Insult #2
“Not surprising, since we brought him in for questioning, he was happy to share he thought all the Firefierces sucked. He got paid shit. Got treated like shit. And making matters worse, Tatra was inappropriate with him in more than just being a tyrannical bitch.”
Oh gods, no.
“Sexual harassment?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. With touching. Though she didn’t push it further than that, I think we can both agree that was bad enough. He has a wife and a kid and needs this job, that’s the only reason he didn’t leave.”
“What are you going to do?”
He appeared aggravated. “I haven’t decided yet. Because as infuriating as it is he did what he did, and the consequences of it, I understand why he did what he did.”
And now I understood his aggravation.
Tanyn kept talking.
“And he broke his NDA, but he didn’t break any other laws.
Nevertheless, I can sue for damages, and I’d win.
But that would lead to a PR fiasco. On the other hand, I can’t keep him on and pay him what he should earn, that wouldn’t be sending the right message to the other staff.
During questioning, he also told us that he wished he hadn’t done it, because he was horrified about what happened on Sigil, and worried he was the reason why.
We confirmed he was, and it was clear he was wrecked at that knowledge. ”
Consequences sucked, and unfortunately, this time they sucked for more than just the being who caused them.
Tanyn kept going.
“He also shared, just this morning, Camaryn and Barret had a staff meeting to inform them you wanted to meet everyone and had instructed them to provide a report so we can begin remunerating them appropriately. So now he feels like an absolute dick.”
I could imagine.
Tanyn continued, “We did all the checks before we pulled him in. He has zero ties to Arnaud and Tatra, as he wouldn’t, because he detests them.
Now, I’m leaning toward paying him off, sacking him and having him sign another NDA, understanding that he only gets one strike.
If he talks again, I will not be so lenient.
Though, he won’t be here, so he won’t have anything to talk about, except Arnaud and Tatra. ”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I said.
Tanyn studied me for so long without saying anything, I was forced to ask, “What?”
“You didn’t read the article.”
“I read enough. Though,” I went on curiously, “does it get worse?”
“No, because there isn’t anything bad to say about you.
You’re gorgeous. You have an interesting job.
You’re best friends with the True Bride.
Your father is an upstanding citizen of the Fall and known for his philanthropy.
And you don’t avoid the Edge and are known to visit often for vacation, thus, you and your family have spent a good deal of money as well as time here. ”
“Well then,” I mumbled.
“Although this was shared, it was sneeringly, Cat,” he stated. “They didn’t have enough threads to spin, but they did their best to spin it so you were portrayed negatively. Mira reports it’s all over the tapes.”
“All right.”
Tanyn studied me again, even closer.
So I repeated, “What?”
“You’re not upset about this?”
“I told you this would happen,” I reminded him, and belatedly I studied him, so I asked, “Are you upset?”
“Fuck yes,” he clipped. “They insulted you.”
“Tanyn, even if I was from the Edge, someone would find something not to like about me. I can’t obsess about what everyone thinks of me. It’d drive me mad.” I tipped my head to the side. “Do you worry about what beings think about you?”
“It’s of no consequence. I’m king. The end.”
Oh yes.
I totally loved this male.
I moved to him and put my hands on his chest. “And I’m the female you’ve chosen for queen.
The end,” I said softly. When I felt him relax under my hands, I continued, “Now, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t respond in some manner.
An official statement from the castle to confirm we’re courting.
Maybe planting some articles here and there that paint me…
and us…in a positive light. But mostly, we have to give it time.
Beings will get used to me, or they won’t.
We don’t have a lot of control over that. We just have to get on with it.”
“Our closet,” he whispered.
“Sorry?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He just grabbed my jaw and pressed a hard kiss on my lips.
When he finished doing that, I queried, “Did you accept Mira’s resignation?”
“I have not. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Did you hire her?”
He nodded, sliding his hands down to my neck.
“So she’s good at her job,” I remarked.
“She came highly recommended. She had stellar references. In fact, the CEO I hired her away from was pissed she lost her. But I don’t like the idea of keeping her if she has some bias against you.”
“And if she has some bias against me, she’s in a unique position to come to the understanding that’s bullshit, and then draft messaging around the same thing.” I moved into him to round him with my arms. “There’s no way to avoid it, I’m going to have to prove myself, Tanny.”
