Chapter 50

"It was intense, Cathy," I said to my friend as I sat in my cubicle trying to decompress for a minute before heading upstairs. "It really seems to have spread throughout the city."

"That makes sense, Elena," Cathy's voice says in my ear as I stare out at the building opposite mine. "There are things we are encountering here in our planning department that are weird."

I sit up, my brain suddenly alive again. I had forgotten that Cathy worked for a firm that did work for the city all the time.

"If it's okay with you, Elena, I think I'd better mention this to my bosses. It would help clear up why we aren't getting the green light on some of our infrastructure repairs and projects. It's been a big source of stress, actually."

I suddenly feel bad. I'd been so wrapped up in what I had going on that I hadn't checked in with my friend much over the past few weeks.

"I'm sorry I didn't know," I said.

"Why would you? It's boring stuff that I don't usually talk about. But I'm so proud of you Elena. I told you that you're amazing and you just never listen to me."

"But Alpha power? No."

There is a pause at the other end. "I don't know Elena. It may be true."

What? "You're not serious."

"I've often wondered about that, Elena. Like if your reticence is a reaction of sorts from your true nature being suppressed as a child, or something like that."

I laugh. "Thanks, Cath. I think you like to romanticize my childhood."

"But seriously, Elena. You don't know much about it. You've got to admit it's possible."

"Yes," I laugh. "It's also possible I'm a princess or a daughter of the Moon Goddess too, but I'm pretty sure none of that is probable."

Cathy laughed. "Just let me fantasize, Elena, even if you don’t want to. Now go have lunch with your handsome boss."

It was another group lunch, all of us sitting around Charles' coffee table enjoying grilled sandwiches that Amy and Jessica had ordered in.

"It's way bigger than just the orphanages," I said. "Honestly, I'm a little worried at how big this may be. And I don't know if it's just horrible neglect or something more insidious."

Sally nodded, listening, and Charles looked serious.

"Basically anything related to children, hospitals, or mental health were shut out of funding or help completely with no reasons given. Representatives from each stood up and talked about increasing problems and were ignored."

I took a sip of water and went on. "There were other aspects of the city that were also snubbed. Transportation, the sewage lines, the electricity grid, there were even protests from the firemen about neglect of equipment maintenance budgets."

There was a moment of silence while everyone digested this information. If firetrucks didn't work, the busses weren't able to run, and the hospitals without supplies, we were looking at terrible consequences.

"With things being that extreme," I continued, "I'm not exactly sure where to start."

"We start with what we see, and things will progress as more people come to us with suggestions," Sally said. "That's honestly how many investigations go. You catch hold of something and all of a sudden it's carrying you along to places you hadn't anticipated."

Charles frowned, but only I seemed to notice. Amy was leaning forward, taking notes and listening with fascination to everything we were saying.

Jessica on the other hand was starting down at her sandwich having only nibbled the corner.

Lately she'd been back to normal, almost fully recovered, but today she was more palel, and she wasn't participating in the conversation even on a work level.

"You should have seen Elena," Matilda said, smiling. "I had no idea she was so fierce."

"What's this?" Sally said, looking at me with interest. "I know she's persistent, but this sounds exciting."

"Oh no," I said, holding up my hands. "I didn't do anything anyone else wouldn't have."

"Are you kidding? I was about to let those thugs escort me out, and Elena had the guts to shut them down. Twice actually!"

Sally looked proud as Matilda reported my behavior. Amy looked delighted and even clapped her hands with glee once or twice.

Charles, however, looked thunderous.

"It's really thanks to you Sally for anticipating any information like laws or codes I would need. I really just needed to recite numbers and they melted away like the words 'city ordnance' were magic."

Sally beamed at me, but snook her head. "They have to be delivered by someone who believes she's in the right. Good for you, Elena, for making sure I remembered who I was and for standing up to the bullies."

There were a few glasses raised, and I blushed. "And to all of you, without your support I'd have been fired long ago."

We continued chatting and eating, except Jessica who looked to be on the edge of tears.

Goodness knows I didn't like her and she didn't like me, but was our success as a company this agonizing for her? Was it because I was involved and she didn't like my success?

Or was there something else entirely going on?

"Jessica," I ventured, finally unable to ignore her odd behavior anymore. "Is everything okay?"

All the other eyes in the room turned toward her, and I saw, to my horror, Charles looking at her with annoyance. I didn't want to get her in trouble.

She looked up at all of us, then caught sight of Charles' face. Her face crumpled and she gave her head a little shake.

"Hey," Amy said, putting a hand out and touching her leg. "Jessica, do you need a minute?"

She nodded and sniffled. "Sorry. I'm just not feeling myself still."

"Of course."

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"Okay," Amy said, and we did our best to continue the conversation.

After a moment though, Jessica suddenly burst into tears and stood, her sandwich falling to the floor as she ran out of the room.

We all looked at each other for a moment. Then Charles sighed. "I think we'd better wrap this up. Amy, Elena, can you stay? We need to figure this out."

Matilda and Sally gave me hugs and shook Charles' hand. Despite Jessica's behavior there was still a feeling of warmth and excitement in the group, and that wasn't going to be contained by one person's tears.

When they left, however, Charles sat, his elbows on his knees, and looked at Amy intently where she was cleaning up the sandwich.

"What's going on, Amy?"

His voice was low and commanding, and I felt a thrill. Here was the Alpha in action, and he wasn't happy.

Amy cleared her throat and looked sad. "I don't know. I thought for a while she was just nervous to be back. She did have a shock and someone did make an attempt on her life after all."

"We don't know it was her they were after. In fact, the donuts weren't even addressed to her."

Amy nodded. "I know. Trust me, I've been thinking about this for a while."

She glanced at the office door to be sure it was closed. "To be honest, I'd been noticing something off for a while now."

"Oh?"

"Before any of this started."

I shifted uncomfortably. Was it my arrival? Was I causing this much distress to another being?

Charles seemed to read my thoughts. "Since Elena was promoted, maybe?"

Amy frowned.

"It's hard to say because so much happened at the same time. It could have been Elena joining our team and then becoming a permanent presence in the office." She smiled at me.

"Or it could be the takeover, moving into this city and starting work here at this company in general. It could be the place, not the people."

"Hm," Charles stopped staring and looked at me. "Any ideas?"

"Does she improve when I'm not around?"

"To be honest," Amy said. "Not so much. I used to think so, but she's struggling all the time now."

Charles nodded.

"Okay. Amy, will you go get her? I think we need to talk."