Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions Chapter 112

My Monday morning feels like it was both longer and shorter than usual. My office is quiet now, save for the occasional hum of the city far below and the occasional ring of an office phone outside my office door. I lean back in my chair, my fingers pressing against the cool, polished surface of my desk. It’s been a productive day thus far, more than I expected it would be. I’ve checked off more items on my daily to-do list than I had the whole of last week. But there’s a frustration that sits like a heavy stone in my chest, an irritability I can’t quite seem to shake.

I’m used to being in control and getting things done without letting anything get in my way. But now, something is missing. And I know exactly what it is. Her. Harley.

In the last 36 hours, I’ve become accustomed to her presence, her voice, the way she’s able to pull me out of my mind and make everything seem a little more...manageable. Today, though, the space around me feels emptier than usual, and the silence in the room is deafening in comparison to the hum of her energy that surrounded me most of the past weekend. It gnaws at me, and no matter how many reports I get through or how many decisions I make, it doesn’t seem to fill the hole she’s left behind.

Just after 2 p.m., Griffin steps into my office, interrupting my thoughts. His ever-casual stride is noticeable even in the quiet of my office, and then he takes a seat in one of the guest chairs across from me. He looks at me briefly, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I can tell he’s holding back a grin. I know him too well.

“You’re looking much more productive today, boss,” he remarks with a slight smugness that has me narrowing my eyes at him.

I don’t answer him, merely giving him a slight nod. He knows I’ve been busier than usual today; he’s not my Executive Assistant for the shits and giggles of it. He probably has a running tally of everything I’ve managed to accomplish today in the back of his mind or on the tablet that’s constantly glued to his hand.

"Today’s Heads of Department meeting at 4 p.m. is still a go," Griffin says, looking up at me briefly before turning his attention back to said tablet. "Also, the report from the lab is expected in by the end of the day. They’re saying it’s the final draft, so you’ll be able to sign off on it once you’ve gone through it again."

I let out a quiet breath, rubbing my temples. "Good. Make sure we have everything ready for the meeting later," I reply, my tone clipped. "And I want the final draft of the report on my desk first thing tomorrow morning; no further delays will be tolerated."

Griffin nods as he taps out notes on the screen, then smirks before adding with a teasing glint in his eye, "And don’t forget the annual bonus review’s coming up. Your people are looking for their usual bump, but I think you owe me a little extra this year. After all, I have to put up with you on a daily basis, which is a pretty hefty burden, if you ask me."

I glance over at him, my lips twitching into the smallest of grins. "If you're not careful, Griffin, you might find yourself on the brink of being fired."

Griffin chuckles. "Come on, Thane. You wouldn't dare. I'm the only reason your empire still runs so smoothly. My bonus better reflect that, or I might just take my talents elsewhere."

I shake my head at him, rolling my eyes. "You're lucky you're irreplaceable."

Griffin raises an eyebrow. "And here I thought you kept me around for my sparkling personality."

When a notification tone sounds from my laptop indicating an incoming email, I’m only able to snort at him as I lean forward to open the new message.

But then, just as I reach paragraph two of the correspondence from my legal team, Griffin casually pipes up with a piece of information I wasn’t expecting. “Also, I had lunch with Harley today.”

And just like that, everything inside me freezes.

I look up from my laptop screen, forcing myself to meet his eyes. Griffin, with his usual nonchalance, doesn’t seem to notice the way my stomach drops or the way my pulse spikes.

“You...had lunch with her?” I hear myself ask, and my voice is low and tinged with something I can’t quite identify. Jealousy? Irritation? Maybe both?

Griffin raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this a little too much. “Yeah. I took her some lunch at the bookstore, and we had a nice little chat.”

I know his words are harmless. And I know he’s simply sharing an update. But the green monster stirs in me all the same. I don’t like it. The thought that Griffin, of all people, got to spend time with her when I didn’t—that gnaws at me more than it should. I try to shake it off, but it lingers, my unfounded jealousy thickening in the air between us.

“Did she talk about me?” I hear myself asking suddenly, before I can stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth.

I curse under my breath, but Griffin’s smirk widens. He knows *exactly* what he’s doing. *Prick*. He then leans back in his chair, obviously entertained by my discomfort.

“Of course she did. Couldn’t stop talking about the flowers you sent her this morning.” His grin turns into something more playful. “That was a nice touch, bossman.”

I freeze at his words. The mention of the flowers, those damn flowers, something I’ve never done before, makes my chest swell with pride—a feeling I rarely allow myself to experience. The thought of her, standing there in that bookstore with her eyes soft as she admires what I gave her? It hits me in a way that makes my own heart beat faster.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I eventually reply, “It’s the least I could do.”

Griffin tilts his head, watching me closely. “So, what’s next? How do you plan on showing her you’re more than just a guy who sends flowers?”

His question lands like a weight in my chest. How do I show her? I *want* to show her. But...how? How do I get past the walls I’ve built up around myself? How do I open up to her when it’s all so new and terrifying?

Locking eyes with Griffin, and almost against my better judgment, I ask, “What would you suggest I do?”

Griffin’s lips tip up in a soft smile, but there’s a knowing look in his eyes. “Thane...you’ve got to be vulnerable with her. Let her in. Show her that you’re willing to be more than the stoic vampire king who rules his empire with an iron fist. Give her something *real*.”

I don’t say anything at first. His words sit heavy in the air between us, like an unspoken truth I’ve been avoiding. I don’t know how to be real with anyone, let alone Harley, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. But Griffin’s advice hits too close to home.

I want more. I want her to know how much she means to me. I just don’t know how to do that. Not yet, at least.

Griffin’s tone softens, as if he understands what I’m going through, when he adds, “You’ll figure it out. You just have to trust her. But most importantly, you need to trust yourself, too.”

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words settle inside me. It’s not going to be easy. But I *want* to try. I want to fight for this. For us.

And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep her close.