“Understood.”
“Their styles should be complimentary of one another. They’re posing as a couple, not prom dates they’ll never see again. I’m shooting Ed first, Helen next, together is final. I expect you on set to deal with things out of place, and if you waste my time, this will be the only job you ever have with DL & Co., but if you impress me as I am anticipating, I’ll be sending a calendar to your secretary.”
“I don’t have a secretary.”
“You will.” She spins on her heels and struts out of the room, horse tail still swaying in spite of the fact the rest of her has completely returned to her Awaker form.
Well…Fuck…Me…today is not about to go at all like I planned.
For the next few hours, everything else that is not hair fades from care. Giving Eduardo a high fade with long extended textures takes almost no time. He needlessly flirts during the entire process, yet the instant I’m finished he moves his efforts across the hall to the pudgy blonde in makeup. Helen on the other hand is the type of challenge I love because nothing beats the feeling of victory at the end of it. While settling on a style is simple, bringing life and shine to such dull strands requires a few of my best tricks. The constant moving in the room and then around the set every time the tiniest piece needs to be put back into place has me quietly praising A.D. not only for the spa foot treatments yesterday but the insisting, I wear flats today.
By the time, I’m walking into the estate, I’m the best kind of exhausted.
Voice texting all of my brothers one right on top of the other made the long, traffic-filled drive much more tolerable as did being cradled by the cushy leather seats in my brand-new sports car I told A.D. not to buy me.
Thoughts of my overly generous mate lead me through the living room to the kitchen where I expect to find him cooking the earlier mentioned meal or, more likely, snacking on an artichoke while glaring at a magical cookbook.
To my surprise, Gene is the only one in the kitchen. He immediately peers up at me from where he’s joyfully scrubbing the island sink and greets, “Evening, Lady Roy.”
“Hi, Genie Gene.” He blushes over the improper title Dae swears he adores at the same time I drop my bag into one of the barstool chairs. “Where’s Peanut Butter?”
“Was I supposed to have peanut butter ready for you, Lady Roy?” His movements swiftly stop. “I had not been informed of this; however, it is an easy fix. Would you like crunchy? Smooth?” He folds his hands behind his butler coat covered back. “Crushed by cyclops feet or a machine?”
“We’ll be circling back to that fucking cyclops thing later, but for now, I’m looking for Peanut Butter in the form of my Fated Mate.”
“Master Draak.”
“That’d be the one.”
“He is currently engaged in a meeting in the library.”
Suddenly, Dae and Z come strolling into the kitchen holding pinkies prompting me to state, “Guess the family meeting just finished up.”
“What?” Z’s brows twitch together in confusion. “What family meeting?”
“Genie Gene said A.D. was in a family meeting.”
“Is in a meeting, Lady Roy,” Gene politely corrects, pulling my attention back to him. “However, I did not say it was a family meeting.”
“It’s not work,” I knowingly announce. “Despite how pissy he knew it would make P, he took the whole fucking week off. Wanted to help in any way he could to me adjusting to my new gig.”
“Oh!” Dae excitedly interjects, free fingers toying with the ends of her French braids. “How’d it go?!”
“Amazing.” The happy gushing is accompanied by a huge grin. “Fucking. Dream. Come. True. Shit.”
“That’s exactly how I feel about becoming a doctor!”
“You’re already a doctor,” Z sweetly reminds her, arm lovingly winding around her lower back to stroke the side of her very swollen stomach. “You’re just adding another degree to our wall. One from this side of The Fog.”
Her cheeks rosy in a way that indicates she’s flattered, and his gaze grows a familiar predatory look.
One that I can’t wait to see on my own Fated Mate.
Remembering where this conversation started has me rolling my attention back to the head of the household staff, “Who’s the meeting with?”
“Lady Baumgartner.”
Being completely taken off guard prompts me to bark back. “Lady who the fuck?!”
“No, Lady Baumgartner, Lady Roy,” Gene politely corrects not realizing the comment was made in irateness rather than confusion. “He is in the library having a private meeting with Lady Baumgartner.”
There’s no stopping my stare from shifting to a skeptical one. “And by private meeting you mean…?”
“I was under the impression that private means the same in Sleeper tongue that it does in Awaker.” An appalled expression quickly covers his face. “Is this not true?”
Glaring at him is promptly followed by another question. “Which way is the library again?”
“I shall show you the way once more, Lady Roy.”
“Yeah, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” Dae cautiously counters.
“I think that’s a great idea,” her mate teasingly argues.
“I don’t give a fuck what either of you think right now. It’s what is happening.” Snapping my face back to Gene, I huff. “Library. Now.”
“As you wish, Lady Roy.”
I wish the dragonhole I’m stupidly in love with was actually cooking in the kitchen instead of possibly tossing salad in the library.
Only my salad should be getting tossed!
Or his by me!
“Lady Roy, may I ask if you are aware that you are stomping?”
“Wouldn’t want him to be surprised like I am,” I snip with so much snark Z can’t stop himself from chortling.
Dae politely tries to speak, “Ana-”
“No.”
“Okay, but-”
“Still no.”
“Lady Roy, how do you know it’s a no if you do not let Lady Draak finish asking?”
“The same way I know Peanut Butter is about to be smooth from being pummeled into the ground for possibly cheating on me on bonding day.”
“Ohshit,” Z mutters prior to getting closer to murmur over my shoulder. “No.No.No. My brother is not cheating on you. Dragons don’t cheat on their mates.”