Page 3 of Mike's Assistant

“Good night, Ms. Grace. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I watched her leave, and my mind raced with desperate plans, half-formed ideas that seemed as shaky as the ground I was standing on. Do I run? Do I fight? How do I fight? My champion, my protector, my father, was gone. I had no one. But I had to think of something. I had to find a way to keep my brothers with me. The question was…how?

I glanced back down to Sam and Abel, who had loosened their hold but not fully let go. “Grab Mr. Scruffy. Let’s head home.”

At the words “Scruffy,” Abel’s eyes widened as if it had just dawned on him he didn’t have his little lion. He released me and ran back toward the seat, scooping the stuffed animal into a hug.

“Come on, guys, let’s go,” I said softly, guiding Sam and Abel towards the exit. As we left the building, Sam kept stealing glances back at the door.

“Aunt Judith is scary, Jake,” he finally admitted, his voice trembling.

“Yeah, she is,” I agreed, ruffling his hair as we reached our old beat-up sedan.

The car had been a gift from my dad. A smile tugged at my lips, shadowed by the sting of tears, as I remembered the day he had brought it home. It had been a decrepit hulk then; its paint chipped, parts rusted, and a stubborn silence replaced the expected purr of an engine. I remember looking at him as if he had lost his mind. But with a reassuring grin, he had simply declared, ‘We’ll fix it up, son.’ And so, we had. Pouring our sweat into it during the heat of the summer, we brought the old machine back to life.

Since then, the car hadn’t given me a moment’s trouble. It had even become a tradition for us, my father and I, to tinker with it, ensuring its smooth running. The vehicle was more than just transportation; it was a testament to the bond I shared with my father.

I cleared my throat and boosted Abel into his car seat before turning to Sam. The silver moonlight illuminated his young, worried face. I picked him up and placed him next to his brother. “Guys… would you want to live with Aunt Judith?” I asked, buckling Sam in.

At this, Abel whimpered, his tiny hands gripping Scruffy tighter. “No, no, no,” he muttered between sniffles, burying his face in the stuffed animal.

Sam’s expression hardened, his childish features taking on an uncanny determination. “No way, Jake. She’s like the wicked witch. I don’t wanna live with her.”

I sighed, closing my eyes as a wave of despair washed over me. But I had to stay strong for them. I opened my eyes and managed a small smile, reaching out to ruffle Sam’s hair again while gently patting Abel’s leg.

“We won’t let that happen, okay?” I reassured them. “I won’t let her take you two away from me. But… we might have to leave tonight.”

Their eyes widened, but their gazes showed more surprise than fear. They trusted me. It was that trust that solidified my decision. We would run. Tonight. We had to.

They glanced at each other, a silent agreement passing between them. Turning back to me, their expressions were firm. At that moment, I made a silent vow. I was going to keep them safe, and I wouldn’t let anyone tear us apart.

We would run.

Roar of Frustration

Mike

The more Katie spoke, the louder the urge to scream grew within me. How could Hayden do this to me? Hell, how could my boss, Edward, do this to me? What had I done to deserve this punishment? Not only was Edward my boss, but he was also the leader and king of our pride - and as a lion shifter, that meant everything to me.

“Mike, are you even listening to me?” Katie’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I suppressed a growl. “Yes, Katie, I am. But all I hear is an ever-growing pile of problems. I’m at my limit. Between Martin’s departure and these temps messing up left and right, I need a permanent P.A.—now more than ever!”

Fucking Martin, quitting and leaving me high and dry just when I needed him most. Of course, I couldn’t really blame him. No one could have predicted the king would be shot or Hayden would take an indefinite leave of absence. And yes, Martin’s position was a great opportunity—but his departure stung.

“I’m merely relaying the orders of your boss—no, your king. Remember, I’m just the messenger. Besides, the temps aren’t all bad. You have extra pairs of hands with them—use them.”

This time I did growl. “Not that bad? Not that bad? They can’t even make a damn photocopy without hand holding, and my calls constantly get dropped, or my schedule is double and triple overbooked!”

I was breathing heavily by the end of my rant. This new year? Fucking Disaster. The holidays? A fucking catastrophe. My life? A total fucking mess.

“Don’t you dare growl at me, Michael Doy!” Katie retorted. She might have been the executive secretary for Edward, our king, and a fellow lion shifter. But Katie, ever a proud lioness, didn't shy away from standing her ground, even when faced with an irate superior. “You need to check yourself, young man, and remember who you’re talking to.”

I released a heavy sigh and hung my head in defeat. How in the world was I going to deal with everything? The other C-Level officers of Satchel Industries were looking to me for guidance, and my king and best friend were counting on me to maintain their family legacy. I laughed sarcastically to myself. Me—Mike Doy—the life of the party, the fun-loving, not a care in the world, nothing can hold me down guy—in charge of a multibillion-dollar corporation.

“Michael,” a softer voice now came from Katie.

I lifted my head and peered up at her. My eyes met her black-rimmed glasses. Katie was a short woman, in her late fifties, with graying blonde hair she wore in a stylish bun. Despite her librarian-like appearance, Katie commanded respect. She was one of a handful of people I let call me Michael. She had watched me grow up and was like an aunt to me. Her words always carried weight.

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