7
Morgan pov.
Rain glares at me from across the table and I have to curb every urge to reach across the table and smack him upside the head. I’ve been trying to convince him he needs a dark-web account for the last five minutes and he’s said, no, to every reason I gave him until I stopped asking and just created the account myself. The more time I spend with him the more I realize he’s still very much a child trapped in a grown wolf’s body. It’s cute and frustrating at the same time.
“I’m not using that thing.” He tells me as I slide the tablet over the table to him. I at least didn’t need to force him to eat this morning.
“You’re using it. Think of it as a way of repaying me for the coins I spent on you.” He growls and I narrow my eyes at him. “Just because you’re a damn wolf doesn’t mean you have to growl at everything. Use your words.” I huff, a headache already forming and it’s not even eight in the morning yet.
“Are you going to keep reminding me you bought me even though you said you don’t want a slave?” His question is very matter of fact, and I nod, much to his surprise.
“If you want to act like you need someone to give you instructions then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. We both know why you’re here, Rain. I told you I want a contract with you. Now, if you’re confused about what that means I can send you some ideas.” He glares down at the tablet, and I grin, drinking the last of my juice. “I have to get to work. I have damage control to do, in more ways than one.” I let out a slow breath and finally stand up from the table.
“You’re leaving me alone?” He asks, following behind me as I shrug on my suit jacket and gather my things for the day, sliding my watch on my wrist when I reach the door. “I’m not using that thing.” He growls and I take a deep breath to keep myself from lashing out at him.
“Yes, yes you are. You have your account so you can learn things, Rain. Important things to keep you safe in this place. Sharpen up on the rules, do research on how humans should be treated, what human social cues mean. Just, do something other than defy me and drive me insane. It’s been less than twenty-four hours. You can at least pretend you’re grateful I got you out of that place.” I huff and he glares at me.
“I didn’t ask you to get me out of that place. You decided that all on your own and you said I could leave if I didn’t want to stay here.” He breathes a little faster with each word he says, forcing me to stay calm or else we’ll just stand here and yell at each other.
“Would you like to go back?” His eyes widen and I take a step forward, looking him directly in the eye. “Because trust me that’s where you will end up if you leave here. You will have no protection to stay in the Glaze and you’ll go back to what you know, beating up people in a cage you wish you can escape so you make your choice. Either give it a couple of weeks and stay here or leave and end up being miserable for the rest of your life because you chose your path based on not wanting freedom.” I pat his cheek and then walk out the door, knowing he can’t follow me since his parameters have been set to the apartment. “Bing, could you order a new bracelet for Rain?” I’m not sure he’ll stay but the bracelet is a hell of a lot better than that thing he’s wearing on his ankle. When I’m in my car I search for some steamy videos and send three random ones to Rain with a message attached.
To Rain: This is some of what a contract entail…
Now I can only hope he’ll decide to stay.
“Luca Golding is in your office.” Margot tells me when I step out of the elevator. Great, just fucken fantastic. I walk down the hallway as fast as I can without making it seem like I’m running, waving at some of my colleagues as they wave at me and hoping we’re not preparing for a full-on war after my meeting with him.
“This is not what we discussed, Morgan.” Luca starts as soon as I step foot into my office. He’s dressed in a light pink suit that shimmers with every movement he makes, and his wings is tucked tightly to his body, showing me just how tense he is, they’re usually spread out in the air behind him, making him seem larger than life and very fun to be around.
“I didn’t approve the expansion, Luca.” I assure him. Sinclair needs both mine and five other managers to approve the expansion she proposed and so far, only that weasel Rames has approved her plans. “There are four more approvals outstanding. It’ll be fine. We’ll have our meeting today and the suggestion will be withdrawn.” Even if she doesn’t withdraw it, she can’t face the board to overthrow approval if half the managerial staff isn’t on board.
“This shouldn’t even have happened in the first place. I gave you access to our inner circle to help keep us safe, not to restrict us further. This expansion ruins all future plans for Gloss to thrive. I know it and you know it.” His anger comes with a little bit of panic and it’s the first time I’ve seen Luca panic, albeit only a small amount.
“She can’t do anything as of yet, it’s only a suggestion at this point.” He narrows his eyes at me, and I pray I’m not about to lose the peace I’ve worked so hard to build because Sinclair is selfish.
“You know as well as I do what hangs in the balance if this goes South. You’re not as invincible as you think, Morgan. The last war ended only three years ago, you won’t be able to handle another one and trust me when I say that Gloss is not going to stand alone this time. There is no way in hell I’m helping you if this goes through. The only reason you have power is because you were handed the power. Minds can still be changed and trust me when I say, I can be very convincing.” It’s a warning if ever I heard one.
“Luca…” He shakes his head.
“You sit here in your glass office and work for them, you have no idea what’s going on out there. This is me giving you a choice. You either find a way to stop this and we can continue on in the peace we’ve had so far, you don’t and there will be war, and you chose which side you stand on. Make sure you chose the right side.” He walks out of my office with those words and dread fills my body from head to toe.
The last war claimed so many lives. Lives of people I hated but also of those I loved.
I’m sure off is that the war was never over. Someone might have called for a cease fire, but peace is a fragile thing and like a child who can’t tell when something is precious, Sinclair went and broke it.