Page 35 of Twisted Fate

She actually smiles. “Yes.”

“Okay.” I’m not surprised, but her response makes the dread in my chest weigh heavier.

“Now let’s go.” She pushes open one of the doors Tristan and I passed on our way in, and I follow her inside, letting the door close behind us. “I have meetings back to back until this afternoon. You can either stay here and do photocopying, or you can sit in on the meetings. I don’t care.”

I try to hide my shock that she’s giving me the option. “I’ll sit in on the meetings.” I pull out a notebook and pen from my bag.

“Fine.” She gives me a once over. “Let’s go.”

I spend the entire morning and most of the afternoon in meetings, scribbling notes as fast as I can with one fifteen minute break for lunch. Skylar leads a lot of the meetings, standing at the head of the long table. I keep my head down, my hair curtaining most of my face while I try to keep up from my spot at the far end of the table. I estimate at least half of the attendees are fae, several looking less than pleased to see me sitting with them.

I’m still writing a few things about social media marketing as the room empties.

“I’m surprised your hand still works.”

My pen stops moving, and I look over at Skylar. “You gave valuable information,” I say. “I want to remember it.”

She blinks at me, then opens the folder in her hand and drops some papers in front of me. “Don’t waste your time writing everything. Listen to what everyone is saying. Next time, I want you to offer an idea, comment, or opinion. Got it?”

“I . . . okay.” I flick a glance at the paper. She’s given me her meeting notes.

“See you next week, human,” Skylar says.

“Yeah. Thanks for—”

“Don’t,” she cuts in on her way out the door.

“Right,” I mumble to the empty room.

Leaning back in the chair, I sigh, tossing my notebook and pen onto the table. My eyes close, and I rest my head against the chair back for a couple of minutes.

When I open my eyes, I find Tristan leaning in the doorway with a faint grin, and my cheeks flare with heat.

“Long day?” he asks, pushing off the wall to walk into the room.

“Yes. Not that I expected anything less.”

He perches on the edge of the table a few feet away from me. “Did you learn anything?”

“Yes,” I repeat.

He nods. “My job is done.”

I laugh. “Yourjob? You didn’t do anything.”

“Are you disappointed you didn’t get to spend the day with me, Aurora?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh man, was I that obvious?” I shoot back.

He chuckles, tilting his head to the side.

“You’re being creepy,” I say. “Speaking of, why was Max at my place?”

His back stiffens. “I wasn’t aware that he had been. When was this?”

“While I was home for the weekend.”

His mouth is set in a tight line. “I’ll deal with it.”

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