Antigone Castellanos ducked into her office with five minutes to spare. She hated being late. Okay, she wasn't late, but she felt like she was late. She hadn't even made it to her desk before her cousin Mirabella was in her office.

"You look like hell, Antigone." said Mira flopping down into one of chair situated to the side of Antigone's desk.

"Thanks, you look great Mira." replied Antigone sarcastically "Did you get that outfit from a stripper? What are you the slutty secretary or is that slutty lawyer?"

"How's my little man?" asked Mira "Rough night?"

"Well, Brett didn't bother bringing him home until after 11. Then it was play time with mommy. So, I think we went to bed around 2 A.M.. Niko was a bear this morning. Brett called at 7:15 and told me he got called in so he couldn't take Niko today. So, I had to scramble to find someone."

"You know papa was serious when he said you could bring Niko here." said Mira seriously "I would watch him if you had something to go to or go out for a client. I can answer the phone, paint my nails, type email, and check Tinder on my phone. I could manage a 1 year old."

"I can only imagine. He'd have red nails and be able to swipe left." laughed Antigone

"Come on, Tig." said Mira "You know I would take care of him."

"I know, and it might come to that. He's with Alessio until 3:30, then Niel is getting him."

"You trust your meat-head brothers more than me?" quizzed Mira

"No," answered Antigone "But they were both in the restaurant when I came down the stairs panicking. I was looking for the number to the daycare over at church. I knew mama would have it. They both started throwing a fit about him going to daycare. So, I handed him to Alessio and went and got ready. I gave them the diaper bag, his car seat, and left. I told them to handle it."

"Your poor baby will be at the gym drinking protein shakes." laughed Mira. She then perked up "We have a big case of some sort. Papa was talking about the Flyers. Not sure because he shooed me out of his office to go make coffee."

"I'll make the coffee." stated Antigone "I need caffeine, and we need to be able to drink it, not fix cracks in the foundation."

Mirabella followed her into the break room where the coffee machine was set up. Antigone quickly made a 10 cup pot of coffee. Mira was rambling the entire time about what the Flyers could possibly need from the firm.

"It's not even hockey season." replied Antigone "It's probably a donation or something they need."

"Who cares what season it is!" yelled Mira "Have you taken the time to look at those boys? One of the ones in Florida is Macedonian."

"So he's Greek without a restaurant?" quizzed Antigone.

"He's blonde, gorgeous, and might pass the big, fat, Greek family test." replied Mira.

"Yes, because I've done that successfully." deadpanned Antigone.

"Stamkos is part Scottish. That ring your bell?" laughed Mira.

"No, one mess of a Scott is enough. At least I got Niko out of that disaster."

Nestor Castellanos walked into the large break room. He eyed his daughter and his niece. Nestor watched them both for a moment. "Mirabella, switch outfits with Antigone. Fix her hair, make-up, and send her into the small conference room. "No arguments. Do it now."

"Why?" asked Mirabella

"Because I said so and I am the boss, the uncle, and the papa." replied Nestor "Fifteen minutes and I need her." He eyed the outfit on his niece, he could hear the Mira's internal monologue screaming. It wouldn't hurt his baby to actually wear clothes.

Coffee forgotten the girls hustled back to Antigone's office. Mira looked at the khaki slacks and short sleeve navy t-shirt covering Antigone. This was completely unfair, but Papa's rules. Mira stripped out of her suit jacket and hung it over the back of the chair. She then motioned for Antigone to start getting undressed. Mira saw the gun strapped to Antigone at her waist. Clothing change or not Antigone wouldn't give up the Glock or her PI badge. Those items were placed on her desk. She tossed her sneakers towards Mira. Her t-shirt followed, along with the pants that might belong to Antigone's bro Niel.

"You have on a sports bra!" exclaimed Mira "We aren't doing yoga. Take it off, it will show under this dress. You'll have to wear mine."

"I am at least a cup size bigger!"

