had the audacity to walk into my place of business and say that to me while I was on the clock. What the fuck, Uri!"

"Hmm..."

She contemplates his complaint for a moment, unable to hide her amusement at his supposed little pout. So, he wanted her all for himself tonight...

Maybe Jessie could arrange something outside then.

"Well, give me this round two, and maybe I'll sneak out with you after. I'll collect my tips, and we can go somewhere."

He kissed her, and she sighed against his lips.

"Anywhere."

Jessie's stretch was interrupted, if only for a moment, before she put her hands down. She looked at the girl who complimented her before a smile cracked on her face.

"Well, thank you! I've been wanting to wear this outfit for a while, and I thought why not? It's perfect for a fall beach day, I think," she said, swishing her hips.

"I think you look absolutely adorable too," Jessie said, approaching.

Along the way, she got distracted by a Corsola. She squealed, leaning down to pat it.

"So cute!"

catching corsola!

At the mention of her mother, Jessica couldn't help the scowl that crossed her face.

"Why would I do that?"

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the small bit of a farmer's tan she had gotten from her previous few missions working outside. It was a little embarrassing, and she had to cover up the pale spots with makeup when she performed.

It was all about perfection after all.

Jessie began to scoop pumpkin puree into a bowl, throwing in the ingredients that the recipe called for as she thought for a moment.

"I don't really give a shit about them. The Black family. I mean, my siblings are one thing. My parents..."

She trailed off, her stirring coming to an aggressive stop. She sighed, shaking her head.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to start that."

It burned again. But this time, she didn't make as bad of a face as she did the first time. Maybe the first drink that Roach had given to her and the previous shot were kicking in, making her throat a bit numb to the intensity of the alcohol. It was definitely a bad sign for her.

It meant she was getting used to it.

"You know I had to ask! I need to know which club you'll be at so I can make sure to keep my girls off you." Jessie snickered.

"You know how they like to snatch people like you up. Those bitches. They oughta know who's man belongs to who!"

She slammed her hand against the table several times to emphasize her point, causing the glasses to shake on the table. It made a few eyes turn toward her before they averted back to whatever they had been doing.

"A bunch of Mandibuzzes, that's what they are." Jessie couldn't help but laugh. She loved her sisters that she worked with, but she wasn't afraid to call them out on what they were.

Jessie's Delphox sprawled across her lap, laying over her with his arms over his chest like a person. She patted Finn's head, appreciating the warmth that the coffee Uri gave her and Finn's fur provided her.

"Nah. I'm pretty alright there. You know, besides the occasional patron trying to step over their boundaries, but..."

She shrugged.

"It's nothing I can't handle, really. You should come on a night I'm off. I won't make you suffer by seeing me dance." She laughed.

Jessie couldn't help but laugh. He was an easy one to understand. Most men were. It seemed like he was no exception to that. She shrugged. Who knew what would happen once they left.

"Right... well, then... I suppose we can take this piece and go."

Jessie looked back at the body, wrinkling her nose at it. Disgusting.

"Wanna head out?"

"Whatever you want."

Would a complete stranger (was he a complete stranger at this point) really offer Jessie whatever she wanted? Daddy GABRIEL BLACK always said to stay away from strangers. They could hurt you, eat you up, and spit you out.

Niko was someone she seemed more than willing to allow something like that to happen with.

"You have me hooked," she said back sweetly, brushing her fingers over his cheek with a smile. "Then how about a round two before I'm absolutely needed back out there?"

"Well, I thought my prospects were already pretty good... so why not?" she teased, laughing.

However, he peaked her interest. Jessie tilted her head to the side.

"And what are you offering?" She bit her lip, anticipation clear in her eyes as she waited for his response.

Jessie knew, deep down, that she was probably one of the hundreds of girls he's seen before. She wasn't anything special, other than someone to have a good time with. She was just an entertainer after all. There were other more important ladies out there he could have.

But a girl could dream, couldn't she?

She opened her eyes, peering at him with a hazed look as she leaned into his touch.

"You want me to work for you?" she echoed back, nearly dumbfounded.

However, it was an easy answer, especially with the indication that this was not a one time thing if she came.

"Okay. I'll work for you," Jessica agreed, flashing a sweet smile.

Jessie snorted at him. "I think you just want to see me without my shirt on at this point, yeah?"

She gave him a look. Though, when she looked at him again, her eyes were again dragged back to his chest. Those delicious muscles, the scars...

Jessie had to turn her head away to not give him what exactly he wanted. Just yet, at least.

"Do you think there's anymore Pokemon in there like this one?" she asked, back to business.

Jessie set the groceries down, looking over at the cutlery that Spencer pulled down. She couldn't help but give an audible-sounding "ooh" when she saw it.

"Well, turn that frown upside down, Spency. We're gonna get this shit done, and we'll get it done right."

She offered a thumbs up before setting her arm down by her side again. Her face contorted in a strange look before laughing nervously.

"No? But, I can follow a recipe..."

Pulling out her phone, she looked up a recipe that she could follow easily enough. Looking over at Spencer, she tilted her head.

"You just want me to do the pumpkin pie?"

Jessica didn't understand exactly why he was getting mad at her. It infuriated her. If she were her Delphox, she'd inflict will-o-wisp from the burning fury that she felt right now.

It felt like fire was coursing through her veins as she glared at him with pink eyes.

"I'm working. This is my work. This is where I belong, Gabriel."

It's no longer father. It's Gabriel.

"And I do not appreciate you walking in and disrupting the workplace when I am supposed to be out there working."

Better than this? Jessie was far better off here than she was with him.

"I don't give a damn what the name 'Black' holds for you. You're an asshole. I'm doing what I enjoy doing, and you can fuck off."