Chapter 35 #2
“Yeah. The morning after the gala. He saw Kaya’s photos of Konni and me and offered to ‘clear the air’ with Konni about the data leak to help move along my relationship with his future son-in-law.”
“What a horrible man,” Becky said softly.
“Horribly smart and very opportunistic,” I said. “Konni is a bigger fish than Hestian, which is why none of this feels right. I think we’re missing something.”
“You might be right,” Mom said. “If your father had a connection at Steele Corp, he wouldn’t have used that connection to send data to himself. He would have tried meeting with Konni. Gaining favors.”
Konni and I shared a look because we both knew the data leak had been Lianna.
“If we rule that instance out, does everything else fit?” Konni asked.
“The fire and the car accident are still too high risk for him,” I said.
“Then we’ll focus on those and dig until we find concrete evidence,” Balak said.
I thanked him and promised that we would leave early so we could change before the dinner party.
Alone, Konni leaned back and opened his arms. Unable to refuse the invitation, I went around the desk and snuggled into his lap.
“Are you sure you’re not upset your father might have tried to kill your mother?”
“Positive. If he wanted her dead, he would have just killed her in the first place instead of going through the hassle of divorcing her and buying back her stocks slowly.”
“When you put it like that…”
“Exactly. And while I think the data leak is absolutely Lianna, I don’t think the car accident is. The fire, maybe. She’s a dragon after all.”
“She would have burned your house in person if it were her, not hired an arsonist,” Konni said.
I sighed and smoothed my hand over his chest, copping a feel to soothe myself, not him. He still started to rumble happily, though.
“We’re on a temporary time out,” I said, patting his chest consolingly. “Someone was a little too enthusiastic last night.”
“I’ll be sure to tie you down next time to prevent that.”
I grinned into his shirt, already looking forward to it.
The stunning dress Becky and Kaya had picked out for me fit the occasion, which was more party than dinner. As we mingled, Kaya made a point to introduce us to the other humans present. Thankfully, their welcoming smiles didn’t carry the elitism that Lianna’s smile held across the room.
“According to the news, you’ve had quite the month,” the woman in front of me said.
“That pond incident really made headlines,” another woman said with a chuckle. “But, don’t worry. We’ve all had our public disasters.”
A third woman nodded. “Mine involved a charity gala and a heel snapping on the stairs. You survive it and keep marching on to laugh about it later.”
“Exactly,” the second woman agreed. “You don’t get to slow down—especially this time of year.”
“Speaking of,” the first one said, looking at Kaya, “will you be at Saturday’s event?”
“Of course. I’ve promised Abbye and Sophia a whirlwind month of shopping, fittings, and social events.”
The talk shifted to fashion, my favorite subject, and we exchanged boutique names and upcoming designer information.
“Who are you wearing tomorrow?” one of the women asked me.
I shared the boutique's name as Konni approached, carrying two fresh drinks. When I accepted the one he handed me, I noticed Lianna hovering nearby and mentally snorted at her desperation.
The woman who asked about my dress said she would find me on Saturday so I could tell her about my experience since it was a boutique she’d been meaning to try.
After I agreed, she and the others drifted away, leaving the four of us.
“How long do we need to stay?” Konni asked his mom softly.
She shot him an annoyed look.
“Abbye’s arm is starting to hurt, and Sophia’s shoes are giving her blisters,” he said.
My heels were divine works of craftsmanship that I couldn’t hate despite the pain they were causing. However, I was worried that Mom was feeling uncomfortable. So was Kaya. We left within minutes.
I waited until we were home and I was alone with Konni to ask how he’d known about Mom.
“Her scent,” he said.
I wrinkled my nose, hating that Mom had been hurting enough that her scent had changed.
“It’s been so long since the accident, and she’s been doing so much that I forget she’s still healing,” I said.
“It might not have been her arm,” he said, watching me remove my makeup. “I just guessed.”
“Did you guess about my heels?” I asked, lifting one to look at the mark there.
He shook his head slowly. “With you, it’s different. I could feel your discomfort when I got close to you.” He tenderly kissed the mark on my shoulder.
I scowled at him. “Does that mean you can feel when I’m sore after we…”
He lifted his head and grinned at me, his boyish amusement melting me a little.
“I can also feel how much you like what I do to you,” he said before kissing my neck.
It didn’t matter if I was still a little sore from the previous night. Konni was my weakness, and he knew exactly how to play me, taking extra care to bring me the release I craved without any extra aches.
Hours later, freshly showered, I passed out naked in his arms, not regretting a thing until the sun was up and I needed to get out of bed.
He kissed a path along my shoulder, his way of waking me up nicely, which I loved.
