She yelped. Her head snapped up to the nearest camera.
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you spying on me?”
“Yes.”
She gasped, indignant. “You’re not even trying to deny it?!”
“You’re sneaking around the house.”
“I am not even allowed to explore? This is not sneaking around. ”
“You’re terrible at it anyway. Now leave that door and come to my office at once.”
“No. I don’t want another lecture from you.”
“You’re not getting one.”
“Then what do you want?”
“You. In my office. Right now.” This woman was infuriating.
“That’s not very reassuring.”
“You’re wasting my time. Get here.”
She cursed under her breath, then stomped towards the hallway in the most dramatic attempt at defiance I’d ever seen. I leaned back in my chair, watching her approach on the screen, a slow heat settling low in my chest. Within seconds, she appeared in my doorway like a storm, pretending to be human with her chin lifted, arms crossed, and eyes sparking with irritation she clearly hoped would hide the fact that she was a little breathless from hurrying down the hall.
“You called,” she said, voice sharp, “so I’m here. What do you want now?”
I pushed away from the desk. “Follow me.”
“No explanation?”
“You don’t get one.”
She muttered something impolite under her breath, but stepped aside as I moved past her. I noticed when she kept her distance, staying two steps behind like she didn’t trust walking too close, but her eyes never left me. We walked through a hallway she hadn’t been allowed in yet. Her suspicion rose with every step.
“Is this another lecture?” she asked.
“No.”
“A new rule?”
“No.”
“Are you showing me your weapon collection?”
I rolled my eyes at her question.
“A punishment?”
I glanced at her. “Do you want it to be?”
She flushed instantly. “That’s not what I… you… ugh.”
Amusing. I loved watching her struggle to form a coherent thought.
Right at the end of the hallway was a closed door. Just as we neared it, I took out the keys from my pocket and pushed the door open, walking inside while Ilana stood frozen on the threshold. And that alone almost made the entire effort worth it. Her breath left her body in a slow, staggered exhale. Her hand lifted, barely, like she wanted to touch the air itself.
