Page 24

The haunting nightmares of how tough my job has been are erased when a small tug on my sleeve wakes me in the middle of the night.

“Mommy?” Lina’s voice is barely above a whisper.

I blink through the darkness, my body aching from exhaustion. “What is it, baby?”

She hesitates, clutching Bear tightly. “Can I stay with you? I can’t sleep.”

Smiling, I pull her close, tucking her tiny body against mine. “Of course, sweetheart.” I smooth down her curls, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Go back to sleep. Mommy’s right here.”

Looking at her sleeping face makes me realize I would battle through hell for her because she's everything I have, and that's enough to ward off all the exhaustion.

By morning, the exhaustion still lingers, but I push through it. I arrive at work expecting just another ordinary workday.

I’m wrong.

Today we are having a meeting that includes members from multiple departments. Marketing, finance, and operations will be present. The meeting has been arranged to evaluate the new initiatives, which means that we’ll be spending more than a few hours in the conference room.

I walk behind Alaric, his scent covering me like a warm summer blanket. He opens the door for me like a gentleman, but I don’t dwell on it as I take my seat next to him.

The long, obsidian conference table is surrounded by at least thirty-two people, and it should make me nervous, but six years of serving coffee to at least a hundred different people per day has made me confident in crowds.

The only problem is, I'm aware of the subtle shift as I sit next to Alaric.

Sitting a few seats away from me is a leggy blonde with enough makeup on her face to bake an entire birthday cake.

I know her. She’s from the thirtieth floor and the same woman who treated me like dirt the first day I tried to greet her.

Amanda was supposed to be Alaric’s secretary after the old one got fired.

Apparently, she is the daughter of an Elder, and she felt that she was guaranteed to get the job.

Unfortunately for her and fortunately for me, Alaric decided that everyone who applied for the secretary job must be interviewed. So, I got the job, and Amanda got a job in a less important department on the thirtieth floor.

She’s been waiting for me to slip up ever since.

Which is why I'm not even surprised when she stands up, wipes off invisible lint from her expensive clothes, and starts the meeting herself.

“Lila,” her voice is sickly sweet, her red shiny lipstick drawing the eye, “since we all know I’m the one who was supposed to have your job and you can’t possibly handle this, I'm sure you are not familiar with the company’s strategic plans for the quarter. So let me be a darling and go over them for you, okay?”

A few people murmur, others shift in their seats uncomfortably.

Amanda’s words are crystal clear. She’s making me look incompetent as Alaric’s secretary. In front of some of the most important departments in the office, no less.

Alaric doesn’t say a word, but his expression is hard as stone.

I clasp my hands together on the table, wearing the same saccharine smile as Amanda’s.

“Thanks, Amanda, but that won’t be necessary.”

Amanda presses her hand over her expensive cotton jacket and snorts. “Oh?”

“I went through all the strategic planning files on my first day. I believe I'm up to date.”

Another round of murmurs and gasps echoes around the conference table, but I’ve come too far to back down from a challenge. If she wants a show, I'll most definitely give her a show.

Amanda chuckles lightly. Some people sitting at her side chuckle along with her.

“I’m impressed, Lila. I really am, but being a secretary isn’t likely to learn how to read reports. Hell, everyone here can agree with me that I can read a report from A to Z. The point here, darling, is that experience is what matters. Knowing the core values and the needs of the company will always come first, but I guess…you wouldn’t know that, would you? You’ve been here for what? Twenty-four hours?”