“You have to get a new job.”
“I can’t, Vania. He pays me too well. I will likely work late tonight, so I won’t be able to go on a run with you tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t mind you canceling our runs, but you need to make sure you keep taking care of yourself. Running is good for you.” Vania placed her hand on mine. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I know…I will give you a call tonight. Keep trying to find that Prince Charming for me, all right? Make sure he has blue eyes, a lust for adventure, and a mean right hook.” I blew Vania a little kiss, tossed the rest of my lunch into the trash bin, adjusted my pinstripe pencil skirt, and headed back to work.
Chapter Two
Daphne
I flipped the pages, the swift turning making an eerie flutter on the glass walls of my office in the lone desktop light. Where was that itemized document? I swore I had made the intern alphabetize this file. I looked toward another box in the corner and blinked against the darkness. I glanced at the clock. 11 p.m. My desk light was the only one still illuminated on the whole floor. I had stayed at work until 9, but right as I was lying down for much-needed sleep at home, the Flores file information running through my mind, I realized that the entire case hinged on that itemized budget. I hadn’t remembered seeing it in the final prepared file. I had dutifully gotten out of bed and driven back to work. If that piece of information was as vital as I thought it might be, Rhone would be furious the next morning that it had been left out.
I wasn’t supposed to be at the office this late. I had input Rhone’s own code to get onto the private elevator. I had seen him type his code in once and memorized it, not thinking I would ever have the guts to use it.
“Where the hell is it?”
I bent over to pull another box from the floor to my desk when a light flared on in Rhone’s office. I heard muffled voices and footsteps. My heart catapulted into my throat. I clicked off the desk lamp and crouched to the floor.
“…know how important she is.” I didn’t recognize the voice speaking. I peered around my desk and saw Rhone and another man walking down the hallway.
“Yes, I know. Damn Daphne. She probably didn’t even…” The voices muffled again as they moved into Rhone’s office.
What? Are they talking about me?
I stayed low, pulse beating rapidly in my ears, fingers clammy as I pulled open my office door. I crept down the hallway to one of the offices that looked right into Rhone’s. I stood up and hid behind a file cabinet. The glass walls were a beautiful accent to their high-powered office, but they were single pane. Now that I was closer, I could hear what they were saying.
“So, we just wait?”
“Yes. He should be here any moment.”
The other man was tall, but much skinnier than Rhone. He had on a long, leather jacket and gloves. He lounged back against Rhone’s desk as Rhone rustled some papers on his desk. They had turned on one of the lamps, but the lighting wasn’t enough for me to get a good look at the other man’s face under his fedora.
Rhone walked out from behind his desk and turned so I could see his other side. I stilled a gasp. He was wearing a sword! The scabbard was long and curved. The handle was ornate, curling with waves and crested with jewels.
A radiant light shimmered in the middle of Rhone’s office. The sharp blues and greens were stunning. It burned brighter. I squinted away from it as it grew larger, blinding and brilliant. Then it flashed and illuminated the whole office space. I ducked behind the file cabinet again. The light vanished.
“Welcome, Fyland,” Rhone said. I peeked back out, mouth wide open, eyes wide. What the hell? Where did he come from? Like magic? Or tech that I don’t know about?
The man that had appeared was small, crouched over, clutching his stomach.
“Your majesty. You have to help me.” His voice was strained. “They will be following me.”
“What are you talking about?” The man in the long coat straightened up from the desk quickly, pulling two daggers out, one in each hand. “You mean, you failed the mission, and you have led them here?”
Rhone held up his hand, and the man backed away, but his daggers sparkled in the light of the office lamp.
“Fyland, you have failed me.”
As I watched, heart pounding, my breath coming in rapid gasps I tried to quell, mouth still open, Rhone slid the sword from his scabbard. The metal of the sword was dark, but glowed green. It seemed to hiss as it left the sheath. The jewels along its hilt sparkled down the blade a few inches. I hadn’t seen many swords in my life, but there was clearly something unique about this one. Its blade curved up, slightly scimitar-like, but seemed much longer than the scabbard had shown it would be.
Rhone held the blade out in the air in front of him, twisting it around, seeming to admire the sheen and green glow.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Rhone asked.
“I beg you for forgiveness, m’Lord. I will take any demotion you state. I will do any job you deem necessary as I gain back your trust.” The man doubled over, clutching his stomach. I couldn’t see well enough, but it seemed like he was dripping something onto the floor. Is that blood? Did someone just teleport into my boss’s office and is now
