Page 7 of Stitched Up in You
My gaze lands on the rumpled human again.
It’s obvious there must be some mistake.
One of the most successful corporations in the world, and this slovenly woman is charged with hijacking a formula from one of my armored trucks, attacking ghouls in broad daylight, and infiltrating cyberspace against a team enforced with keeping its secrets untouched—it's laughable.
I nod at her wrists and Bruno moves silently to obey me, removing them from her person.
“Please, sit.” I tell her, gesturing to her to take one of the empty cigar chairs in front of my desk as I lean against it.
“Of course. Why am I here, Mr. Stein?” she asks, reaching a hand up to tuck her flame red hair behind her ear and adjusting herself in the office chair before me.
That is what I would like to know as well.
I take in her attire and notice how disheveled she looks. She’s petite, but curvy, and her bright eyes glitter with intelligence, but it’s more than clear she’s not who I’m after, not really. I’m running out of time.
The sun is fading across the New York skyline that never fails to awe and inspire, and I have no time for traumatizing humans. She will get me what I want, or she will die.
I’ve grown to learn how to mask myself among the sheep. One can catch way more flies with honey than with fire and destruction. “Miss Crenshaw, I’m so sorry for how this must look,” I begin, forming my face into a contrite and apologetic expression, “Please allow me to make amends.”
She will tell me why she hacked into my company of her own accord.
“I knew as soon as I saw you this must be some kind of mistake. If you could order me a cab for when I get back in Atlanta, that’ll be great. Oh my gosh, and if we could maybe call the vet?” When she says the last bit her eyes light up, but she pales as if suddenly remembering some crucial fact. “And could I use the bathroom? It’s been a while since we left Atlanta, eh boys?”
I barely conceal the way my lip lifts with the want to curl in disgust. Humans are disgusting and will say anything to not be held accountable for their actions, sniveling, worthless creatures.
My brow pulls low when I feel a vibrating sensation in my palm, and I glance down at my mobile.
Mikael: Boss, we have a problem.
Me: What?
I reply to the text, letting my attention rest on something other than being in the presence of the despicable human I’m being forced to endure.
Mikael: We have found the IP address of who hacked and infiltrated Talbot Corp. It’s the Pelican Group’s team, sir. The coding is the same.
Our biggest rival in the medical skincare industry, Pelican Group, has been trying to steal our information and resources since Talbot began to see success decades ago, but they’ve never gone so far.
Me: Then why is there a human in my office?
Heads will roll. My gaze flicks over the unkempt thing, her red hair glaring and loud, a smudge of dirt on her face as if she wallowed in a ditch somewhere, and the hopeful, panting expression on her face makes me want to hurl. Her green eyes rake over me as if I’m her lunch every chance she gets, and I fight to keep my hands furling into fists. Humans pander and lick the boots of anyone if they’ve enough fame. Disgusting, the lot of them.
The phone buzzes again, stealing my attention.
Mikael: There are two lines of coding. One was found to be the Pelican Group security personnel, and another from a human woman named Bernadette Crenshaw, who I sent Bruno and Nero to retrieve. They alerted me of her arrival, I’m assuming that’s the human you speak of. We will need her to find the shipments.
My teeth grind in my mouth. He knows damn well I would rather be skinned alive than subjected to a human in my own offices. However, if he’s right and this—grubby, disheveled—person did hack my company…
I lift my head to where she sits, staring out at the skyline with a reverent look on her face and her bottom lip tugged between her teeth.
My skin crawls with her nearness, but there’s no way she is leaving here without making amends to the situation she caused. It seems I’ll have to put up with her nearness until we learn more.
“Gentlemen, if you will see to Miss Crenshaw’s accommodations. She will be staying with us for some time.”
I step away from the disgusting human and move back around my desk to set about alerting the crew, firing off orders to the other team members. I want Pelican crushed within the fortnight for what they’ve done, or I’ll burn it to the ground myself. They have always been a thorn in my side, and this will give me all the reason I need to destroy them. Retribution will be mine, and it will be brutal.
I will find out who’s fault it is that my moonflower is in the hands of incompetent humans and ensure it stays safe if it's the last thing I do. I do not suffer the weakness of fools, nor will I be made one.
“Wait, what? I’m not staying,” the green-eyed strumpet sputters.
