Page 22 of Microburst

It madesensethat the head of security knew how to fucking fly. He was normally at Father’s side when he traveled and a backup pilot was smart. We had pilots and planes. Yes, fuel was expensive—and now I understood that might have been one of the reasons Father hadn’t wanted to do it—but cross-training people was smart.

And I’d said so in a meeting, disagreeing with Father when he’d dismissed Benson. He’d been furious later and I’d stood my ground, saying he was being silly and outdated. He was the one who taught me to never become lax on security and always be ready for potential problems.

That he had a blind spot when it came to Benson and it looked bad on Benson when he dismissed him, especially in meetings. Either he was a capable head of security or he saw him as still the kid of the head of security who had died.

Father hadn’t been thrilled, but he knew I was right and had agreed to let Benson train and get his pilot’s license.

It was the one thing Benson’s mother had brought up when she’d gotten sick and couldn’t be saved. That she knew I would always stand up for him and protect him as he would me. That she could go be with her mate knowing we would be there for each other. It had broken my heart, but also I was glad that had given her peace.

“Have you flown the one you want?” I checked, waving him to give me information.

“No. I’ve flown one—the one your uncle purchased. I test-flew it at his request before they purchased them,” he elaborated. “My second choice. I think the security features on my first choice are better.”

“Agreed, but I didn’t think they were worth the price or needed for my company executives,” Darren added. “If they’re as good as they say and he likes it—that would be my pick too. The third one was my second choice since we didn’t need the security features.”

“You should now as her advisor,” Fraser argued. “We should all step up security.”

“Get test flights of the top two and make sure Ayao’s on it,” I ordered Benson. “Let him see this through and learn. It shouldn’t be that hard to arrange.”

“Done,” Benson accepted.

“If it’s worth the extra security features and price, let’s get a detailed plan to add a plane now and another beginning of next year—every six months to replace the others as well. Those can become backup evacuation planes.”

His eyes flashed worry at the huge price tag, but he nodded.

I hit uneven ground going backwards and threw out my arms to try and catch my balance but was off the ground and flippedaround in a flash… And staring up into pretty blue eyes I knew intimately.

That were amused.

Thorn’s lips twitched. “I was waiting for that. No one can run backwards that long without falling. It’s just not possible.”

I let it go when several other people chuckled. “Thanks for the save.” I pulled away and tried to ignore what being that close to him did to my body, but my skin fucking tingled from where he’d touched.

I still hated him for what he’d done.

“Sure you do,”Iris said in my mind, sounding amused.

I focused back on Ayao. “You did great, but we agree as the royal family that Maple handle the addition of the media building. We don’t want…” I glanced at her.

“Even Amelia would never have handled any sort of new construction to the family castle,” she said easily. “Your family would be the same. Raquel is handling the inside renovations and damages, so that’s covered.”

“More than reasonable,” Ayao accepted, focused on me. “Thank you for explaining.”

“But I would like you to be co-project manager with Gavriil,” I continued.

“Me? What did I do wrong?” Gavriil asked as he moved up by us, trying to get next to me but simply rolling his eyes when Thorn wouldn’t give up the spot and moving to the other side of Ayao instead. “I thought I was doing okay. You were happy with the proposal and plans.”

“I was, but you need some help learning how to be a boss,” I hedged, giving him a look. I felt better when he sighed and nodded. I ignored when Ayao tried to hide his amusement.

It was the nicest way to say Gavriil was getting walked all over. He was the Alpha of Duskridge’s nephew and the onlysingle male in his family to be sent… And last oneveryone’slist of who should mate me.

Funny, because the one who drugged me was in a lot of the top five slots originally.

“Plus, you need the help,” I added. “Cosmo is starting the renovations side and getting steamrolled already by the Alphas trying to take over. You only really have Rigel who does nothing but whine, bitch,andmoan. So you need help because the appraisers are going to steamroll you next and Ayao proved he won’t let that happen.”

“Thank you,” Ayao said quietly.

I nodded. He deserved it. I took off for another sprint and then made a decision as I came back, shooting Thorn a glance. “You’re still up for helping, right?”