Page 142 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
I set the pen down and wipe my cheeks. “I’m not signing these.”
“But—”
“I’m not obligated to accept these terms, and I’m not in the headspace to be accepting a severance agreement right now. You can send this to my lawyer.”
Not that I have one. I wonder if Jackson would?—
I cut that thought off immediately. That’s not an option.
The chair squeaks against the floor as I push back and stand. “I’ll go get my things.”
Mark moves to join me, but I give him my most withering glare. “I’ve worked here for five years and never once caused an issue. At least give me the dignity of walking out of here without making a scene.”
His jaw clenches as he gives me an assessing look. His laziness wins out, because he nods. “You have fifteen minutes. Then security will come and collect you.”
“They won’t need to,” I bite back.
There’s no way I’m staying here any longer than necessary. If I didn’t need to grab my purse, I wouldn’t even bother gathering anything from my desk.
I’m done. With Lauren out of the office, there’s nothing left for me here. I was an idiot to believe there was ever a chance things wouldn’t end this way.
45
After I turnedin the resignation letter I hastily drafted after the pack meeting, all the weight of these past few weeks lifted from my shoulders. Mark was a little miffed by my sudden decision, but said he’d pass it on to the higher ups.
The relief of getting that over with is accompanied by delayed hunger from skipping lunch, so I go grab some food while I’m waiting for Camille’s meeting to be done.
It’s still driving me crazy waiting to see her, but now it’s because of excitement, not dread.
I can’t wait to tell her. I can’t wait to start our life together in earnest.
My steps feel lighter as I return from the bodega with a sandwich in hand, striding through the ground floor lobby toward the bank of elevators. I can still feel the ghost of Ambrose and Jackson’s reassuring hugs as we parted from our emergency pack meeting, bolstering me as I press the button to call the elevator.
I’ve done my best to shut off my new bond with Camillesince she didn’t give me permission to access her emotions, but it’s difficult to not check in on her.
As soon as she’s available to talk, I’ll take her into my office and explain that I’m all in. Apologize for the misunderstanding about bonding her, and assure her I’d never have done it if I knew she didn’t actually consent. Beg for her forgiveness and promise to do everything in my power to prove I can be a good bonded packmate to her.
Determination swells within me as I ride the elevator up to our floor. The doors slide open, and my heart skips a beat when I see the woman in question standing on the other side.
“Camille!” I say her name far too loud in my enthusiasm and surprise at seeing her.
Her face pales, and she takes a small step back. A moment passes before I register her puffy eyes and the box in her arms.
I blink at her in confusion. “What’s going on?”
Her throat works, and she shakes her head at me, unable to speak. She turns away like she’s changed her mind about getting on the elevator, but a tall beta standing behind her gives her a stern look and gestures toward the open doors.
“Goddammit,” she mutters, stepping inside at his prompting.
Camille doesn’t look at me, keeping her eyes trained on the buttons as she presses the one for the lobby.
“Camille, what’s going on? What happened?” I ask as the elevator doors slide shut again.
I put together the pieces of what I’m seeing before me. The box in her arms has an assortment of stationary, papers, and trinkets.
She was fired.
Shit, is it because of the bite? Did someone see my mark on her and connect the dots? Did they hear us in my office and report us?
