Chapter 10 - TJ

I sleep like a baby knowing that the girl I am into finally let me show her what it is like to be with a man—a man who knows exactly what he is doing.

Last night was a revelation of immense proportions. My dragon preened the entire night, and waking up knowing that I will have more time with Taylor causes a smile to form on my face.

"Good morning, gorgeous," I moan out as I stretch my arms above my head.

My back cracks from the stretch and I feel epic.

As I stretch, I am met with silence.

Taylor must still be asleep.

Wanting to see her in dreamland, I turn my head towards her.

"Wakey wake—"

My words stop as I see the spot next to me is empty. Reaching toward it, the spot is cold, like it has been empty for a while.

She must have gotten up and gone to the kitchen or living room to not disturb me.

Taylor really is so sweet and innocent.

A smile forms on my lips, knowing that I do enjoy a chase. I will sneak up on her and smother her with kisses once I find her.

Getting up, I head to the bathroom to relieve myself and brush my teeth. Nothing can ruin the mood like stinking breath.

I look at myself in the mirror and see a wide grin on my face. I haven't been this happy in a while, and it is all thanks to Taylor.

There is no way I am letting this night or Taylor go.

Go get our girl , my dragon says, finally awake.

Nodding to myself, I go in search of Taylor, hoping to find her sprawled out and ready for me on my couch.

I walk out of my bedroom and see that the living room is empty. She must be in the kitchen, maybe even making breakfast for us.

That thought causes my heart to skip a beat. No girl has ever cooked for me before.

Looking up, I see the kitchen appears empty as well.

A frown forms on my brow. Where is she?

I search the rest of my apartment, the guest bedroom and office areas as well. Everywhere is empty.

There is no way she left.

Not after last night.

I pull my phone out to call her and realize I don't even have her number.

My heart sinks.

Did I just have a one-night stand?

It wouldn't be the first I've had, but I wasn't expecting last night to be a one-time thing. I gave Taylor my all, and worshipped her as she deserved. This couldn't have meant nothing to her. It meant everything to me.

We have to find her , my dragon pleads.

I know that, but if she left, I cannot just show up where she's staying. What if she doesn't want me? What if last night didn't impress her?

That is nonsense. She came at least twice, and she was just as invested last night as I was. Something else has to be going on.

Hurt fills my soul, but I refuse to let it overcome me.

Taylor and I have a bond. I won't let that bond be diminished.

I decide to get ready for work and see if I can get her number out of Lex. That is the best idea that I have, and I am sticking to it.

***

I arrive at work filled with determination.

Last night was life-changing, and I am not going to let it go. Taylor is going to be mine.

Ours , my dragon sniffs.

Ours, of course.

I make it to my office in record time and try to think of a game plan for approaching Lex, but there is a note on my desk.

Meeting at 9 a.m.

That's in fifteen minutes. They must want to hear how the work dinner went. I can report it went amazingly, and after last night, there is no way this case can continue. Taylor wouldn't sue me. Even if she did leave this morning. She could have had a variety of reasons for leaving.

I know she can't hail a cab to save her life, but maybe Shane came and got her.

She has a job, just like I do, so maybe she rushed off to work.

I spend the remaining ten minutes coming up with sly ideas to get Taylor's number from Lex without causing suspicion.

Eight fifty-eight hits and I head to the meeting room.

As I enter, Lex is in the middle of talking, but the room turns silent as I enter.

"I thought it didn't start until nine?" I ask.

All eyes are on me, and not one looks pleased. Everyone is in the room, including Nic.

"Have a seat, TJ," Lex says, pointing at the opposite end of the table where there is a lone chair, directly across from him.

My usual seat is empty, but I follow his command.

Sitting down, I try to think about what is going on.

"What were you all talking about before I entered?" I ask, curious.

"You," Damon says with a grimace on his face.

My stomach drops. They were having a meeting about me.

"Why me?"

Lex shakes his head, "Tell us about the work dinner with Ms. Montgomery."

