Page 67 of Zar

“Ookay, good to know, I guess.” She picked up her purse and straightened her spine. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner it’s done the sooner I can be back in Zar’s arms.”

Flare’s gaze softened. “You miss him already?”

She felt her cheeks heat. “Is that pathetic?”

“Of course not. I’m very pleased for you both, Callie. To find your ofelia is a gift. We all wish for that.”

Unless she missed her guess, Flare sounded lonely. “You’ll meet yours someday. When you least expect it probably.”

An ornery smile played at the corners of his mouth and not for the first time Callie was struck by how handsome the silver-winged alien was. “Perhaps I will kidnap her,” he murmured.

She laughed. “Perhaps.”

Twenty minutes later and Callie found herself standing in her father’s study. Flare and Magnus on either side of her looking for all the world like something out of a mafia movie with their tall, muscular bodies and their silver hair tied back in a ponytail. They wore black t-shirts and jeans and both men stood with their arms crossed over their massive chests and a scowl on their handsome faces.

Her father slowly rose to his feet and he pointed a finger at her. “What do you mean you’re moving? What’s the meaning of this, Callie?”

“Just that. I’m leaving HealthTec and I’m going to live with Zar.”

“What kind of name is Zar anyway? It sounds foreign.”

“He is. And he’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, Dad. I love him.”

Her father darted angry glares towards Flare and Magnus. “Then why isn’t he here with you? And who the hell are they?”

Callie started to speak, but Flare rode over her. “We are his associates. Zar has a lot on his plate right now and couldn’t get away. He sends his apologies and hopes to meet you in the future.”

Callie had a hard time keeping a straight face. Yeah, she could just picture that meeting, wings and all. “Anyway, Dad, as of today I no longer work at your company. I recommend Roger for the position. He’ll do nearly anything to please you, which is exactly what you want. So, it’s a win-win.”

He fell back into his chair. “So that’s it? You worked hard for that position, Callie. I don’t understand why you’d throw it all away. And for what? Love?” He rolled his eyes. “That’s a damn feeble reason if you ask me.”

And there it was, the Quinn Wilson she’d tried so hard to please. “I know you think emotions are a weakness, Dad, but I don’t. I love Zar and I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him.” She moved around the desk and leaned down to press a kiss to the top of his greying head. “I love you, but I’m never going to be you. I’m sorry if that disappoints you.”

He hesitated before looking up at her, a frown marring his brows. “You will keep in touch?”

She patted him on the cheek and smiled. “Of course. I’m moving, not dying.”

He gave her a jerky nod, then quickly looked away. “I will consider Roger as your replacement then. And I expect to meet this Zar. You will set up something in the near future. I won’t have my daughter going off with some stranger.”

Flare suddenly surprised her by stepping forward. He handed her father a business card. “You might recognize the name, sir.”

Her father’s eyes widened as he stared at the card. “Of course, I recognize it.” His gaze shot towards Callie. “This is the man you fell in love with?”

She plucked the card from his hand and started at the bold printing. Zenarian Business Holdings. Her winged-man continued to surprise her. She handed the card back to her father. “Yes, that’s him.”

Her father grinned. “He’s a recluse from what I’ve heard. No one has ever met the man, yet he’s a billionaire. Impressive, Callie. I look forward to meeting him.”

The way to her father’s heart was always money. She nearly forgot that little tidbit. “I’ll be sure to let him know you’re anxious to meet him.”

She started out of the room but remembered the other reason she’d come to her father’s house. “Also, do you still have those ginseng seeds?”

Her father quirked a brow. “I do, although I don’t know why. They’re useless.”

She smiled. “Mind if I have them?”

He stood and walked across the room. He moved a picture to reveal a safe. A few seconds later and he removed a black box and handed it to her. “I should’ve tossed them weeks ago. Why do you want them?”

She clutched them under her arm and answered, “Just a little project I was working on. Nothing you’d be interested in.”

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