He looks at me and takes my anger like he should. He doesn’t try to defuse the way I’m feeling, he doesn’t try again to justify what he did, he just watches me with his emerald-coloured eyes full of apology.
“Why, Ramses?”
“To protect you while I did what I had to do. Like I said, Heidi, the responsibility we share is eerily similar,” he says without looking away.
I scoff a vicious noise, to match the pain I’m trying not to feel. “Oh well, here’s a deal for you, you three go live your life and be so fucking ‘eerily similar’ with each other, and I’ll be ‘eerily fucking similar’ over here. Now excuse me, I’ve got my formal pack announcement to get ready for.”
I lean over and hit the intercom. “Gracey, my next appointment can come through, please.”
“Heidi,” Ramses says. His voice is a lot stronger than it needs to be. “Read what I shared with you. And I am sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you like I did. I’m sorry we weren’t honest, and I’m very sorry for drugging you; we really didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Oh well, one day you’ll figure it out. Or not. But if you do, it doesn’t matter anymore. And Ramses don’t bother wasting my time arranging an appointment. I mean, it seems you don’t have any issue with trespassing. You could just be creepy like your brother and leave whatever you want me to read stuck on my fly screen.”
The door swings open and the room fills with security guards. “Ah, thank you. Just in time too. Mr. Denali, this is my security team and the guards from downstairs.” I wave my hand in Ramses’ direction. “For future reference, and no harm done so no need to get feisty, but Mr. Denali also uses the name Kairo Alastor and everyone knows he’s not granted access to me. Can someone update the visitor register?”
And because my security team are solid after the drama yesterday and they’re actually good at their job, they listen to me. They remain consummate professionals and lead Ramses out in an orderly, quiet fashion.
Thank god too. Because the headache I was feeling earlier coupled with the stress of trying not to feel anything at all has taken my headache past the point of being able to treat with across the counter medication. Calling for my driver to get ready, I pack up everything in my briefcase, cancel a couple of meetings and lock up my office.
As I’m climbing in the car, my phone rings. I nearly don’t answer his call. “Graham, is everything okay?”
“I came up to see you after your little mid-week trip away with your girlfriends. Your office is locked.”
“Sorry I missed you,” I agree, not sure where he’s going yet.
“I think we should organise a couple of spare keys, for me and the rest of our pack, don’t you? In case of emergency.”
I’m such a fan of passive-aggression. Not. Still, for the sake of being cordial especially since I still need him somewhat pliable until our pack registration is complete, I agree in an instant. “Of course. I have it on my to-do list.”
“Okay. That’s fine then,” he schools me.
I roll my eyes and the movement makes my head feel like it’s going to implode.
“The boys and I are off for the weekend. We had it booked before we asked you to pack,” Graham starts talking quicker. And I get the distinct impression there’s a whole lot he’s not telling me.
If only I cared. I really don’t care what they do, or who they do, because they sure as shit won’t be doing me.
“I understand. You’ll have your phones with you though? In case I need to get you,” I say, being as sweet as possible.
“If we don’t answer straight away, just leave a message. We’ve got a few things planned.”
“That’s fine. I’ve got a fair bit of work to do. I’m not going out or anything.”
“Okay,” he says, talking like he’s a parent, “if you go out, you text us first.”
“Or try to, right? Sounds like you guys are going to be busy. Have a super time, won’t you,” I finish up in a flurry of words before hanging up.
And the silence is beautiful, and much needed to wrap my head around the past week. First kittens, then Raney followed by Ramses but weirdly, it’s knowing Pack Lowly will be away for the whole weekend that brings the greatest relief. Knowing I won’t have to waste any time or energy on them. Curling up on the backseat, the relief is physical, and I doze lightly the rest of the way home.
Checking in with the security team working first, everything is how it should be. The kitchen is next and before I can even greet them, I have to find the kitchen staff. It’s not like our Estate runs a huge staff, but it’s definitely more than none.
“Hello?” I call out.
A quiet murmuring before two guilty looking faces pop out of the pantry.
“Miss Heidi, how was your trip away? You got in late and left early this morning,” our chef, Bobby, stammers. I grew up with Bobby, he’s the only chef I know.
Obviously, I’ve caught them out. My eyes jump over Millie who arranges all the provisions and helps Bobby.
