Fuck.
CHAPTER FOUR
Three days until Anniversary. Mission: Get under her skin.
WARD
My job was still shitting me. People shit me.
Hesitant footsteps followed me everywhere. Hallie talked. Hux watched me. By the time training ended after I helped clean up Sia’s office where she refuse to acknowledge I fucking well existed, I was ready to do the same damage to the next door I passed as had been done to hers.
And I still had no idea who was responsible for vandalizing my wife’s office.
“Get me the security reports,” I snapped at Halie. My assistant scurried off. “Please,” I called after her, relieved when the woman who had borne the brunt of my ire all morning raised a hand over her head in a wave before disappearing to do as I asked.
At least one person was competent around me. I got the impression she understood the connection between me and Sia just fine. That was okay with me, despite that Sia preferred we keep our distance, especially at work. Most of the office workers in the club had been hired well after we separated, and the team players turned over fairly fast, so hiding the nature of our relationship had never been too hard…
Until this year.
I frowned, wondering what changed. When that changed. Had I gotten sloppy in my gifts to her? Did she want me to stop? The thought Sia actually wanted a divorce settled on me like a mis-hit puck. I stopped in the middle of the office, and a warm force ran into my back.
“Sorry,” Lewis muttered as he detached himself from his intimate connection with my ass cheeks. “Not intentional.”
My mouth clamped shut on a comment that would end me right back in the destroyed office I’d just left. Exhaling through my nose, I counted to seven before I opened it again. “I hope not. Why don’t you find security and ask them what else they’ve done to ensure the head of HR’s office is safe and they know who the hell broke into it?”
That wasn’t entirely their job but the cold fury that broke inside me decided an hour ago that someone needed to make it their duty or they’d find something jammed in cold, unwelcome places.
Possibly bearing Lewis’s likeness at this point.
The poor kid wasn't getting much of an introduction to HR life, but then Sia knew better than to send unsuspecting souls my way if she wanted them back unscathed.
“Yes. Sure. I can do that.” The poor man scurried backwards, retreating toward the nearest exit. He paused at the doorway. “Ah, where does—where is security?"
I pointed him in the right direction and he took off, narrowly avoiding a faceplant situationship that would have leant his visage to the doorframe, or maybe the other way around.
“Are you scaring kids already? It’s not even nine o’clock,” Hux berated me gently, tapping a training folder in his hands.
I eyed him with little patience. Usually the Chimera’s Captain and I got on just fine. This week, my bullshit ‘o’ meter hit the red line too damned fast.
“Sia’s office was vandalized. I don’t know if it was a random act or if she was targeted.” I pressed my lips together. “The team practiced well earlier. Playoffs preparation is …going well.”
Hux folded his arms across his chest. “Inspiring stuff,” he said dryly.
“Thanks. I try my best.” It wasn’t my finest day. Lack of sleep and the break-in bothered me on a deep level. There would be a meeting about it later, and I wasn't prepared for the heads of everything level that I’d need to be present for. Seeingheragain.
Hell, watching Sia hold herself together when she was hurting earlier and not being able to touch her burned me inside. That was our deal. No one could know. Besides that, she hated me touching her, coming too close, except for that one day.
What made the whole problem worse was that Sia’s private space was her haven. No one was allowed in without her permission. It was as though someone knew her fears and targeted her. Or just a whole lot of bad luck.
I cleaned her office within an inch of the room’s existence once security and the police left, but there was still a fine layer of white powder everywhere. She’d hate that, and I couldn’t do anything about it for her right now. And still, she ignored me as though I wasn’t present at all.
Which made it worse, because that was the level of her hurt. I swallowed that bitter pill. I couldn't help her further. She wouldn’t let me, so I forced myself to focus on my job.
“What have you got later today?”
“Nutrition is up next for me and Valentine. Then massage. We swap out with Shannon and Knox.” Hux flicked through the folder that listed today’s schedule, along with the rest of the week, though we all knew it was subject to change. “Cora is managing all socials and media coverage.”
I nodded. “Cora’s good value. The pairs system is working, then?”
