Page 99 of This Pack of Ours

“I, um, don’t have them,” I said. Jhin did.

“Oh, I see.” She looked slightly disappointed, and I felt my cheeks redden.

“Well, never mind. Here’s a contract we’ve drafted,” she said, pushing a stack of papers towards me. “Perhaps it would suffice for you to review this today?”

I looked down at the paper, my eyes snagging on the unfamiliar words.

…Subject to your complete and ongoing compliance..

Parties that will be henceforth referred to as…

…grant you a non-transferable, exclusive, revocable arrangement…

I could feel a panic attack coming on as I tried—and failed—to understand the first paragraph. The words were English, but the sentences were so long and rambling I couldn’t figure out what they were saying.

This contract was another fucking power play, because how could I sign something I couldn’t understand? They would have business people, lawyers, with fancy words and contracts and really, they’d be able to get anything they wanted out of this. I had no way of fighting back.

I couldn’t trust it or them any more than I could trust Jhin to come through for me.

Panic swelled inside me. This was a bad idea, and I should have known it from the moment I walked in the door. I was gold pack. I wouldn’t even be allowed to get a job here without a work pass. Why did I think they would help me?

“I can’t,” I said, standing up, finding it hard to breathe.

“Ms. Anders, are you alright?”

“I can’t do this. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

I wrenched open the door and walked into the corridor. People in business suits stared at me as I half-ran past them. I took the stairs, because fuck being in an elevator with strange men without a weapon, and I burst into the lobby, panting.

I made it outside, yanking the spray out of my bag and covering myself with scent dampers again.

I’d tried. It was my last shot. But I’d rather struggle by and end the Safe House on my own terms than hand the keys to these uppity bastards.

Still, I couldn’t help the lump in my throat.

Assholes.

How dare they make me hope I could really do it?

The dreams I had in my head, the proper employees, not having to constantly worry about locations, supplies. High-tech security. We needed that. Safe House was hanging on by a thread—by me—and I couldn’t keep doing it all.

And fucking Jhin?—

“Juniper?” Jhin’s voice made my head whip up, and like I thought, he looked just like he fit in here. He was stupidly handsome in a proper suit, his hair combed back. He held a black briefcase in his hand.

“Where were you?” I choked, looking up at him. My eyes burned with rage and disappointment.

He was supposed to be my helper. My shield. He would have been able to take on that stupid contract without panicking.

“I missed it?" he asked, looking horrified.

“Did you even check your phone?” My voice was trembling with rage, and angry tears spilled down my face. “Yes, you missed it, you asshole,” I shouted. “You didn’t come! You didn’t give me your lists, you didn’t have my back, I had to go up there alone. Fuck, I needed—” My voice broke. “I needed you.”

His eyes widened as he reached out toward me.

“Juniper, I’m—so sorry—” he started, but I shoved him away.

“Save it,” I said, bitterly. “It’s too late. You weren’t there, and I fucked it all up. It’s over.”

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