Chapter 16 #2
How ridiculous was that? I needed her not to like me. Any reason not to be with Konni was a good one. We were from different worlds and completely not right for each other.
Why did knowing that make me feel just as bad, though?
Konni’s hand settled over mine on the seat between us.
“She’s been asking when I’ll find my mate since the year after I came of age. It’s what dragon moms do. Don’t let it worry you.”
“I’m not. You and Lianna are perfect for each other. You both have similar backgrounds, move in the same circles, and even work together. It would make sense to be with her.”
“That’s not how dragons work, Sophia. I will only ever see Lianna as a friend.”
“Maybe you just need to try harder to see her as something else. I bet if you asked, she’d show up at the office in a bunny thong just for you.”
His brows shot up.
“A what?”
“Bunny thong? You know, a thong with a fluffy little bunny tail on it. Don’t dragons like to eat rabbits?”
Harlow made a small choked sound, but was still watching the road when I glanced at him.
Konni rubbed a hand down his face and tipped his head back against the seat.
“Even when you’re not trying to test me, you do,” he said.
Not trusting any further conversation, I watched the city until we reached my car.
Konni didn’t open his eyes, allowing Harlow to get my door for me instead.
I wasn’t hurt; I was relieved that I’d escaped the fallout I’d feared. At least from Konni, anyway.
“It was nice to meet you, Miss Sophia,” Harlow said as he watched me unlock my car. “I hope I have the honor of driving you again in the future.”
I glanced at the tinted window hiding Konni from me.
“It was nice to meet you, too, Harlow,” I said instead of the “I hope not” that I wanted to say.
They left once I started my car, and I turned my thoughts from Konni to the meeting. It replayed in my mind as I drove home. Especially Hestian’s move at the end.
I was back to being annoyed by the time I walked through the door.
“What happened?” Mom asked, noticing my mood.
My gaze drifted to the new cast on her arm.
“You went to the hospital without me?”
“I have a broken arm, not a broken brain. I know how to order a ride. The swelling was down, and my arm’s healing fine. The cast will keep it more secure while it continues to heal. Now tell me what happened.”
“Dad hasn’t given up pushing Hestian at me, but I’m proud to tell you, I won this round. Not only did I tell Mr. Hestian to his face that I would never marry him—he was revolting by the way—I also walked away with some TAS Solutions shares.”
Mom’s expression, which had filled with outrage at the mention of Mr. Hestian, shifted to shock, then pride.
“How?”
“It was during the meeting with Konni, I mean Mr. Steele, yesterday when Dad called to accuse me of setting him up. He offered company shares in exchange for Steele Corp dropping charges. I agreed because I knew Dad didn’t do it. If he had, we both know he never would have offered up shares.
“And bringing Hestian tonight makes me wonder if it really is Hestian behind everything. The way he watched me…” I shuddered.
“I just don’t get it, though. If Dad was trying to sell you to Hestian first, why switch to me?
I still have wide open employment options, no mortgage, student debt, yes, but nothing compared to what you owe. You were on the verge of foreclosure.”
Mom didn’t take offense to what I was saying.
“If it started when you were fourteen, maybe Hestian thinks I’m outside of childbearing age?” she speculated, back to looking at the big picture analytically.
“We both know you’re not.”
“But men view a woman’s age differently—like we have an over-forty expiration date.”
A new thought hit me.
“Wait…If the whole point was to make us desperate enough to sign a prenup, why agree to shares? Why wouldn’t Hestian find a way to back Dad to avoid that?”
“That’s a good question. Did you talk to Mr. Steele about the meeting?”
“He knows I got the shares,” I said, already grabbing my phone.
Me: Mom and I were talking. If Hestian’s been bringing us to the point of desperation to marry him, why would he let Dad sign over TAS shares?
K: Why didn’t you tell me Hestian was at the meeting?
Me: Why? Does it mean something that he was there? Other than the fact my dad is shady AF and can’t be trusted…
K: It means you still don’t trust me with the small details.
