With her whole being, she wanted to be back at that circular home with him.She felt the tide of consciousness slip away from her; Ares’s face the last thing she remembered seeing before darkness took her.
33 ARES
“He looks smug,” Xander said.
“The man got what he wanted.How nice for him,” Ares said dryly.
Across from them, looking at monitors on the other side of the studio, Ida waved at them, the light catching the diamond on her ring finger.
It’s always someone else.
Ares had no reason to be here other than Xander didn’t want to do the interview if the Tech News people wanted to speak to a representative of Axis Management.The last two days had been hell.He felt as if someone had run him over, knocked him down and carved out his heart.
Drustan slapped Henri on the back and reached to shake the news guy’s hand.Another day he’d be happy for the man.Not today, his stomach churned with jealousy.
Even knowing how much money Axis Management was going to make on this innovation didn’t ease his heart ache.
“Henri and Drustan have a star quality together,” Xander murmured.
“Yeah.”
The press ate up Henri’s announcement about the supersonic laptops built with better indestructible screens and the fastest processors to hit the market.They hung on Drustan’s every word as they explained top scientists were working around the clock to make this happen.
Ares should be celebrating with them.They did good work on this project, strengthened their relationship with Henri and their government contacts were happy with the specs.The fact that he got someone on the phone on Boxing Day while his heart was shattered in pieces, is some kind of testament to his loyalty.
But that was the condition Xander slapped on Drustan.If they couldn’t get an okay from their private contacts to announce this launch, this interview would be off.
This was the thing that Drustan set in motion.
“The guy has more balls than I thought,” his brother said, echoing his thoughts.
“Yeah.”Ares quickened his stride, eager to get back to his office.He wanted to hide from the world and sulk.
“Henri said dealing with Drustan was like dealing with a toddler.He wanted to name a date of release but my father refused to commit,” Nick Laurent’s accented voice had Ares turning around.
“Good to see you.Your dad is one smart guy,” Ares shook his friend’s hand.
“Don’t tell him, his head will explode.There is still a question of how much time the new processors will last for but I'm sure you have people testing that out.Thought I’d walk with you guys.I’m meeting Quinn and Erik they said they needed help.”
“About time you came and visited us,” Xander said.
Across from them Ida clapped, as the interview concluded.
“Let’s get out of here,” Ares marched through the doors of Laurent Industries, the wind matching his mood, gusty with cool drizzle falling, hitting his cheek.
The days after Christmas were always kind of dull but to go from having the best Christmas Eve, he ever had to feeling like he was walking in a nightmare made him feel like a gloomy Ebenezer before the ghosts visited him.
He didn’t tell Xander what had happened with Josie.There was nothing to tell.He thought he was in a relationship with the love of his life.The love of his life walked out the door.Just like that other time.That was the story of his life.
And his job was to keep stress away from Xander not to tell him about his failing love life.
Or his sweeper team.
He hadn’t been able to reach the other members of the team but the compound was in a lockdown and all communications to their phones might have been cut if they were following protocol.
“The place looks the same,” Nick said as the scanner beeped.
“You should come on a Tuesday.It’s bustling with people everywhere,” Xande grumbled.But Ares caught the grin on his brother’s face.
