“Well, then call her and set up the interview. We need to hire at least one more employee to do your current job and another to do your other current job.” And Dominique wanted to know why the woman approached her at the deli.
Veronica laughed.
“I’m serious,” Dominique said. “You’re literally doing the jobs of two people. And you’re about to get even more responsibilities.”
Her employee frowned at her, obviously confused.
Dominique leaned forward. “I want you to come on board as a partner, Veronica. You’ve more than earned it, and honestly, I can’t keep working the way I am. Even if I wasn’t marrying Ronan, this schedule is taking a toll on me. It’s been twenty years. I need to start living my life.”
Veronica stared at her with wide eyes and her mouth agape. “Are you serious?”
“I am,” Dominique answered with a nod.
“Oh, my God. Yes! I would love that!”
Dominique smiled. “That’s good because I don’t know what I would do if you refused. I still have to work out some details, butI’ve already started the ball rolling, so it will be happening soon. You’ll need to put out an ad or contact the local paranormal employment agency for the position of matchmaker. We can also see if Zelda is qualified for that job as well.”
Veronica nodded. “I’ll do that right now.” She grabbed her coffee cup and got to her feet. “I’ve loved working here the past few years, Dominique. I hope you know that. Doing the work of two people hasn’t felt like a job because I enjoy it so much.”
“I often feel the same way, but you have Jasper now. He’s going to want some of your time as well. And you deserve to have a life, too.”
“I know you’re right, but it’s hard to let go.”
“Believe me, I know,” Dominique stated. Then, she changed the subject. “I’m leaving Friday morning to go to the fae realm with Ronan. We’re going a “meet the parents” sort of thing and the Autumn Gala is this weekend. I’ll be back Monday evening. If you need anything while I’m gone, the crystal I told you about is in my desk. You do know how to use it, correct?”
Her assistant nodded. “I think things will be fine for a couple of days.”
“I’m sure they will, but you know I like to have a plan in place. Just in case.”
Veronica smiled and stood up, grabbing her coffee cup. “I know. I’m the same way. I’ll go get started on the ad and contacting the employment agency…” She paused before she left Dominique’s office. “Don’t come in Monday evening. Going to the fae realm is exhausting, especially since you’ll be dealing with his family and going to a black-tie event.”
“We’ll see,” Dominique replied.
Her assistant gave her a knowing look but didn’t say anything else before she left the office.
CHAPTER SIX
Ronan wassilent the rest of the week. Dominique didn’t see him again, though she occasionally felt as though she was being watched. She wasn’t sure if it was him or the spies he mentioned. Either way, the sensation was disconcerting.
It also didn’t fit with the narrative he wanted to perpetuate. If they were supposed to be so in love, why was he staying away? If those spies were watching, they would report back that Ronan didn’t seem all that interested in seeing his fiancée.
He did text her several times. Most of them were about the events they would be attending over the weekend and the dress codes. The rest were questions about her life. Her likes and dislikes.
At first, she’d just answered them and left it at that, but then realized what he was doing. He wanted to give the appearance that they were happy and in love, so he was doing his research. In return, she began to ask him the same kinds of things, wanting to be prepared for the weekend. His answers surprised her on more than one occasion. As did his dry wit. She wouldn’t have admitted it aloud, but the prince was funny.
When Friday morning rolled around, Dominique felt calm and in control of herself. She didn’t have the bandwidth tomaintain the level of anger and anxiety she’d felt last weekend. She needed all her focus to handle Ronan’s family and the royal court in his kingdom.
Most of those places were like a nest of vipers. Everyone slipped and slithered through corridors, carrying gossip and potentially life-ruining information back and forth.
It had been two decades since she had to watch every word she spoke and weigh every action for potential outcomes. It was exhausting, and she hated every moment of it as a child. Now, she dreaded returning to that world, whether it was for a short weekend or the next ten years, either of those time periods would be too long. An hour would be too much.
Since she woke before the sun, Dominique focused on packing. Though they only planned to stay three nights, there were parties, gatherings, and dinners to attend. Each one required an outfit change. That was the way of the fae courts. Morning outfits, day outfits, evening outfits, two cocktail ensembles, and two evening gowns were packed into her spelled carry-on. She added shoes, her jewelry case, three small glittery evening bags, and all the underwear and nightgowns she would need. Even inside her own room, she would be expected to look put together. The castle servants would share any information for a bit of extra coin. At least, that had been the way of it the last time she was in the fae realm.
The carry-on she used was one of her most prized possessions. It met all the airline requirements, but it could fit her entire wardrobe inside. A demon king had given it to her as a gift.
He had come to her in an effort to find his mate. He was over a thousand years old and was ready to succumb to The Burning if he couldn’t find his mate. The Burning was what the high demons called their version of suicide. When their existence stretched too far and too long without purpose, they began tolose reason and become a danger to themselves and others. The ritual was exactly as it sounded—the demon would make a pilgrimage to the Hellfire Sea and throw themselves into the depths. Hellfire burned so hot that their body would incinerate before it even touched the flames. It was considered the second most honorable way to end a demon’s existence. The first was to die in battle, but demons were incredibly hard to kill, which led to the creation of The Burning.
Despite all that Dominique had heard about demons, especially the kings, he was a kind male…in his own way. He could be violent, yes, but he yearned to have a female to treasure as his own. He swore that anyone he took as his mate would be treated as a true queen, never harmed by his hand, and protected at all costs by him and the demons in his legion.
