Chapter 27 Reyna
REYNA
Four days of recovery is ample time to spiral into despair.
I hate being left alone with my thoughts.
I hate being ignored more.
I haven’t heard from Maddox since I went grocery shopping yesterday morning. While I was there, I had the misfortune of running into a guy from one of my classes—Alex—and had to pretend I was fine when he started asking why I look like I’ve been run over by a bus three times. It ruined my mood.
Then to be ghosted by Maddox after that? After he asked me to send pictures of my “proof of life.” It’s nearly unforgivable if you ask me. If anyone gets to ignore the other person, it’s me. I’m considering having a chiropractor on retainer because of how much whiplash that man gives me.
I’ve been left stewing and running through every possible theory on whether a secret society could actually exist. I mean, the idea wouldn’t be so far-fetched. The world is already corrupt as it is—or maybe I’ve just watched one too many movies involving cults.
“Seriously, though, if you need someone to carry you because you think you’re dying, let me know so Lawrence can have his knight-in-shining-armor moment.” Kimi winks as she climbs the campus steps beside me.
I send her a death glare. I’d provide a proper response if I weren’t trying to preserve my energy. Physically, I’m fine, I think. But my anxiety has manifested itself into flu-like symptoms. Which means needing to talk to the Lord of Darkness to see if there’s a real future for us.
She checks her phone before dropping it into her purse. “Right, well, I’m going to love you and leave you. Owen said he’s taking me to Chicago for dinner.”
I come to a screeching halt. “Wait, what? Since when are you on a traveling basis?”
Kimi shrugs innocently while still looking smug as hell. “Since I like him, and he likes me.”
“Him or his wallet?”
Her expression sours like the thought of him being just another guy hurts. “Him and his personality. His wallet is an added bonus. Besides, we’re taking his jet there, so I can carry pepper spray in my bag.”
I snort. “Don’t do anything stupid, all right? And use protection.”
Her eyes light up. “Funny you say that; I was going to email Shaw and tell him the same thing.”
I lightly hit her arm, looking around to make sure no one heard. “Don’t say that so loud.”
Cackling, she sashays backward. “It’ll be kinda cute if we have babies at the same time.”
Hard pass.
“Neither of us are getting pregnant, Kimi.”
“You’re not, but with the right financial incentive, I might. As they say, you’ve gotta get that bread, and I simply wasn’t built for the nine-to-five.”
For God’s sake. This woman is going to give me a brain aneurysm.
Her dedication to the sugar-baby lifestyle is admirable, if not exhausting. I’d be an entirely different person if I had even an ounce of her extroverted energy.
“For sure.” If my afternoon goes perfectly, Maddox will dispel my anxieties about us, and I will miraculously have everything I need to uncover my dad’s other life.
And whether this society has anything to do with it.
“Good luck. If Jennifer gives you a hard time, I’ll light her car on fire.” Kimi leaves with these departing words.
I feel bad for lying about who I’m going to see. Admitting that I’m going to corner Maddox won’t go down well with her, especially since she thinks we were a one-and-done deal and I’m just a girl fawning over her professor because I slept with him.
I’ll tell her eventually. She doesn’t need more of my drama when she babysat me after Mom died.
The walk to Maddox’s office seems to go on forever. I’m half tempted to leave this conversation for another day, but there’s no point delaying the inevitable. He’s made his intentions clear; he’ll have to show he’s dedicated to making this work by being completely honest with me.
Maybe it’s too early in our relationship to promise no more secrets, but I won’t compromise on it. No more cryptic answers. No more making excuses or putting off conversations. He needs to tell it to me straight. I need to see the full scope of what I’m getting into if I’m going to agree.
I pause with my foot midair at the sound of someone calling my name. I whip around toward it, and it takes me a moment to place the woman approaching me.
Abi.
My mouth goes dry, and I glance around for Kimi. A thousand questions fly through my mind. Why is she here? What does she want? Is she coming to see Maddox?
I force a strained smile onto my face. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her steps falter for a moment before she decides to close the distance. “We, um…” Abi’s throat bobs, and I shift my weight, unsure where to look. “We never got to talk the other day because… you know.”
My skin burns red, and I fidget with my hands. Never in my life did I imagine an interaction like this. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
This time, she offers me a genuine smile as a silent truce, and shrugs. “I get it. When you don’t know our world, it’s a lot to take in.”
As in the world of the upper class? The… society?
