Page 21 of Queen of Wrath

Focus, Lea. We have a task at hand.

I pushed my feelings aside and made my way to Jax’s office, standing before the closed door for a few seconds like always, mentally preparing myself for what awaited me beyond it. Normally, as I stood there, I would hear him inside either yelling or working. I didn't hear anything this time.

How out of character for him.

My knuckles wrapped against the wooden door.

“Come in.” His voice was deep and sullen, telling me he wasn't in a very good mood.

I pushed the door open to find him sitting at his office desk, facing the window and the whole city stretching out before him.

He had what looked like an alcoholic beverage in his hand.

“Good morning, sir.” I made my way up to his desk the way that I always did.

“Miss Mirth… Do you have good news for me today?” The way he asked was calm and yet threatening. He sounded like he was hanging on by a thread.

“Actually, I do.”

He turned around, his drink sloshing about in his glass as he placed it down on the desk. He looked worn out. He had a five-o-clock shadow and deep bags under his eyes.

Even the color in his eyes seemed faded, showing his exhaustion as he looked up at me. “Well, don't keep me in suspense. Tell me, or better yet, show me. How soon can they come in?”

“I guess you would know better than I would,” I mumbled under my breath.

His eyes narrowed at me, his patience wearing thin.

“The thing is… Apparently, he's your brother. Of course, I didn't know that when I recruited him.” As I explained, Jax’s cold, detached expression changed to miserable amusement.

He buried his face in his hands and chuckled in an exasperated way. Then he lifted his shaking head and blinked at me slowly. “You're going to have to keep looking.”

“Why? He's incredibly talented for his age. You'd be crazy not to take advantage of that!” A rush of adrenaline came over me. I didn't mean to raise my voice at him, but regret, like always, came too late.

He sat back, shocked, and tilted his head. “All of that may be true, but I sincerely doubt my uncle is going to allow me to hire his son.”

“You really think Diesel is going to have an issue with his son making a name for himself?”

Hells, I didn't mean to say Diesel's name like I was familiar with him…

“Have you ever met my uncle?” he asked with a curious glint in his eye, and it took every ounce of my being not to panic.

“Of course I haven't, but you have a prominent family.”

He gave me a funny look, and it wasn't until that moment that I realized his question had been rhetorical. He wasn't accusing me of anything.

“In any case,” I said, clearing my throat. “Wouldn't your uncle want Kiyan to experience the same kind of success you have?”

“That's a good question, and one that I don't have the answer to. He's always been oddly possessive over Kiyan. That's the biggest reason why Kiyan and I aren’t close, even though we're half-brothers.”

As he explained this, a devious plan formed in my head.

If Diesel is so protective of Kiyan, and Jax still insists on hiring him, then that would cause problems between them. It might even ruin any illegal business agreements they have with each other. At the very least, it would make Jax's life more difficult, and that thought alone tickled me.

“This is the best decision for the good of your company. You’re not the sort of man to back down from what he wants, are you?” I made my way around the desk, sauntering over to him. “I mean, are you the owner of this company, or is he?”

The image of me as the devil on his shoulder came to mind…

I watched in delight as Jax grew angrier.

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