Page 29 of Secretly Mated To My Monster Alien Boss
Darcy’s brows rose, disappearing underneath her perfect bangs. “It depends on how much data I need to sift through.”
“The last two weeks. Check if anyone has accessed or replaced the files I’ve sent to the security team.”
“You mean for the party? Kiara, what’s going–” Darcy closed her mouth as Kiara gave her a pointed look. No discussing near the guests, Deruzia said. “I can get some raw data in an hour.Ifan anomaly exists.”
“Let’s pray it doesn’t.”
Darcy parted with a solemn nod, heading straight for the elevators that would carry her to the research lab in just a few seconds. For the first time since exiting her office, Kiara could finally breathe easy.
Darcy would find something if there was any issue to be found. Deryg would sort it out and make sure the party was safe.
There was no more Kiara could do until Darcy came back–apart from keeping averyclose eye on the guests.
She leaned against the same marble banister Darcy had been warming up to adjust the strap of her sandals; these shoes were beautiful, but they’d been designed for someone who moved at a snail’s pace.
That was probably one of the worst decisions Kiara had made this week. Standing still meant people could find her–and found she was.
“Kiara, darling,” Carol’s grating voice echoed around her.
Kiara flinched, scanning the crowd once more, but with dread this time. She smelled Carol’s sickly expensive perfume before she saw her.
The woman knew how to make an entrance. She floated down the stairs in a cloud of red chiffon and long bleached hair. Her skin glowed, but not as much as the jewels she’d draped on every inch of exposed skin, from her neck, her ears, and fingers.
Kiara stood like a deer caught in the headlights as Carol beamed an unnaturally white smile at her and hugged her shoulders far enough that they didn’t have to actually touch. It was enough for her perfume to catch on Kiara’s dress, though.
Carol kissed the air next to Kiara’s ears. “I learned this way of greeting from my dear European friend, the count Fernando Rossi. Isn’t it absolutely delightfully ridiculous? But he insisted on doing it every time he invited us over for dinner at his villa, and I just picked it up. It adds a bit of a refined air when meeting people, don’t you think?”
Kiara inwardly sighed, already thinking of an excuse to vanish into the crowd again. “It’s good to see you, Carol. You haven’t changed.”
Carol beamed again. “But you have, darling. Let me take a look at you, I would have hardly recognized you.”
Doubtful, since they’d seen each other a few years ago. Which only meant she was taking a dig at Kiara’s weight; she’d become way too accustomed to this codified language her mom used so expertly when they had company.
Two more very polite replies, and then Kiara would get as far away from her as possible. She had more important issues to deal with right now. It wasn’t as if Carol would rave about the party to Kiara’s mom if a huge protest started right next to the entree table. Or whatever devious plan had led to doctoring her invite list.
“I hope you’re enjoying the event,” Kiara said, as sickly sweet as the perfume making her eyes water.
“Oh, yes, it’s an absolute blast. Matty’s enjoying being out in society.” Carol turned and blew a kiss to a spindly man old enough to be her father, who kept scowling at everything, from his glass of bourbon to the decorative plants. Who hated roses so intensely?
This was what Kiara’s mom was envious of? This glitzy facade? Sure, Carol had more of an old Hollywood opulent aura around her, while her mom was all cashmere and perfectly pressed shirts, proper and chaste luxury, but still.
“I’m glad none of the rumors affected your company,” Carol said. “Only fools believe them, anyway.”
Fools did. Richard Dyson, the former CEO of Archam TechandDarcys’ ex-boyfriend, used all his contacts to try and smear Alien Inc.’s image, just like his reputation had been after people had found out he’d stolen most of his tech ideas. Including from Darcy, the bastard.
In the last few months, Kiara had been hounded by calls from questionable media sources, and protests erupted every other week, condemning thealien invaders.
“Alien Inc. is strong,” Kiara said. She’d make sure it stayed that way.
“I must say, I’m very surprised by the grand scale of this event,” Carol went on, completely oblivious to the thoughts swirling in Kiara’s mind. “Your mother is always talking about your small parties, but this isn’t small at all.”
Screw politeness. “What?”
“Oh, no, I just mean your mother made it sound like you handled smaller, flashier events, it’s all. But I’m really impressed.” Carol sent that megawatt smile in Kiara’s direction, but it did nothing to lighten the mood. “And everyone needs a bit of flash now and then. I know I do.”
What Kiara did not need was the knowledge that her mom didn’t just badmouth her profession to her face. She could deal with that; she hated it, but she’d gotten used to it.
But belittling her job in front of other people? Her momhatedCarol, but she’d still decided to minimize Kiara’s work in front of her. No family loyalty, no motherly support, no nothing.
