Chapter 11 #2
“Okay. What show should we binge-watch?”
“You choose. But lots of action and violence, please.”
We watched five episodes of the show we started before I got a text.
(unknown): Are you avoiding me?
I stared at the words and remembered a similar question.
Are you testing me, Sophia?
Do you want to be tested?
Yes.
My face flushed.
“Everything okay?” Mom asked, noticing.
“Yeah. It’s him.”
“Really? I think this is the first time I’ve seen you blush because of a man. It’s not because you’re angry, is it?”
“My life would be easier if it were anger.”
“Why? It’s okay to like someone, Sophia.”
“Not him.”
“Why?”
“He’s too complicated,” I said.
“Already married?”
“Ew. No. I have better taste than that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“He’s one of them. In the upper circle. Old money.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
I didn’t add that he was also a dragon shifter—Mom wasn’t some bigoted human purist or anything like that—because what he was didn’t matter as much as who he was.
Me: That would be hard to do, considering where I work.
(unknown): Where are you?
Me: Home. Spending time with my mom. We need to talk. Tomorrow, if you have time.
(unknown): I have time. Dinner?
Me: Before work. Your office. I’ll be there at seven.
It would give me enough time to ask the question I didn’t want to ask and get back to my desk before anyone else arrived.
(unknown): I’ll see you at seven.
I walked into the building, noting the number of people in the cafe as I headed to the elevator bank. It was busier than the day before. But thankfully, there weren’t many people on the elevator, and no one rode up to the executive floor with me.
The welcome area was quiet when I arrived. However, the sound of typing from Legal’s area had me doubting the wisdom of meeting Konni at the office. I’d thought there wouldn't be any witnesses this early, making it easier to ask what I needed to and walk away regardless of the answer.
At least it’s only one person, I told myself, walking more quickly.
Konni’s office door was open. I entered without announcing myself and shut the door in case any of his assistants came in early. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to overhear this conversation.
Konni was leaning against his desk again, waiting for me. His gaze swept over me, and he reached behind him to grab a white takeout bag.
“Hungry?”
“Are we mated?”
His eyebrows rose.
I hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that, but I didn’t regret it.
Leaving the bag, he closed the distance between us and gently clasped my arms, his expression tender and a little sad.
“No. We’re not mated even though I want to call you my mate more than anything.”
I wanted to lean into him. Why? What was wrong with me?
Was it the way his hands were warming me? How close he stood while he looked at me like he wanted to shield me from the world?
I could feel myself flushing and pushed forward with the conversation before I lost my nerve.
“How do dragons mate?”
“The traditional way.” A gleam entered his eyes. “Would you like me to show you?”
“No, I want to understand what happened Friday. If dragons mate in the traditional way, then why aren’t we mated?”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead.
“We didn’t have sex, Sophia. When you agree to be with me, you’ll be sober.”
We’d slept together, but only platonically? I was both relieved and disappointed.
“Thank you,” I said. “For not taking advantage, even when I was willing, and for meeting me this morning.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Sophia. Whatever you need, tell me, and it’s yours.”
“Physical space and emotional distance. I just want to work, Konni. I don’t want any drama.”
“Okay. No drama.”
“Space,” I repeated.
With a sigh, he let go of my arms and retreated a few steps.
“Understood. But I won’t pretend I don’t know you, Sophia. You’ve been in my office, and I know everyone on the executive floor.”
“Fine. No, ‘Sophia,’ though, unless you address everyone by their first names.”
“When we’re at work and not alone, I’ll be sure to use Ms. Elmantas.” He retreated to the desk to hand me the bagged breakfast. “But don’t ask me not to care. That would be like asking you to love me. We can’t force feelings.”
Damn him for being right.
“No workplace drama,” I repeated, taking the bag.
He nodded and watched me leave.
When I reached my desk, Lianna’s office door was open, and I could hear her moving around in there. Hoping she’d stay inside, I sat down and dug into the take-out bag. The breakfast sandwich smelled amazing and tasted even better.
“You’re here early,” Lianna said from behind me.
I glanced at her and nodded, not giving her an explanation, which seemed to annoy her.
“You’ve been told not to work longer than your scheduled hours,” she said.
I held up the sandwich I was eating.
“No work. Just eating.”
“Next time, stay home to do that.”
“Is it against company policy to come in early and eat?” I asked, knowing damn well it wasn’t and that she was just being a bitch, trying to power-flex.
She turned away from me without a word and left me alone for the rest of the morning.
Around eleven, I got a group text.
Wrenly: Anyone up for a lunch meeting?
Miranda: Count me in, and be prepared to explain your absence.
Me: Tell me where and when.
My life had been so chaotic I’d overlooked how long Wrenly, our supposed best friend, had been ghosting us. With a lunch meet-up set, I finished the rest of my morning tasks and headed out.
