The city blurred past the window, but his mind was elsewhere. He had fucked up. Time to clean up his messes. First Margo. Then he'd have a chat with Eli.
Chapter fifteen
Chapter 15
Margo had been terminated the week before and given a payoff generous enough to make a scene unnecessary. If she wanted to be difficult, he had a neat list of her screw-ups ready to hand to any prospective employer. But Dorian didn't like messes – he preferred problems handled cleanly.
She was called into his office that morning.
"You'll be packing up and leaving now," he said, voice like glass. "Turn in your ID."
Margo stood framed in the doorway in a scarlet sheath dress – stunning, yes, but more suited to a nightclub than an office. Her lipstick matched the dress, her hair a deliberate mess, her heels too high to be practical.
He didn't even look up.
Her expression faltered, as if she'd expected him to reconsider. "May I know why? I thought-"
"You thought," he cut in, "just because I let you play your little game, the lipstick, the smudges, the buttons, that we could eventually come to an understanding."
He didn't blink. "What I told you on the first day stands. You hold the same interest to me as toilet water. No-more. All of it was a smokescreen."
Her mouth tightened. "You are an arsehole."
"Yes, I am," he said evenly. "That was your free pass. Another word out of you, and you won't work in this city again."
She huffed and walked out, heels clicking across the polished floor.
Dorian buzzed the intercom. "Tom, bring the car around."
Minutes later, he slid into the front passenger seat for a change. Eli who was behind the wheel, shot him a surprised look.
"Where to, boss?"
"Just drive."
They rolled through the city in silence, the skyline shrinking in the mirrors as they hit the motorway. After a while, Dorian said, "Stop here."
It was a small, almost deserted service station, its faded board advertising Costa coffee and farm-grown produce.
Eli stepped out first, but Dorian was already out before he could open his door. Minutes later, both of them were leaning against the bonnet, the cool morning air curling around them.
"Do you smoke?" Dorian asked.
"Used to. Not anymore. My little girl doesn't like it."
"Yeah. I wish I did."
The quiet stretched.
"Have you been sleeping with Rune?"
Eli gave him an incredulous look, then laughed once, short and disbelieving. "Really? That’s what ya wanna ask me?"
"That is not an answer to my question."
"I'm just surprised you even asked it."
"Did you get her pregnant?"
