CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

Cynthia

Kofo drops off the files first thing in the morning.

"The CEO was lingering outside your office," he tells me, his voice uneasy. "I told him you took a sick day because you had a cold. He didn’t look happy."

"Probably because he couldn’t torment me if I’m not there," I mutter. "Thanks for dropping these off. I’ll email you the approved designs in a bit."

"Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you?" he asks. "You sounded pretty bad over the phone last night."

That’s because I had been crying, I say silently.

"No, you can go. Email me if there’s any problem."

Once he leaves, I set the files aside and prepare a light breakfast for myself. Just then, Tony arrives with Riya on his shoulders.

"Hey, baby," I greet her, taking her in my arms.

"Mommy, we watched movies all night!" Riya is bursting with excitement. "And I had so much ice cream that I puked."

I blink. "That’s not a good thing, Riya."

When my eyes swivel towards Tony, he’s eating my breakfast, avoiding my gaze.

"So, you had a good time." I narrow my gaze at the older man before looking back down at my daughter.

"Yep! Can I go again, tonight?"

"No, you can’t," I reply firmly. "You’re going to spend time at home today, and tomorrow you go back to your friends. Now, go wash your hands. I’ll make you some hot chocolate. It’s pretty cold outside, right?"

She nods, beaming at the idea of hot chocolate. As soon as she disappears, I glare at Tony. "Until she puked, Tony? Really?"

"I didn’t know she would eat the entire tub," he says defensively. "And it’s really hard to say no to her when she whines."

"It’s not that hard." I scowl.

"She’d get upset with me then."

"And it’s okay for her to be sick?" I cross my arms over my chest, annoyed.

"No." He looks guilty. "Sorry, Cynthia. We just wanted her to be focused on having a good time. You know how sensitive Riya is to your moods. She’s been a little touchy ever since you dropped her off."

"Yeah, I know.” I sigh.

"So, what happened? Did you meet with Adam again?"

I end up telling him what happened. and his brows knit together. "Email me a copy of your contract. Let me show it to my company’s lawyer."

"That would be helpful. In the meantime, I can’t figure out what he wants. At every meeting, he’s staked a claim on me."

"And how did you respond?" Tony asks cautiously.

"He has no right to me." My voice is harsh. "I reminded him why I left in the first place. He never seems to have much to say about that."

Tony looks troubled. "Just be careful."

"Of course." I tap my fingers on the kitchen counter. "I spent the last night thinking. Tony, I already have Riya’s passport prepared. If anything happens, I cannot let Adam take Riya. There’s a go-bag I’m going to put in a storage unit I own. I’ll share the code with you and Maya. It will have cash, Riya’s important papers, papers of guardianship, and her passport. If anything happens, Tony, you need to take her and go."

Tony tenses up. "You’re expecting something to happen?"

"Now that Adam is here, I want to be prepared for anything," I say.

"Adam won’t do anything to hurt his daughter." Tony frowns.

"I’m not worried about that."

Despite everything, I don’t believe that Adam would hurt his child. But he can take her from me and give her to the woman he loves. If he was willing to keep me by his side as a slave, what’s to say he wouldn’t want his daughter to be raised by a woman he considers worthy? I have tried a few times to ask Tony about Adam’s marital status, but I can’t get the words out of my mouth. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to pain to get worse. I want to live in ignorance.

It’s like I’ve been thrown into a desert and I’m wandering blind. But despite that, I will never stop protecting Riya.

"You have to promise me, Tony," I say fiercely, grabbing his hands. "If that time comes, you’ll take Riya from here. And if I am not able to join you for whatever reason, you and Maya will become her parents and raise her like she’s your own."

Tony has an anguished look in his eyes, but he presses his lips together and nods.

"Thank you."

He gives me a one-armed hug. "We love Riya just as much as you do, and Maya and I love you, too. Nothing will happen to either of you. I promise."

