Page 84 of Until We Burn
“That.” I point at it. “I want that.”
Kai’s eyes widen. “Don’t they have furnished shelves for you at the Fairmont?”
“They’re not made of bamboo.”
“It’s a nice shelf, but I don’t have room for that in the car, Di.”
“Then we’ll get you another car.”
“You can’t do that,” Kai protests.
“Why not?” I huff.
“Because I have a good connection with my Hyundai Elantra, and I don’t want to cheat on him by getting a new car.”
“Then we will get a jet.”
“Fine. We’ll buy two and fly them to Mellonbaum’s class when we’re running late.”
“Kai, don’t be ridiculous.” I scowl.
“I don’t think I’m the one being ridiculous here.” Kai catches the attention of a worker with shopping baskets. “Hey, can I get one of those? Thanks.”
They drop a few on the floor by his feet. Kai nestles the books into the baskets before he focuses back on me.
“Look, Di, I’ve seen you stalk your brother and your business partner through a live stream at seven in the morning, so this level of crazy doesn’t faze me in the slightest. But I know there’s something wrong here. What’s the matter?”
My lip trembles behind my mask. I wrap my arms around myself. The panic I’ve been stifling swarms back up. “I don’t know what to do, Kai.”
“About what?”
“Abouteverything!The tech company I reached out to for help in clearing my name hasn’t gotten back to me. If I don’t get their help in fourteen days, I’m going to look insane and desperate to the board by claiming I have evidence to prove myself.”
“Hey, hey…” Kai grips my arms and steadies me in place. “There’s probably a good reason why they’re taking this long to get back to you.”
“Yes. They believe the lies and they don’t want to help me.” I blink. Tears drop and streak down my mask. “I should’ve done more to prove I didn’t do it.”
“You told me your dad threatened to take you out of the succession plan if you did that. Your hands were tied, Di.”
“But if I had just foughtharder?—”
“Then your dad would’ve made sure you couldn’t fight at all.”
My mouth clamps shut. He’s right. Bàba always did what he could to remind us that he wields the most power in the family. That’s why he hasn’t cut me off from his money. It’s the same subtle message he sends to Uncle Frederik:Because of me, you can buy your books and stay at the Fairmont. You need me. Without me, you would have nothing.
Kai searches my face, desperation and anger ravaging his own.
“Come here.”
He crushes me into a hug. I cry into his chest, frustration and fear overwhelming me until I can hardly catch my breath.
“I-I’m so sorry, Kai. I’m…I’m such a mess. This wasn’t part of the stress relief service I ordered.”
“It’s okay.” His cheek rests atop my head, as his hand rubs up and down my back. “The Mason-Maiau stress relief service lets you add extras to your cart after checkout.”
A broken laugh bubbles out of me. I blink up at him. The tears go still enough for me to see Kai in all of his quiet strength, and I’ve never felt more safe.
Suddenly, my phone vibrates with a call. I fish it out of my bag. My smile drops when I see it’s bàba’s secretary calling.
