CHAPTER FORTY
LILA
Well, I thought this day couldn’t get any worse. But somehow, it just did. I mean, I wish he meant the things he said. I wish every word he said were real, but ever since he spun around in that chair during my interview, all he’s done is torment me.
And what did he mean by “Oh, Princess… you sure do love a good chase”?
The only person who’s ever chased me is… No. No way. Kage wouldn’t be that cruel. To play those games and pretend none of it mattered. If he did, he’d have to be completely soulless.
But he’s Beck’s best friend so that he would have been at the Halloween party… right? There’s no way he’s the Red Mask. He couldn’t be. It’s not possible.
I shake the thought from my head and stomp down the stairs to the correct floor. I shove the heavy metal door open and practically sprint down the hall, running from what just happened or maybe, if I’m being honest, from the entire past few days. I finally reach the office.
Clint is waiting, arms crossed, foot tapping. That smug bastard grin stretched across his face like he’s been rehearsing a monologue just for me. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” He freezes, giving me a once-over in complete shock. “Damn, Lila. You look like shit. What happened?”
I cut him off before he can get another stupid word out. “Don’t start with me, Clint. I’m not in the mood, and I swear, if you piss me off today, I’ll tase you.”
“Woooah, sweetheart, let’s not get crazy this morning.” He smirks. “But I do have to ask… why are you an hour late? ”
“Why don’t you ask that prick, Kage?”
His grin widens like he knows something I don’t. “What?” I snap.
“I saw the way you two looked at each other at the club. You can’t fake a kiss like that. Were you two up all night, finally banging it out?”
"You're really asking to get tased this morning." I shoot him a glare sharp enough to kill a man and reach into my bag like I’m actually considering it.
He calls my bluff and stands there with his arms crossed, clearly waiting for some kind of confession. But there is nothing to tell. Kage likes to play games and sleep around. “Clint, we both know he’s a man-whore and a walking STD. I’m going to pass.”
He shrugs. “I guess you’re right… But you know you always have me.” He winks like he’s doing me a favor.
I roll my eyes and head to my desk, letting out a breath as I catch sight of the fresh flowers Aster dropped off this weekend after we visited Mom.
I haven’t had a chance even to decorate my gray, drab desk because so much has been going on, but Aster came to the rescue, ready to cheer me up. And she never disappoints.
I can’t believe my eyes. It’s beautiful. The once-boring cubicle is now a soft, dreamy haven. Gold-framed pictures of me, Mom, Dad, and Aster are arranged across the walls, each one capturing different moments of our lives.
A tear slips down my cheek. They line the space like a quiet reminder of why I keep going every day. Them. My home.
Two computer monitors are framed in gold.
A light pink mouse and keyboard tie it all together.
The mat underneath is adorned with pink and gold flowers, pulling everything into a perfect, gentle harmony.
Soft lights drape overhead, brightening the dark cubicle.
My name, “LILA,” written in elegant cursive, stands proudly against the backdrop, and for a moment, I almost forget everything that’s gone wrong today.
My desk is L-shaped, complete with a plush pink chair that looks as inviting as a hug, exactly what I need right now. The soft touch soothes me, healing a tiny piece of my broken spirit. I inhale deeply, the scent of the pink peonies masking the damp, rain-soaked scent clinging to my clothes.
On the gold pinboard is a sticky note from Aster: “Kick ass soul sister. I love you. Kisses,” signed with her signature, a delicate aster flower.
I smile, really needing that this morning. She outdid herself, as always. I open my drawers and find a beauty kit tucked inside. Makeup, deodorant, perfume, a hairbrush, and mouthwash - everything I need to salvage the mess I am today.
“Aster, you are heaven-sent,” I murmur. Then, a bag with my favorite snacks, topped with a sticky note: “You can thank me later.” I laugh softly.
“Good morning, team! Be ready in five minutes. We’ve got a meeting about the Wolf.” Clint’s voice echoes through the office.
My throat tightens at the sound of his name. My smile fades, dread twisting in my gut. I’m going to have to get used to hearing his name if I want to work in this department. I can’t let the fear of him rule me forever.
Besides, he’s in prison… right?
My hands shake as I swipe on lip gloss and throw my hair into a high ponytail. My heart stutters, skipping again and again.
Dammit, not these things again.
The flip-flop in my chest unnerves me. They say it’s just anxiety. The cardiologist has checked me, but that doesn’t stop the fear clawing at my insides. The feeling that I’m going to die at any moment.
I grab my clipboard and pen, forcing myself to act composed. From this awful day to the skipped heartbeats, I’m internally a mess. My legs tremble in my heels as I slide into a chair at the large conference table.
Ugh, I hope Kage isn’t the one leading this meeting today. That would be the tip of the iceberg.
The same coworkers from the first meeting take their seats, notes and files in hand.
I can’t wait to finally contribute something meaningful to the team instead of just prepping the ballroom for Saturday.
“Alright, team, let’s begin,” Clint says, his professional tone switching on.
“We’ve located a few of the girls who were kidnapped.
We’re going to do a rescue operation tomorrow.
Sage and Kelley, you’ll be helping the rescue team.
” They nod, focused and determined. “What else do we have? Any updates?”
“Yes,” someone says. “The cops arrested one of the suspects who was relaying information from inside the prison. We think that’s how Volkov’s been working from behind bars.”
“I’ll talk to the law enforcement team to see if they’ve questioned him yet,” Clint replies.
Sage speaks up. “The police also suspect there’s a rat in the company leaking information to Volkov.”
Clint grips the table like the comment pissed him off. “I’ll talk to Beck and Kage about it. But if there is a rat, I hope they know those two don’t mess around. Any other updates?”
I clear my throat. “Did you guys find anything on the hard drive from Natasha’s computer?”
Clint and the rest of the team exchange confused looks. “Huh? Who’s Natasha? ”
My pulse spikes.
They would’ve checked the drive. They would’ve known. Unless… they didn’t even know it existed. Unless he never told them.
“Ah… Kage took me with him—” I stop myself, scrambling, unsure if I should even mention it. “Sorry, guys. I’m running on no sleep. Must’ve dreamed it.” My heart skips again from the stress, leaving me breathless.
Clint lets out a light laugh. “We’ve all been there. Once we wrap up, Lila, head down to the ballroom and finish everything for Saturday.”
“Okay. Will do,” I reply softly, praying I didn’t just blow everything. But my mind won’t stop racing.
Why did Kage hide Natasha? Why didn’t he tell them about the hard drive?
My heart twists, dread building in my chest. There, in the window of the conference room, I catch a shadow that freezes me in place.
His granite-green eyes meet mine, unreadable and cold.
He doesn’t smirk or give anything away. Kage slowly turns, his dark brown Armani suit sharp and controlled, his hands slipping into his pockets as he walks away.
He disappears, silent as ever, but the damage is done.
And now I don’t know what terrifies me more. That Kage is hiding something, or that the man I’ve let into my heart is possibly helping the same monster who once tried to tear it out.