Chapter Thirty-Four
Joslyn
Abby, my shadow Evan, and I file into the arena like a troop movement shortly before lunch.
Despite everything that’s happened in the past few days, I can’t help but smile softly every time I think of Damon.
He makes me feel so special, and he does it without fanfare.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and it’s thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
The funny thing is, the more time we spend together, the less frightening it gets.
That should bother me, but it doesn’t. We still need to sit down and talk about all this before we jump right into a relationship, but I’m starting to feel like maybe we can make this work.
Also, relationship?
Yes, relationship.
“I see you finally decided to grace us with your presence.” Matilda’s snarky comment rips through my reverie.
What the actual fuck?
I look up, startled by the venom in her voice. Sure, she’s always been rude, but in a subtle way, never to my face. I stop in my tracks.
“The Robertsons are turning in their graves to see you in charge of this team. You’re going to turn this team into a bunch of sissies. You and that pansy-ass GM. It’s despicable to see what you’ve done to their legacy.”
Her face is twisted with rage and hatred. Her eyes glitter as she continues her diatribe of my faults as she sees them.
“He never loved you. Your whole marriage was a sham. He only chose you for breeding, but you were never worthy of him.”
Oh my God. Is she talking about Kurt? She sounds…
jealous. Wow, I didn’t see that coming. She has no idea that I would have happily given him up in a heartbeat.
Knowing Kurt, he kept stringing her along for his own nefarious reasons.
If she only knew the truth. Not that I’m about to enlighten her.
I’m not even sure what is setting her off today. Is it because I came in late?
Evan starts to say something, but I put up a hand.
I want to see where this is going. I’m stunned that she’s been holding on to these feelings for all these years.
Surprisingly, nothing she’s said has hurt my feelings.
Sure, I might have crumbled under her derision a couple of years ago.
But not today. Not now. Now, I just feel sorry for her.
She’s another casualty of Kurt’s manipulation.
Jesus, ten years gone, and he’s still haunting us. Asshole.
“You were never a good wife to him. He told me. Every day, he came in and told me all about how miserable you made him. I know you did it to keep us apart. You wouldn’t let him leave. You were jealous. Why couldn’t you just let me have him? You didn’t even want him. You selfish bitch!”
Wow, just so much to unpack there. She’s a bit unhinged. My pity is rapidly being replaced with annoyance.
She’s shrieking now, her shrill voice loud and penetrating, eyes gleaming with malevolence. I was willing to hear her out at first, but I won’t let her continue to harangue me like this. Not here or anywhere. I’m done with letting people walk over me.
“Enough,” my authoritative shout rings through the suddenly silent room. “You’ve had your say, Matilda, and now you’re done.” She opens her mouth, presumably to shout me down, but I’ve had it with bullies. I hold up a hand and keep talking.
“In fact, it’s past time for you to retire from the Wolves organization. I’ll have HR forward the requisite paperwork. Your presence is no longer required. You may leave.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I add, “Evan, please escort Matilda to the elevator. Mel, please call security and gather her belongings. Matilda, security will escort you to your vehicle and ensure you leave the premises. Do not return, or I will involve the authorities.”
My voice is cold as ice because enough is enough. Evan grabs her by the arms and frog-marches her to the elevator. At the same time, Mel gathers her belongings to hand over to the security personnel. The shocked look of disbelief on her pale face is incredibly gratifying.
“You can’t do this!” she squawks, voice hoarse from all her screeching.
“Yes, Matilda, I can,” I say with cold finality. Then, I turn my back on her and stride toward my office. I’ve had enough of people hurling insults at me. This is my god-damn team, and it’s time people remembered that.
Yes! I am a badass!
I congratulate myself for being brave, even though I’m shaking with the adrenaline of the moment.
I pause for a few minutes outside my office to get myself under control.
Abby nuzzles my legs, licking my hand when I reach down to pet her soft fur.
Touching my pupper always seems to ground me. I’m so lucky to have her.
I keep stroking her head until my breathing is under control and my heart rate slows to a normal rhythm.
“You’re the bestest girl. Let’s get you a treat.”
I have a treat jar behind my desk, although why I need one is a mystery, because she gets plenty from Damon and Jacob, but occasionally, I get to give her one myself.