Both women were waiting at a table in a sandwich shop not far from the Steele building. Wrenly popped out of her chair and welcomed me with a tight hug.
“I’m so sorry it’s taken this long to meet up. Miranda filled me in on what’s been going on. How’s your Mom?”
“She’s fine. Her arm will need a cast once the swelling is down. The bruises are still pretty vivid, and she moves more slowly, but she’s moving. That’s all that matters.”
“If you need anything…”
“I need advice. Did Miranda tell you about Konni?”
Wrenly’s smile turned a little sheepish. “A little. I know that he finally caught up to you and that you know he’s interested.”
“Finally? What do you mean by that?”
“He smelled you on me last year when we had that graduation celebration. Miranda and I deflected for you with the transitioning thing, but it didn’t really work. Any time I saw him, he’d ask if we’d spoken and how you were doing.”
“Same,” Miranda admitted.
I stared at them in shock. “He’s been interested in me for over a year?”
“Yep,” Miranda said as Wrenly nodded.
My heart tripped up, and Miranda slowly grinned. Damn her nose.
“Shut up. Physical reactions won’t sway me.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Why is she our friend again?” I asked Wrenly.
“I missed you guys so much,” she said, laughing.
“What have you been doing? Wait. No. Don’t answer that. Tell your mate that he needs to loosen his obsessive hold and share better.”
“That might not happen any time soon,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m pregnant.”
My mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“Yep.”
I squealed and grabbed her for another hug.
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. I promise I’ll be more present. The morning sickness was brutal these last few weeks, but it’s getting better now.”
We caught up over lunch and made a pact to meet weekly without fail.
Bennett was waiting outside for Wrenly and Miranda when we left. I waved away their offered ride since the Steele building was so close, and I headed back on foot.
My thoughts stayed on Wrenly and their news. I wasn’t surprised. They’d been mated for almost a year already. And I looked forward to cuddling my best friend’s cute new baby.
Why did I feel so off about the news then?
I realized I envied her. Not just her hard-won relationship, but the fearless way she’d pursued it on her terms.
A group of people standing outside the Steele building’s main doors caught my attention. At first, I thought they were a tour group or something, based on how they were standing together and talking. But then I saw the cameras.
Reporters?
I glanced around, wondering what story they were covering.
One of them shouted, and the next thing I knew, I was surrounded.
They crowded close and shoved their microphones at me.
“Ms. Elmantas, did you intentionally leak confidential Steele Corporation data?”
“Sources say you’ve been taking company files home with you.”
Data leak? What in the hell was happening?
“How long have you been selling information?”
“I never—”
The reporters at the back pushed forward. Bodies pressed closer.
Fear wormed through me as I tried to leave and couldn’t. No one was moving. Just the opposite.
They crowded me more aggressively.
Trapping me.
Shouting their questions.
“Are you a corporate spy?”
“Who do you really work for?”
“Do you hold a grudge against Steele Corporation? Is that why you’re leaking data for free?”
“What? No, I—”
A microphone hit my cheek—not hard, but enough for the danger to be real.
“Please move,” I said clearly, keeping the panic from my voice as I tried again to push my way forward.
No one listened. They kept jostling each other and me.
My fear climbed as more microphones thumped against me and each other. I shielded my face, barely hearing the continued barrage of questions.
“What’s your relationship with TAS Solutions?”
“Did you act alone, or were others involved?”
“Can you confirm whether the company has terminated your employment?”
Someone in front of me body-checked me hard into the person behind me. A woman let out an “oof” and pushed me forward, right back into the body that had collided with me first.
Panic consumed me, eating my air and reason.
“Enough!”
Konni’s sharp voice cut through the chaos.
Desperate, I followed the sound and saw him at the edge of the mob. He grabbed a reporter by the shoulder and shoved him aside. The rest scattered, giving me room to breathe again.
His glittering gaze swept over me as I lowered my arms. I hadn’t realized I’d covered my head with them. Or how bad I was shaking.
He saw, growled softly, and tugged me to his chest.
Wrapped in his familiar scent, I kept my trembling hands at my sides and my face pressed against his torso as the reporters focused on him.
“Mr. Steele, what is your relationship with Ms. Elmantas?”
“How long have you been seeing each other?”
“Does this mean you’ll overlook what happened in favor of your personal interests?”
“Aren’t you worried about the board dismissing you?”
“The police are on their way,” he said coldly. “Expect Steele Corporation to press charges for assault, harassment, and defamation of one of its employees. A statement regarding the data leak will be forthcoming.”
With a hand warming the small of my back, he turned me and guided me inside. My knees continued to shake even after the doors closed behind us, sealing out the chaos.
Realizing I was gripping his sleeve, I released him. He didn’t release me. He steered me through the turnstiles and toward the elevators with one hand while making a call with the other.
His clipped, angry words echoed off the smooth walls of the Steele buildings' lobby.
“Find out what happened. Now. You have five minutes to give me an explanation.”