Page 50 of Lau Ahi
I shrugged unbothered, because I expected her to be defensive but I was at least happy that other people had noticed the same behavior and commented on it. If they were people she trusted at least she had multiple voices harmonizing the same doubt when it came to her coworker. She could hate me all she wanted to but as long as I had other people on my side she might keep herself out of trouble. When she notched her chin up angrily I knew that shit wasn’t going to happen and that confirmed I needed somebody watching her back when I couldn’t.
“If everyone is telling you the same thing perhaps you’re the one who is blind to see what is right in front of you.”
I knew she was pissed that I had a point but she damn sure wasn’t going to say that to me. I wasn’t so arrogant as to think I was always the smartest person in the room and infallible. My having foresight into her life already, after so quickly being putinto this position had to be grating on her. It didn’t sit well with me either but I knew I was the one who was going into our dynamic from a place of power she didn’t have. And it was going to be a sticking point for us for a long time.
“I’m trying to understand what you want me to do with that information?”
My mouth wanted to smile at the way she sidestepped the obvious to avoid giving me any credit for my advice. Since she wanted to be combative I would give her a worthy opponent.
“That was my attempt at being helpful but I can see that’s not something you need or want from me.”
“I’m not sure why you felt as though you were being helpful by saying my friend wasn’t my friend. What observation could you have made so quickly that so completely discounted her and her character in your opinion?”
Her arms went across her chest and I felt something tighten in mine. Even as we argued I could tell she was letting her guard down. Not even in the sense that she had to because of our arrangement but that she didn’t mind me in her space. Her enjoying me in her body was one thing, a big thing but still not the biggest thing. She’d been atExplicitto take a risk and I was the only person who met the challenge to fulfill it. If I confronted her on her behavior she’d brush it off as an experiment and one she probably wouldn’t repeat. Keeping her talking was my goal and the only way to do that seemed to be to annoy her. Her comfort in speaking with men seemed to only be derived from arguing with them so I was going to give her what she wanted.
This union might not be about love but with the way I’d grown up I couldn’t have a home life that reflected the one I was born into.
“The way she was far more interested in our being there than why we were coming there to see you.”
“She’s curious.”
I laughed off her insistence because she was being blind. “If nothing else, she’s jealous. Anyone else should’ve given you the heads up via text or left us where we were to come and warn you. She lingered. Wanted to make her presence known to both of us as though she were the more viable option if we needed help.”
“She said that?” Genuine shock covered her face and I almost felt bad.
“Not plainly because she’s not stupid but it was definitely implied. Her escorting us to your office was filled with her discussing her accolades and how she might be of service.”
If I’d mentioned the way her homegirl looked like she wanted Alec and me to run a two man on her I knew Asha would only think I was speaking with my ego. I had no desire to be near that chick again so there was no use in blowing up their relationship that way.
“She knows that I don’t like things like this. Being in the center of attention.” Her counterargument came so swiftly I could tell she was used to defending her coworker.
“And I’m sure she’s always been there to bask in it instead of you, despite it being your work that was being praised.” When I was met with silence I knew I’d struck a nerve and we probably wouldn’t be any more productive today than this. Besides, I had somewhere else to be. “You’re going to come up with an excuse no matter what I say aren’t you?”
“Ori—”
“It’s fine. I’ve given you the warning; you’re more than welcome to ignore it. I’m sure you think she’s harmless but time will tell.”
“Why does that feel like a threat?”
“It’s not. I promised you the very first night I met you that you were going to be safe with me. I meant that for more than just the time we spent together in that room making each othercum. You’re always gonna be good with me, Asha. I put that on my life.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you for allowing me to stop by. I’ll talk to you later in the week about when I’ll get my stuff moved in.” I turned to the door and grabbed my shoes from where I’d left them. The double doors had a table next to them and I made plans to have a weapon strapped beneath it.
“Moved in? Wait—” She all but ran behind me to gain clarification but I wasn’t going to provide any. That would make her think we were negotiating but my word was final on this.
“I’ve got a meeting. If you finish with those case files let me know. I’ll pull whatever else you need to review.”
I fought the urge to lean down and kiss her on the cheek. Instead, I rushed through the door before I did something as asinine as being affectionate to my real but still fake fiancée.
ASHA
“You’re WHAT?!”
Her screeching was loud enough to have me moving the phone away from my ear. Was I surprised? Not at all. Out of the two of us, Sasha was the more dramatic every time. Even when we acted they wanted her to show off her acting chops by always being the demure twin and forcing me to play the loud one to come out of my shell. It was strange when you thought of how manipulative people were when we simply could’ve played further into our natural personalities. But this world was built on exploitation no matter what industry you looked at.
“I should’ve known better than to say it to you like this.”
