Page 59 of Submitting to Them
The Bistro is just around the corner from where I’m standing, so I amble over there and get a table outside.This is a place I’d never have dreamed coming to, three months ago—it’s way out of my price range.The sun is pleasantly warm, but the tables are shaded by a vine-covered pergola.Lattice threaded with more grapevines separates the tables so diners have a semblance of privacy.I love it immediately.
When I sit down, Kingston texts that he’s setting up the bodyguard situation, and he wants to make sure I’m not going anywhere alone in the meantime.
I’m meeting Bash for lunch,I text.I’m staying in a public area.
I can imagine Kingston’s concerned scowl as his response pops up.Please be careful.
I will, I say.
I want to tell him and Sebastian that they’re overreacting.But after last Saturday…nope.
After ordering a lemonade, I settle into my seat and open up the book app on my phone to read while I wait for Sebastian.
A male voice comes from the table behind me.I can’t see the guy because we’re separated by the vine-covered lattice.But a sinking sensation of dread fills my gut.The voice is familiar and I have a visceral, uncomfortable reaction to it.A woman responds to the man’s words, and then he speaks again, and I place the voice—Joel.
“The staff are getting suspicious,” he says.
“Fire them,” the woman says.“Bring in new ones, or don’t.I don’t care.”
“We can’t keep doing this…he’s not going to hire me back.”
Holy crap.My mind is whirling.Are they talking about Kingston, and Tyler Analytics?Are they up to something?I’m already holding my phone because I was reading, so I click over to the voice recording app and hitStart.
I missed some of what they said, but they’re still talking.
The woman says, “He must be feeling the pressure by now.Your position isn’t being covered.There was the cyber attack.There’s simply too much work for one man to do.”
Joel’s response is unintelligible, but maybe my phone will pick it up better than my ears.
“Then again, he is the most stubborn son of a bitch I ever met,” the woman says.“Your grandmother even said so.”
“Well, I don’t know how long we can keep doing this for,” Joel says.
“However long we need to.”
A server carrying a tray walks past my table and toward theirs.The conversation comes to an abrupt halt while they accept their drinks.
I throw some cash on the table for my lemonade and hurry away, making sure to keep the lattice screen between Joel’s table and me.
As soon as I’m safely beyond the restaurant, I text Sebastian.Meet me at Kingston’s instead.I need to talk to you guys about Joel.
Kingston
For once, I’m home before Ella is.It’s the middle of the day, on a Friday, but I’ve been working such long hours, including the weekends, that I don’t feel guilty in the slightest.
It’s been a long time since I had a spare moment to myself, even to exercise, so I throw on some swim trunks and go out to the balcony.There, I swim laps back and forth, enjoying the stretch and pull of my muscles and the perfect temperature and sunlight.
After a while, the sound of someone’s voice breaks my concentration.
“Yo, King,” Sebastian says from the side of the pool.
Ella’s standing next to him.
“Hey,” I say, “do you two want to join me?”
Ella shakes her head.“We need to talk.”
It sounds ominous, although she doesn’t look upset with me…I don’t think.Fuck, I wouldn’t blame her if she was.I’ve been a dick, never around as much as I should be, allowing my best friend to carry most of the responsibility of keeping our relationship going.I mean, he certainly doesn’t fucking mind, but I should be just as present and available for our little girl.