He stroked my jaw with his thumbs. “You’ll do that in a day.”
“That’s because you like me.”
“And that’s because you’re likeable.”
Hmm.
“Do you have time to fuck on the queen’s desk?” I queried.
His eyes lit.
But his lips said, “Alas, no.”
I didn’t either.
I told him that.
“I have the staff meet in half an hour. And this afternoon, I’m showing Gayle the picture of Selediel. Then, if you’re agreed we don’t want to let Mira go, I’ll sit down with her and develop a strategy to combat that article. So I don’t have time either.”
“No. I’ll speak with Mira. But we are agreed she should stay. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Works for me.”
“And for us, an early night.”
I grinned and repeated, “Works for me.”
He cocked his head. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
I shook mine. “No.” The moment I said that, something struck me, so I changed my mind. “Actually…”
“What?”
“When I sat down with Barret and Camaryn, Barret said something unusual.”
“What was that?”
“She said she put up with Tatra because she felt she had to ‘until the real king could take his throne.’ She’s been here over thirty years. The real king was on the throne until your father died.”
Tanyn thought on that for a few beats before he said, “Do you think she sensed something was wrong with my father?”
“Actually, when she said it, I noted it, but I hadn’t given it much thought until right now.
But she, and any staff who’ve been around for a while, will have witnessed a great number of things.
Though, I’ll warn you, not many of them have been around for a while.
Due to pay and conditions, Camaryn and Barret told me staff turned over at an alarming rate.
Still…both of those two have been around for years.
They also informed me things got done if they circumvented Tatra and went to Arnaud.
But this didn’t make Tatra happy. So maybe Barret’s mention of the ‘real king’ is about Tatra pulling the strings. ”
“Maybe, but she should be questioned about this.”
I wasn’t sure that was a good idea.
“We’re in a battle to get the staff to trust us and be loyal to us, questioning them might not be a good thing.”
“And we’re currently in the uncomfortable position of facing an unknown with limited intel, what we have is trickling in too slowly, so the more we know…” He let that trail.
But he was right.
“Can you give me the time it takes to meet the staff, Camaryn and Barret to compile their reports, and the three of us going over them and making necessary adjustments so I can establish some trust with them that we’ll follow through on any promises before we start questioning?”
“How long will that take?”
“I know they’re keen to take care of their charges, so maybe next week?”
“I can give you that.”
That was easy.
Seeing as it was…
“Since you’re being so accommodating, I’d like you to consider back pay as well as salary adjustments.”
“I see you’re going to be hells on the castle’s budget,” he muttered.
“It’s only fair.” I replied.
“You’re right, baby,” Tanyn said.“But this could be considered buying their loyalty.”
“We must use every tool at our disposal, honey.”
To communicate he agreed, he brushed his lips against mine.
Then, regrettably, he said, “I need to get back to it.”
“Of course.”
“Pop in after you speak to Gayle. I’d like to know how she takes the news of looking like Selediel.”
“Do you have any theories on why she does?”
“No.”
I scrunched my lips to the side.
He smiled, kissed them again, and then he said, “Until later.”
“Until later, Tanny.”
His eyes warmed, he squeezed my neck, then he walked out of the queen’s study.
No.
My study.
Good gods.
But also…
Destiny.
(Maybe.)
After Tanyn left, I’d pulled up the article so I could read it thoroughly (and yes, confirmed, the writer definitely wanted to smear me, there just wasn’t anything that wouldn’t get him sued for libel in doing it, but he tried.)
I’d then gone to the social tapes to see what beings were saying.
As beings always were, there were those who were pissed Tanyn was seeing me, and those who thought it was awesome.
That said, even though I didn’t lie to Tanyn (I really didn’t care what they thought), what I saw that was hopeful was a number of Edgians didn’t give much of a shit who Tanyn was seeing, they were just glad to see the back of Arnaud, his tendencies, what those said about the citizens of the Edge, but also Tatra.
One vid even said, I’d take a troll queen before I’d take Tatra back. At least Catla Truelock has good taste in shoes and probably won’t act like her beings are around solely to pay taxes to keep her in jewels and kiss her feet.
Not a ringing endorsement.
But I’d take it.
I’d then text commed all the gals to tell them they were off the hook with meeting the staff, going on to share I’d explain later.
And when I met the staff, there were some nerves, but mostly curiosity.