“Look, just let it sort itself out,” Morgan says, putting his hands up. “We’ll be letting Eva go soon anyways in the upcoming merger.”
My heart, which was previously pounding, feels like it just hit a wall in my chest. “What?
Morgan scratches his head. “Well, we’re merging with another one of Bill’s father’s companies, and we’re planning to let their VP of HR run things. Eva doesn’t really get the company culture anymore or the direction we want to go in. We need to cut benefits, not increase them. Think more about our shareholders.”
I sit back in my chair, utterly defeated by the greed and stupidity of humans. And torn about what to do since my soul bond is going to get her heart broken either way.
There has to be something I can do about this.
“Why wasn’t I aware of this?”
“You’re only the interim CEO, and besides, you trail her everywhere. We thought we would tell you when things are final. Besides, Bill came to me at lunch and said he’d made the final decision to let Eva go in the merger.”
Of course he did. Because she said no to him.
And apparently, no one is allowed to say no to him.
I’m even more furious knowing that he’s now going to punish her for not giving him what he wanted.
I feel impotent, not being able to take him out for Eva’s sake.
“But even so, it’s for the best,” Morgan says, babbling on stupidly. “The company is changing, and she won’t be a good fit here.” He eyes me warily. “And if you’re going to get all upset about her, maybe you aren’t a good fit either.”
“You need to go,” I say, standing up and opening the door for him to leave. I don’t care what this idiot thinks of me, but I don’t need him making threats while I have other things to deal with.
Like how to tell Eva that the company she loves so much is going to throw her away like garbage.
Morgan walks to the door but pauses there to glare at me sullenly. I finally see the rot behind all the joviality of these men who sit at the top and do nothing but take all the rewards.
They think they’re invincible. And when Eva is gone, they’re just going to hurt more people.
And in this world, they can’t be stopped.
“I’m warning you, Tanner. Don’t mess with Bill Steinman. Just leave it alone. Go to your next position. Take the girl if you want to, but—”
“She’s not a girl,” I say, my hands going into fists despite my utmost restraint. “She’s an incredible VP and a leader of this company, and I’ll thank you to remember that while she’s still here.”
Morgan just shrugs at me and walks out, not even seeming that bothered by the conversation.
I slump back in my chair, running my hands through my hair and wondering what I’m going to do about all of this.
In my world, I’m a commander. But in this world, I’m more and more lost.
My phone buzzes, and I don’t know whether to be relieved or panicked when I look down and see Ian is calling.
I let out a sigh as I pick up the call. “Hi, Ian.”
“Tanner, how’s it going?”
“Fine,” I say tersely.
There’s a long pause. “Are you really?”
Of course he would feel our bond, even at a distance, and know that I’m in a bad place. “Ian, things are just rotten in the human world. I’ve been so happy with my soul bond that I was blind to it, but… you were right. It’s terrible.”
“Tell me what happened.”
So I do, starting from what happened when I found Bill in Eva’s office and ending with the conversation right before this call.
Ian is quiet for a long moment, thinking carefully. He’s not one to speak rashly, not when it could affect a friend.
We’ve had many long conversations since we came to this world. I never thought we would have one like this.
“I’m guessing she isn’t as willing to just go back to your world as you hoped she’d be,” he says softly.
“No.” I sigh. “She doesn’t want to leave the company either. She doesn’t feel he’s that much of a threat.”
“Or she can’t face that he is,” Ian says, making more sense than I want him to. “Look, just be patient and be with her. Make sure he can’t get to her again. One day, she’ll see the light. She just needs more time.”
“But even after she leaves with me, he would still be here, threatening people…” I pull on my hair gently, trying to relieve stress.
There is chaos in my world, but at least I’m always allowed to fight it off the people I care about.
“I know,” Ian says. “And we can’t do anything about that now, from what you’ve said. Eva said we couldn’t kill him?”
“She said I couldn’t,” I say.
“What about me?” He sounds hopeful.
“No,” I say. “She doesn’t want this handled that way. She says this is her world, and I have to listen to her on how to deal with it.”
“Would you want her telling you how to run the kingdom of darkness?”
“No,” I say. “But it’s different. I—”
“Not to her maybe,” Ian says. “Well, you know I’m not the most perceptive, and maybe Flynn would be better to talk to. But I would say hold tight, treasure your soul bond, and we’ll work this out. Somehow. Maybe you can call Chad, get him to buy more of the company.”
My heart lightens slightly at that. “You think?”
“Maybe,” Ian says. “That or look into some other options to get Bill out and make Eva feel safe at her company. Help the other workers so when she does leave, she doesn’t feel like she’s abandoning her life’s work to be ruined.”
“Yes,” I say. “If she does come to my world, I want it to be her choice. When she’s comfortable.”
Though a part of me longs to go back to my kingdom and make sure it’s safe and take Eva there also as soon as possible.
“As it should be,” Ian says. “Look, I know your family is stressing you, but I know your brothers. They will be okay defending it while you’re gone.”
“I want to believe that,” I say doubtfully. “Sometimes I could swear I’m in the chaos realm rather than the corporate world with how many hateful and power-hungry people there are here, especially at the top of the chain.”
“I don’t blame you,” Ian says. “I envied you for finding your soul bond, but I do not envy the position you are in now. With this… Bill Steinman.”
“He is evil,” I say. “I’m sure of it.”
“Well, we eat evil for breakfast,” Ian says. “Is that the saying?”
I laugh, finally feeling some of the tension drain out of me. “Close enough. Thank you, Ivar.”
I use his fae name because it makes me feel a little more grounded. I’ve been away from home for so long.
“You’re welcome, Tynan. We will get through this together.”
“You’re right. We will.”
I hang up and call Chadwick, leaving him a message when he doesn’t answer.
Then I open my laptop to do some research because I have a few more hours in the day before I get to be with Eva, and I need to make use of it as best as I can.