Tongue in cheek, I ask, “Why didn’t anyone call me then?”
He and Leo share a look, the latter tentatively saying, “Mind you these are the boss’ words, not mine, okay? We were ordered to, and I quote, ‘Send all non-essential staff home until further notice and leave one entrance accessible in case a certain dumbass decides to actually show up to work this week. But I don’t want anyone here that doesn’t want to be’.”
Beck covers his startled laugh with an exaggerated cough and I turn my back on all three of them without another word, storming across the lobby to the elevator. Beck jogs to catch up and makes it in right before the doors close. When it reaches the fiftieth floor, we have to cross to the other side of the building for the other elevator that leads to the top floors that are under restricted access. Withdrawing my badge from my wallet, I tap it against the sensor that takes the place of arrow buttons beside it. The green light has my eyes closing in relief the same moment the doors open.
He didn’t terminate my access even though he had every reason to.
Leo may have said that Malcolm was expecting me to show up at some point, but that very well could have been to chew me out without him having to leave the building before tossing me on my ass.
The final four floors pass by in a blink before we exit, crossing the empty office floor to the steel door that leads to the hallway containing access to the penthouse. Another green light and click as the lock disengages when I tap my card against the sensor, and I use the excuse of tucking it back in my wallet to conceal my jitters, though I’m sure my thundering heartbeat is a massive red flag to Garrett and Bishop on the other side of the door.
Both men are situated on either side of the penthouse elevator, leaning against the wall and eyeing me curiously as we approach. I tip my head in greeting and Bishop’s eyebrow bounces up to his blonde mop of hair. “Didn’t think I’d need to remind you of all people that penthouse access is limited to three individuals, Hendrix.”
I’m pretty damn sure I could handle them both on my own, so with Beck, it’s a sure thing. But they’re just doing their job and I can’t fault them for it, especially when they’re doing what I should be; protecting Scarlett.
Son of a bitch.
Swallowing my pride, I reach over and take Beckett’s hand, tightening my grip to keep him trapped when he attempts to yank free. “It’s a sex thing. You’re free to check in with Malcolm if you want to deal with calling him out, but you know I’m not about to do anything to put my... position at risk,” I choke out.
They share a look before Bishop breaks into a broad grin, whoops, and smacks Garrett’s chest with the back of his hand. “Pay up, motherfucker!”
Groaning, Garrett withdraws a hundred dollar bill from his wallet, shaking his head at me. “You couldn’t have tipped me off, man? Thought we were friends.”
Beckett grins at the pair of guards and struggles not to burst into hysterical laughter. “Which one were you taking bets on, Malcolm or Kasen?”
“Kasen,” they reply in tandem without hesitation and he finally loses it, howling with laughter at my expense.
I shake my hand to try and dislodge him, but he’s latched on like a barnacle. Scowling, I use my other to withdraw my elevator key, striding past them before things can go sideways, ignoring their thumbs up and enthusiastic support to ‘get some’.
As soon as the elevator doors shut, I stomp on Beck’s foot to get him to let go. It barely even fazes him, though he does tuck his hands back in his pockets, his obnoxious laughter echoing around the metal box. Needing the time to gather my thoughts, I try to tune him out, but there’s just white noise and low key panic waiting for me in my head.
“Stop trying to plan it out,” he says, a smirk still on his face. “Just look at her and blurt out the first thing that pops into your head.”
The doors open without anyone waiting for us, and I extend my awareness to search for her, finding the two of them in her room. Swallowing, I know that she’ll notice me soon if she hasn’t already. Dragging Beck out of the elevator, I make us wait right inside the penthouse, feeling like a couple of intruders instead of in any way welcome. Scarlett appears in her doorway a few seconds later wearing one of my t-shirts as a dress, lips pressed into a thin line. My fingers twitch, desperately wanting to reach for her, to drag her against me, but I clench my hand into a fist instead.
“What are you doing here?” she demands, words succinct and cutting right to the heart of the matter.
“I’m so sorry, Scar. I swear to the gods, the only reason I ran is because my control was shredding and I didn’t want to take advantage of you like that.”
Malcolm appears behind her, placing a hand on her hip, and she leans against him in support. His glare is stony, but he doesn’t interrupt either, simply being there for her in whatever capacity she needs depending on how this goes. Still, my nostrils flare from the electric charge in the air, his magic not as rational as its wielder and rising with his suppressed agitation.
Her voice is quiet as she asks, “You’d really rather throw yourself off of a cliff than fuck me? You sure didn’t object to any of Malcolm’s suggestions, so excuse the hell out of me if I’m struggling to get a read on what you actually want, here, Kasen.”
Her gaze is unyielding as she pins me in place, eyes swirling with a myriad of emotions that I can’t discern. It doesn’t matter that she’s upset or confused, that she has no desire to hurt another soul so long as she lives. She still doesn’t back down, her strength the quiet sort that any alpha would envy for its subtle influence.
“You’ve got to understand, sweetheart, I’m not talking about sex. I almost bit you.”
She cocks her head, she crosses her arms over her chest. “I think you underestimate the sort of stuff I’m into. If that’s all you’re worried about, it could’ve been resolved in two seconds by simply asking. Yeah, I should have started a conversation when you two were acting weird, but I figured that meant you weren’t ready to talk about it and was trying to give us all time to get our heads on strai-”
“If I bit you, you’d be mine!” With a low growl, I tear my hand through my hair, chest heaving. “The mark wouldn’t heal because you’re my-”
Silent up until now, Beckett interrupts with a tone of awe. “Mate.”
