Page 58 of Altius
He made even fewer personal phone calls than I did.
Muttering quiet curses, Cal retreated to the window in the far corner and answered, talking in grunts and monosyllables.
Not wanting to draw attention to my friend or leave myself vulnerable to inane small talk, I retrieved my coat and bag, heading for the staircase that would take me to the lobby and out of the building.
A text from my assistant arrived.
The head of the gymnastics program was willing to meet with me to discuss PheroPass—in thirty minutes.
Calculating how long it would take me to get to the other side of campus, I lengthened my stride.
As I turned the corner, I found Morgan waiting at the top of the stairs, jaw tilted upward, issuing a silent challenge as I approached, a polished yet intimidating presence with perfect posture. A few lesser beings steered clear of her.
My reaction was the exact opposite.
I wanted to blanket her with my dominance. To bend her to my will. For her iron spine to lose resistance to my way of thinking. A mindless, base impulse that lost its appeal upon second thought.
Forcing Morgan into submission would dampen her inner fire.
It was far better to witness her brandish her claws and fight, to continue her winning streak. I’d yet to see her concede so much as a single point to anything other than her health.
A strange thrill unfurled within me, deepening my appreciation for Morgan into something less cerebral. It was more immediate and provocative, almost tactile. Closer to what my logical mind would consider attraction. Actual physical attraction.
What a peculiar, distracting idea that was.
Morgan’s head tilted back as I closed the gap between us, her angular beauty exuding determination, hand fixed on the strap of her work bag, but her stance suggested she was open to my approach.
An intriguing duality, so at odds with her usual demeanor during our interactions, as if she were leaving the decision to move from colleagues to something more intimate in my hands.
But why?
“Can I walk you to your car?” she asked.
I glanced down at her tailored dress pants and black suede heels. Entirely unsuitable for an excursion to a snowy parking lot.
For such an intelligent woman, she took perverse delight in unnecessary exposure to the elements.
“To the door will suffice.” I gestured for her to follow me down the stairs. “And I’m in a rush.”
Morgan adjusted her pace so that we took them side by side. “I just wanted to follow up. You should’ve received an important email.”
“If you need research materials, contact my assistant.”
“No, it’s—” A group of business casual office drones approached, causing her words to dry up.
“Your weekly report? I’ll review it when I have time,” I said, increasing my pace, cutting between her and the passersby. “But it won’t be for a few days.”
She hurried to catch up to me.
“I understand you’re busy, but this…” The tendons in her neck tensed, and she gripped the bag strap tighter. “It’s incredibly time sensitive.”
“For you.” As we reached the bottom step, my phone vibrated in my bag. It was a text message from Alijah asking if I was still in the building. “I have other priorities.”
She came to an abrupt halt, causing me to take a few accidental steps away from her.
I turned back, only to find Morgan’s aura had hardened, far more guarded than before, no longer receptive to me.
As if I’d failed a test.