I swallow. "It went really well."

Lex raises an eyebrow.

"We went to the Mongolian place and had a few drinks. I found out some more about her and I think we really connected."

The air shifts at my last sentence.

Everyone turns to look at Lex.

"Did you fuck her?" Lex asks, eyes glued to my own.

I try to remain neutral, but I know my eyes widen in shock.

How does he know?

It hasn't even been twelve hours since Taylor and I had sex. There is no way he can tell.

"Of course not."

"Why not? You said you really connected?" Damon questions me.

I glance at Damon, and he has an unreadable smirk on his face.

"Because that would be unprofessional," I explain.

Lex nods before he stands up.

He walks toward me and sets a paper down in front of me.

"What's this?"

"Our court date. It's set for next week."

"What do you mean?"

"Did he stutter?" Damon snaps.

I look down at the court summons.

Lex is right. KobiTech is requesting we meet them in court on Tuesday, and Taylor's name is in bold as their lawyer.

What in the world is going on?

"Did you fuck her?" Lex asks again, this time in my ear.

Everyone is looking at me, and I can tell that I've gone as white as a ghost.

"You don't understand. She might be my mate," I confess.

Lex takes a step back and Nic gasps.

"What do you mean, might?" Pat asks.

"My dragon preens whenever she is around, and he thinks she's my mate."

Lex nods as he takes another step back.

"So you did sleep with her?" Liam ponders aloud.

"Yes, but I swear, I had to. She's my mate," I plead.

Everyone looks at me with sympathy.

They have to understand, I couldn't help myself. Taylor is mine and I am hers.

"She must not think so if she is still suing us," Pat mutters.

Lex agrees, "Why would she still sue us if you slept together? It doesn't make any sense."

"I woke up and she was gone," I explain, and hurt is present in my tone by the shakiness of the word 'gone.'

"Oh, TJ," Nic says, standing up.

They all look at her.

"You must be hurting," Nic says to me as she embraces me. "Being denied by your mate like this. Maybe she is just overwhelmed by what's going on, so she fled."

That does make sense. If she felt even an ounce of what I feel towards her, it could have overwhelmed her and caused her to leave and still sue us.

"Whatever is going on, you have to fix it," Lex demands. "We would rather not go to court, but we will if we have to."

Lex is right, I have to fix this.

"Can I get Taylor's number? I will call her and try to meet up and see if we can resolve this."

Lex agrees and writes down her number for me before dismissing the meeting.

Everyone leaves, but a hand on my shoulder stops me.

"TJ, can we talk for a moment?" Lex asks, and I nod. "I know what it's like to have a mate. It is scary, but also marvelous. If Taylor really is the one, I suggest fighting for her."

I'm not a hugely emotional guy, but tears prickle the corner of my eye.

There is nothing I want more than to fight for Taylor. Especially after last night.

"Okay, boss."

Lex grunts before slapping me on the back. "Now get out of here and make things right."

I head to my office and pull out my smartphone.

Taylor's number glares at me from the screen. What will I say to her?

I type message after message but don't send them, so I bite the bullet and call her.

She answers on the second ring.

"This is Taylor."

My throat goes dry at her voice. It sounds like heaven.

"Hi."

"Who is this?" she asks with an incredulous tone.

I clear my throat, "TJ. TJ Rubens."

The phone clicks.

"Hello?"

I am met with silence for the second time today, and my heart burns. She hung up on me. I want to call back, but I am not sure my soul can handle another rejection.

My dragon weeps, Why did she hang up?

I don't know, buddy. I really don't know.

Determined to get her attention, I draft up a text, asking her to meet. I fear she will ignore me, but the only thing I can do is hope.

After the text is sent, I get to work.

I google everything I can about KobiTech, trying to prepare for the court case.

There has to be something I can find that can stop this case.

Druk Technologies committed no crime, and if we can't prove our innocence, maybe we can prove KobiTech has an ulterior motive.