Leilani.
My cheek burned.
And yes, that was the best way to describe the tingling sensation running through the spot Zevran had just kissed before bolting out of my house like a rabid dog was hot on his tail.
What the fuck just happened?
Did Zevran just kiss me?
I didn't bother opening the door to yell at him for kissing me. I didn't even move an inch, but simply stood there, shocked to my bones and hyperventilating because I couldn't quite believe my eyes.
Was he possessed?
Had he finally gone mad?
These thoughts plagued my mind as I went into my kitchen, warmed up my now cold bowl of ramen and then returned to the sitting room to eat while I watched TV.
But trust me, I was still in a daze. My body still trembled whenever I remembered the look he had in his eyes. And my skin— my fucking skin— frizzled as if shot by a taser whenever I remembered that kiss.
Idly, I grazed my fingers over the spot and winced when steam from my bowl burned my lap. "Shit! Shit shit shit!" I groaned, immediately sitting upright to check on the burn… but surprisingly, nothing was there.
I frowned. "Really strange things have been happening lately."
As soon as I said that, I thought back to my encounter with Zevran and how I had promised to end things with them without having to go through the gruesome stages of a bond breaking ritual.
However, now that I think about it, I couldn't help but feel bad. I was afraid and confused— and no, it wasn't because I wasn't ready to let go of them. Far from that, it was because I feared shifting.
The last time I tried to, it hurt so bad I almost lost my life because my wolf was weak. So so weak.
My body too was weak. But I'll never tell them that.
And truth be told, I do not care if it ruins me but I'll rather break off ties with them than continue being bonded to them.
I spent the rest of the evening watching Family Guy while slurping up my ramen and drinking wine. Bad combo, yeah I know. And by the time I went to bed, all thoughts of the triplets had completely vanished from my mind.
I felt as light as a feather… unafraid of the unknown.
I also woke up hours later feeling light, but that didn't last long because I soon realized that I had woken up an hour too late, and that I was meant to be at work in exactly forty minutes.
Oh, shit shit shit!
—
I struggled with my pants zipper as I ran out of the house, my Saint Laurent heels clacking against the marble floor as I went.
When I arrived at my porch, the first thing I noticed was a large bouquet of roses waiting for me by the door. I froze. "The hell?"
Slowly, I advanced towards the vile object, picked it up and sniffed it. It smelled fresh, meaning that it was placed here this morning.
There were no tags on it, no nothing, and for a minute, I couldn't help but wonder if this was sent by the same person as the secret admirer from the hotel.
'Maybe they were the same person.' I mused as I walked up to the thrash and dumped it in.
A few minutes later, I drove into the parking lot of Frostclaw. Inc. but as soon as I stepped out of my car, the first person or people I saw standing there— apparently waiting for me— were my mother and Chalice.
When my mother saw me, she waved me over, frowning slightly when I pretended not to see her. "Leilani!" She called out frantically, "Don't pretend like you cannot see me because I can see you— clearly."
My steps faltered but I didn't stop walking. "I need to talk to you!" Still, I didn't stop.
However, I felt a sudden tug on my arm and before I could react, my mother spun me around so fast, I nearly lost my footing. I winced. "What?"
"I said I wanted to talk to you! Why are you so disrespectful?!" She yelled in my face, causing a small smile to play on my lips as I stared down at her.
"You didn't like it when I ignored you?" I asked with a teasing smile—one that grew when she quickly shook her head.
"Of course, I don't!"
"Now, you should probably understand how I felt when you ignored me all my life." I spat.
As soon as the words slipped out, mother gasped, holding her chest. She stumbled backward as if about to trip, but before she could fall, Chalice steadied her from behind, and then shoved mother behind her protectively as she stood face to face with me.
"The person you have a problem with is me, Leilani," she drawled softly. "Mother didn't do anything wrong—"
"And that's where you got it all wrong!" I snapped, interrupting her. "Mother is just as guilty as you. If not more. She was the one who massaged your filthy ego, so stop painting her as some saint! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." I hissed, and with that, sidestepped her to walk into the reception.
I had not even taken more than a few steps when mother screamed at me. She shouted; "I need your help, Leilani!"
I stilled.
Wait… what?
Since when did the almighty Nina Blackthorne start needing the help of a runt like me?
My grin widened as I turned around, and pinning her with the coldest glare I could muster, I spat; "No."
"Leilani!"
"What?!"
"Okay, I get it. Caelum was disrespectful yesterday. He must've said something to hurt you, hence the reason you're so head bent on not allowing them to work with Frostclaw. But Chalice here is innocent…" she muttered, grabbing onto Chalice's arm as she stared pointedly at me.
The idea of 'Chalice' being 'innocent' made me blanch. I chuckled. "Really now? She's innocent?"
"Yes."
"So what do you want me to do about her innocence?"
"She wants to work here at Frostclaw.Inc. We're not asking for too much, we just want you to put in a word on her behalf."
Now, that made me laugh so hard, my ribs began to hurt. I laughed so loudly and for a long time, and after finally laughing to my satisfaction, I wiped the corners of my eyes with my finger and turned to Chalice.
"You want to work here?"
"Yes," she muttered, lowering her head. "I've always wanted to. Their innovations these past few years have been groundbreaking, and their last AI health PL, DocBud, is something I've always wanted to work with and study."
I smiled. I created that.
"If you really think that way, then submit your resumè. If you're qualified for the job, you'll be contracted. They sent out some vacant spots recently."
"I've sent in my resumè." She answered quickly, "…that's why mom and I want you to put in a word for me. Please."
Chalice was asking for my help? Begging to work in the same place as I did.
Confusion creased my forehead as I regarded their solemn expressions, and then I nodded. "I'll see what I can do then." I muttered, and with that, I walked away from them, whilst praying to the moon goddess that she's never accepted.
She was a bitch… a nasty one. And I was smart enough to know that her presence here would only create more problems for me.
—Guyssss, do you know what the moon goddess did?
No, so I'll tell you.
When I arrived at my office, Jarek's PA informed me that he had specifically put me in charge of sifting through the resumès of everyone that's tried to apply for the recent job openings.
And guess what? My dear Chalice was number 6!
As soon as I saw her resumè, well, you should know what happened next; But best believe, it ended up in the thrash as fast as I could blink.
Ha!