When I reached the third floor, I realized I didn’t know which room was the chemistry room. I walked down the corridor, peeking through the small window of each classroom door, seeing empty classrooms and full-on lectures and labs happening. It wasn’t until I reached the end of the hall and no meeting to be had that I really let it sink it.
Frozen in the middle of the hallway, I dragged my hands through my already messy hair. I’d fucked up. This was my one chance to prove that I could do this, and I’d screwed it up.
And Julian knew I would. That’s why he told me not to get distracted. To focus on the mission and not fall…
My eyes blinked, heart stuttering at the unfinished thought.
Was I in love?
No, it wasn’t possible. I barely knew them. I was just consumed by their attention and unlimited amount of orgasms. I certainly wasn’t in love with them. I was a hunter, not to forget that I was lying to them. The idea of me being in love with them only added to my distress as I sank down against the stone wall of the hallway.
I didn’t know how long I sat there before my phone beeped. Weariness crashed down on me as I drew it out.
Julian: Report.
Fuck. What was I going to tell him? That I’d missed the meeting because I was too busy getting fucked within an inch of my life? I could see that going over well. Not.
There was always the option of lying. I could tell Julian the meeting never happened. That I was wrong. Or they’d changed their mind. Then that would bring more questions of why I hadn’t report in sooner.
No. My parents had taught me to own up to my mistakes. Even big, world-ending ones like this. I had to face the music.
Standing, I took a deep breath and made my way to Julian’s office. Each step sounded like the funeral march to the death of my hunter career. I had to stop several times to breathe because my panic got so large, I began to hyperventilate.
When I finally reached his office, I froze unable to make myself knock on his door.
You can do this. You’re a big bad hunter. Others had made mistakes before. You’re no different from them. You admit your mistake. You promise to find a new lead and everything will be fine. Great. You’ve got this.
My little pep talk didn’t do much to ease my anxiety, but I finally lifted my hand to knock. I barely knocked before he told me to come in.
Julian sat behind his desk, glasses on as he stared at his computer. When he saw it was me, he shifted his attention away from whatever he was working on. I couldn’t read his expression as he gestured for me to have a seat. Julian always had an annoyed or exasperated look on his face whenever he saw me, so this blank slate only made my nerves twist into knots.
Sitting down, I took a minute to make myself comfortable as I waited for the inevitable question.
There was a long silence before Julian finally broke it.
“No sarcastic remarks? No poking at me just for the fun of it?” Julian arched a brow, leaning back in his chair. “I dare say, I’m concerned.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I just don’t feel like it.”
Julian gave me a pointed look. “I highly doubt that, but if you don’t wish to explain yourself, then you can at least report in on the rebel meeting. How did it go? Did you recognize any face? Were any names mentioned? Do they have a plan in place?” He lifted his pen poised to take down any intel I had to give him.
“The meeting…” I drew out, my lips twisting to one side. How was I going to tell him that I blew it? I missed the meeting. I’d set back our entire operation.
“Yes?”
The anticipation and patience on his face broke me. I couldn’t hold it back. I had to let him know and suffer the consequences.
“I didn’t go.”
There was a long pause. A tense silence filled the office. Then Julian slowly places his pen down with such precision that I knew it was going to be bad.
“Explain.”
The single word was enough to show the tension in his form even without the pinch of his gaze, the tightening of his jaw and the hard grip he had on his hands in front of him.
Taking a deep breath, I chose my words carefully. “I had an alarm set to go to the meeting. I had every intention of going. I swear. Then… I got…” I winced. “Distracted and missed the finally alarm.”
Julian stared hard me down. “You got distracted?”
