Page 32 of Red King
He’s right, I do think he’s an asshole, but I also want to climb him like a pole. I want to muss up his perfect hair and his even more perfect suit. I want him hot and sweaty and…
I need to stop! Right now!
“Here’s the deal, Paisley.” I love how he says my name. “I need you.”
I need you, too.
For a second, I’m sure I said it out loud and feel horrified because we would have been talking about two different kinds of needs, I’m sure of it.
“I’m glad you’re on my team.I needyou on my team.”
See! There it is. Two very different kinds of needs.
I nod, trying to keep my cool.
“You’re honest. You really can’t help yourself, especially when you feel strongly about something. In this case, it’s the safety and the happiness of those Tributes. The good news is, we’re on the same page.”
“Okay…yes, good.” I nod. This is unexpected. Completely unexpected. So much so that I’m not sure how to respond.
“My problem is that the people I have on the ground are not nearly as honest as you are.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re referring to Marcel and Cathy?”
He nods. “Yep. Marcel leaves in a few days. Cathy is not nearly as intuitive as you are and…an asslicker in the first degree.”
Ass.My mind goes straight to seeing him naked yesterday. To his meaty ass and perfectly sculpted back.
Head in the game.
I nod.
“It would take some time to replace her.”
“Replace her?” I shake my head. “No, she’s good at what she does. I’m sure,” I quickly add because I don’t know with absolute certainty. “I mean, you wouldn’t have hired her otherwise. The women really like her.” At least, I think they do.
“I know.” He nods. “She’s good at her role with the females but not so great at standing up to the likes of me. She’s not you, Paisley. You have no qualms about putting me in my place. Telling me like it is, but all in the process of keeping the Tributes safe. If I had listened to you, Lauren wouldn’t be hurt. I should have. I will from here on out.”
“Thanks…I guess.” Is this another test? Does he mean it? What is going on here?
“Your role on the island is going to change.”
I shake my head. “I like what I do. I’m a nurse. I don’t want my role to change.”
“You see what I mean about standing up to me?” He smiles, and this time, it’s a half smile that brings out a tiny dimple in his cheek. He’s annoyingly attractive. “You’re doing it again.”
“Oh…yeah, I can’t help myself. I say all of that with respect, of course.”
“Sure thing, Paisley.”
Why does he keep saying my name like that? And, more importantly, why do I like it so much?
“You’ll still work as a nurse. That will be your main function, but I also need you to oversee human shifter relations. Everything will go through you first. All planned activities, speeches, demonstrations, you name it. I’d also like you to attend a few events just to observe. You would be in charge of the bigger picture. I told Cathy and Marcel that they will report to you going forward. I even want Thorn to report to you on anything related to human and shifter interactions. You will have final say. Particularly in the early days. Dr. du Pont is understanding of the situation. You now have the auth—”
“Report to me?” My eyes bug out of my skull. Then I narrow them. “You already told them that without discussing it with me first.” I laugh, but it holds no humor. I’m pissed; I can’t help it. “Let me guess: you were sure I would accept? That, and you’re used to getting pretty much everything you want, so you just assumed I’d fall in line.”
“Yes, I am used to getting everything I want.” The smirk is back. “I should have known you wouldn’t just fall in line. I will pay you for your efforts. This will be a sideline role. I need my staff to be flexible, Paisley, certainly in the early days of this project. Once relations between our species are running more smoothly, you can step back. It shouldn’t take too long.”
I was beginning to wonder how much work we would get at the clinic. Thirty healthy women and a handful of staff are hardly going to keep us busy. Maybe this could fill my spare time. It’s an opportunity to make extra cash. Moreover, it’s clear they need my help so that there are no more incidents.