"You should have thought of that before dressing like a fucking boy." replied Mira tossing her bra at Antigone. She caught the black lacy garment and managed to wrestle her breasts into it. "Whoa," laughed Mira "That will keep a guys attention." Mira quickly redressed in Antigone's clothes then zipped Antigone into the body-con dress. Mira pushed her down into her desk chair and ran to fetch her purse. In minutes, Mira had Antigone's make up done. Her hair twisted into submission, and Antigone wobbling on her four inch heels. "You're fucking hot, Tig."


"I don't want to be fucking hot." replied Antigone "I want to be respected."

"You can be both." said Mira "Papa's waiting. I think I will walk you to the conference room."

"No, you're going to your desk." admonished Pavlina, Mirabella's mother. "Your papa said to keep you clear of the conference room. He said you are not to be involved in this, Mira." Pavlina hurried Antigone to the meeting while corralling Mirabella to her desk in the secretarial pool. Mira was mouthing at her mom. "Well, if you want to go to big meetings, go to school. Get an education. Be a lawyer. Then you get big meetings. No, then you get to type all the letters of the deadbeats who need to pay your papa. It takes money to buy shoes and bags, Mirabella."

Antigone laughed as she made her way down the hall. She noticed her Uncle Nestor standing in the hallway with a redheaded guy. Antigone stopped before her uncle. The redhead guy almost broke his neck looking at Antigone. She pulled the skirt lower, but that only made the cleavage show more. Her uncle sensed her distress and turned to the guy beside him.

"Claude, this is my niece Antigone Castellanos. She is my private investigator. Antigone has been accepted to law school and will attend Temple in the fall." introduced her uncle "She is as smart as she is beautiful. Antigone, this is Claude Giroux." Antigone shook Giroux's offered hand.

"Elle est tres intelligente." replied Giroux taking in her appearance.

"Merci. Je parle cinq langues, Capitaine." answered in Antigone. Claude's face broke into a smile. Antigone was always amazed that these boys didn't get their teeth fixed.

"Please tell me you speak Italian." laughed Claude.

"Fluentemente." said Antigone. Claude laughed again.

"Parfait!" announced Claude. Once Giroux seemed satisfied with Antigone, her uncle instructed her to go into the conference room and wait for him.

"Oh, Tig." said her Uncle Nestor "Do your best impersonation of my Mirabella. No need to tip our hand."

Antigone nodded. She put a little swing in her walk as headed into the conference room. She could feel Giroux's copper eyes on her until she cleared the door. Antigone entered room and moved to the far corner of the table where she normally sat in meetings with her uncle's. She tossed her notepad and pen on to the table with a dull thud. The gentleman at the other end of the table hadn't moved since she entered the room, in fact Antigone wondered if he was asleep. Judging by the state of his tie and shirt he might be passed out.

Mike was not sure he wanted to look and see who had came into the conference room. Castenellos and Giroux had left the room shortly after telling him what a massive fuck up he was. He was pretty sure that if they hadn't signed his contract a few weeks earlier, that he wouldn't have signed a contract. Hell, even Clune told him he'd fucked up. It was yet another media shit storm with a less than desirable bed mate for Mike. Michael Del Zotto had become synonymous with porn stars, strippers, and mistresses. Damn it, he needed to quit fucking up. Mike looked up expecting Roux at the other end of the table.

"Is this some kind of fucking test?" Michael asked looking at the girl at the other end of the table. Apparently, Roux was fucking with him. Or maybe strippers had attorneys that used to be strippers. He was sure in his time he'd paid at least one girls way through med school or law school.

"Test?" asked Antigone.

"Yes, they throw a hot girl in here see how long it takes me to hit on her?"

Antigone laughed. In the realm of hot guys this guy was at least and 9. He'd be a 10 but his nose had been broken a few too many times. He had eyes so dark brown they were almost black. His hair was a deep rich brown color and seemed to be in a disarray from running his hands in it. Antigone could tell from looking at him that he was strongly built.

