Chapter 101

Mira

The blood drained from my face, and my hands became fists on the counter.

“Why would she do this?”

My voice was low, but the words still burst out of me like a firework. The front desk person, whose name tag said Derek, rolled a bit away from the desk like I might be in a dangerous state. I relaxed my palms down onto the cold surface in front of me, forcing myself to take a deep breath.

“Do you know when this happened? How many patients may have been signed up?” I asked, hoping he couldn’t hear the frustration in my voice. “I need people to know that I am not endorsing this.”

“Right, okay,” Derek said, sounding uneasy. “I’m not sure I can do that, you know, privacy, or at least I may not be authorized—“

“Just give me what you can,” I cut off his stammering. “Please.”

All I could gather was that an online form was created two days before, and about thirty people had agreed to be a part of the trial. Not a scary number, for now, but of course I couldn’t access the names of those thirty without going higher up for clearance.

I would have to take matters into my own hands, at least for now. I thought about calling Dominic just to complain about Celeste, but knew that was too petty and I brushed the idea away. Instead, I asked Cinda for a number that I didn’t have in my phone. I had been hoping I wouldn’t need it, but alas.

Celeste did not answer my call.

I waited what I thought was an appropriate few minutes then tried again, not wanting to be over-bearing but still stating my urgency. Nothing, again. I texted her, rewriting the message several times to make sure the tone didn’t seem too angry.

“Hey Celeste, wanted to check in about your trial. Can you call me? Thanks, Mira.”

It felt impossible not to check my phone every three minutes over the afternoon, but she never responded. I went home in the early afternoon thinking maybe she would be back at the Alpha mansion too. She was not, and no one had seen her for a while nor seemed interested in talking to me about the new tenant.

My own self-consciousness around some of the house staff was heightened whenever Celeste was in the conversation. I had the irrational fear that everyone liked her more than me.

Dominic was in his office, alone. He looked so happy to be surprised by me that I nearly forgot everything else that was going on.

“Were we planning to meet here? Did I forget something?” He seems overwhelmed by whatever he was working on, lost in time. “Not that a visit from my wife isn’t a welcome surprise anytime.”

My temperature spiked when he called me his wife, and I still wasn’t used to it. I could tell he found similar pleasure in saying it aloud.

“Just needed to see my husband,” I said as I sat down across from him.

We stared at each other, then both smiled.

“Come here.”

His words made my shiver, and he watched me closely as I got up and came around the desk. His hands found my waist and pulled me down so fast that I almost lost my balance. With one large hand behind my head, he pulled me into his shoulder and cradled me.

I sighed as my muscles relaxed into him, my arms vaguely grasping at the sides of his body. The difference in our sizes meant there was a perfect nook that I could fit into no matter what position we were in. He rubbed his cheek against my hair.

“Right where you belong,” he whispered.

A sob came from thin air, and then I realized it came from me. I wasn’t crying, but clearly needed some sort of release as I sighed and melted into Dominic’s lap.

“Oh, honey, it’s alright,” he said, like he was comforting a child. I’d never heard him sound so protective. “I’m here.”

I sniffled and exhaled, letting the angst pass through me. “I’m okay.”

“You don’t have to be,” Dominic responded.

I picked up my head and brought my hands to his face. “Thank you.”

Further gratitude was bestowed on him when I pressed my lips against his, holding his head in place as if I was afraid it might float off his neck. His fingers were in my hair and a hand was under the back of my shirt.

We pressed into each other, two bodies trying to become one. Some time later I came up for air, and my mouth felt raw and tender. I hoped I could keep the taste of him on my lips.

As if with cosmic timing, I got a text message. The vibration made me jump, and Dominic laughed at me. And then he saw who it was from.

Lucian.

I gave him a look that said to get over himself, then read the message. Celeste was visiting Tessa, and if I hurried I could probably catch her there.

I sighed. “I am not, unfortunately, totally done with my work day,” I said, not sure how to frame what I had to tell him. I figured it would be easier if I wasn’t on top of him, so I pulled myself to stand and leaned against his desk. “There was a…mix-up, at the hospital, with that new supplement plan Celeste is trying to push.”

Dominic’s face showed three emotions rapidly and then returned to neutral. Her name had triggered something in him, and I recognized guilt when I saw it.

“I thought you said no to that,” he said, taking my side immediately.

Good boy.

“I did,” I said a bit too forcefully. I took a breath. “But she told my patients otherwise, and I’d like to set the story straight.”

“Yes, of course, you should,” Dominic was nodding like a bobblehead doll. “Have you called her?”

“A few times, and a text.”

“Well I’m sure she’ll get back to you,” he said, so sure of Celeste’s integrity. “She’s keeping herself busy, coping mechanism, but there must be a simple explanation for why the patients think that.”

“Are you saying my patients aren’t telling the truth? That Celeste didn't add my name to a document that did not get my approval?”

Dominic suddenly looked a bit stricken, as if some grand belief of his had just been proven false. “That is… not good.”

“Correct.”

I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Tired from the day and suddenly form this conversation. Dominic’s expression was now stern and focused, the Alpha mask going back on. It always amazed me how quickly he could put it back on, keeping his emotions hidden in plain sight.

I made my way towards the door. “I’ll see you later,” I said with a hopeful inflection on the last word.

He was looking back at the folders on his desk and the mask of his face had darkened, I hadn’t asked him what he was doing, and I suddenly felt guilty.

“Are you doing okay?” I asked, probably too late.

“Yes, fine,” he said quickly. “See you later.”

My steps were quick and my mind distracted as I went over to the facility where Tessa was allowed to live during her pregnancy. Not wanting to disturb the mother-to-be, I waited outside. The light was starting to drop behind the tops of the trees when Celeste finally came out.

I did my best not to look too creepy when I emerged and stepped into her path.

“Mira!” She gasped and took a step back. “What are you doing here? There’s not something wrong with the baby, is there?”

Celeste did seem genuine in her concern for Tessa’s well-being, and she pressed a hand to her chest as she imagined the worst.

“No, no, everything with the baby is fine,” I said, waving my hands in the air to clear the air of that thought. “Celeste, I’m here to talk to you. I think you know why.”

She had the dignity to at first look confused, then her eyes slanted and her lips pouted just slightly at the corners. She sighed like this was a tedious argument, and I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth to control myself.

“Look, Mira, it’s not a big deal—“

“You used my name without my permission,” I said, not wanting to yell. “I am sorry if we had a misunderstanding, but my preparation and career can be affected by this. I need to set the record straight.”

“But it’s not like anything bad is going to happen!” Celeste was suddenly so defensive, acting like I was bullying her or something. Her voice was soon carrying beyond our small bubble. “I’m just trying to help people! I don’t understand why you think that is so evil!”

“I don’t think you’re evil!”

“Yes you do!”

Celeste’s eyes were full of fury and pain, like her soul was being crushed.

“And it’s all because you’re jealous,” she said, her voice almost a growl with the accusation. “You’re jealous because Dominic still loves me.”