Page 23

A lice sat down at her desk with a sigh. Her boss walked by, his face clouded with disapproval as he glanced in her direction. She lowered her head, pretending to work at her computer but once again her mind was elsewhere.

Ever since she’d left Axel, her life had been miserable. At the office, her boss gave her an evil stare every other day, as if he knew she was planning something against him, and she ran behind in her work.

At home, Nessa kept pestering her for information on what had happened to the hunk. Once she’d told him they’d stopped seeing each other after a night of passion, she’d turned to praise her for leaving him and scolding her for going to his house without telling anyone where she was.

She’d tried to see her therapist, but her next appointment wasn’t until next week, so she was left alone with her thoughts, which had been a nightmare.

One whole week. Alice wasn’t even sure how she’d managed to survive.

Whenever she wasn’t working or pretending to do so, she was thinking about Axel.

She forgot mealtimes, shower times, and bedtime.

All she could manage was to conjure Axel’s picture.

She masturbated to him, the need to do so every night becoming imperative, then she would cry herself to sleep, recalling and missing his warmth and loving embrace.

It was insanity. Ridiculous. She tried to convince herself it had only been a one-night stand.

Tons of people had one every day and they didn’t become obsessed with each other.

Had she had the best sex in her life? Yes.

But that was it. She didn’t know Axel. He was not a bar owner, he was a gangster, a thief.

She was certain when she told her therapist, they’d laugh about it. Right?

“Alice?”

She lifted her gaze, surprised to find her boss standing in front of her desk, grinning at her unpleasantly.

For some reason, Kenneth had always reminded her of a hyena.

His smile was too wide and toothy. He was tall and lean, with angular features, a strong jawline and a flat wide nose, upturned at the tip.

His dark hair was constantly tousled, as if he couldn’t stop running his fingers through it.

“Yes?” she said.

“Before you leave today, please come into my office. I’d like to have a word with you.”

Dread wound its way into her, coiling into a lead ball.

“Of course,” she managed to say.

Shit.

It was just what she needed. Her love life was in shambles, and now she was surely going to get fired. It was true that her work hadn’t been the best this week. She’d almost turned in a report late, but she’d stayed up all night finishing it and had successfully sent it.

Alice forced herself to focus on her work. She had to make it through the rest of the afternoon. She glanced at the clock. One more hour.

Finally, people began to leave. She waved goodbye to a few coworkers and stood up.

Her legs shook. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to Kenneth’s office.

Unable to help it, her gaze landed on the window Axel had told her about.

They were on the second floor. Sure, he could access through that window, but then what?

They had to make it all the way to the top to the CEO’s office on the twelfth floor.

There was security throughout the building.

It was suicidal no matter what he’d said.

“Alice.” Kenneth greeted her with another one of his characteristic smiles, sending a shiver down her back. “Close the door and have a seat.”

Nervously, she obeyed. As soon as she sat down, Kenneth leaned forward, folding his hands atop his desk and creating a steeple. His dark gaze met hers.

“Alice, your work this week hasn’t been up to standards. You were hired after your one-year internship because we thought you were promising.”

“I’m sorry. It’s been a rough week. I promise I’ll do better.”

“Let me finish.” Alice stared at her lap, cheeks burning. “I’m afraid you will not continue to work here, Alice.”

“Why? Surely, you’re not firing me because of a bad week.”

“No. I’m firing you because you reek of lion.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped in shock.

“You heard me. Did you think we wouldn’t notice? You’ve been with the lions. You smell of them, and unfortunately, we are not on the best terms with those sneaky cats.”

“We? Who are we ? You’re firing me because I smell like a lion? I’m not a shifter,” she cried. “This is madness.” She held her head, overwhelmed with despair.

“It doesn’t matter. You’ve been too close to them. Our alliances here at PAM lie with other shifters. Please gather your things and don’t come back tomorrow.”

Alice stared at Kenneth. His eyes were devoid of emotion. In a dreamlike state, she stood up and crossed the room. She glanced back one last time, wishing for all of this to be a joke, but Kenneth was already back at work.

Fighting the onset of tears, she collected her few belongings and headed outside. As soon as the cool air slapped her in the face, the tears rolled. Almost blindly, she made her way across the street. It wasn’t until she realized where she was that she stopped.

She took in THE GIN ROOM sign. The gold lettering and the soft yellow glow beckoned to her. Why had she made her way here of all places?

Axel might be in there. He would comfort her. Except, he was just as twisted as her boss. No, she had to find her own way in life. Wiping away the tears, she bowed her head and continued to the subway.

She never made it.