Page 113 of Isabela

Sitting in the chair, I open up my chocolate bar and take a bite.

“I went to the supply closet, and someone locked me in. They blocked the door with a chair,” I explain as I chew.

“The fuck. Are you okay? What are you eating?” He asks rapid-fire.

“Chocolate,” I murmur. “I’m okay, I managed not to lose it, but it was not fun.”

“What did you do to stay focused?” Gael asks, intrigued.

“I thought of all the ways to kill people,” I say blithely, just as Bridget walks in. She stumbles as she hears me, making me smirk at her. “I have to fire someone for the first time, wish me luck?”

“I’ll buy champagne for your first firing, and then give you lots of orgasms after we toast to you,” he growls. “This is the fear I want you to keep working on as your task, hear me?”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

My core heats as my smile grows, and I hang up before I make a fool of myself. Harrison grabs a water bottle from his mini fridge and hands it to me. Quickly, I take a sip to make sure I don’t have any chocolate in my teeth, before throwing away my wrapper.

“Did you lock me in a closet just a bit ago?” I ask her. I doubt she’ll cop to it, but I’m still willing to try.

“I think you’re overreacting,” she says, shrugging. “Are you sure the door didn’t get stuck? Where did it happen?”

Harrison walks behind me, his hands closing over the back of the chair. I’m in his domain, but he doesn’t seem to care, just lending me his dominant energy to do what I need to.

“I found Isabela stuck in the supply closet,” he rumbles. “There was a chair shoved under the handle, so don’t gaslight her. Did you do this? Last chance.”

“No, but it could have been anyone, Mr. Travers. She comes in here and just takes over. We of course appreciate getting our paychecks, but what does she know about leading a company?” Bridget complains.

“Some of it is in her blood, and can’t be taught,” Harrison says, making me sit taller. “I’m here for support until she turns twenty-five. However, she’s the brains here. Everything good that happens for this company is because of Isabela.”

“I don’t understand why everyone seems to think she shits rainbows,” she grumbles.

Lovely.

“I don’t think it matters very much since you no longer work here, Bridget. You’ve always disliked me, and I don’t believe that you have to like who you work with,” I say. “You do, however, have to be able to collaborate and communicate with them in a way that doesn’t cause them harm. Locking me in a closet when I have a phobia of small spaces is grounds for dismissal. Grab your shit and get out. I do believe we have extra security today in case you cause a scene.”

Smiling sweetly as I watch her face go from smug to horrified, she screeches. “You can’t do that! I’ve been with the company for years!”

Bridget has been with the company for ten years to be exact. I think it’s time for new blood at the front desk.

“Isabela’s word is law, goodbye Bridget,” Harrison growls.

“Is there a problem here, folks? Dr. Murphy sent me down to provide extra security,” a man says at the door. Glancing over, all I see is muscles. He’s in a pair of black tactical pants and a tight shirt, his face a mask as he looks sternly around the room. “The name's Bane.”

“Hello, Bane. Bridget no longer works here. Can I trouble you to escort her out, please?” I ask. He gives me a slow smile, and I bet it’ll be no problem at all.

“You got it, Miss Isabela. Bridget, let’s go. Don’t make this difficult,” he says.

Huffing, she flounces out of the room, and I don’t miss the tears starting to run down her face. I didn’t make her act like an ass, so I refuse to care.

“Well done,” Harrison murmurs. “I think I’m going to treat you to the sandwich restaurant down the street, because firing people always makes me hungry. Let’s grab your things.”

Grinning because that sounds amazing, I nod and walk with him to my office to get my purse and phone. As we walk to the elevators, I see Bridget throwing her shit in a box, glaring at me.

I plan to thoroughly enjoy my food, especially with the celebration Gael has planned for me later.

ONE MONTH LATER

A few days out of the week after working at Cohen Security and Communications, I spend time in a little house that the Eagna Society owns in a quiet neighborhood. It isn’t being used for anything, and Theodore surprised me with the deed to my new Foundation.

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