He sounds rather confident, and I wish I could share some of that feeling.

When he leaves, I sigh.

Most of the office knows I have a daughter. It’s bound to come up sooner or later. But since Adam and I never mated, he might not believe she’s his. I could always color Riya’s hair and say I adopted her. Not that it will work. She looks way too much like Adam for him not to realize she’s his child. But that will only happen if they come face-to-face. And I will do everything to prevent that.

"Where’s Uncle Tony?" Riya asks when she returns.

"He went home."

"Was he still sad?"

"Sad?" I help her onto the kitchen stool. "Why would he be sad?"

Riya shrugs. "I had to pee last night and it was really, really late, and someone was yelling at Uncle Tony on the phone and he kept saying sorry. I heard the man on the phone. He was really mean."

I frown, running my fingers through her hair. "I’m sure it was a work-related call. Uncle Tony can look after himself, but if you want to make him feel better, we can make some dumplings for him."

That puts a smile on my baby’s face. "Can we?"

"Of course." I pinch her cheek lovingly. "And we’ll make plenty so that Auntie Maya and her babies can also eat."

I just want to spend time with Riya, so we spend the whole day together. When I put her down for a nap at noon, I hear the doorbell ring. It’s a delivery man.

"I didn’t order this." I stare at the food boxes.

He studies the address on his phone/ "You’re not Cynthia Morrighan?"

"I am."

"Then this is your order," he insists.

"I’m not paying for food I didn’t order," I try to argue, ignoring the way my stomach rumbles at the delicious scents coming from the containers.

"Ma’am," the delivery guy musters up every ounce of patience he has, "the order is paid for. Will you please take this? I have other deliveries to make."

I have no choice but to take the food. Once I unpack it in the kitchen, my eyes widen. There is no way I can eat this much by myself. There are three different containers of soup, along with multiple beef and chicken dishes with rice. And so many dumplings.

Bewildered, I stare at the containers covering my table before finally sighing and calling up Tony and Maya. Neither of them knows anything about this but they have no problem coming over to ’share the burden’. What was supposed to be a dinner meet-up, turns into lunch with them.

"This must have cost more than a hundred dollars," Maya muses as she packs some of the food to take with her. "Are you sure it wasn’t someone from your office?"

"It could be Kofo, but if he used the company card, I’ll kill him," I say. "If he wants to butter me up, he’d better use his own money for it."

Maya laughs. "I like your assistant. Remember when I came by to drop off the beef stew for you at your office? I brought one for him as well. He told me it needed more spice and then he offered to teach me a few spicy dishes. Tony has banned me from going to your office now."

"Yeah." I shake my head. "He’s had a little crush on you ever since."

"Who has a crush on my mate?" Tony’s voice booms as he enters the kitchen. "Is it that kid with no palette? Has he been making eyes at you again, Maya? Did you see him somewhere?"

"Kofo is harmless," I chuckle. "Besides, his family has a thing about arranged marriages, and apparently, his mother has already chosen a girl for him. She’s a sweet thing, and he’s quite excited about it."

Once they leave, I find myself wondering if it was Kofo who sent the food. I’ll have to ask him.

I find the whole thing weird.

****

I end up going to the office for the entirety of the next week.

Adam seems to be intent on making a nuisance of himself. He keeps showing up in my office to the point that even my own staff is beginning to wonder what’s drawing the tyrant CEO to our department. The problem is he seems to have a legitimate excuse each time.

It’s on Friday that I finally snap. The day is going as well as it can.

One of the managers from the procurement department comes by with some documents for me to sign while Adam is in my office.

"Let’s step outside." I sigh, ushering the manager out. I pointedly close the door behind us.

"Sorry, Zack." I click my pen. "What do you need me to sign?"

"We’ve prepared the supply order for the posters. Just wanted you to double-check and sign so I can place the order."

I skim over the details and then scribble my signature below.

