He shakes his head; conceited arrogance wafting off him.
I redial Douglas’s number. He answers immediately, and as soon as he does, I start speaking. “Since the Board for some unknown reason will not fire Ayden, and he himself won’t resign, I’d like him tested daily for ADV. And if we could also arrange the actual testing being filmed with results going to you and me, I’d feel more confident in their insistence he remains. Since it’s all about my welfare, let’s hope the Board supports my request.”
“What has he done?” Douglas asks.
“Once again, he’s overstepped boundaries that he believes he can and should. That worries me more than the nonsensical words he chose to spew.”
There’s a beat of silence from Douglas before he speaks past a streak of his protectiveness. “Are you safe?”
“I’m surrounded by Alphas and bodyguards, you’d hope I was safe, Douglas, or it really makes a mockery out of those who are proud of the job they do.” I smirk at my choice of words. “I’ll call you again shortly.”
And then I shut Ayden down with an entitled wave while also laying on thick the stupid, since that’s who he truly believes I am. “You can get out of my car now and go do your job.”
He takes his time as he climbs out, slamming the door after himself. He’s wicked pissed, but so am I. I press the buzzer, letting Max know he can go.
The last thing I see before we drive off is Ayden stooping down low on Kairo’s driver’s side door. And one thing I am not, is worried for Kairo.
My head is a mess, but the noise sorts itself out pretty quickly all things considering. The need for me to understand how Ayden could act the way he did isn’t something I need to focus too much energy on. He’s right in the regard that what happened, happened. One day I do want to know why he’s still acting like an asshole though it doesn’t seem as important anymore. Some people are just fucked up and nothing I do will change that.
The drive back to Unity passes quickly as I update Douglas on Ayden’s irrational, hate filled monologue before we strategize for a bit. He waits while I hack into Verdune and search the server to see who initiated the meeting, unsurprised it was Ayden. And then, I keep my lawyer on the phone so I don’t have to talk to Bradley, or even look at him.
As soon as I am through the security points, I switch my phone off. Knowing the walk to my room is going to be the last peace and quiet I get for a while.
ChapterFourteen
HEIDI
Simona stops talking mid whatever she’s saying when I open the door to our apartment.
“What?! What happened?” Raney asks. Her question comes out slow in her confusion.
But before I can answer, I get hugs. Lots of them.
“When did you get back?” I ask Raney, while also putting some space between me and my besties. They follow, trying to shower me in their love and support, already knowing without me even saying something shitastic has happened to have me back so soon.
“What the fuck, Ho? You’re home way too early,” Simona says, as she lays her head on my shoulder.
With a quick kiss to each of them, I duck under their loving arms and curl up in my favourite chair. Tristan and Simona spin my seat so I face out the balcony windows. Raney hits the lights and before a few minutes have passed the four of us are sitting in the dark, only a couple of small tea candles burning on our low table.
Looking over, they’re positioned how I am, all of us snuggled under our preferred comfort blankets.
We started this tradition pretty much the first night we all roomed together. Looking at the night sky, in the dark while being surrounded by your favourite comfort items is an easy way to share secrets.
“So great news, special executive meeting has been called for tomorrow,” I start. I guess that’s the easiest place to begin even though it’s the final piece of a shit night.
I should remember these three wouldn’t let me start there.
“You left with the hot guy from the bar.” Simona says, pulling a snarky smile.
“Kairo,” I say, not bothering to hide my smile. I take a sip of my orange infused vodka spritzer. And it’s nice now that no one is watching, I can be happy. Because that freedom to be real in every sense of the word, without anyone pulling you up for acting inappropriately or being dramatic or difficult, is another one of the benefits of having these girls living with me—they support me no matter what.
“Kairo?” Raney splutters on her drink.
“Don’t waste the vodka,” Tristan hollers. And Simona gets all sissy and starts shushing Tristan up, focusing on not telling the whole of Unity we’re drinking.
“Is that really the last of it?” Simona gasps. “Wait, Raney, did you get more? You said you were going to! You know the rules, don’t make us hurt you because you didn’t go get more alcohol!” Simona squeals the last word way too loudly but us not having alcohol will not have a good outcome, for anyone.
Simona reaches over and like she promised she knuckles the top of Raney’s head, asking again if she went to the shop to refill our dwindling supplies.
