Page 16 of Controller's Obsession

Merihem’s frown deepened. “And how long has Mrs. Danials been visiting her sister?”

“Four months.” Peni wanted to slink off the seat and hide under the table when Merihem pulled a phone out of his shirt pocket and started tapping on the screen.

When he’d finished tapping, his phone dinged, and Merihem put it away. “If you let me know your account number, the amount you’re entitled to will be credited to your bank this afternoon. I only worked it out roughly, not considering taxes and whatnot, but you should get about twenty-five thousand dollars or thereabouts. Scott, at the office will take care of it.”

Peni swallowed hard, and then, when the lump in his throat wouldn’t shift, he swallowed again. “Twenty-five thousand? Dollars?”

“Yep. Mrs. Danials had stolen from you roughly forty dollars an hour, for forty hours a week, for sixteen weeks. That’s roughly twenty-five thousand. Have you finished with your salad?”

“Yes, thank you.”I have to tell him. I have to tell him.“About that money. Don’t you have to take some off for rent?”

“Rent?” Merihem chuckled. “You mean for you squatting in the basement?” A big hand landed on Peni’s back, pushing him against the table. “Oops. Sorry. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. I’m fine.” Peni pushed himself back up into a sitting position. “I didn’t have permission to live in the basement,” he admitted. “I think that’s a crime.”

“You’re right. It’s criminal that you were forced to squat in the basement of a huge house you were cleaning all by yourself, being stolen from by the woman who is actually contracted for the job, to the point you couldn’t afford to live anywhere else.”

“I told you I was saving up so that I could make a rental deposit. I wasn’t planning on living there forever.”

The server picked that moment to come and collect the empty plates. “Your pasta will be about five minutes more.”

Merihem just waved him off, or Peni assumed he did, he was still suffering with embarrassment.

“We need to rearrange you a bit so I can see your face. My demon tells me you’re upset with me.” Peni found himself lifted and spun to the side before resting back on Merihem’s legs. “We don’t like it when you’re upset.”

“I’m ashamed of how you found me, of how I’ve been living. Look at you.” Peni tapped Merihem’s chest which was covered by a beautiful crisp shirt. “You have everything. I have nothing. Now I’ve been fired…”

“W-what, I never said you were fired. Didn’t I just arrange to have the money owed to you paid into your account, so you got the higher pay you should’ve been getting?”

“I’m not fired?” A ray of hope unfurled in Peni’s heart. “I can still work at cleaning the house?”

“No. You’re my blissful one. We—that’s me and my demon—have to take care of you, which means you have to come with me when I’m doing my business. Someone else can clean the house.”

“Mrs. Danials is in Florida.” Peni’s heart sank.

“Mrs. Danials’ ass is fired. She knew what she was doing was wrong, and if I ever see her again…”

The demon was getting really rumbly now and Peni got the idea that could be terrible news in a restaurant.

Make him feel better.His goat piped up.Rub his nipples.

I’m not rubbing his nipples,but Peni did pat Merihem’s chest in what he hoped was a soothing manner. The rumbles calmed down, so it must’ve worked.

“That feels nice.” Okay, so yes, the demon was feeling better, but Merihem was still frowning. “Look, I think we’re really lucky as a couple. I mean, when Dakata found his blissful one, Silas was tied to a tree. Not literally, thank goodness, although that could be fun, but he’s a dryad, so neither one of them can leave the tree for long. That would drive me up the wall in a week.

“But see, you and me, this is perfect. You’re homeless, well, living in a basement, but that’s the same thing, so you can move up into the house with me. And you don’t have to work, because I can take care of everything you need. Wherever I go, you will, too. Won’t that be fun? I am rocking this dating business. Just rocking it.”

Peni had a sinking feeling in his stomach. “I really like working in the house. What will I be doing while you’re doing your business things?”

“You’ll be with me.” Merihem was smiling wide enough to show his teeth. “You can sit on my lap while I take meetings, looking cute, just like you are now. Perfect.”

“Just sitting, looking cute.” Peni inhaled sharply. “I don’t think I’ll be very good at doing that.”

Don’t do it. Don’t even think it. He’s our mate.

His goat could sense what he was planning before he’d even formed a coherent thought. Because Peni knew if his mate did not respect him, there wasn’t going to be a mating. Merihem could afford all the fancy shirts he liked, but Peni had his pride. “Can I get up for a moment, please?”

“Sure. But just for a moment. I like you there.” Merihem was all smiles as he pushed back his chair. Peni slid off his lap. “Did you get a crick in your leg? I get funny aches like that sometimes. Usually, when I’ve been seriously kicking some demon ass.” Merihem laughed. Peni didn’t think he was funny.

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