Page 30 of Possessive Mr. Pen

Out of breath, skeptical, and half whispering, she says, “Hi.You’re Hilary’s boss, right?She saved you in my contacts.”

Memories wash over me, and I fight a wave of emotions.Tucking them all away for later, I clear my throat and focus on the present.

I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips.Of course my warrior queen takes care of the people she loves with every ounce of her heart.Only someone as methodical as her would think to add their employer to their friend’s phone in advance.

A woman with wings for lashes and no volume control bumps into me.She gears up for a yelling match, takes one look at me, and scurries away.

“I am,” I say into the phone.

“Hilary isn’t taking calls right now,” she says.

I applaud her stern tone, but she fails to hide her worry.

“I understand.She took sick leave today.I’m in the area if she needs anything.”

I pull my phone away from my ear when she covers her receiver with something.Probably her hand.Several moments pass.

“Are you really offering or just being a jerk and checking if she’s sick or not?”she accuses.

“I never offer unless I mean to follow through,” I say.

She hesitates and halfway covers her mic as she whispers back and forth with someone, probably Momo Smith, Hilary’s other roommate.

“Will it come out of her paycheck?”Aisha asks.

Amusement creeps through me.

“No, it won’t,” I confirm.

“How ‘in the area’ are you?”she asks.

I lie and reply with a row of shops a few blocks over.

She whispers back and forth a few more times before responding.

“I have a list.Are you ready?”

“Of course.”

As the number of items grows, I give a rueful smirk and start toward the shops.Ever the opportunists, Aisha and Momo include their favorites along with Hilary’s.In fact, I suspect the majority of the list is for them and not my gladiator goddess.

I don’t care.I buy everything and even add a few extras before lugging all the bags through the streets.

The girls were smart and included a few medicines, but it’s not enough to make me believe Hilary is sick.

As long as Aisha and Momo are taking care of her, I’ll give her space.I can wait another few hours before seeing her again.

I hope.

Even with the beating fresh in my mind and the pain in my body, my worst ailment is the itchiness under my skin.Like an addict denied their favorite drug, I’m going through physical withdrawals.

I need Hilary Winthrop.

Now.

Chapter 9

Hilary Winthrop