Page 103 of The Echo of Forever
“That’s okay with you, my forever?” I asked loud enough for them to hear.
My jealous baby rolled her eyes, and I hid my smile until after she agreed.
“I got ten minutes for you,” I said, walking past Millicent toward the stairs.
Once we were behind closed doors, she spun around and pointed to the floor.
“What the fuck was that?” she asked, eyes wilder than I’d seen before. “Your business is yours, but bringing it here is out of pocket.”
I could feel my face twisting up before my thoughts formed.
“Let me ask you something…” I stepped closer. “Do you think I’m one of your subordinates?”
The expression in her eyes changed in an instant.
“Excuse my tone, but I agreed to work with you, not help you fall in love.”
Yeah, remember who the fuck you talking to.
Disrespecting women wasn’t part of my genetic makeup. I preferred getting on their nerves for the hell of it, not the alternatives left on the table afterward.
But this one filled me with a different kind of irritation.
“I’m happy to break the news to you,” I started, moving back a step. “Forever was mine before you sought me out. The respect you give should automatically extend to her. Or did you forget who broke Collective law first?”
She…growled?And walked toward the bar.
“You still haven’t delivered on the last job.”
More like the order hadn’t come in, and I don’t move without a contract. Thankfully, she slacked on her responsibilities, or I would’ve missed the opportunity to catch wind of Seo-Yeon’s secret meetings.
“Where’s the contract?” I asked, leaning against the two-way glass.
She took something dark off the liquor shelf and started to pour.
“I can’t use society funds to pay you.”
The fuck did that have to do with me?
“And I don’t move without a contract or funds. So, it seems we’re at a crossroads.”
She left the bar and sat on a stool closer to where I stood.
“You only helped with Jeremiah to get access to Forever.”
I nodded.
“Everything I do is for her,” I said, putting it all on the table now, to clear my conscious for when she stepped out of line again. “Procure the funds, issue the kill order, and I’ll follow through. Anything else you’d like to discuss?”
Millicent shook her head, and I went to leave, confident in what would come next.
“Oh,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “Do you agree with Violet and Gaia working out of Cannon towers from here on?”
She downed the rest of her drink and stood.
“As long as they follow my check-in protocols, it’s fine.”
I smiled and went in for the kill.
