Page 173 of Villainous Rise

Havoc strode to his desk, the very picture of authority. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this unscheduled invasion of my office?”

I moved to take my position behind Havoc’s right shoulder, the traditional Keeper stance, but Martin lifted his hand.

“Ms. Bishop, please take a seat. This meeting concerns you directly.”

Well, crap.

“Let’s cut to the chase,” Martin said, as soon as I as sat down. He nodded to his assistant who pulled up something on his tablet. “The engagement announcement between you and Valor has generated unprecedented public interest. The ratings are through the roof.”

Havoc cut Martin off with a sharp gesture. “Did you not receive my message?”

I blinked, glancing between them. This was the first I’d heard about Havoc sending anything.

Martin shifted uncomfortably. “Well, yes, but⁠—”

“Then I fail to see why we’re having this meeting.” Havoc’s smile was glacier-cold. “I informed the Aegis that the fake engagement is off. Effective immediately. I had assumed they would inform your office.”

I just stared at Havoc. He’d done what?

Martin cleared his throat. “We received their message, Mr. Havoc, but you don’t speak for Annie.”

“I do, in fact, speak for her. Annie is my Keeper and I’m done loaning her out to you.”

“Ms. Bishop is Alliance personnel,” Martin said, his voice strained but determined. “She’s a Keeper assigned to you, but she remains under Alliance authority.”

“Are you threatening to move Annie to another Hero?” Havoc asked, his voice dangerously soft.

Martin raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not threatening anything. I’m simply setting the record straight.”

“How about I set the record straight?” Havoc’s smile widened, showing too many teeth. “Annie’s position as my Keeper is a permanent position. She can’t be moved.” He tilted his head. “Or didn’t you know that?”

I fought to keep my face blank instead of giving Martin a falsely sweet smile. Keepers were Alliance employees, assigned and reassigned as needed. They typically weren’t supposed to be permanent fixtures unless they were independently employed by a Super.

But I was a permanent employee. Only a few people knew that and Martin Allen wasn’t one of those people. He didn’t know what I was and he didn’t know that I was directly under Havoc’s protection.

To be fair, I could still lose my job, I just couldn’t be reassigned or forced to leave Havoc’s protection.

Martin cleared his throat, straightening his tie. “That may be, but Annie herself hasn’t asked for the engagement to be called off.”

“That’s not true, Mr. Allen.” I sat forward, heat rising to my face. “I called you within minutes of hearing the news.”

Martin’s expression tightened, the corners of his mouth pinching like he’d bitten into something sour.

“I told you there was no engagement and I wanted the situation corrected,” I continued. “You said, and I quote, ‘The narrative stands.’”

Havoc’s eyebrow arched as he turned his attention back to Martin. “The Aegis relented when I explained the situation. They agreed the engagement charade was off.”

“That’s all fine,” Martin said, his professional veneer cracking slightly, “but I’d like the chance to convince Annie to reconsider.”

“No.” The word shot out of my mouth before he could launch into whatever PR speech he’d prepared. “If I can get out of this PR stunt without losing my job, then I want out.”

“The publicity has been incredible,” Martin said, finally starting to snap. “Not just for Valor, but for the Alliance. Ratings are up across the board. Merchandise sales have doubled. We’re not asking much of you.”

My hands curled into fists in my lap. I could feel my nails digging crescents into my palms, the sharp pain keeping me from launching across the room and showing Martin just how much he was actually asking of me.

I took a breath, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Mr. Allen, am I speaking freely right now, or am I acting as a Keeper?”

“You may speak freely,” he said, but sounded like he wished I couldn’t.