“Yeah.” Awkward silence hangs around us, neither of us daring to look at the other. I clear my throat. “Are you on the way to see Maddox?”
Abi’s eyes bug like I just accused her of murder. “No, no. God, no. I’ve come to see him once, and it was the most painful experience in my life. I try to avoid him at all costs.”
“Oh.” I can’t say that sounds like the workings of a happy marriage. Maddox mentioned something along the same vein. Their dislike toward each other is a balm on my aching wound.
Shaking her head, she continues and gestures to the building behind her. “My boyfriend studies here.” Her face lightens up at the mention of him. “Brodie and Spencer are on the same football team, and we were hanging out before they went to class.”
“Oh.”
Come on, Reyna. Form a proper sentence.
Hearing that she has a boyfriend has the knot in my stomach unwinding. I’m admittedly less repulsed by the circumstances I’ve landed myself in with Maddox.
“And you don’t want to be with Maddox?” I ask carefully. The answer is obvious, but I need to hear her say it.
“I wouldn’t want to marry him even if we were the last people on earth.”
I tap my finger against my thigh, taking a deep breath of cold air. “You both intend on ending it, then?”
She nods enthusiastically. “He invited me over the other day to assure you that he and I wanted the same thing. When he said he wanted to end our engagement, I almost passed out from relief.” Her perfectly styled hair falls from her shoulder when she shrugs.
“He must be taken by you. It’s literally the first time he’s ever approached me for something—actually, I think it’s the first time he’s willingly spoken to me. ”
My resolve solidifies with giddy delight. Maddox was telling the truth. He’s picking me. Us.
My shoulders relax as I let out a breath. “Thank you for telling me. I really appreciate it. You have no idea how much I needed to hear it from you.”
“Of course.” She nods. “The sooner you can get him and the Order off my back, the better. I feel guilty pulling Brodie along.”
Huh? “The Order?”
Abi’s bright hazel eyes turn into saucers, widening when they dart to something behind me. I spin around to catch what it was she saw, but there’s nothing but students who I don’t recognize walking around.
“Uh, you don’t—He never told—” She cuts herself off. “Yeah. Yes. Sorry. I was confused for a sec. It’s the name of my father’s, um… what’s it called? Subsidiary companies, or whatever? Like an Order of them? You get what I mean.” She chuckles nervously.
My forehead wrinkles.
She shakes her head and retreats back a step. “Anyway, just… be careful with him.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Why?”
“He… Um, I don’t really know how to put this, and you didn’t hear this from me or anything… but I’ve heard that he can be…” Her throat bobs. “Dangerous. Really dangerous.”
My heart hammers as I watch her back away slowly. Is she referring to the whole serial-killing thing? Because turns out, I’m pretty accepting of that. Or does she mean the secret society I’m digging into?
“Yeah, thanks for the heads-up.”
She gives me a tight-lipped smile as she turns around and says over her shoulder, “See you round.”
All right. What just happened? Her reactions at the end were off.
What did she call it? The Order?
So now the woman who Maddox is—was—supposed to marry for “business reasons” mentions “our world” and an “order”?
Shaking my head, I put a pin in what she said and continue on my trek to his office.
The conversation threw me, but at the same time it makes me feel more confident—about Maddox and my theories.
He’s made his intentions clear with someone other than me.
It’s exactly the kind of proof I wanted to see. A good first step.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my coat before knocking on his door, attempting not to sound timid.
The ball is in my court, I remind myself. I’m the one making decisions here. If I need more time or decide to walk away, that’s entirely up to me. The worst that could happen is—
The door swings open. Green eyes slam with mine, hard and forceful. Maddox’s nostrils flare when he realizes it’s me.
“Miss Sinaga.” He scowls.
My pulse ratchets up a notch. This isn’t the warm reception I thought I’d receive.
Nodding toward the hand he’s keeping firmly on the door, I ask, “Can I come in?”
“Did you make an appointment?” he says flatly.
My hackles rise. “What?” I blink several times. “No?”
“Then I’m afraid I’m busy.” There’s no humor in his tone.
My brow spears up to my hairline.
Right. No. Whatever game he’s playing ends now. It’s not cute. Nor is it funny. I barge right in, shoving his hand aside when he tries to stop me.
“What are you doing here?”
Is he serious right now? “I wanted to talk with you.”
He strides past me to his desk without sparing me a glance. “We have nothing to talk about.”
I pale. “Excuse me?” No, I must have heard wrong.