“Too late. You already did that. You’ve already changed me. I’m different.”

“I think you’re probably right. You are.” Cooper inhaled. “But maybe I need kindness, too? Thoughtfulness? You think problems can be solved with money being flung at them—enormous feasts and bunches of flowers. A big generic grand gesture. You could have given that to anyone.”

“What?” Felicity gasped. “Anyone who knows all your favorite foods!”

“I didn’t mean that side. I’m not unappreciative. It was a nice idea, and the homeless around here loved it, but everyone eats. Your gift wasn’t about me specifically—who I am and what I want. So I’ll tell you what: do one thing for me that’s all you—not an assistant, not Mitch, just you. Something that shows you understand who I am and what matters to me. Something you can’t spend one dime on. And if you do that, I’ll date you. Otherwise, I like you; you’re smart and beautiful and you’re probably going to rule the world someday, but you’re not who belongs with me. Goodbye, Felicity.”

The phone went dead. Felicity stared at it in disbelief.

Well. It wasn’t unreasonable what Cooper had asked for. She pursed her lips. A challenge had been thrown down.

Something that shows you understand who I am and what matters to me. Something you can’t spend one dime on.

As far as Felicity could tell, what mattered to Cooper most were animals.

And that was the moment Felicity had a most genius idea—if she did say so herself.

CHAPTER 18

A Most Genius Idea

One thing Felicity could always be counted on for was to find loopholes in any legal matter. It’s what had made her such an effective chief of staff for Elena. Lawyers from all over the world sent in various paperwork, and Felicity checked that all was in order. She’d caught shoddy work, illegal clauses, and most especially, glaring loopholes.

Which was how she now found herself on a Saturday morning just over a week later at Cooper’s door, holding a piece of paper she hoped would change everything. The paper hadn’t cost her a cent. But she hoped Cooper would appreciate how much effort she had made—personally—to make it happen.

She’d texted first, explaining she had what Cooper had asked for. And Cooper’s reply of “We’ll see” was a bit ominous.

But now, as she stood with her hand poised before Cooper’s door, doubts drowned her. Wooing someone with a legal agreement wasn’t exactly romantic, was it?

No. She was all in now. Felicity rapped sharply.

Cooper opened the door dressed in faded blue jeans worn at the knees with hints of a tear starting—and Felicity was pretty sure that was a genuinely acquired rip, not the preshredded variety. A mustard-colored sweater with the hint of a white shirt collar peeping up completed the picture.

“So, Ms. Simmons,” Cooper said with her eyebrow tilting up, “here to woo me?” Her gaze slid over her. “Well, come in. I’m amazed you kept your designer outfit down to just the belt and shoes.”

Felicity wasn’t about to admit it was all designer. “I can do low-key,” she suggested.

Cooper laughed. “Sure you can. Drink?”

“No, thanks.” Felicity glanced around, then swallowed nervously. “I just want to give you a gift from me to you. No money changed hands, it’s not generic, and I worked on it all myself. It’s something you want and can’t get for yourself. I—” Her nerve failed her as she handed over the document. “I hope you like it.”

Cooper’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as she accepted the piece of paper and unfolded it.

Felicity’s doubts swam circles in her stomach as she watched her read.

Then Cooper sat heavily on the couch and read some more. “Wait. Is this what I think it is?”

“Your building’s owner, Lawrence Tubman, letting you keep Brittany with you? Yes.”

Felicity had spent over a week on this, digging until she found out that Tubman had used one particular man for all his property deals: a lawyer known in certain circles for particular legal irregularities in property valuations.

Long story short, the lawyer was rumored to be bribing or schmoozing city officials to get his wealthy clients a rarely used tax abatement—namely 421a—applied to their property deals, which slashed many thousands of dollars off how much they owed the city in fees. It was curious how 421a only ever seemed to be applied to the mega-rich’s apartment sales but no one else’s properties, and usually only when one particular lawyer was on the job.

Felicity had paid Mr. Tubman a visit and pointed this out while explaining how much she loved solving mysteries and puzzles. She mentioned in passing how one or two of Bartell Corp’s thousands of reporters might be interested in investigating 421a exemptions—particularly why the sneaky rule was used just for the ultrawealthy. Just a general story, of course. No names. But senior city officials might decide to then investigate past deals of all 421a valued properties.

Mr. Tubman, being a rather smart individual, had asked what it would take for Felicity to be less interested in solving certain puzzles and mysteries. Felicity had then mentioned how much owners loved having their pets with them in their apartments.

Now, as of nine this morning, all of Mr. Tubman’s three residential buildings were pet-friendly. What a coincidence.

“I can bring Brittany here?” Cooper’s voice broke, hope leaking from her voice. “She can stay home with me for good?”

Felicity nodded and pulled out her phone. She walked back to the door, sending a quick text: Now.

Moments later, a honey-brown blur scampered down the hallway. As Felicity widened the door, Brittany burst into Cooper’s apartment, following her nose to her old home and adored owner.

“Brit!” Cooper squealed. She crouched and flung her arms around her dog, who enthusiastically barreled Cooper over, flattening her onto her back.

Brittany then set about licking a layer of skin off Cooper, who kept laughing and crying out “down, girl” and “arghh” between gasping laughs.

Felicity glanced at Amir, who was smiling from ear to ear, a plump tear running down his cheek as he placed all the dog toys and Brittany’s little bed just inside the apartment door.

“Thanks,” Felicity told her driver with a smile.

“My pleasure, Ms. Simmons.” Amir lingered a moment, his brown eyes warm as he soaked in the sprawled-out woman laughing helplessly, pinned down by a bouncing, gleeful dog whose tail was swishing back and forth. “That’s a sight to see,” he said softly. Amir wiped his eye discreetly before turning and leaving, closing the door behind him.

Felicity looked back at the joyful Cooper-Brittany swirl. Her heart contracted at the sheer delight of them both. “I could come back, if you like. Let you two get used to Brittany being home again?”

Cooper’s eyes were shining with tears. “She’ll calm down in a minute. And don’t go. I just… I’m overwhelmed. How?”

“I keep telling you I’m very good at what I do.” Felicity smiled confidently. “Sooner or later you might believe me.”

Cooper sat up. “I believe.” She said it so earnestly. “Truly. You’re a goddess.”

Felicity laughed. “Well, you’re officially good for my ego.” She lowered herself to the floor beside Cooper and Brittany. “Just so you know, when I got Mr. Tubman to make this change, I convinced him to do it for all residents in all his buildings. I didn’t want you singled out for attention, and I thought you’d feel weird getting special treatment that others couldn’t have. So…here we are. Pets for everyone.” She grinned.

After burying her face in Brittany’s fur for a long hug, Cooper looked up. “You really are something else, Felicity Simmons.”

Oh no. Was Cooper crying?

Felicity panicked, glancing around furiously, unsure what to do. Were there tissues anywhere? Was she supposed to pat her on the back and say “there, there”? That’d be condescending, though, wouldn’t it? She agonized for another moment and then went with what she most wanted to do. She slid an arm around Cooper and whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Cooper said between sniffles. “I really am. I really, really am. A bit embarrassed to be making such a fool of myself, but hey, it’s not every day something like this happens.”

Brittany licked her salty cheek, which caused Cooper to laugh again.

“So,” Felicity said carefully to double-check that she hadn’t misread the room, “I did okay on my assignment?”

Cooper burst into tears. Proper ones this time, which Felicity regarded with even more alarm.