Reaching the cart, I move to the next wing of offices, pulling to a stop and sorting out the mail and studying the map so I can feign that I belong here without looking like a bumbling idiot. I make a concentrated effort not to startle anyone this time, either by clearing my throat or scuffing a foot on the carpet before appearing in their line of sight. All of three people actually say two words to me, and even then, it’s out of fear of getting fired.
Or eaten. Probably that one.
It’s absolutely, positively exhausting. I’ve never spent so much energy watering myself down for the sake of other people’s comfort before, and... I hate it. I’ve spent the entire week walking on eggshells, paranoid that one wrong move will ruin everything that the guys are fighting so hard for, and it’s all for my sake.
They’re betting everything on me being able to keep my shit together. I can’t let them down.
Tongue darting out to wet my lips, I distribute everything throughout this wing. Sweat, cheap deodorant, and a multitude of unsavory scents assault me while I work, a far cry from the comforting scents of my guys. Whether or not there’s an official claim in place with Beck and Kasen doesn’t matter. Humans marry, and that’s as far as necessary to be official. So between the starburst mark on my chest, the ring on my finger, and the memory of Kasen’s mouth on me, I’m as claimed as can be as far as I’m concerned.
And I finally convinced them to back off the other day so I didn’t look like a prisoner under watch while attempting to work. While I asked for it, I didn’t realize how much their presence was combating the awkward tension around me. I may as well be butt ass naked with the way everyone’s staring at me and honestly, if this is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life?
I’d rather live a life in hiding in the penthouse than be treated like a leper, a monkey people expect to dance for their amusement because they’re curious.
One. Two. Three. Breathe in, breathe out. Nothing in life is easy, and you’re more than a trophy wife. Well, more like consolation prize.
“Ms. Drake?” I nearly jump out of my skin as I turn around to face some guy that I don’t recognize. He’s nearly as tall as Kasen, but blonde, and a nervous energy about him that instantly puts me on edge, struggling to get a read on him. “I was wondering if you could sign off on this.”
He presents a stapled packet of paperwork, and even if I wasn’t nervous for obvious reasons, I would be simply for the giant red flag. Anyone that asks for a hasty signature on a stack of paperwork thick enough it’ll take at least half an hour to read is obviously trying to cut corners or was already denied by someone else. Carefully, I take it from him and start reading over it.
He hastily interjects, “It’s just authorizing getting some new equipment for one of our labs.” Him not meeting my eye could be because of the obvious vampire issue, but while I’m uneasy, I’m not dumb.
“How soon do you need a decision?”
“Now would be nice,” he quips before promptly apologizing for his sharp tone. “Sorry, I just have a lot of people that have been struggling to get seen by your... husband... and they’re well overdue for new equipment. This would definitely serve to make people warm up to you, don’t you think?”
My stomach flips and I lower the paper to stare him right in the face, and he doesn’t even deign to meet my eye. “I don’t respond well to coercion, Mr...” I trail off, waiting for an answer.
Pausing, he says, “Jones,” and I know without a doubt it’s a fake name.
Pursing my lips, I tuck the packet under my arm. “I have more things on my plate than whether or not I’m the popular kid,Mr. Jones,but I will look it over, or if you’d prefer, I can make sure you get a meeting with Malcolm.”
He finally looks at me, and the flash of disdain before he quickly conceals it behind a plastic smile makes bile rise in my throat. “Either would be much appreciated.”
Swallowing, I dip my head in acknowledgment, withdrawing a pen from my pocket and flipping the packet over to the back. “What’s your extension? I’ll let you know as soon as I have an update.”
He rattles it off before reluctantly admitting, “Thomas. Not Jones.”
“I assumed as much,” I reply without any heat or looking at him, already walking away. “You’re not the first and I highly doubt you’ll be the last.”
Finishing delivering everything, I return to the cart and toss the packet on the bottom, moving towards the elevator. I wait until everyone’s out before entering, tapping the button for the next floor up. Just before the doors close, a hand darts out to stop them. He takes a step inside before catching sight of me, instantly hesitating. Biting my tongue, I pretend to be busy shuffling papers, giving him the opportunity to leave.
Much to my surprise, he steps the rest of the way inside before tapping the button for the lobby. The doors close, and rather than drop me off first, we start to descend.
Closing my eyes, I mentally curse, trying to figure out the best way to handle this one. I haven’t been below the top ten floors of the building. Yeah, word’s spread, but no one down there has seen me in person, and the lobby is open to more than employees.
Rather than reach past him and freak him out that I’m attacking, I awkwardly ask, “Umm, excuse me?” When he turns, he actually meets my eye without flinching. “Can you let me off here, please?”
As if it suddenly dawns on him, his eyes widen. “Oh, shit. I didn’t even think about-” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head and taps the next floor, but the elevator keeps going.
Tapping the open door button repeatedly, along with the next few floors that it doesn’t stop for either, he slaps the red emergency stop button. We pull to an abrupt halt that nearly knocks me off of my feet, the elevator lurching. He taps a few buttons to no avail before risking hitting it again, but nothing happens either.
“Fuck.” He runs a hand through his dark hair before turning to me with a repentant cringe. “I’ll fix this, just hang tight.” He pulls out his phone before growling in annoyance when he doesn’t have a signal.
Withdrawing mine, I’m not surprised that I’m out of bars too.Pack link would be handy right about now.Shaking the thought away, watch as he starts to pry the doors open.
“I’m pretty sure they say not to do that because it could start up out of the blue and chop you in half.”
He manages a few inches, finding it pitch black on the other side. “Looks like it doesn’t matter anyway, we’re between floors.”
