Page 71 of Bullied Forced Omega
I have my team searching every inch of code that makes up this program, but I’m doing the same. It’s not their fault. It’s mine.
Glancing at my phone, I see it’s almost eight, dinner time has come and gone, and I didn’t even realize it. Again.
Most nights this week have gone this way. I think part of me knows how late it is and doesn’t care. I only want to go home after Jace has gone to sleep so that I don’t have to face him and the line of questions he has for me.
I turn my phone face down on the desk, so I don’t have to see the time, and turn my attention back to my computer.
The door of my office bursts open, and my heart leaps into my throat.
“Jace!” I blurt out, horrified.
“Why are you still here, Mira?” he snaps.
“I’m…I’m working,” I say defensively.
“You can’t do this to yourself. You need to eat, sleep, and rest. You need to spend time with me and talk to me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were avoiding me. You leave before I wake up, and you're home after I go to bed. I’m sick of it!” he huffs.
“Jace…” I stammer, standing up to face him. He looks furious. I don’t blame him for being angry at me. He has every right.
“No, Mira, don’tJaceme. Just tell me why you’re never home. Why you haven’t spoken to me in days,” he demands.
“Because this is all my fault!” I blurt out, fighting tears. “Because I have to fix this so that you don’t end up hating me for it!”
He takes a step back and looks shocked.
“Hate you? What in the world are you talking about, Mira?” he mutters.
“I’m the reason the pack is divided, and you’re fighting with the elders. I’m the reason you’re so stressed. I have to comein early and leave late because I have to find a way to fix this, Jace,” I say miserably, waiting for him to agree with me.
Jace shakes his head, his face traced with hurt. The expression confuses me.
“Is that what you think of me?” he asks quietly.
“What…what do you mean?” I whisper.
“You think so low of me that you expect me to just agree with that? To say, yes, I think this is your fault? Mira, I would never let you take the blame for this!” he says.
“You …wouldn’t?” I stammer, confused.
He scoffs, annoyed. “I have ever faith in your capabilities. I have full faith in you as my mate, my wife, and the head of the security systems for this pack. In every single way, no matter what, I am on your side, Mira. I always will be. How can you not know that?”
“Because I messed up,” I murmur.
“Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t, but I won’t sit there and point fingers. We are a team. Through everything. Do you understand?”
I nod slowly, shocked by his insistence. Floored by how committed he is to supporting me.
Jace steps forward and pulls me into his arms. He hugs me and I melt against him, relieved beyond words. “I never want to disappoint you,” I whisper quietly.
“And you never could, Mira. You’re brilliant. Smart. Beautiful. Whatever the problem is, you will figure it out, and if you let me help you, we can figure it out even quicker.”
I nod, sighing softly and stepping back.
“Now tell me what you need me to do,” he demands.
“Firstly, we need dinner. Then, you can help me go through a million lines of code?” I grin.
“Done and done. What do you want? I’ll go grab us something,” he says.
