Page 61 of His Master

“Simon and I met through a certain…dating app,” I said, hoping to go for the least amount of embarrassment possible. “Without divulging too much personal information, all I’m going to say is that the nature of our chosen relationship is no one’sbusiness but our own. Although I understand from Hayden that the two of you are familiar with these things.” I glanced to Simon’s papa as well.

His dad and papa exchanged looks.

I blinked as I suddenly recognized a warm, pulsing light that seemed to encompass the two of them. More than that, I began to see a thousand tiny strings and threads of light that entwined around both of them, joining them together.

My jaw dropped. I’d never seen a bond before. Only bonded couples could see the bonds in others.

It was beautiful. It didn’t matter how tense the moment was or how deeply in trouble Simon and I were, I was completely blown away by the dazzling display of Simon’s parents’ bond.

“Are you listening to me?” Simon’s dad demanded, shaking me out of my observation.

“I’m sorry,” I said, blinking rapidly. “I’ve just never seen a bond before. It’s…amazing.”

Both of Simon’s parents blinked as well.

“Oh my God,” Simon’s papa said, sucking in a breath. “You’re bonded.” In an instant, his emotions shifted from anger to joy. “My baby has found a mate!”

I’d never seen the mood in a room shift so hard so fast. Simon’s papa rushed at him and threw his arms around him again for another hug, but this one was celebration instead of anxiety. Simon’s dad glanced between me and Simon so many times that it was almost comical. Bizarre as it was, I could tell he wasn’t upset with me anymore. Confused, yes, but not upset.

“Couples don’t bond by force,” he said, as if explaining to himself. “Only if there’s a genuine connection and real love.”

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” I said, feeling more confident to take charge of the situation. “It was a sudden and somewhat accidental bonding, but I’m gladder than I can say that I’ve found my soulmate.”

I subtly reached for Simon, pulling him gently out of his papa’s arms and tugging him back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and breathed an internal sigh of relief that I now had my omega secured in my arms.

“This changes the situation,” Det. Shirley said, watching everything unfold with a puzzled look. “It’s not proof Mr. Kipling here wasn’t kidnapped, but it changes things.”

“I wasn’t kidnapped,” Simon confirmed. “I’ve been with Victor willingly this entire time. And I can confirm that his uncle, Vincent Woodbury, is trying to undermine him over conflict within Victory Holdings. But if you’ll give us the chance to explain, we can tell you what’s really happening with the company and the family and why Vincent Woodbury is causing trouble.”

I was so proud of Simon. Everyone else was startled. And tired. I had the feeling we’d all been up most of the night.

“Frederick Kipling,” Simon’s dad said, stepping forward and holding out his hand to me. “I’ve been remiss in making introductions.” As I shook his hand, he went on with, “This is my husband, Oliver Kipling.”

“Ollie,” Simon’s papa said, shaking my hand with a broad smile after Frederick was done. “But you can call me Papa.”

I shook his hand with a quick smile. The mood in the kitchen had changed so fast that I was still reeling.

“Victor,” I said to both of them. “And it’s a pleasure to meet both of you.”

“I’m glad this has been sorted,” Det. Shirley said, “but I’m going to need more information about what’s going on and why the force brought me in to investigate a kidnapping that didn’t happen and Mason asked for my help at the same time.”

“Yes, I’d like to know what’s going on, too,” Frederick said.

“Why don’t we all have a seat at the table, I’ll make some coffee, and we can sort everything out,” Ollie said, hurrying to the side to get started with the coffee.

It was a frustrating conversation, but a good one. I was exhausted, as was Simon, who sat so close to me on the chair beside mine that he might as well have been sitting in my lap. I felt like I’d explained the circumstances of Victory Holdings and my family a dozen times in the last day or so, and the faint headache from lack of sleep and dehydration that pulsed behind my temples wasn’t helping the situation.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when Frederick asked, “What provisions exist in the bylaws for Victory Holdings that would allow you to make such drastic changes to the long-term governance of the company?”

I’d never been happier that Simon’s parents were well-versed in corporate law.

“To be honest, I haven’t read through the bylaws in years,” I said. “I need to pull them up and make changes for the board to vote on while we’re here. As I recall, there is a provision to change things, but I’m operating a little bit on a wing and a prayer when it comes to changing them to keep the company together, if the board votes to take that action. They still might side with my uncle.”

And the possibility that Uncle Victor might be able to talk Vivien around to his point of view, meaning I would end up as the one voted out of a leadership role in the whole thing, was still nagging at the back of my mind.

“You can use our computer to access a copy of the bylaws,” Frederick said. “Ollie and I can look over them for you before this meeting later.”

“We would be honored to serve as your counsel in this case,” Ollie added.

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