Three hours later, a knock at the door had her blinking. She was shocked when she glanced at the clock and saw how long she had been sitting at the computer. No wonder her back was aching. But she was happy with what she accomplished. All incoming emails would be sorted by keywords.
Crazy speech, shifter seeking mate or human seeking mate, from there it would sort into smaller folders. For instance, shifter type, location. She was still floored to find out there were other planets with shifters! But the program she installed should make things easier on Gerri overall. She heard her boss talking to someone and pushed her chair back.
Sometimes her duties as an assistant required her to offer beverages to new clients, so she was going to check on them and see what she could do to help. Sitting at the same table and chairs Sky had occupied earlier was an elderly woman with a severe look. Her hair was pulled back into a tight black and white bun.
On the other hand, there was Gerri who was stunning and smiling. She had the warmest smile, and it was comforting.
“Excuse me, ladies, could I get you some tea or anything?”
Gerri turned to her with a smile. “Tea would be lovely. You will also find some freshly baked scones in my kitchen. Please bring them out and then sit with us. I would like you to take some notes for me.” Gerri nodded behind Sky to the kitchen and then gestured to the table. The other woman didn’t reply at all. Once she walked away, she heard Gerri explain.
“Sky is my new assistant. She will be sitting in to take any relevant notes and ask anything I may not think of. Your son is an unusual case for us.” Sky could hear the laughter in Gerri’s voice, and she tried not to laugh in response. Gerri was understating the son!
“Yes, he is. Which is why I came to you, the best. Only you would do for my son, after all. He deserves only the best.” Sky chuckled quietly in the kitchen, then she remembered shifter hearing, and she was mortified.
She loaded a platter with the heavenly smelling baked goods and the teapot, sugar, milk, and cups.
“Forgive me for interrupting your conversation.” Sky set everything down and took her seat. She wasn’t sure if Gerri preferred to serve or not.
“Yes, as I was saying my Damien deserves the best, and you’re it. I expect you will find him the very best mate too. I’m sure she will be stunning with an exceptional upbringing. Of course, she shouldn’t concern herself about business matters as Damien will take care of all that. Her duty will be to look pretty and pop out grandchildren to make me look like a loving grandparent.” The woman looked down her nose at Sky, then turned her attention to Gerri.
“Of course, I will find him his true mate. I assume that is what you want?” The woman didn’t respond but sniffed. “Would you like a cup of tea? I’m happy to pour it for you.” The woman nodded, and Gerri smiled, picking up the teapot and pouring its contents into her cup.
“Damien is misunderstood. He is vilified by the news and the people of that town he moved to.” The woman spat the words and scowled, as if either of them would argue with her. “They don’t know what they have in him, and I don’t know why my son continues to live in that place.”
Sky glanced at Gerri to see her response, but there was nothing to see. “I’m sure you’re correct, ma’am. Is there anything in particular you would like us to know about your son?”
The woman’s face softened slightly. Sky wasn’t sure if it was because neither she nor Gerri tried to blast the man, or because she was talking about her favorite subject.
“He’s a good boy. He’s just antisocial, so it’s hard for people to get to know him. He’s got a good group of friends he’s loyal to and that are loyal to him.” The old woman picked up her teacup and took a sip. Then glanced at Gerri.
Sky was sure he had a group of loyal friends, probably the good ole boy network all over again. Hell, they were probably the ones he installed in the town to slowly take over.
“I think we have what we need for now. I’ll be in touch soon with some information. In the meantime, go shopping for a Mother of the Groom dress.” Gerri stood, smiling and escorted the woman to the door.
As soon as it shut behind her, Sky laughed. “Are you serious?”
“Oh, dear, you will find I never joke about love. The size of a man’s cock, yes. How he moves it, sure... But never about love.”
Sky stared open-mouthed at Gerri. She wasn’t sure what to make of those last few comments.
“I think I need you to go on a special errand for me. I want you to go interview Damien. Find out who is right about him. His mother or the news.” Gerri sat at the table next to Sky and smiled at her. “Are you up for the challenge?”
Chapter Three
Damien Grimes sat behind his desk and stared at his mother. “You did what?”
He couldn’t believe his ears. There was no way his mother went to find him a date. Like he was incapable of finding a woman of his own. Shit, according to the news, that was all he did. Date and have children out of wedlock.
His mother, Melinda Grimes, socialite and career divorcee, pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. “I thought she could help you turn around your public image. We know you’re not like they say, and I wanted to help.”
Damien rolled his eyes. “All you care about is your image mother. Not my welfare and certainly not the future of my love life.”
Melinda opened her mouth and this time Damien could see it was less of an act. “Remember, you are here because I gave birth to you. I raised you, and goddammit, that means I will not tolerate your disrespect.”
Damien leaned back in his leather chair and sighed. “You couldn’t have an abortion, or my father would’ve divorce you, and you would have lost everything. Pity it happened anyway, isn’t it? As for raising me, the housekeeper, a slew of nannies and boarding schools raised me. You weren’t there unless you wanted to show me off to your high-priced friends. I was a tool, an object to use to make you look better. You’ve never earned my respect. Now, Mother, get out.”
Damien watched as she stood and smoothed out her skirt. “I was right to name you Damien. You are the devil.” She stomped to the door, yanking it open, then slamming it behind herself.
“When will she learn Damien was a demon not the devil.” He dropped his head back on to his leather chair and sighed.
It still bothered him to see the woman his mother had turned into after they lost his brother. Michael had been Damien’s hero. His idol. He’d also been hiding his addiction so well nobody had noticed. His overdose and death had hit them all as shock.
Michael might have been half-human and half-shifter, but he’d become addicted to drugs and hadn’t been able to fight it off. Not even with shifter genes. So when he died of an overdose, it had torn up his mom and Damien. Had they known the signs, they might have noticed his addiction. Knowing shifters didn’t have that problem had made them disregard what could have been possible warning signals.
Damien’s heart clenched. He’d loved his older brother. It still killed him to know he’d never see him again. Even after all this time, the pain had never gone away. He’d just gotten used to living with the emptiness of missing him.