Chapter Fifteen
CASSIA
I CLASP MY hands behind my back, desperately trying to hide my shaking from watchful eyes. It’s a dead giveaway to my weakness, my fear.
The tile flooring clicks beneath my heels, and my long, black dress swishes around my ankles as I force myself to walk down the main corridor of the building. This was once a bank, but Aziel converted it into our government building shortly after I was born.
The security inside is severe, but I’m not forced to follow the standard procedures. People know who I am, and I hold my chin high as I breeze past the main security guards.
My heart pounds, and I let out a small sigh of relief when the guards step aside, letting me through without issue.
I was afraid they’d stop me. Word of my mission—and subsequent failure—has undoubtedly spread, and I wouldn’t put it past security to humiliate me by forcing me to join the line of employees waiting to be scanned in.
Maybe Aziel ordered them to let me through as usual. He doesn’t usually involve himself in my workplace affairs, though. He’s against giving me advantages, and I’m pretty sure he went out of his way to inform everybody that I was not under his protection when I first began working here.
It’s the only way to explain the hazing I was forced to endure.
I had no authority when I first walked through these doors, which was a massive shock to my system. Sixteen-year-old me thought I’d be ordering people around on day one, but I was sent on useless errands for months on end instead.
I could teleport, which isn’t something many demons my age could do.
Several of Aziel’s employees took advantage of that.
I spent my days teleporting all over Wrath, running errands that I realize now were useless.
When I’d become so exhausted that I could barely stand, I was made to translate old documents into the universal language.
I still can’t fathom why. Every Wrath is taught the traditional demonic language, and there are no plans to change that. People were trying to humble me.
My palms sweat as I continue down the wide hallway. People are looking at me, and I’m fighting every urge to teleport straight to my office.
I’m here because of Aziel’s threats, but I have no intention of working. I refuse to waste my time, not until I’m certain I’m working toward something meaningful.
I’ve only been gone for a few weeks, but it feels like a lifetime. I’m a different woman now. My confidence has been shattered into a million tiny pieces, and I’m returning with my tail tucked between my legs instead of with Mammon’s head on a silver platter. It’s a hard pill to swallow.
One of the main meeting halls is just up ahead, and the thick, wooden door beside it leads to my private wing. Aziel allowed me to renovate and move my team into it five years ago. It was a way to congratulate me for officially managing a team of fifty employees.
I take great pride in the environment I cultivated. I love my job, love my work, which makes Aziel’s statements about me not being suited to lead Wrath so painful.
I’m prepared for the worst as I enter my wing.
A short hallway leads to a large common area, and several private spaces line the walls.
The common room is relatively empty this morning, which is truly the best-case scenario.
Only three of my employees are here, but they’re shut up inside one of the conference rooms on the left.
A thick, glass wall is the only thing that separates us, and I pretend not to notice them as I hurry past, beelining straight for my office.
“Cassia!” Fuck me. “You’re back!”
I turn toward the feminine voice, already knowing whom it belongs to. Jassy is always one of the first to arrive. She’s dedicated, and she’s not afraid to put in extra hours.
She initially worked for Aziel, but from the first meeting we attended together, I knew that just wouldn’t do. I needed to have her. It took a significant pay raise and several promises to persuade her to join my team.
Aziel has yet to replace her.
I’ve always felt a little guilty about that, but not anymore. He lost the right to my guilt when he drugged and forced me out of Greed, then chained me up inside Wrath’s and Lust’s borders. Now, I’m glad I stole his best employee.
“It’s good to see you,” Jassy says. “Everybody was so worried when we heard you’d snuck into Greed. I’m glad you made it home safely.”
I feel sick to my stomach. I don’t want to think about this, let alone talk about it. I’m embarrassed with myself, and the last thing I want is to regale my team with the tale of my failures.
“How did you—”
“As much as I’d love to chat with you,” I interrupt Jassy before she continues, “I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
Jassy nods, her mouth pulling into a tight grimace. It’s not encouraging. Taking a day or two off is usually enough to set me behind, but several weeks is unheard of. It’ll take ten times as long to catch up on everything I’ve missed.
I’m in no rush, though. My motivation is shot.
“Of course.” Jassy steps back. “I don’t mean to hold you up.”
I suck my cheeks into my mouth, feeling like maybe I should say something kind to her, before awkwardly walking away. I’m not ready for this, and I send several nasty thoughts in Aziel’s direction as I step into my office.
It’s been rummaged through. The papers I left in organized piles on my desk are scattered, and the locked drawers underneath have been broken open. Fucking Aziel. I’m willing to bet he, Silas, and Gray tore my office to shreds once they’d discovered I was missing.
You’d think they’d have taken the time to clean it up once finished, but my fathers aren’t known for their politeness. I’m not the least bit surprised by the chaos they left me with. They don’t respect me enough to clean up after themselves.