She'd fucking laughed. She had fucking laughed at him. No, he wasn't going to deal with this shit. "Fuck this!" he said standing up. He was heading for the door when the girl called out for him to wait. Michael turned around and looked at her. She stood up and came towards him. She held up a hand much like you would when trying to calm a horse or dog.

"Don't leave, my uncle won't be happy with me if you run off." said Antigone "They will be here in a few minutes." She had moved towards him. Michael looked down at her. She tugged at the hemline of the short dress. Even in the four inch heels she barely came up to his chin. She then tugged at her jacket. She wasn't comfortable in her outfit. She put her hand on his arm "Sit down." she instructed "You wouldn't be here if you didn't need us."
"Damn right I wouldn't be here. This entire thing is a damned mess." replied Michael flopping back into the chair "I just want it over before season." She slid into the chair beside him instead of the one she previously occupied.

"You're ahead of me." stated Antigone "I don't know why you are here. But my uncle wants you here, and me here." She watched him as he pressed his fingers into his temples. "You sit right here. I'll be back with a bottle of water and a few aspirin. I'll track down Nestor. We'll get this sorted out. But we can't fix it if you take off." Those dark brown eyes locked onto her green ones. They were riddled with worry. Antigone stood quickly and moved away from him.

Antigone shot out the door and ran straight into Claude Giroux. He managed to keep both of them upright. "Sorry!" exclaimed Antigone.

"No worries, Ma belle." replied Claude "I get hit harder than that every day. I'm hoping MDZ was charming and you aren't running away."

"MDZ?" she asked.

"Michael Del Zotto." he answered.

"Makes sense, he looks Italian. I'm going to find him some aspirin and a bottle of water."

Antigone found the necessary items then ventured back into the conference room. Nestor was at the head of the table and Claude was sitting next to Michael. Antigone nudged his shoulder. He turned those brown eyes on her again. She held her hand out and Michael took the pills from her. He tossed them back before she handed him the water. He took the bottle from her as she moved to the seat next to her uncle.

Mike was watching her carefully. In any other setting he and Segs would be taking bets on who could get that tiny dress off her first. She was a smoke show. She was probably about 5'4. Her dark hair was caught in some kind of intricate twist. He would love to see it down. She was all curves in all the right places, and that tiny dress was setting them all off. He was still staring at her when Roux smacked him in the back of the head. He whipped his head towards Giroux who was nearing the point of laughter.

"I see you've met my niece, Antigone." said Nestor in way introduction.

"Not really." said Mike. Roux smacked him again. Mike sat up ready to swing at his captain. But Giroux penned that, captain says don't do it, look on him.

"Mr. Del Zotto, this is my niece, Antigone Castellanos." Michael nodded at her. "Antigone will be investigating the claims of Miss....?"

Antigone looked at the papers in front of her. It was a paternity suit that read like a TMZ headline. "Mr. Del Zotto, what is the ladies name?" asked Antigone.

"Echo" replied Del Zotto

"Echo" repeated Giroux laughing.

"Shut the fuck up! I've heard it enough from Segs and Clune. No more repeating shit! No more Echo, echo, echo!" yelled Michael. He then heard Antigone's laugh again. He looked at her.

"Antigone Gianna Castellanos," said her exasperated Uncle "Why are you laughing?"

"Because MDZ knocked up a stripper named Echo." supplied Giroux.

Antigone looked at MDZ. She took in his handsome features then turned to her Uncle "Just thinking of Nonna's myths. Echo and Narcissus." She laughed again at MDZ's pained expression. Did no one else find this funny?

Notes

Okay should I say I'm sorry for yet another story? I can't help it they just pop out. I think my beta reader/editor/confidant might actually kill me. This is the true story of Fan Fic and ADHD. Hang on tight this will be quite the ride. Italians, Greeks, Hockey, and Parenting skills. Simple right.