Me: Here’s a small detail for you. I’m getting my period soon and finding you exceptionally annoying today.
K: I will have Felix check the share transfer thoroughly. You’re right. It doesn’t make sense. Did your mom find anything?
“What did he say?” Mom asked when I looked up at her.
“He agrees it’s odd and asked if you found anything?”
“Honestly, I didn’t get that far today. I used his card to pay off all of our bills. Then I got another rideshare downtown to buy some clothes. I was looking for an old coworker, but also trying to be seen spending money to establish that we’re fine financially.”
I nodded and sent that update to Konni.
“He said that’s fine,” I summarized, reading his response. “He was just curious and knows it’ll take time.”
“Why are you flushing? What else did he say?”
“Please don’t be like your daughter and omit details,” I read. “Until we understand what’s happening, everything is important. Even someone from your past you might run into by chance, or Mr. Hestian himself.”
Mom smirked. “He didn’t know Hestian was there, did he?”
“I was more focused on the shares. I wasn’t thinking that it was confirmation that Hestian is actually interested in me.”
“You’re gorgeous. Who wouldn’t be?”
“I would like anyone older than my father not to be interested. Please and thank you.”
She laughed and stood. “Come help me pick out what I should wear tomorrow from what I bought today.”
She was moving stiffly, and I knew today had worn her out.
A small gift box and a bouquet were on my desk waiting for me when I arrived. The red roses, white lilies, pink camellias, and white poppies were arranged beautifully with trailing ivy in a clear vase. A note perched in the blooms.
A small token for what I feel for you.
And a warning, perhaps—some things, once planted, refuse to stop growing.
~K
I opened the gift box and fought not to smile at the pain relievers, adhesive warmer for cramps, and the assortment of chocolates.
“We’re trying not to be nosey,” Bomir said, “But we’re dying to know who they’re from.”
“And what’s in the gift box?” Marius added.
I put the lid back on the box and passed it to him over the monitor.
“Aw,” he said, opening it. “This is the sweetest thing ever. Look, Bomir. It’s a care package.”
Edi glanced at the note.
“May I?” he asked.
I handed it to him and watched, confused, as he used his office scissors to snip off the strip at the bottom. The part with the “K” disappeared into his garbage. He handed the rest back.
“Sometimes,” he said, “we need to think for him."
They knew?
My face flushed scarlet.
Bomir passed the box back to me. “This is adorable. Most guys don’t have this level of intelligence.”
I tucked the gift into my workstation drawer and set the note against the vase. Just in time, too.
Lianna strode into our section of the floor, her gaze fixed on Edi.
“Is he in?”
“He is.”
“Good. I’ll need him for the morning.”
She started for Konni’s door but changed course when her gaze landed on the flowers. Without asking, she picked up the note and read it.
She paused between reading it and the polite, practiced smile that followed.
“An admirer?”
“Seems so,” I said.
“How lovely.” Her tone held warmth, but not her eyes, as her gaze flicked to the bottom of the note. “Anyone we know, or is it a secret?”
I shrugged. “Everyone I know already knows how strongly anti-romance I am. Especially in the workplace.”
She made a soft, non-committal hum. “Well, whoever he is, I hope he understands how demanding your position is. The CEO’s secretariat isn’t exactly light work.
” She set the card back, smoothing it with her fingertips before stepping away.
“Don’t let romance distract you before you’ve had a chance to establish your career here.
So many things in life end before they can flourish. ”
The sweetness in her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she turned and walked straight into Konni’s office.
“She won’t be in there long,” Edi said.
I tore my gaze from the door.
“Why?”
Edi’s small smile eased some of the tightness that had crept into my chest. “He won’t want to wait that long for your reaction.”
The blatant reminder that they all knew who “K” was sent my pulse skittering again.
“There’s no reaction to give,” I said quickly. “I’m going to go make his post-Lianna coffee.”