33. Lea
33
LEA
T wo months of nonstop studying had passed, and I felt no closer to becoming a potion producer than when I first started.
Although Akil seemed to think I was almost ready, he told me that getting anywhere in life requires ninety percent confidence, which was never my strong suit.
That was more Jax’s thing.
I sighed, collapsing onto the table and slapping my head into the middle of the book I was studying.
“Working hard, I see.” Agent Rowan Lexie came barging into Akil’s home the way she often did.
I snapped my head up, and my heart jumped into my throat simultaneously. “I just laid my head down for a second!”
“Sure you did.” She shrugged sarcastically. “Anyway, I have some good news for you. Akil says that you’re ready to move on. You can at least pass off being a potions producer with the information we’ve given you.”
A nervous shiver ran down my spine.
I didn’t feel up to it at all. I still had so much left to learn.
“The look on your face tells me you’re excited.” Rowan smacked her hands against the table like they were drums.
“Really? The look on my face should tell you I’m terrified.” I clenched my teeth together and smiled.
“Nonsense. You’ll be fine. We’ll be by your side as much as possible, so you’ll rarely ever be alone. Besides, I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. I’ve seen the things you’re capable of. You have more talent in your little pinky than most potion producers I’ve met in my lifetime.” Rowan genuinely smiled back at me, catching me off guard.
It was rare that she wasn’t sarcastic in some way.
I didn’t know how to react to her being genuine.
“Good news, darling! I believe you’re ready—” Akil pushed both doors open and held out his arms while yelling at the top of his lungs.
“I already told her!” Rowan hollered from over her shoulder.
“Dammit, Rowan! I told you I wanted to announce it!” Akil stomped his talon toes aggressively.
Rowan turned back to me and stifled her laugh with a shrug.
I grew rather fond of these two in the last two months, but I’d done my best to keep my distance from them. I didn’t know how much more heartache I could take.
The next one might be the last straw before my heart gives out.
“Rowan’s treachery aside, I will host a party with all the industry bigwigs. That way, we can introduce you to Jax without arousing suspicion. Once we show off your skills, he’ll have no choice but to try and hire you.” Akil delighted himself with the plan.
“But wait, won’t he recognize me? I know it’s been seventeen years, but it would blow the whole mission if he did.”
I looked between both of them.
Rowan pursed her lips and mumbled, “Since you changed your wardrobe, I don’t even recognize you from two months ago.”
“Thanks for that,” I responded dryly.
“Of course, we should change your appearance a little more. Time and fashion have already done a lot for you, but perhaps giving you a haircut would help.” Akil’s eyes rolled with the desire to touch my hair.
“I take it you already have something in mind?”
Of course, he did. Akil wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise. He smiled at me and raised his brow muscles. “Let’s get you ready.”
T he day of the party came much too soon for my liking.
I stood in Akil’s grand greeting room in a long champagne-colored dress made of the finest silk.
They dyed my soft honey curls a deep copper color.
Luckily, I managed to keep my hair long despite Akil working freely with the scissors.
If I were to look in the mirror, I would hardly recognize myself. That was the whole point, after all, but I felt like a different person standing here. I didn’t know if maybe it was because I had changed after all this time.
Is it possible I was still growing and altering even after being stuck in the same place for seventeen years? That’s a nice thought.
My momentary peace was disturbed as Akil opened the doors to his home and allowed the menagerie of people to flood in one by one.
“We simply have to see your protege, Mr. Wiley,” I already heard one of them say from across the room.
“In time, dear friend, in time. For now, please enjoy a sample of one of her fine potions.” Akil stepped aside so that one of his servers with a tray of my potion could hand it to the gentleman.
“A potion sample at the front door. That’s a little unorthodox, don’t you think?” He threw his head back and chortled but still took one.
“You’ll understand once you try it. And don’t worry; the potions have already been patented and approved for safety. There won’t be any fiasco with your hair falling out here.” Akil nudged the gentleman and laughed along with him.
I wasn’t privy to the joke, but it appeared that was an issue at some point.
You’d have to be a terrible potionist to put out something that made people’s hair fall out!
“So nice of you to join us, Mr. Ransom. I heard about your new company. I’m very interested to see where you go with this one.”
I turned my back to Akil as soon as I heard his name.
My chest seized up, making it impossible for my heart to move or for me to breathe.
My vision became blurry, and cold sweats poured out from my pores.
I clutched my stomach, realizing that I was a few moments away from passing out.
I have to get out of here. I thought I could do this, but I can’t!
I tried to rush out of the room, but someone caught me. I turned around, looking down at my wrist and the hand encompassing it. “Oh, Lunaira.”
My eyes slowly moved up the arm of the person who accosted me.
I gasped, realizing that he was wearing a mask. “Do I know you?”
There was something about him… But it was a ghost of familiarity at best, not one I could pinpoint.
I shook my hand free from him and held it to my chest.
“My apologies. I thought I recognized you from somewhere. My mistake.” He tilted his head at me, and I watched his dark brown eyes look me up and down. The mask covered the rest of his defining features except his ears. He looked Elvean, but his ears were much shorter than they should have been.
“I assure you, we’ve never met before. My name is Uremma Mirth. I’m new to Anterra. So, I unfortunately don’t know a living soul here.” I couldn’t believe how well I slipped into the role.
I guess all that practicing didn’t go to waste.
“Is that so? I’m happy to be your first acquaintance then. I’m Emory Blake.” He held out his hand for mine.
I placed my hand in his as it was impolite to deny him.
