Page 18 of Soul Food

He looked to Jayne for confirmation and she nodded in agreement. “John should still be outside, let me go check,” he told us. John was my driver.

I nodded, and Jayne and I stood inside the building while we waited for Rupert to come back and get us. Max, still completely new at this, just stood by and looked to me like a lost puppy. I turned to Jayne in hopes that he didn’t strike up a conversation when my phone started ringing.

I wore a pair of black suede pants with four golden buttons on each pocket that fit my hips beautifully and complimented my gold heels. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my phone but didn’t recognize the number. Jayne leaned over my shoulder. “Maybe I should answer it, just in case it’s a reporter.”

I shook my head and answered. “Hello?”

“Did you walk out that way to get a reaction?”Amit Kingston.

I gripped the phone, already seeing red from his question. “Excuse me?’

“Come back upstairs,” he barked out drily. “And let’s talk.”

“I said what I wanted to say.”

“Did you?” he asked.

My anger intensified. “I think I was the only one that said anything.”

“You don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve tried a few times before to run into me?”

My blood ran hot. Forget that his words were the truth, it was the fact that he wasn’t so subtle about it that had me mortified. “What?”

“You and your PA make it obvious.”

“Look here, Mr. Kingston—”

“It’s Amit,” he interrupted.

I huffed. “Why have I never met you until now? Why do you help me but avoid me?”

“It’s in my interest to help you, not see you.”

If someone could spit bullets that’d be what I was doing right now. “Fuck you.” I hung up.

Jayne’s eyes were wide as she covered her mouth. “Ruth Thomas, did you just tell Amit Kingston to fuck off?”

_____

AMIT

The moment she hung up on me, I threw the phone across the room and watched it shatter. I could see the tiny shards shining against the blue carpet. The human must have been listening outside the door because she sprang into action and opened the door without asking. “Is everything okay, Mr. Kingston?” She was terrified of me that I knew. Unfortunately, I never could remember her name, but she was valuable when it came to this company. Without her and Jordan, I would have fucked this human business all to hell.

I waved my hand. “I need a new phone.”

She nodded her head vigorously. “Of course. Should I call Ruth and settle this for you?”

“No need.” I strode to the desk. “Leave.”

It didn’t take her two seconds flat before she hustled out the door. Once she was gone, I took a deep breath. Ruth’s soul was running me ragged.

“Lars,” I called the gremlin. He showed up before I could blink. As if gauging my mood, he took reluctant steps toward me. Sure my back was turned, but I could feel his fearful vibrations as he crept across the floor.

“Yes, Sire?”

“How did you not know that Ruth was planning on ambushing me today?” I asked slowly.

“I never heard them talk about trying to see you,” he admitted.