“You have every right to be angry.We’ll find out who did this and why, Mom.I promise.Now tell me that you and Kaya are going to do something fun and distracting to shake away all the bad vibes.”
“We are,” Kaya said in the background.“We’re going shopping so your mom can buy ridiculously expensive jewelry to wear on Saturday to stick it to whoever thought they could push her down.”
“Good.Whatever she tries to spend, make her add at least one zero to it,” I said before letting them go.
“News on the saboteur?”Wrenly asked.
“A company name associated with the person who contacted Mom’s previous employers.”
“Excellent.I bet you have a name by the end of the day.”
I hoped she was right.
Thankfully, Mom wasn’t the type to cling to her anger.Her shopping spree with Kaya, which had involved buying a gift for me to wear Saturday too—one they weren’t letting me see until then, much to my torment and their delight—had put her in a great mood even though Balak still hadn’t heard from his contact by dinner.
Arm in arm and still talking about their shopping spree, the pair trailed behind Konni’s grandparents into the downtown hotel.Balak walked beside me while Konni trailed a polite distance behind.However, if he was watching me like his father was watching his mom, distance wouldn’t fool anyone.
A host led our group to a private dining room dominated by a long, banquet-style table that already seated twelve people.
“Becky,” a woman said, standing to greet Konni’s grandma.“It’s good to see you again.”
We all took our seats, and small talk flowed, predominantly around the elder Steeles’ recent travels until Becky’s friend looked at Konni and asked why Lianna wasn’t with him.
“Since she quit Steele Corp and Mom’s been spending her time with Mrs.Elmantas, I’m no longer obligated to endure her unwanted attention.”
His unexpected bluntness was met with a few beats of heavy silence.Was everyone else choking back the need to laugh out loud like me?I glanced around the room.Kaya and Mom looked vaguely amused, but everyone else was hiding it really well if they felt it.
“Unwanted?She’s a female dragon.Of course she’s wanted.”
“Not by me,” Konni said.“I only want my mate, and Lianna isn’t her.”
“How do you know?”the woman asked shrewdly.
“Because I’ve already scented my mate.I’m just waiting for her to accept me.”
She glanced at me with a hint of amusement.
“If you’re anything like Balak,” she continued, “you’re probably going to take the long way.I look forward to your joining celebration.”
After that, no one else said anything about mates or Lianna.
I leaned back and stretched,feeling a subtle ache in my middle—proof of the debt I’d paid for the careful distance Konni had maintained during dinner.
Thoughts lingering on his debt-collection methods, I glanced at his office door.What would he do if I snuck in there for a kiss?Probably pin me to the desk.My overused muscles twitched in interest and warning.Too much of a good thing could turn it into something not good, and I was already walking a fine line.
Sighing, I focused on the two emails still waiting for my response.The same project managers who’d provided false priority lists were doing everything they could to create problems where none existed, likely to distract me from the real issues.It wasn’t working, and obviously, neither were they.
“I’ll be right back, Edi,” I said, standing.
He nodded as I walked into Konni’s office, keeping the door open.
Konni looked up from his computer, and when he saw it was me, he leaned back in his chair to give me his full attention.It created an inviting space for me to sit on his lap.I didn’t—but I really wanted to.
I sat across from him.
Gold flooded his eyes as he took in my scowl and crossed arms.
“Who upset you?”he asked.