His lips gently brushed against my knuckles, and the moment felt too intimate.
I pulled my hand away and bowed my head. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m needed over there.”
I couldn’t get away from him fast enough.
My heart pounded against my rib cage, and my face felt warm and flustered.
Who was that man?
“Miss Mirth, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. There’s a very eager fan waiting to meet you.” Akil wrapped his arm in mine and practically dragged me into the crowd.
To go from being locked up and having the same twenty people to talk to for seventeen years to being at a party with a bunch of people I don’t know was the most nerve-wracking thing of all.
Even with Rowan’s charm school lessons, I didn’t feel prepared to converse with these people.
“There she is, the woman of the hour.” Jax held out his arms and approached me.
Part of me was terrified that he would recognize me on the spot, but as we continued talking, I realized I was safe.
He probably didn’t even remember what I looked like. He cared so little about me, after all.
I was just another tool for his benefit.
My hands balled up into fists and burned with pain.
I realized too late that I was squeezing my hand so tightly that blood was dripping down from my palms. I immediately relaxed and offered Jax a smile.
I just have to remember that if I can play along for a little bit longer, I can take him down—destroy everything he built. I want to make him suffer the way he’s made me suffer.
Although the rage swelled inside of me, I made sure to keep my composure. “Mr. Ransom, I am delighted to make your acquaintance finally. I’ve heard nothing but good things about your talent. Your invention of the port powder was simply genius.”
I stabbed him a little with my words. I couldn’t help it.
I extended my hand toward his and shook it with all my strength.
“That’s quite a powerful grip you’ve got there.” He laughed uncomfortably before retracting his hand.
Damn, I need to keep on task. If I don’t charm him, this mission is as good as dead.
“Have you had a chance to taste the potion sample yet?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. “It’s intended to influence the mood of whoever drinks it. In this case, it gives one a euphoric feeling.”
The way that his face was flushed and his eyes were dazed… He had at least three or four by now.
Aside from my potion book, it looks like he’s also acquired a drinking problem.
“It’s a simply wonderful idea. Simple and wonderful.” The way he emphasized his words was an attempt to demean me.
Unfortunately, I don’t value his opinion enough to be affected by that. “It is just a mere taste of what I’m capable of.”
“So tell me, why are you getting into potion production instead of becoming a potionist? Clearly, you have the talent for it.” Jax waved his empty potion glass in the air with an uneven smile.
I could only assume he was trying to use his charm on me. What he didn’t know was that I already had the upper hand. “Well, isn’t that what you did? Became a potionist and then a potion producer. I’m just skipping the middle part. I have an eye for talent. That’s what I’m looking to utilize.”
“So you’re specifically looking to become a potion agent?” He raised an eyebrow at me before looking me up and down.
It took everything in me not to throw my fist out and punch him right in the face.
“I believe we might have a use for you at my company… If you’re interested. I certainly would be a fool to ignore such talent.” He managed his age-old, dashing smile.
I wanted to know if it still worked as well as it used to. There had to be more than just me that saw through the thin veneer of his personality. I wanted to know if someone hated him as much as I did. “I appreciate the offer. I will give it some thought.”
“It’s wonderful. I look forward to working with you.” He grabbed another glass from one of the servers and raised it to me.
I imagined very vividly in my head grabbing that serving tray and bashing him over the head with it. I imagined a thousand more creative ways to kill him just in the few minutes we stood there talking.
That smug face… Abusing the charm he had to get ahead wherever he went. Living his life like he’s already won every game he’s ever played.
I despised him more than before because now I saw him in his entirety. I wore rose-colored glasses for so long that I never saw him. I would never make that mistake again.
T he party had ended and I was never more grateful to be in empty silence.
After all, it wasn’t just Jax I had to talk to.
Akil introduced me to every person that came to that party.
I swear, I never want to see another potion producer for as long as I live.
“Akil tells me that you did very well there.” Rowan beamed with delight.
“I’m glad I did well because I was dying on the inside. That was torture… And I would know. I’ve actually been tortured.” My face twisted with exhaustion and disdain. “Is that what it’s supposed to be like? Kissing their butts and hoping they’ll throw you a bone?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But never mind that now. We can move on to the next phase. Now you’re going to have to be very careful with this part. We won’t be able to stay as close to you while you’re working with Jax in his company,” Rowan explained, but my mind was elsewhere.
“This is going to be especially difficult for you given your history with Jax. I implore you to put your grievances behind you. All it will do is cloud your judgment, and we need you with a clear head.” Akil narrowed his birdlike eyes at me with a seriousness. “It was all right to mess with him, because he was buzzed from your potion, but that’s not going to fly when you’re working with him.”
So he picked up on that, huh?
“How am I supposed to let go of seventeen years of anger? He took everything from me. Anything that mattered was his to crush. You want me to pretend I don’t hate him with every fiber of my being?” I looked between the two of them, trying to stave off the tears that were threatening to pour out of my eyes.
Rowan took my hand in hers and squeezed my fingers. She stared at me with an earnestness in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before in her. “I can’t imagine what he put you through. I can’t even begin to imagine how you survived all of it, but you did. As many times as he’s tried to destroy you, he has failed. That’s got to mean something. Your anger is understandable—hell, it’s even deserved, but you’re holding on to things of the past when there’s nothing there for you anymore. This, right here, is happening now. You have a chance to make a real difference in the world. You can help free all those people locked up for crimes they didn’t commit. That can be your future… If you let go of your past.”
As much as I hated to hear it, I knew she was right.