Page 11 of Dark Mate

I didn't make it fifteen minutes at my desk before my phone started ringing. The extension number was unfamiliar, but I already knew.

My hands began to sweat as I watched the phone ring for a few seconds before answering.

“Reception,” I answered as cheerfully as I could.

“Yes, hello, Ms. Gribald. This is Jospehine from the Human Resource department. Is it possible for you to stop by before you leave today? We’d like to discuss some…” She cleared her throat. “—some new developments regarding your employment contract with Ambrose Media House.”

I was going to cry. I could feel the tight ball of discomfort already forming in the back of my throat. “Sure, Josephine,” I croaked.

“Great,” she chirped. “I’ll see you then.”

When she disconnected, I had to take several breaths before I managed to calm my racing heart again. Even worse was that I could barely keep my expression in place as my coworkers passed by my desk and made inquiries.

When four o’clock rolled around, I believed I had made peace with losing this job. I stopped by Sheryl’s cubicle, where she hugged me tight.

Aggy, on the other hand, was determined to force some optimism into me. “What if they’ve discovered your online works and are impressed by—”

My doubtful look cut her off. “I’ll miss you, Aggy,” I said flatly.

“You have my number. Call me. For anything,” she stressed. “I’m serious, we haven’t known each other that long, but I’m glad I got to meet you.”

I sniffled, which made Aggy roll her eyes. “Please don’t cry, because thenI’llstart crying, and then we’ll both be a mess. We don’t even know if you’re getting fired yet.”

I chuckled wetly, moving to leave. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Call me!” she cried after me. “I’m serious, Aria!”

Josephine’s office was four floors above mine, her door labeled with the title of “Human Resource Manager.” Nestled in one corner of the building, it had a pretty view of the nearby park from one window, and downtown from the other. She herself was a tall woman with graying hair at her temples, soft brown eyes, and a smell like any other human’s, which immediately relaxed me.

She led me to one of the comfortable chairs opposite her desk, then settled into her own rolling chair. “Do you have any idea why you’re here, Ms. Gribald?” she asked.

Straight to the point, then. I had weighed the merits of feigning ignorance before and had decided that it wouldn’t matter, as it would only prolong the inevitable.

I sighed. “I have an idea.”

Josephine nodded. “Good, that makes this easier. I was reviewing your information and I noticed that you were adoptedby Joyce and Thomas Gribald when you were three years old, with no information regarding your biological parents?”

My brows furrowed. That was not where I had been expecting this line of questioning to go, but it was even worse than being here for calling the future CEO of the company a cocksucker.

“What?” I spluttered. “I mean, yeah, but is that—”

“Your blood tests revealed that you were a blessed-blood wolf, but recent information has been put forth that has led us to believe that your blood tests were faked?” she cut me off with.

I froze.

I could debunk her theory. I could prove that the tests weren’t faked, but that would expose me in a way I couldn’t afford to.

But I kept quiet.

Josephine took my silence as an affirmative, sitting back with a deep sigh. “I don’t know how you’re hiding the red eyes, nor how you managed to make it five weeks without giving yourself away, but I must inform you that we do not hire your kind.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. The words were almost a complete replica of the ones Sariel had said to me the first time we met.

“I’m going to have to ask you to pack up your desk and leave, Ms. Gribald,” she said flatly.

I could only nod. I had anticipated this, and yet it still hurt like hell to have it confirmed, to be instructed to pack my things and leave.

“Be grateful that we’re doing this quietly, Ms. Gribald. I’m sure you’re well aware that it is illegal to fake documentation, and also illegal to take enhancements or any supplements that might alter your blood work.”

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