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“Where is the profit margin?”
“I don’t need a profit. I’ve got enough money.” Scarlet snaps.
Taylor gives her a cool look. “Don't be ridiculous. No business is worth running with zero net profit. It has to be sustainable.”
Is she really going to just ignore me? Act like nothing happened? I move towards them until I’m standing right behind her.
She ignores me for a long minute and then elbows me. I let out a grunt, while Taylor covers his hand with his mouth to hide his smile.
“Don’t be creepy, Gold.”
I grab a fistful of her hair and drag her head back until she’s looking up at me. She blinks.
“When did you eat last?” It’s not what I meant to say. I didn’t even know I was going to say it. But when it comes out, it feels right.
Her expression goes blank, and then she blushes. “I don't remember.”
I growl at Taylor, who just studies me with a small grin.
I let go of her hair and slide my hand down her arm and snag her wrist. “You can play computers with Taylor after you eat.”
She protests, but I drag her with me. Unyielding. And somewhere inside me, it feels like something settles back into place.
sixteen
Scarlet
Gold isn’t exactly being nice, but the whole fuck off attitude has shifted to an unhappy tolerance. It’s an improvement, I try to tell myself, but it still hurts.
Yesterday, when he’d lost it after our conversation, and I have no disillusions that it was something I did or said that triggered him, he’d gone wild, feral. I’d seen the dangerous, maddened alpha for a second, and then it had slipped away, and I’d just seen Gold hurting.
I’d acted on instinct. I still can’t get over how stupid that was. How dangerous. Taylor had absolutely reamed me over it, and to be fair, he was right, so I’d listened to his lecture. But he hadn’t hurt me; I don’t even have bruises on my throat. He’d stopped on his own.
Glancing at Gold now, I can’t quite bring myself to be sorry.
Bar skulks in, looking, if possible, even worse than Gold. He looks at me, hesitates, and then goes to Gold. Bar wraps his arms around his alpha’s waist and leans into his back. Gold exhales, and his jaw relaxes in the familiar tell of his pleasure. Their touch bolsters both of them, resetting and restoring something that is unsettled and uneasy. I thought I might feel jealous of the omega, but I don’t, I’m just glad they have each other. Gold is one of the best people I know, and Bar is not far behind. They deserve happiness. They deserve love.
Oh, Gold found love. I don’t know why that’s only just occurred to me, and I’m happy, truly, but there’s a sting of pain, too. If I’m honest, more than a little.
I slip off the stool and take a single step.
“Sit down.”
I snarl at Gold. “Don’t you bark at me.”
“Sit down.” He growls again, this time with no bark but a whole truckful of menace.
I stand there, almost vibrating with rage. I spin, ready to stalk out of the house, when Acton steps into my space. The sudden appearance and the fact that I’m still avoiding him gives me no choice. I step back, sitting on the stool.
“Eat a bit of food. It’s not going to hurt you.” He says reasonably.
“I have work-“
“Can wait.” Acton says soothingly. “You need to eat, too. Just let Gold take care of you. This is how he says he’s sorry.”
I glance at Gold, and his stiff shoulders twitch.
Acton stands behind me as we watch Gold and Bar. I’m acutely aware of the heat wafting off him. Every hair on my body feels like it’s standing on end. He shifts closer. I hold myself tense.
