Page 29 of Bria and the Tiger

“Your two o’clock appointment cancelled. Rhonda wants to know if you can meet with her at ten to go over her commission for the Warrant house sale, and,” she plucked an envelope from the pile of folders in her arms and handed it to him, “this is for you.”

He studied his name written on the front in Rosalie’s neat handwriting. “What is it?”

She didn’t reply. She looked tired and the skin under her eyes was puffy like she’d spent the night crying. When she tried to walk away, he touched her arm. “Rosalie, wait.”

She turned and stared at him. “What is it?”

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“What’s in the envelope?” Why did he have such a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He glanced briefly at Bria. She looked like she was going to vomit as she stared at Rosalie.

Rosalie glanced at Bria before shrugging. “Whatever. I might as well just tell you. It’s my letter of resignation. I’m quitting.”

“What?” Panic flooded through him and he squeezed the envelope in one fist. “Rosie, you can’t quit.”

“I can, and I am.”

“No! Whatever’s wrong, we’ll fix it. Okay? Just tell me what’s wrong and -”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Her voice broke and he watched as tears dripped down her face. She wiped angrily at them. “I just – I can’t work here anymore.”

“Of course you can,” he said. “I can fix whatever’s wrong. I swear.”

“No, you can’t!”

He stepped back. Her usual low, calm voice was shrill with anxiety, and he didn’t think he’d ever seen her on the verge of losing her shit like this.

“Rosie, please, let’s just talk.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Please. You owe me at least that.”

She wiped at the tears still flowing down her cheeks. “Fine. Let’s talk.”

“In my office,” he said. “I’m just going to get a coffee and I’ll meet you in there. Okay? Do you want a coffee?”

“No, I don’t want a coffee.” She turned and stalked out of reception.

“Fuck,” Jace muttered. He stared at the envelope in his hand. “What the fuck is happening?”

“Jace?” Bria’s soft voice made him twitch. He’d forgotten she was there.

“What is it?”

“This is my fault.”

He stared at her. “How?”

“Yesterday we were having lunch and Lincoln came into the kitchen. I could smell Rosalie’s need for him and when he was gone, I…”

“You what?”

“I didn’t know that she didn’t know shifters could smell a person’s arousal,” Bria said in a tiny voice. “When she found out, she… she kind of lost it and went home.”

“Oh shit,” he said.

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