“We could take a day off,” he said, tempting me.
“Would we leave this room?”
“No.”
“I don’t think I’d survive. We’d better go to work.” I tried to move but he playfully kept me locked in his embrace as he nuzzled my neck.
“If you don’t let go, I’m going to be really sad because today’s dress fitting day, and you know how much I love pretty clothes.”
He groaned in defeat and released me.
Grinning, I stood, stretched to give him a good view, since I was still naked, then went to get ready.
At the breakfast table, the others discussed Balak’s investigation plan while I scrolled through the newsfeeds.
A few outlets were still grasping for scandal, citing my recent social life as social climbing. The commenters were laughing, asking who wouldn’t want to walk into the Steeles’ world of privilege and power.
Whoever had originally started the media smear campaign was losing ground badly.
“Don’t forget your fitting,” Becky said as we got ready to leave.
Konni snorted. “I think that’s the only reason she’s willing to go to work today.”
“Pfft. Knowing how excited I am for the fitting is the only reason you’re letting me go to work today.”
Becky laughed, handed us our lunches, and waved us off.
While Konni drove us in, I thought about the failing articles and asked, “What do you think they’ll try next?”
“Who?”
“Whoever was behind the first few articles trying to vilify me? Your mom’s behind-the-scenes clips have majorly shifted public opinion about me. Since they can’t bring me down in the public eye, what’s next?”
The steering wheel crackled, and I looked at Konni in surprise.
“Nothing,” he said firmly.
I didn’t realize what I’d done until I got to the office and he asked if I wanted to work in his office with him.
Making a face, I looked at Bomir. “Where’s the undo button?”
“For what?”
“I asked what’s going to happen next, now that the articles to stir public hate aren’t working anymore, and initiated overprotective mode again.”
Bomir laughed. “Oh, honey, you didn’t reinitiate it. It never turned off. You just got used to us tagging along. We were always transitionary until he could be the one tagging along all the time.”
I was starting to see why Kaya sent Balak away for weeks at a time.
Konni tried to take my hand, and I quickly turned him toward his office door.
“Remember the rules. I mean it.”
The annoyed rumble that came out of him amused me, but I didn’t let it show as he stalked away.
Thankfully, he didn’t pester me again until nine-thirty. When he came out of his office and knocked on my desk.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Almost.”
“Good. Edi, did you clear my schedule?”
I looked up from the email I was double-checking before sending.
“Don’t you dare,” I said. “You can’t put off the call at ten. It’s one of the last bigger clients on the list. You’re staying, and I’m going, and that’s final.”
His left eye twitched.
“Pick your substitute,” I said, not being unreasonable.
I thought Bomir would volunteer, but he stayed very quiet.
“I was going to drive you,” Konni said, trying again.
“No need. I’ll take a rideshare.” I stood, grabbed his tie, and pulled him down to my level so he knew I meant business. “I refuse to be the reason Steele Corp looks bad. Seal the deal, Konni. I’ll be back before lunch to make it up to you.”
Then, I broke my own rule by kissing his cheek.
The man melted. His eyes changed drastically, but he didn’t attempt to grab me as I released his tie.
He watched me pick up my purse and said, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
I shot him a quick smile, knowing he was going to have a hard time concentrating on his ten o’clock call, and left.
On the ride down to the lobby, I messaged Mom not to do anything wild after her cast was off. She sent back a picture of the already cracked cast, asking if I wanted it as a keepsake. My single-word answer earned a laughing response.
It didn’t take long for my rideshare to arrive, which meant it dropped me off early at the boutique.
Across the street, I saw a familiar face, which I purposely ignored, and sent Konni a quick text.
Me: If I’m seeing my super secret bodyguard, won’t other people too?
Konni: She lets you see her so you know you’re safe. Hurry back.
Me: I will.
I let myself into the boutique and smiled at the woman behind the counter.
“Hi, I’m Sophia Elmantas. Here for a fitting.”
“Of course. Follow me.”
She led me down a hall to a smaller changing room. The dress Becky had pre-ordered for me was already hanging inside, waiting.
“Would you like my help?” the woman asked.
“No. I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
“Just press the call button when you’re ready, and I’ll come back to check the fit,” the woman said.
I nodded and went inside, focused on the beautiful creation made just for me, as she closed the door.
The latch clicked.
Something scuffed against the floor.
Inside.
Behind me.
My eyes went wide half a second before an arm forcefully wrapped around my waist and jerked me back against a chest.
A cloth crushed my mouth.
Fumes burned my nose and lungs.
I fought.
Kicked.
Darkness closed in, stealing my strength, and the world went black.