Page 64 of Beast

I stare down at a marketing spreadsheet, the numbersswimming in front of my eyes. It’s been two weeks since I brought Kaja home andI’m knee-deep in reports. They come in from everywhere. Everyone in Dellacorpit seems has a fucking report. Marketing. Financial. Business Management.Project Management. Human Resources feels the need to chime in. They’re allplaced on my desk by my lovely, somewhat airheaded assistant, and then, I swearto the gods that the fuckers breed and make more reports with more numbers.

My head is going to pound if I spend another second behindthis desk.

The door to my office opens, and Sandy, the hot blonde,sticks her head in with a grin. I want to groan but manage to stayprofessional. Sandy has been my “assistant” for over a year now. I hired herwhen I was head of Dellacorp’s Green Division. I hired her because she has nicetits and didn’t mind screwing her boss.

“Hey, boss man, your sister’s here,” she says with a wink.“You want me to tell her you’re out or something?”

Susan pushes past her with a frown on her face. “I’ll letmyself in. You—go do something.”

My big sister, the CEO of the company, stands in front of mydesk. She wears a designer suit, killer heels, and a frown that can chill thewarmest heart. Her green eyes narrow as she gestures toward the now closeddoor. “Is she capable of doing anything besides her nails?”

I decline to tell my sister that Sandy is double-jointed andthat makes her capable of a lot of things, none of which help me out now thatI’m serious about my job. At the time, Sandy was practically perfect. Now, Iconstantly worry I’m missing something important. But my sister might be ableto help me with that. “How much do you love me, Susie?”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “More since you brought Kajahome.”

Susan adored Kaja on sight. They spent a lot of timetogether in the last few weeks. I’m grateful for it. I’ve had very little timeto spend with my bride, and it shows in our intimacy. Kaja needs me, and I’mhiding in my office behind a mountain of paperwork. I’m fucking everything up,but I don’t know how to stop. I have the job I want, and people are finallytaking me seriously. I’m more miserable than ever because I have no idea whatto do with my wife.

She should be attending charity functions and having teaswith other consorts, but that’s not who Kaja is, and I’m not sure how she isever going to fit in. I think about it all the time, and it’s driving me crazy.

Kaja scares me. Kaja tempts me. If I don’t watch it, Kajawill become my whole world.

And I don’t want that. This is what I want. I want my bigcorner office and my enormous paycheck and the respect of those around me. Itis what I trained for. I spent years in school so I can take over a big part ofthe family business. It’s the very reason I got married. The job has to be myfocus now.

Fucking coward.

I ignore that voice in my head and deal with the problem athand. “I need a real admin. I need someone who understands the company. Don’twe have a beauty division Sandy would fit into?”

Susan crosses her arms over her chest and stares down at me.“We have a consumer product panel that she would love. Why? Do you have someonein mind, and please tell me she’s at least of age?”

I don’t give in to the urge to needle my sister. “Yes, I wasthinking about bringing in Mack. He’s smart and organized, and he knows thiscompany like the back of his hand. He’s being wasted in reception.”

My sister’s eyes get wide. “You want a male secretary? Afifty-year-old male secretary?”

I’m not going to argue with her. I made that bed. “Admin.Secretary is a little dismissive. And yes, I would like to hire Mack. Mack’sbeen around forever. He knows what he’s doing. Hell, he can do half thispaperwork himself.”

My sister’s mouth hangs open for a moment. “Holy shit,you’re serious about this. You’re really serious. I was coming in here to bitchat you about ignoring your wife, but you’re actually working.”

Yeah, I deserve that, too. All of it. “I’m not a kidanymore. I have a consort. I have to take care of her.”

“I can see that,” Susan says, her voice softer than before.She walks to my ultraexpensive leather sofa and sits down. “Come and sit withme, Dante.”

I get up because she’s my sister and my boss. And becauseit’s been a long time since I simply sat and talked with her. It’s so obviousnow that I’ve been drifting. I can remember with crystal clarity that moment inthe forest when I was sure I was going to die. The fact that my sister can be aball-busting boss didn’t matter then. The fact that she is a damn good sisterdid.

“The sunscreen project is showing some remarkable results,”I begin. “We should be ready to take it to the FDA in a week or two.”

She holds up a perfectly manicured hand. “I don’t want totalk business. You’re doing a great job. I can tell from the reports. I want totalk about Kaja.”

My stomach takes a turn. Kaja. Guilt gnaws at me. I can’teven pretend to not notice her unhappiness. I feel it every time we make love.She longs for a forest, for grass beneath her feet. She feels trapped here.

Isn’t that what I wanted? She isn’t suited for life in ahigh-rise penthouse. I can find someplace nice for her and keep my cushy joband get on with my life. Except I know it will seem empty without Kaja.

“What about her?” I ask, trying to sound unconcerned.

Susan smiles, her eyes lighting up. “She’s a sweetheart. Idon’t think you could have found a better consort, but I have my concerns.She’s never lived in a society like this.”

“She’s smart,” I say. “She’ll adapt. We have to give hertime.”

Time to forget that she’s connected to nature and now allshe has are vampire-made structures around her? Everything is fake. Even thetrees on the balcony are fake. They even fake photosynthesis.