When Zack doesn’t leave, I ask, "Is there something else?"

He shuffles his feet, looking awkward. "I was kind of wondering if you would like to get a drink tonight?"

I blink.

Zack’s attractive and sweet, but I’ve never looked at any other man ever since the one in my office broke my heart.

"Thanks, Zack." I smile at him. "But––"

"A bunch of us are going," he quickly adds. "It doesn’t have to be a date if you don’t want it to be."

He’s really sweet. Perhaps if I give myself a chance with someone else, I might be able to move on.

"Sure." I nod. "Message me the details, and if I get free early, I’ll come by."

"Great!" His eyes light up. "I’ll send you the details right away."

I watch him scurry off and Kofo makes a sound.

"What?" I glance at him.

"Was that wise?" He jerks his head toward my office.

I scoff. "It’s my life. I’m allowed to date someone every once in a while."

He just gives me a wary glance but doesn’t say anything further. However, Adam seems to have a lot to say.

As soon as I enter, he asks, "Which department is Zack with?"

"Procurement," I say, taking my seat. His constant proximity is not really helping me. It’s like he’s determined to make me as uncomfortable as possible.

"He seems to like you."

I give him a sharp smile. "Well, I like him, too."

Anger flashes in his eyes, and his voice is deadly soft. "Is that so?"

"Is that an issue, Mr. Moore?" I ask mockingly. "Is my private life a problem for you?"

It’s satisfying to have to watch him control his temper.

"He’s a distraction for you."

"You know what’s a distraction for me?" I demand, getting to my feet, my hands flat on the desk. "You. If you have a question or you want to send me a file," I snarl at him, "send your damn assistant! This is not your office."

"Why?" He’s sitting on the two-seater of my couch. "I’m just looking over your report."

"You can do this in your office."

"I’m comfortable here," he says.

My hand seizes the stapler, and he watches me intently, almost a little too eagerly.

"Are you going to throw that at me?"

I grit my teeth. "Get out of my office."

"No."

"Fine." I get to my feet. "Then I’ll leave."

I storm toward the door only for him to block my path. "Sit down, Cynthia."

"You don’t get to tell me what to do." I bare my teeth at him.

"As your boss, I do."

"Then fire me."

"Sorry," he gives me a smug smile, "that’s one wish of yours I can’t fulfill. I also need your report for the Pluto Game launch."

"That’s next year." I gape at him.

"You must have something on it." He gives me an expectant look.

"No," I give him an irritated look, "we don’t."

"Oh, good." He gives me a cool smile, getting to his feet. "You can spend the rest of the day preparing one for me. I want it before midnight tonight."

I realize what’s he doing, and my eyes tighten in anger. "There’s a special place in hell for you, Adam."

"It’s okay, I prefer warmer climates anyway." He slams the door shut as he leaves.

My hand wraps around the stapler, and I throw it against the door, growling in frustration.

"Stupid jerk!"

He did this on purpose.

There’s a knock on the door, and Kofo pokes his head in. "Is it safe to enter?"

"I need a new stapler," I grumble, collapsing into my chair.

"Of course." Kofo picks up the broken stapler and then studies the dent in the wooden door. "And you’re going to need something to cover that up with."

The anger drains out of me. "Yeah, that too."

“What happened?”

“I have to stay back late and write a report on a product launch for next year because the ‘CEO’ wants it by tonight.” I don’t hide the sarcasm in my voice when I mention Adam. “If I don’t do it, he’ll make all of you stay and work on it. Because you guys haven’t been overworked enough already.”

"I can stay back and help you with the report," Kofo offers with a sympathetic smile.

"Thanks, Kofo." I smile at him. "I appreciate it."

True to his word, as the office empties out, he helps me gather the ideas discussed for the launch of this particular game and we begin compiling it. This is another late night I have to pull, and I’m pissed off that I have to be away from Riya. We get done just shy of midnight, and I email the report to Adam, refusing to take it all the way to his office.

