Page 64 of My Orc Billionaire
Sylvik’s call from the mudroom startled me, and I dropped the pot into the sink with abangas I hurriedto swipe the back of my hands across my eyes. Maybe they weren’t too red?
“Hey, Riven,” he announced as he hurried in from the garage and through the kitchen on his way toward Abydos’s office. “Just have to pick up the flight itinerary from the printer!”
It wasn’t the first time he’d dropped in unexpectedly in the last week. The morning after I was-or-wasn’t fired, I realized he’d moved out. Of course, since Abydos wasalsogone, I’d been a little distracted in my wallowing to notice, and I’m not sure where Sylvik had moved to—maybe the bed-and-breakfast in town.
A part of me would’ve liked the company, but a bigger part was glad I didn’t have to pretend everything was okay all the time.
Knowing he was in the house, and I’d have to pretend politeness, I hurried to wipe my hands on the dish rag, then opened the freezer to stick my face inside it, hoping that would cool the redness in my face and skin. Maybe he wouldn’t notice I’d been crying for a week straight.
“Whew! Okay, everything’s set!” I heard Sylvik stomp back into the kitchen. “Are you smelling the freezer, Riven? Do you need help?”
“No,” I called, moving a few things around as if I was doing something relevant. “Just looking for…ingredients. For tomorrow. Using up the frozen stuff.”
“Huh. I wouldn’t have thought Abydos liked pre-frozen food.”
“He doesn’t,” I announced overly brightly as I slammed the freezer door and turned a forced smile on him. “That’s why I eat it when he’s not here.”
Sylvik was flipping through the papers in his hands. “Don’t defrost it yet, then, because we’re all set for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Without looking up, he asked, “Can you be ready to leave by tomorrow morning?”
Oh God.My knees went weak, and my palm slammed down onto the counter to hold me upright. He was kicking me out tomorrow morning? Abydos had sent his assistant to fire me?
And why the hell was Sylvik so blasé about this? I thought we were friends.
“Are you kidding?” I mumbled, disappointed all around.
Sylvik finally glanced up and seemed to notice my distress. “What’s wrong? This ishuge.” He grinned. “Abydos is going to make a big announcement and wants us both there.”
Anannouncement?He was going to fire me in front of everyone? “How incredibly humiliating.”
Sylvik cocked his head to one side, his expression uncertain. What was there to be uncertain about? Didn’t he realize this was crappy news?
“Do…uh, do you want me to send a car for you?”
I frowned. “What?”
“Or do you want to drive yourself to the airport? The plane leaves at nine tomorrow morning, but youdon’t have to get there much before then.” Sylvik beamed. “We’re heading to Colorado!”
Colorado?So he can fire you in person.
Great, just like I was hoping for. I sighed and scrubbed a hand down my face. At least I’ll get to see the Rockies.
Yay, me.
I spent the night packing up my stuff, including a few days’ worth of stuff in my carryon. I mean, I probably only needed a day bag—surely I could get on a plane at nine, be fired by early afternoon, and be back here by tomorrow evening…
I did get some sleep, but it wasn’t particularly restful. And I was up early to stack my stuff by my door since I didn’t know the logistics of getting it out of here.
Even the coffee I grabbed on the way to Eastshore Isle’s tiny airport didn’t help perk me up, and Sylvik met me with a concerned look. “Climb on board and make yourself comfortable. Shaden can get you anything you need, but you might want to consider napping. There’s a bed in the back.”
A bed on Abydos’s plane? The pillows probably smelled of him. No thanks, I already had enough memories of time in his bed.
I settled into a comfortable chair by the window, found an eye mask, and tried to nap. I was marginally successful.
When I woke up, the view out the window was stunning. As much as I needed that nap, I was kinda irritated at myself for not staying awake to enjoy whatmight be my only time on a private plane. Sylvik was sitting across the aisle and a little behind me, murmuring quietly into a phone and typing away on his computer.