The door clicks shut behind me, and I lower the blinds overlooking the common room. I don’t care to be seen today.
Only once I’m entirely hidden from view do I hang my head and round my shoulders. My gaze lands on my diamond bracelet. It’s a beautiful piece of jewelry, which I’m sure is intentional. Nobody will suspect it’s containing me within the Wrath and Lust borders.
I give the bracelet a test yank and try to slip it off my wrist, but it doesn’t budge. It never does.
My anger builds, mounting inside me. The sludge has completely worn off, leaving me volatile once more. I work my jaw side to side, evaluating the mess that’s become my office. This will take forever to clean and reorganize.
It’s a good excuse to lock myself away, though.
I don’t leave my office for several hours. The first few are spent cleaning, and the ones following are pure procrastination. Chatter filters in from the common room as people arrive for work. My name is mentioned several times, but I remain firm in my hiding.
Aziel can force me to come to work, but he can’t force me to participate.
I waste time clicking around on my computer, skimming through the million messages I’ve missed. There are more than I anticipated, and it seems there was a minor uproar from the Pitters while I was gone.
I’m not surprised. The pits were run through while I was young.
Rumor has it that a handful of Wraths were using it as their personal murder ground, and Aziel eventually shut it down altogether.
Most Wraths have come to accept its demise, but the Pitters wish to see it reinstated.
They cause trouble every few months, and I’m relieved I wasn’t here to deal with their latest fit.
A knock on my door draws my attention. It’s heavy and deliberate, which isn’t a good sign. Most people approach me with a high level of trepidation, and I can count on one hand the number of people who don’t.
Aziel is one of them.
It’s precisely why I don’t respond to the knock. I ignore it, pretending not to have heard as I continue flicking through my missed messages. I’m hardly surprised when there’s another knock several seconds later, and I resist the urge to slam my face against my desk when my doorknob begins to turn.
I didn’t lock it. Rookie mistake.
The door is pushed open, and I frown as I lock eyes with my infuriating father. Aziel hardly reacts to my outward glaring. In fact, I’d go as far as to say he’s going out of his way to ignore it. He smiles and raises an arm, showcasing a bag from my favorite pastry shop.
I blink, not acknowledging his intrusion as he steps inside my office.
“I brought you a little something.” He kicks the door shut behind him. “I had a box of treats delivered to your office a little over an hour ago. Your name is on it.”
Am I supposed to thank him for that? I don’t need him to bribe my team on my behalf. It’s condescending, and I don’t appreciate the meddling.
“Are you planning on leaving your office at any time today?” Aziel continues.
I shrug. “I’m busy.”
“You’re not.”
I am, actually. I bite my tongue, knowing nothing productive will come from arguing with Aziel.
I concentrate on the paperwork on my desk instead, tracing the curves of every number and letter.
The ink is black, and I can tell by the sheer amount of bolding and underlining that this crossed Jassy’s desk before landing on mine.
“Thanks for stopping by,” I say, carefully working through every word, “but I should be getting back to work.”
I gesture toward the door, but my gaze catches on the bag in Aziel’s hand. I’m hungry, and it smells good.
Aziel shakes his head. “You can eat during our board meeting. We’ve been putting off discussing next year’s budgets, but we can’t postpone any longer.” Aziel steps back and grabs my doorknob. “Everybody is waiting for you in the meeting hall. Let’s go.”
“No, thank you.”
“You have to participate, Cassia.”
“I do not.”
“You have more opinions than everybody in that room combined, my love. You need to attend.” Aziel opens my office door, exposing me to the common room beyond. “Let’s go.”
I work my jaw side to side, my anger boiling. I don’t appreciate being spoken to in this manner. I’ve told Aziel I’m busy, and he needs to respect that. He should be glad I even showed up today. I was up all last night debating it.
“Come, Cassia.”
Aziel speaks loud enough to be overheard. I ignore the several faces that turn in our direction. Aziel and I don’t work well together—we never have—and our arguing isn’t anything unfamiliar. Usually it’s me snapping at him, though. I much prefer it that way.
Aziel remains in the doorway, and when he subtly widens his stance, I realize he’s preparing for a fight.
He’s willing to drag me out of this room, kicking and screaming if need be.
No less than a million snarky remarks flash through my mind, but I remain silent.
I’m not feeling my best after spending so many days atrophying in bed, and I don’t want to say something I end up regretting.
“I’m not leaving without you,” Aziel threatens.
I shove back my chair and storm out of my office. Let’s just get this over with. I don’t have time for Aziel’s games. I’ll attend this one stupid meeting, then return to hiding.
Aziel follows me, his footfalls quiet as I head toward the meeting hall. Our budget discussions only happen once a year, and I usually look forward to them. I have one of the loudest voices in the room, and I almost always get what I want.
I may not be prepared this year, but I anticipate a similar outcome.