Page 29 of The Lion's Reluctant Mate

“Nonsense.It’s great to have another woman in the family.We are the true leaders,” Scarlet said, beckoning her closer to the table.“Would you like some coffee?”

Alice nodded.

“Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself, Alice?”Bea asked.

Alice’s stomach knotted at the unexpected question.Her innards squeezed painfully as her mind aimed to find something to say.She was once more saved by Scarlet.

“Would you like some milk or sugar?”

“Both, please,” she said eagerly.

Bea and Ariadna both laughed.

“You must really need that java.Where are you from?What do you do?How long have you known Axel?”

Alice blanched.

“I’m from, em, New York, born and raised in the suburbs,” she managed to say.

Thick and oppressive silence crept around her as she didn’t offer any more information.What was she supposed to say?Was it her turn to ask questions?Weren’t they being too inquisitive?Alice’s knot tripled in size, becoming almost unbearable.Her heart pounded frantically.

“I’m not very good at small talk,” she blurted.

“Sometimes all you need is a bit of practice,” Scarlet said, handing her a steaming mug.

“That’s what my therapist says,” she mumbled.

Ariadna laughed.

“Scarlet is a therapist.”

“Oh.”Alice glanced at the woman, who winked at her.Was that why she was being so helpful?Did she realize her struggle?

“Let’s take it one step at a time.We don’t need to know everything right now.”

Alice took a sip of her coffee.She let out a long sigh.These women were just trying to be friendly.She recalled her own therapist’s words.You can’t assume everyone is out to get you, Alice.

“I work in finance right now, for PAM,” she said.

“Oh,” Bea said.Abruptly, she hastily began to fold the papers which had been strewn on the table.One of them slipped to the floor and Alice bent to pick it up.Her brow wrinkled as she recognized the image.

“Wait,” she said.“I know this office.It’s my boss’s office.”

“What?”all three women exclaimed in unison.

Scarlet carefully plucked the photograph from her hands.“Alice, has Axel told you what else we do here?”she asked, caution lacing her words.

“No,” Alice replied quietly, a sense of foreboding prickling her scalp unpleasantly.

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