Page 72 of Ellie 1

“I am pleased to hear that,” she cut in. “What can I do to help?”

“Something is up, Mum. She’s pushing for me to clear her a path and—something is up. I need to know what. Why is she—ASH was never her dream. She thought it was overhyped and basically a monopoly on healthcare.”

“So why show up right after you get your dream job and push for her own position?” Mum muttered. “I will get you answers as soon as I can. Tell Ms. Reed the truth and let her protect you from that snake.”

“I told her, but I can protect myself, Mum,” I chuckled.

Yeah, I didn’t blame her when she seemed less than convinced. I’d let Mandy do a lot of damage to me that I still carried.

But I’d been blinded by puppy love and her cheerful personality after how I was raised with my siblings. I wasn’t that boy anymore.

I saw her as a snake too.

I thanked Mum and got back to work, texting Dr. Tai in between appointments that I was going to take care of Ellie and asked if she had any ideas. She wouldn’t tell me over text but demanded that I stop by when I had a break instead of dumplings.

Okay then. I wasn’t sure why I needed to come to her.

“What do you have planned?” she asked. “Set the stage for me and I can help.”

Okay, that made more sense and was fair.

“I promised her a soak and to not push her,” I admitted. “I figured I’d order some bath bombs and wine? She liked the wine my mum put in my fridge and I have more.”

Tai nodded. “She likes those clay masks. She doesn’t like to admit it or spend the money, but she loved the one I use and gave her. I’ll text you it.”

“Thanks.” Yeah, that would help, but it wasn’t really what I’d been looking for.

“Also skip the wine and get her brownie edibles.” She nodded when I did a double take. “Not often, but that’s her jam.”

I was honestly shocked. I didn’t see Ellie as someone into pot. I didn’t judge. I was a shifter and we—pretty much every shifter had their medical marijuana card. We were two people and personalities at times in one body. Yeah, we needed pot now and again.

I liked the chill edibles for workouts because my wolf could get too hopped up and demand to come out. Our metabolisms were so fast that they lasted an hour normally and then were fully out of my system. Maybe two if I doubled something or smoked directly.

Which I planned on exploring more now that I had a nice balcony and my mum not coming around as often. I loved her, but she was a bit judgy on that.

“Any place you recommend? I only ducked into one place fast to get a feel. I keep getting it from London still until I can try what’s here.”

“Stronger shit than you’re used to from what I hear so be careful,” she said with a chuckle. “Yeah, I’ll text you the place Ellie likes and the brownies. She doesn’t have a high tolerance since it’s rare, but—she needs it today.” She looked to her right in the direction of where Ellie’s office was even if a few buildings away. “Yeah, needs it today for sure.”

I wouldn’t disagree.

She also told me the place where Ellie splurged on sushi, what rolls to get, and the array of appetizers she loved from there. It wasn’t a Japanese place but Asian, so it had a lot of everything which made for a long appetizers list instead of a more specialized Chinese restaurant.

I had a bunch of the stuff delivered to the hospital, even some flowers that could be nice for her or used in the bath. Then I went out and picked up the rest. I got a little lost in the dispensary since I could buy more than in London and there was lots I wanted to try. But I did get the brownies Tai told me to get plus a new version with caramel and marshmallow.

Yes. Please.

I texted her that I was picking up her favorites and where I was going… And I expected her to be waiting at my condo for spoiling. So no working late today. One day she could put herself first.

After a bit of pushing, she agreed when I told her the bath bombs I’d gotten. So apparently, the promise of relaxing truly was the way to her heart.

I wasn’t worried about cleaning the tub or any of that. Mum had done that with a cleaning team, and they’d promised that the tub with jets was like brand-new they ran it so many times to clean it. I believed them.

I’d used it a few times already since I loved soaks with jets as well.

I happened to catch her pulling into the condo’s garage right before me which made me smile that she would treat me well when I was trying. I caught up to her by the elevator and lifted the bags. “Dinner and the funny brownies Tai told me that you liked.”

“This is exactly what I needed,” she groaned as she took the food bags. “Yes,yes. Nummy time.”

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