‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ‍ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

ㅤ ㅤ

do ⠀ 𝓨𝙾𝚄 ⠀ want ⠀ a ⠀ 𝐃𝙴𝙰𝙻 ⠀
𝓦𝙸𝚃𝙷 ⠀ the ⠀ 𝑫𝐸𝒱𝐼𝐿 ⠀﹖ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ‍ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

⠀

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

He takes a few steps backward ( as though rewinding time ) and approaches Shiv again, smiling broadly.

“How about that St. Pat’s dinner, honey ﹖” With that, he winks.

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

Being the overthinker that he is, Tom has always had trouble with surprises.

( When he was small, his parents gave up on throwing surprise birthday parties.

He would spend the day asking questions, a great deal more more 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙍𝙄𝙀𝘿 than he was excited.

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

The corner of his mouth tips upward; an awkward half-smile.

“. . . I’m 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗛 a fucking dunce——” Tom can’t help but laugh, dragging a hand down his face.

“Can we . . . Let’s just start over ﹗﹗”

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

@crimsonwields https://t.co/C2TTanLkfP no worries 💗 !!

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

“It’s such a 𝙃𝙐𝙎𝘽𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙔 thing to say, I know, but sometimes I want you all to myself.”

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

“What ﹖ No, no,” says Tom.

Smiling broadly, he adds, “I should be so lucky. You’re a fucking vixen ﹗﹗ We’ll have free drinks all night long ﹗”

( Would other men hit on Shiv at the bar ﹖ Tom’s smile momentarily dims. )

“I was just worried I might have forgotten to give ---

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

--- too tempting.

“And, well . . . . . Is it wrong to say that I want to steal you away from your family ﹖ I feel like I shouldn’t say that, but I’m thinking it.”

Sheepish, Tom laughs and pulls on his collar.

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

@SOULSAREBORlNG https://t.co/C2TTanLkfP THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO ME

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

Tom turned the key and opened the front door. “Any last words, honey ﹖ You know—— we could always stay in . . .”

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

“I’m being realistic,” Tom replied—— though he was, admittedly, being a little melodramatic. He gave a small smile.

( Tom loved hearing Shiv laugh. He loved being the one to make her laugh, too. )

“I just hope Roman doesn’t spike the punch,” he added jokingly.

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

As they approached the door, Tom looked at his wife, eyes full of fondness. He then looked away ﹠ cleared his throat. ( 𝙎𝙐𝘽𝙏𝙇𝙀. ) In truth, he would have liked to spend dinner with her and her alone.

“Did we say bye to Mondale ﹖ Bye, little buddy ﹗﹗” he called out.

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

“Not that’s not enough. Now I want more. I want something that I probably can’t have. It’s all I think about. Thanks for that, you piece of shit.” He swallowed hard.

No turning back now.

“I want you.”

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

At Waystar Royco, being CEO was not unlike being God. Not only was the yearly salary enough to guarantee a spot on Forbes’ highest-paid CEOs list—— but also, the title came with power and respect. Logan Roy had the numbers of the world’s ---

[‍‍ *‍‍ ‍𝓣𝙾𝙼 ‍ 𝓦𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐒𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐒 ‍‍ @TOMLETTED]

--- corporate ladder and buy a villa in Lake Como, then do some stock trading. That way, I could retire early, die in my sleep, and get a complimentary obituary written about me. It wasn’t very complicated.”

Tom scoffed, attempting to seem casual. But his heart was pounding.