Page 76 of His Flash Mate
Edi,one of Konni’s three assistants, drove me home in my car.He was friendly and nice, and everything I’d thought Whitney and Shana would be but weren’t.Unfortunately, we didn’t get to talk much, though.
My phone rang three times while I was talking to Uncle Jay.Two from my dad, which I didn’t pick up.Wrenly’s, though, I couldn’t ignore.
I’d just finished convincing her I was fine and that I’d talk to her tomorrow when Edi pulled up to my house.
A rideshare car waited at the curb to take him back to the office.The back door opened, and a woman got out.She met my gaze through the windshield before turning and walking away down the block.
“The private security Mr.Steele arranged,” Edi said when I continued to watch her.“I’ll call and let him know you’ve seen her.”
Edi didn’t leave once I was inside.I peeked out the curtain and watched him make a call.
“You’re home early,” Mom said.“And you’re acting weird.What happened?”
“Turn on the news,” I said as Edi finally left.
I glanced up and down the street but didn’t see anyone.
“Why?”Mom asked.
“Because I’m probably going to be on it, and you’re not going to like it.”
The TV turned on, and I listened to her change to the local news channel as I went to take a hot shower.
“You'd better have more to add to what I just listened to,” Mom called as soon as I shut off the water.
“I do, but probably not much.”I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped out in a billow of steam.
She waited in the hallway, worry in her expression.
“Why is someone targeting you at work?”she asked, following me to my room.“And how did they know to send that data to your father’s company?He called you six times while you were showering, by the way.I was tempted to answer the last one, but decided to turn your phone off instead.”
She stood in the doorway and watched me put on my underwear under my towel.
“I’m glad you didn’t answer.You don’t need to deal with his ‘Let's do dinner and talk about the shriveled donor I want you to marry’ crap.”I turned to look for a shirt.“And I really appreciate that you didn’t even doubt me a little, by the way.”
She snorted.“I know you.You wouldn’t do that.And I know your father.He’s not calling about that idiotic marriage.He’s calling to beg, which is why I was considering answering.”
“Beg?”I asked, finding my favorite shirt.
“Yeah, are we going to talk about that tattoo you have?”
The random change in conversation left me confused.
“Tattoo?”
“The orange ring on your shoulder.Is it henna?”
I wanted to groan.I’d forgotten all about it.Moving to my mirror, I turned to look at it and sighed.It didn’t look any lighter.If anything, it looked just a hint more vibrant.
“It’s a reminder not to drink until drunk ever again.”I pulled my shirt on and tossed my towel aside.
“Bad decision?”
“Life is full of them.Now, why do you think Dad is calling to beg?And for what?”
“TAS Solutions illegally acquired confidential information.I can’t imagine Steele Corporation is going to let that slide.”
I hadn’t thought of that, but now that I was considering it, I couldn’t stop smiling.Mom huffed a breath as I tugged on sweat pants.
