Chapter 6: A Ripple in Work

“Thank you for the information. I appreciate you taking the time out of your time to speak with me.” Thea heard Ash say inside his office. A huff coming from her as she immediately assumed that he was snooping around her personal life again. She knocked on the door once, waiting outside until she heard him say come in before walking in. She immediately took a seat across from him, a brief look of appreciation crossed his features before he had shook his head, her wolf whining at the action.

“You said you wanted to have a word with me?” Thea questioned as she crossed her legs, not missing the look that he gave her as he had watched her move. It had been… A struggle working with him so close by, she was fighting every instinct she had not to submit to him in more ways than one. She hated this. He was supposed to be her enemy and she found herself wanting to please him.

“Yes. Thank you for coming.” His voice, smooth like silk, had nearly caused a shiver to run down her spine but she forced herself to remain still. He stood, pacing the room for a moment before pausing in front of the window with his back turned to her like she wasn’t the biggest threat in the room right now.

“I’ve… Discussed options with those above me in my industry. And your time here has been appreciated no matter how short it was…” Thea could feel her heart begin to race in her chest, everything was going wrong, she could feel it collapsing around her. “I’ve come to the decision with the help of others, that it is best we let you go to pursue other avenues.”

“Excuse me?” Her voice turned to ice as she watched him tense. “I’ve been here for a week, and you’re firing me? On what grounds?” She stood, crossing her arms as she waited for him to face her.

He turned to face her, and she tried to keep the facade up as her gaze met his mismatched one. “As I’ve discussed with others, it would not be good for either of us to be working together due to the nature of our… Relationship.” Ash responded easily, though the blood in her veins had begun to boil at the notion.

“What relationship? You mean you ignoring me on a daily basis? Or the fact that someone like you is my fated mate according to the stupid mutt living inside my head.” Thea snarled. Though a stab of guilt ran through her as her wolf had whined at the nickname.

“The relationship as in what you mean to me.” Ash snarled. Though Thea had slammed her hands on the desk in front of her as a challenge as she tilted her chin up, staring him down.

“Then break the bond.” She growled right back, the words left their mark as Ash’s eyes changed briefly to the full silver color. He blinked and shook his head as his eyes turned back to normal.

“No.” The answer was simple enough, but she needed to know more. Why he wouldn’t grant her that freedom.

“Why.” Thea grit her teeth as she waited for his answer, her nails digging into the wood on the desk, leaving crescent shaped marks in the wood.

“Because, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to find you. There’s a lot about me that you don’t know, even after admitting quite a bit during my drunken state.” Ash chuckled quietly. “I wish the circumstances were different Ms. Veryne, I really do but… Seeing as they are not. It is best if you seek employment elsewhere.”

That was it then. The finality of the words sunk in as she stormed out of his office, slamming the door shut behind her as she tore off her nametag. The concerned look of Martha did nothing to calm her rage as the older lady had placed her hand on her shoulder.

“Are you alright dear?” Martha questioned as Thea shook her head in response.

“I was fired. Thank you for teaching me everything I know. But I’m glad to be rid of that scumbag as a boss.” She hissed as she moved Martha’s hand off of her shoulder before she could hug her. She didn’t want that kind of pity.

Storming through the front doors, she pulled her cellphone out of her bag and unlocked the screen. She opened her list of contacts before dialing her second in command’s number, she huffed as the phone had rung twice before her voice had finally come through.

“Hello?” Lily’s sleep-filled voice echoed through the other end. “Did something happen?” She questioned once she was a bit more awake.

“I got fired. Do you have the stuff we need to make a move? That was supposed to be prepared last night.” Thea snapped irritability. “I want him down tonight, drain everything he has and then some. Make it impossible for him to open the office tomorrow.” She whispered quietly as she got into the taxi she had waved down.

“Everything is ready, just waiting for you to say push the button…” Lily yawned as she shifted. “That irritated huh?”

“He fired me because of the mating bond. I can’t do anything about that. He had his bases covered when it came to that, many mates don’t work at the same place because of the nature of us…” She huffed. “Who’s our next target?”

“I don’t know yet, Ian is still looking into a chain of pet stores… The corporate leader is messed up… I’ll message you when everything is done and over with.” Lily stated before hanging up, relief filling Thea as she knew she could at least have the last move in this.

***

THAT NIGHT

Thea paced her bedroom floor, it was nearly midnight but she still hadn’t gotten a word from Lily since that morning. Anxiety raced through her as she stood near her bedroom window, watching the city below. When her phone had pinged, she raced to grab it, reading over the message before throwing her phone across the room.

“No!” She screamed as she sunk against the wall.

‘Better luck next time sweetheart, it takes a lot more than that to bring me down.’ Is the message that she had received from an unknown number. They had failed. Out of anger, she had pushed them to move too soon.