Page 29 of Lau Ahi
“Yes, they say that they’ve got an appointment with you.”
I was pissed that something stupid was going on and I didn’t know why the hell no one had been able to tell me that I was supposed to be meeting with officers. I almost wished to be holed up in a lab reviewing statistical analysis to compile the groundwork of my theories.
“I don’t have anyone on my schedule.” I didn’t have to flip through a calendar or look at my planner because I knew no one had discussed a meeting with me.
“Oh, wait, Dr. Morrison is asking to speak with you.”
“Asha, that’s my fault. I forgot to speak with you about this.” Margo Morrison was a fellow professor at the school and I became more irritated with each new piece of information revealed. Why she felt as though she could gatekeep information from me and then accept a meeting on my behalf infuriated me.
Sasha, Nev and Tee are going to have a field day with this revelation.
“I’m in the middle of something. I can’t simply stop my day in order to entertain officers.”
“It came down from the dean. There’s not much I can do but escort them to you.”
I knew she was silently pledging that she was going to stay with me throughout their time here but I was sure it was more for her own curiosity than it was for my sake. I didn’t mind since I would probably discuss it with her at some point but this faux-altruism she was displaying irritated me. My friends never trusted Margo and I understood their views. For me to be a man-hater, she seemed extremely male-centered. How we became acquaintances was still beyond me but I was sure it had something to do with my wanting at least one ally in this department. She seemed the least threatening so here we were. We also had a lot of classes together so we ended up spending a lot of time together. When she got to be too much I would simply take a step back from her. Margo had a tendency to be pushy and I knew from how she was raised that she had a skewed worldview, but to me she was harmless even if she was annoying.
“Fine. Hopefully, whatever this is won’t take long.”
I all but slammed down the receiver of the phone and glanced around my office. It was as nondescript as possible on purpose because I never wanted to give anyone insight into me or my personal life. There were no pictures, only my books and information that I needed to do my job. My degrees weren’t strung up across my wall to lend validity to my right to be here. I refused to give them the satisfaction of thinking I needed proof of my accomplishments when one conversation with me was more than enough. I found it gauche the way some of my colleagues would display every award they’d received since conception as though they were trying to intimidate anyone who dared to cross into their domain. They treated the tiny offices they’d provided for us in exchange for our labor as a fiefdom and everyone who entered a potential serf.
Again, why are you still here if you have nothing to prove?
A knock sounded quickly and I stood up as the door opened and Margo stepped through with that nervous look on her face. Her caramel-blonde hair was darker than normal and she wore an outfit that showed just how unsettled in herself she was. The glasses on her oval face were only there for show. Her idea was that they made her look more intelligent but she ruined the look by wearing a fitted cashmere dress and So Kates. Having worn those heels for almost the last twenty years I knew how to navigate them no matter the situation. Walking across campus wasn’t one of the situations I’d willingly put myself in.
The door opened wider and a man who was sinfully handsome walked through the door. He was tall with close-cropped hair that had a slight wave to it so I was sure it curled up when he allowed it to grow out. He had a square face with a strong jawline and eyes that were somehow wide but also dreamy. He stood several inches over six feet with a suit that flowed over his body rivaling an athlete. His skin was the color of butterscotch candy and his features looked Caribbean. But his hair told the story of his ancestors for anyone who was paying attention.
Nev was right; we really can tell who our people are.
Feeling like he couldn’t be all bad because he was a minority I gave him a tentative nod as he walked toward me with his hand extended.
“Agent Alejandro Ortega-Castillo with the FBI.”
“Dr. Asha Avery.”
I shook his hand and took a step back toward my desk.
I noticed that he shifted to one side in my small office as Margo did the same because someone else was coming inside.
My heart stopped as the man all but ducked under my doorway to enter the room straightened up to his full height and locked eyes with me.
It was him.
I didn’t need to second-guess anything about my observation because my nipples and my clit were doing a damn good job of giving this man a hero’s welcome. From the prominence of his brow ridge to the shape of his cheekbones to the way I’d apparently memorized his hairline I knew it was him. The way his brow flickered upward slightly in recognition had me wondering if he’d noticed subtle things about me as well.
I’m sure he recognized plenty as you rode his dick like Stagecoach Mary.
I had to clench my stomach to prevent myself from audibly telling my subconscious to shut the fuck up. His eyes tracked my movements and I felt unnerved at how he seemed to notice something so small about me.
Bloody hell.
The room seemed to stand still and then spun like the world was about to tilt off its axis. Atlas was clearly not on his job so I had to gather my courage to steady myself. Agent Ortega-Castillo shifted and pulled a phone out of his breast pocket. He glanced down at it but his face remained the same blank mask I was sure they’d been taught to don while investigating.
“Is there a place I can take this?”
He was far too keen and instead of even looking in my direction for me to give him a location to take his call, his full attention was on Margo. I had to wonder if I was imagining things because I couldn’t even say that he’d looked toward his partner at all since he’d entered the room.
Gather yourself, Asha.
