Page 62 of Dream Girl
Also, the fact I’d lost my mate should be on record.
“True, even so, you also don’t have personal relationships in or outside the pack. Don’t you want children, a connection?” Her tone turned judgmental.
Ow.I shrugged. “I’m fine with the arrangement.”
Not that long before Evan lost his parents, I lost my mate, Elaris. It had devastated me and for a moment I hadn’t been sure I’d recover. Selling our company that we’d created together, back when we were still students, because I couldn’t run it without her, and focusing on Evan and his sisters, had been exactly what I’d needed.
I’d started this company, and then we’d formed our pack. Sure, I got a little lonely sometimes, but I was fine. They were good people, and I cared for them all so much.
“Do you have any other questions for me?” My calendar sent me a reminder.Leave work early and spend time with Ri so she doesn’t feel neglected.I shot off an email to IT to find and close whatever loophole Riley had exploited. It was a game she and Wes played.
“That’s all for now. Thank you for your time.” Mrs. Beekman stood and left.
Brennan texted the pack group chat with a screenshot of two women entering the house.
Brennan
Who’s at the house?
I had no idea who they were, but one of them wore an Omega Center polo.
My executive assistant, Mrs. Katsopolis, came into my office. Her wife and my father had been research partners back in Greece, and she was like a second mother to me. She’d been my assistant from the very beginning of Compass BioTek, though it had taken a lot to lure her out here.
“I’m a little concerned about what Special Projects is actually getting up to. Especially with the lab you’re making for this mysterious Dr. Ellington,” Mrs. K told me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You know exactly what they’re up to.” I kept my expression neutral. She was convinced that I was continuing my father’s research in secret.
Her eyebrows rose. “Did you see that Riley hacked your calendar again?”
“At least this time she rescheduled my meetings.” Personally, I didn’t mind moving today’s meetings. Usually, Riley and I met on Tuesdays, but sometimes she came to eat ice cream in the cafeteria on other days. Mrs. Katsopolis adored her.
As did I. I was counting down the time until she was old enough for a work permit so I could hire her. She was incredibly talented and needed some direction before she ended up in jail for hacking into the wrong things.
“This was dropped off. You’re seeing someone?” She set a bag from my preferred jeweler on my desk.
“They’re for Grace.” Hopefully, she’d like everything. I tucked the bag away in my briefcase.
Her lips curved into a smile. “You’re courting her?”
This was my contribution to getting her set up before the home inspection.
“Did you find out about the new portable particle accelerators?” I changed the subject.
I was considering courting Grace once she settled in with Wes and Evan. The moment I met her in the kitchen, I felt something that I hadn’t in a long time. Not to mention she was extraordinary–and very different from my Elaris.
“A particle accelerator isn’t a good courting gift,” she laughed.
“It depends on who it’s for.” The particle accelerator was actually for all of Special Projects. We’d still need to use the large one at Rock Tech, one of the local universities, occasionally.
Her look softened. “You’re right. Though back in my day they were the size of rooms, not refrigerators. Having one in the building makes me nervous, given how dangerous they can be… and what happened.”
Same.
“Grace reminds me of your wife,” I whispered, remembering how often they’d come over to our house for dinner when I was growing up.
“That’s what concerns me. When will Grace be out of the hospital?” Her brow furrowed in concern.
“Hopefully tomorrow,” I replied.