“Here you go. Such a good girl.”
The door slams shut with a sharp bang. It startles me, and I whirl to see what happened. I’m absolutely shocked to see Bill standing by the door. How the hell did he get into the arena? The lock clicks, and a feeling of dread washes over me.
“Bill?”
“Joslyn,” he sneers.
Of course, I completely forgot about him amid the Matilda drama and everything else that has happened in the last two days. Could we please just go through one day without drama?
My eyes narrow as I take in his disheveled appearance.
His expensive suit is wrinkled and stained, the costly fabric torn in unexpected places.
Is that ketchup on his shirt? God, I hope so.
I don’t want to think about what else it could be.
The sparse hair he does have is lank and greasy, and there’s a smudge of dirt on his cheek, but it’s his expression that has me gasping in alarm.
Bitter resentment twists his features, his watery blue eyes intense and paranoid, and a malicious smirk appears as he gives me a once-over.
Holy shit! Bill’s obviously not playing with a full deck at this point. I’m cautious as I respond.
“What are you doing here, Bill?” I keep my voice soft and non-confrontational. I don’t want to spook him.
“Don’t act surprised. You knew I was coming for you.” His harsh voice is loaded with malice.
“How did you even get inside the arena?” I know we hired extra security, and Bill’s picture was prominently displayed.
“Matilda has her uses. She really hates your guts, you know. I didn’t even have to persuade her, she was on board the minute I mentioned my plan.
She even provided a distraction. She’s been waiting years to say something to you.
So pathetic. Not like he even gave a shit about her.
” He sneers, apparently disgusted by her feelings for Kurt.
Now I’m starting to feel a bit bad for her again.
“I wouldn’t have needed her if I could have gotten into your house.
I tried, but that stupid mutt started barking.
” He chuckles mirthlessly. It all clicks in my head, the damn trash cans.
I really thought that Abby was barking at a bunch of teenagers.
Score one for my pupper. I’m also starting to feel much better about that new security system at home.
“This is all your fault! Why couldn’t you just know your place? You can’t possibly think you’re smart enough to run this team?” He snickers at the thought. His deranged look has me doubting his mental capacity.
I can’t help myself as I blurt out, “Still an asshat, I see.”
Why can’t I just shut up? Apparently, my inner badass is on a roll today, or maybe I’m just over people’s shit.
The cruel smile that appears on his face ramps up my uneasiness as he moves toward me. I shiver with apprehension as Abby leans into my leg with a slight whine.
He pulls his hand from his pocket, and I’m faced with the barrel of a gun as he purposefully strides in my direction. I scramble back until I hit my desk. Holy shit, that’s a fucking gun. My fear spikes, and my heart tries to beat right out of my chest. Abby’s low growl fills the silence.
“You better keep that mutt under control. I’d hate to have to shoot it.” He looks positively thrilled at the thought of hurting my Abby.
You have to be a real douchebag to hurt an animal.
Yeah, I keep that thought to myself this time because…
gun. I might be furious, but I’m not stupid, despite my behavior earlier.
Also, where the fuck is Evan? Because this would be the perfect situation for a bodyguard to handle.
Then, I remember that Bill locked the door.
Fuck! Mel has keys, maybe I can shout to get her attention. She’d never disturb me otherwise.
“Not so confident now, are we?” he sneers, his pompous smile reappearing. That’s not gonna be good for me. I need to keep him talking while I devise a plan. Think, Joslyn, think!
“I don’t know why you’re so mad at me. I mean, Kurt and Tad didn’t give you the ownership. They left it to Jacob and me. Why didn’t they leave it to you? Maybe because they knew they couldn’t trust you?”
I needle him, watching his face closely. He’s beyond rational now, so he’s not even trying to hide his hatred. Spiteful resentment distorts his expression as my comment hits its target. Good. Now for more.
“You’re not really at their social level, are you, Bill?
You know how it is, good enough to do their dirty work but not good enough to sit at their table.
Maybe you need to know your place?“ I sneer, putting as much disdain as I can muster into my tone. Not that it’s difficult at this point.
Now, if I can just keep my voice steady.
I give him a smug smirk to emphasize my point and twist the knife a bit deeper.
His face turns a deep red and contorts into a mask of savage fury.
“You fucking bitch!” he roars.