I glanced at the clock; the ticking hands reminding me it was time to face whatever awaited me.
I crawled out of bed.
He had given me no instructions this morning, so I tackled my usual routine. I dressed in office-appropriate attire: a thin black-and-white striped sweater and black slacks that hit my ankles. A pair of black loafers finished the look. I grabbed my bag, made sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, and headed down and then back up to the third floor.
As soon as I stepped off the elevator, something felt different. The hallways were busy but tense.
Did they seem shocked to see me? Had words spread already about my actions on Friday? I hoped I could keep it our little secret, but that was wishful thinking.
I passed Patrick’s office. Collin sat at his desk; he perked up when he spotted me.
“Kylie.” He shuffled some papers. “I’m supposed to announce you when you arrive.”
“Announce me.” What, was I being presented to the royal court? “Can I set my stuff down?” I pointed in the direction of my office. We both looked and the people in the hallway scattered.
“No, he said as soon as you arrived, to announce you.” Collin tapped something on his phone.
A few seconds later, the door opened. It wasn't Patrick. It was Kyler. I finally understood the source of their apprehension.
“Kylie.” He stepped to the side. “Would you join us, please?” It wasn’t a question.
Patrick sat behind his desk. Josh in a grey suit paced. I stepped through the door and spotted Tyler and Chandler lounging on the small couch near the window. Tyler looked like he’s had a late night at Quad IV, in jeans and a wrinkled black button-down shirt.
Randall perched himself to the right of the door. I’d never seen him in person. His brothers were handsome in thatobvious, symmetrical way, but Randall’s face made you work for it: a firm jaw that was slightly too wide, deep-set eyes under a heavy brow, a nose that had been broken at least once. The kind of face that got more interesting the longer you looked at it.
Despite his and Chandler being twins, they looked the least like each other.
“Hello everyone.” I waved. My voice sounded weak even to my own ears. They all looked so serious, except Tyler and my daddy. Was he the only friend I had?
“Please, Kylie.” Patrick waved me over. “Have a seat.”
A chair was set up on the left side of his desk, facing out. I took it.
It was Kyler’s turn to talk. “We called a meeting this morning to discuss your future here at Grant Enterprises.” He sat down in the chair closest to me.
“Jeez, Kyler,” Tyler chimed in. “Get on with it, you’re scaring the girl to death.”
Kyler shot him a look, but Tyler waved it off.
“You’re not scared of me, are you, Kylie?” Kyler scowled for good measure, and it made me laugh.
“I mean, you’re not giving off warm fuzzies, but no, I’m not scared.”
He snickered at my answer.
Josh spoke next. “We discussed whether at this time you should be employed here.” He sat in the chair next to Kyler, both facing me. “Yesterday, with the hint of a threat, we were all impressed with how you fell right in to protect our girls. Your instincts kicked in, you didn’t hesitate. You performed exemplarily.”
I caught Tyler’s expression; he was in the middle of a dramatic eye-roll. I covered my mouth to keep from giggling. A bit of nervousness lingered within me, a remnant from the events following the resolution of the Charlotte situation.
But then the morning came, and I was smack dab into the real world again.
I just wish they would tell me already.
“We’ve decided you will no longer be employed by Grant Enterprises in security.”
My heart dropped, and by the look on the guys’ faces, my whole body must have dropped with it.
“Kyler,” Patrick, Josh, and Randall all said in unison.
