Page 38 of Claimed by the Alien Warrior Triad

13

OceanofPDF.com

Aubrey

Fourteen voicemails are unread on my phone. I only notice them because I glance at my iPhone for the time. Every available surface of my penthouse is now covered in news reports and printouts, and it’s only going to get worse when Jed sends me his information.

I rush back to the living room to read the second report I’ve uncovered, about three men grabbing a woman. I scan over the details, shaking my head as I realize it was a cartel related kidnapping. The tattoos were gang-affiliated, and not tribal. With a scowl, I grab the paper, crumple it into a ball, and toss it into the garbage – where it joins countless others.

Then I rush back into the kitchen, where I scan through page after page of conspiracy theory on infinite energy sources. None are useful.

The doorbell rings. For the strangest moment, I imagine Haleon, Brigg, and Stryker on the other side. Yet, they seem the type to kick the door down, not wait patiently on the other side. I press my eye to the peephole and my heart sinks.

It’s John Gold, the other founding partner of our firm. I realize I’m disheveled and haven’t showered in a couple days. I can’t let him see me like this.

I pause, hoping for a foolish moment he’ll simply leave.

“Aubrey, I know you’re in there. I saw your car in the garage.”

I could be out for a walk, couldn’t I? No, that wouldn’t matter. John’s relentless. It’s why I chose him to start a firm, right? He’ll just sit and wait in his car outside until he gets let inside – all night, if that’s what it takes.

“Give me a moment!” I yell, and rush to the bathroom – staring, wide-eyed, at my disheveled hair. I look like absolute garbage.

On the plus side, I’m pale and sickly, my face flush. I could pull off having the flu. I pull a housecoat around myself and walk back to the front door. I’m about to open it when I freeze.

Fuck. If I was sick, I would have told them and taken medical leave. John’s as smart as a whip. He’ll see right through this.

I choose another angle and open the door.

John stares at the huge mass of papers that litter my apartment. He’s about to step in, but I move slightly to block him, and I put my hand up.

“What the hell is this? You’re a founding partner. You can’t just disappear! We’ve got the Lawson case on Friday, and we need you in the office!”

“I know. I know. Look, John, do you trust me?”

He pauses. I take offence.

I’ve been working harder than anyone else for years, and he’s getting nervous over a couple days off? Channel that.

“When I came to you to start this firm you were pushing fifty, and you stopped being hungry at forty. You were content. You would have stayed in your comfort zone, retired at sixty with a nice home and your nice wife, and regretted every next day for the rest of your life that you didn’t go for more.”

John bristles. “What does that have to do with you disappearing and leaving us to pick up the pieces?”

I still don’t let him in, blocking him with my body. His sharp, tailored suit is a direct contrast to my frizzy hair and terrycloth robe, which is pulled tight around yesterday’s clothes.

“Do you remember my obsession when we started the firm?”

He nods slowly.

That time of my life wasdark.I was haunted by the memories of the three Aurelians. I could feel the love and adoration coming from them even though I knew, logically, that they had to be a figment of my imagination.

I questioned everything, and instead of turning to self-harm to distract myself from the pain, I turned to work. I put my heart and soul into starting the new firm, and I didn’t sleep for an entire week, hopped up on Adderall and caffeine.

By the end of it, I looked about as good as I do today – and yet we had our first three clients.

“I’m inthatstate, John. I’ve found something that’s going to take our firm to the next level. I can’t talk about it yet, and for the short term, you’re going to have to pick up the slack. I can’t waste any more time, Ihaveto get back to work – and you have to go.”

John’s eyes light up with dollar signs. He mulls over my words, but I’ve found the right angle. He’s grown greedy, always wanting more.

---