"I don’t think you’ll be able to catch a bus today," I tell Kofo. "I’ll drop you home."

"I have to use the bathroom," he says sheepishly.

"I’ll wait for you by the car then," I tell him, locking up the office.

He hurries away, and I grab my things and head downstairs. From the door in the lobby, I can see there is only one other car in the parking lot aside from mine. I shrug on my coat.

It’s quite cold at night for September. I really need to plan out Riya’s birthday. It’s coming up soon. Maybe I can take the day off and take her to the amusement park that just opened up. As I’m musing over this, I look for my keys in my bag, distracted while I walk.

I hear the soft growl in the background, and at the same time, I hear Kofo’s voice screaming my name. My head jerks up, and I see a large wolf racing toward me from the woods. I take a step back, startled.

He’s fast, and his paw is in the air, his claws out.

My wolf comes to the forefront almost immediately, but before I can react, somebody throws themselves on me, shielding me. And then I hear a piercing scream and the thick metallic scent of blood.

Kofo!

His body is limp as he lies on me.

I don’t waste any time. The wolf is not going to stop.

Pushing Kofo off me, I toss my bag at the shifter, and when he steps back, I shift into my animal form. I can hear my clothes tearing as my limbs break and reform. The other wolf howls, darting forward, but I’ve learned that I’m fast on my feet. I avoid his teeth and jump on his back, stabbing him with my claws and dragging them down his back.

He howls again, this time in pain.

However, he’s still larger than me, and he swats me off his back. I go flying, hitting the concrete floor at intervals. I’ve never fought in my animal form, and this shifter clearly has. He pushes me back. I get in a few hits on his face and legs, but when his teeth are about to sink into my neck, I know I’m done for.

That’s when I hear the roar.

My eyes fly open, and I see Adam running towards me, his eyes yellow. He shifts right in front of my eyes, a large black wolf, the size of which shakes even my heart.

My opponent drops me as Adam goes after him.

I struggle to my feet, and my eyes widen when I see Adam throw the shifter like he’s nothing more than a rag doll. However, the wolf is determined not to be stopped. He changes direction and darts towards me. Adam lets out an enraged roar and rushes forward. I see the wolf’s claws out, and I understand his intentions. I run forward, and before he can stab his claws into Adam’s chest, I slash mine across his eyes, howling in rage. He stumbles back, bleeding, but it’s like a switch has been turned on in my head.

He attacked Adam.

He was going to kill Adam.

My mate.

My wolf is ruthless. She wants blood.

The enemy shifter, realizing I will stop at nothing but his death, makes a break for it. Before I can give chase, Adam stops me. Panting, I stare at him, my blood still boiling. He holds my gaze, silently reminding me who’s more dominant here. He doesn’t want me pursuing the shifter.

Fine!

I take a step back from him, only for him to step forward and nuzzle my neck.

I can feel a rumbling sensation in my chest. He sniffs at me, licking me.

For some reason, I’m enjoying this attention. I want to lay down and be groomed. I find my legs buckling when I realize what’s happening. I immediately wrench control back from my wolf, forcing myself to shift into my human form. The moment I do, I stumble back, reality crashing down on me.

Turning on my heels, naked, I rush toward the front of my car where Kofo is lying still.

"We have to call an ambulance!" I say. "Adam! Where’s your phone?"

Adam has also shifted back, and he puts his hand on my shoulder. "It’s too late, Cynthia."

"No!"

Kofo’s eyes are open, and there’s a white film over their surface. He’s lying in a pool of his own blood.

Adam crouches next to me, his voice gentle. "He’s dead, Cynthia. He was dead the minute he stepped in front of you."

My body shakes as I realize Kofo is not moving or breathing.

I sink back against Adam, staring at the body of my assistant who had been smiling at me just half an hour ago.

And now, he’s dead.

Kofo died protecting me.

This is my fault.