Kieran halted just outside his office. He desperately wanted to be alone, to find somewhere he could think and process in private.
He closed his eyes briefly, ignoring the few passing stares in his direction.
“North?”
Gods, Willa had found him.
“Damn, I was hoping I’d have to go through your secretary first. Oh well. We need your confirmation about the Divinity meeting. Took ages to get all the schedules aligned.”
Kieran wiped his face of any emotion and greeted her initial question with a simple nod. Too much was slipping his attention. And figuring out an official stance on this lethal drug was important. He searched his memory for Sera’s rundown of messages. “Yes. A week from today, three. I’ll be there.”
“Great, so no schedule conflicts?”
He set his arms behind his back, grabbing one wrist with the other as he took a very careful breath. “No. My apologies, but I was just heading out for the night, if there’s nothing else?”
Her cheek quirked in a sort of questioning look. “Heading out? You? It’s barely after four.”
“The workday ends at four,” he iterated.
She chuckled. “Iend my day at four, typically, but the others were all whining about yours being the last confirmation we needed, and I drew the short straw.You, however, have never left this office before me.”
“Is there a point to these profound observations? Unless you have a work-related query, I mean to head home.” He paused, intending to take a step toward the stairs, but then, he couldn’t leave Sera in his office. He couldn’t go home without her and he had no desire to make fleeing into the night a habit. Unwelcome this whole affair may be, hiding from it had done him little good.
“Where’s your secretary?” Willa continued, undeterred by his icy tone. Kieran did not normally indulge in the rumors about him, they were all built on very shallow observation of his character, but, occasionally, a frosty tone often served to end a conversation more quickly than manners.
“I am not her keeper. Perhaps she left early.”
Willa raised an eyebrow and sniffed at the air. “Wait.” She leaned toward him and Kieran fought the impulse to move out of reach as she sniffed again. “Is that perfume? And almonds?”
His gaze was intended to be fiercely intimidating. It had no effect.
Willa looked at his office door then clasped a hand over her mouth. “I don’t believe it.”
“The theatrics are unnecessary,” he said smoothly, because if her wide eyes and giddy smile were any indication of her assumptions, then she was probably not far off.
“I am so glad I picked the small straw,” she said with a voice several octaves higher than her normal tone.
He stared straight ahead, waiting for her to cease jumping in place.
“But even I haven’t in my office… oh wait, yes I have. But that’sme.” She squealed. This would be all over the office now. Whispers of the cold-hearted alderman fooling around with his secretary like some sort of rake. “Brilliant choice, too. She is absolutely delectable. And I’m not at all surprised to find your life’s ambition for an inclusive Unity would extend to your romantic choices.”
The words ‘absolutely delectable’ had alighted a blind sort of fury for half a second before his focus shifted to the rest of her statement. “This is not a romance.”
“A casual fling?” Willa raised her eyebrows suggestively. “Did not expect that from you, but if it loosens that stick up your ass, I’m all for it.”
He took a deep breath. This situation required calm, though Willa’s words were churning emotions like a hurricane. When he spoke, he barely managed to keep his tone civil. “Your discretion here would be appreciated.”
Willa glared at him, and he knew the odds of having her keep something this scandal worthy a secret. In fact, he would not have bothered asking at all, if not to protect Sera.
He faced her directly, standing so that she could no longer look through him. “Miss Blair has gone through considerable trials that I do not wish to add to. Rumors of this nature floating around the office will be damaging.”
Willa huffed.
“If it helps, your silence will not benefit me,” he offered. “As soon as my agreement with Miss Blair ends, you may tell whoever you wish.” The words were hollow as he said them, the idea of an end to their association did not sit well. But Wraith had provided that end. It was only a matter of time.
“Agreement? What sort of agreement do you two have?” Willa leaned in, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Do not push it.”
