Logan Chapter 71

-Logan-

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this rested. Even with Emory tossing and worrying all night, her presence in my bed just felt so incredibly right. I have mostly just odds and ends to catch up on today, but I feel like I have nothing that I can’t handle. Emory took a little extra time today getting her battle face on, and the difference in the energy I get from her is like night and day. I still feel protective of her, of course, but walking into my office almost feels like the climax of a superhero movie- walking in sync, slow motion, the breeze in her hair, ready to kick some ass. I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like when she settles into her role as Luna. Will it feel like this all the time?

I have to put thoughts of my mate on the back burner as Anna and I shut ourselves into my office. I guess Emory didn’t feel like sitting in on our strategy meeting for the day. I get comfortable behind my desk while I think through how I’m going to play this confrontation. Emory didn’t want me to tell Anna that I noticed they weren’t getting along, so I have to make it seem like my requests to play nicely are out of the blue.

“Alright, Anna. What does the day look like?” I make frank eye contact with her until she looks down at her tablet.

“Well, sir, the department heads have actually been enjoying the greater freedoms that came with delegating some responsibilities, so I mostly have progress reports for you. Finance had a question on the Perrison file, and Design caught wind that Emory has been with you the past few days and would like to know what you want to do with her job. Other than that, your schedule hasn’t really filled back in yet from your absence.” Perfect opening.

“Great, thanks Anna. Leave the Perrison file here and I’ll review it once we’re done talking. The problem with Emory is that she can’t work safely except for on this floor. You know we have higher security measures up here and, with the article out, there have been some threats against her.” She’s a part of my pack now, so that’s technically even true. I take a deep breath before moving on. “I feel bad about springing a high profile relationship on her, especially now that she’s struggling with how she’s going to have a normal life from here on out. See if I can get her manager on the phone and do some problem solving on possibly working from up here or remotely. Send for her supplies at her desk downstairs and apologize to her manager that we weren’t able to alert her to the situation. There have been bigger considerations in the works. Got it?”

Anna’s trying to hide her ire from me, but I can see her jaw clenching on top of being able to smell it. She’s always been so professional that it’s hard to imagine what could have brought this on. Surely she’s met women I’ve been involved with before? No way could I have kept her as an assistant if she was attracted to me, so it’s not a case of jealousy.

She takes a deep breath before she replies. “Of course, sir. Anything else?” No jokes today, I suppose.

“Is something wrong, Anna? I know being out for a month made your life a lot more difficult, and I truly am sorry for that, but there were some uncontrollable circumstances to be dealt with. I’ll find a way to manage if you need to take a week or two of vacation to rest and recover.” Here’s her chance to air out the issue.

“Nothing is wrong, sir. I might have to take you up on that vacation time, though. Are the guys going to come in person often, from here on out? That was… different from how you usually do things.” Does she have a problem with one of the guys? I wonder if she and James had some kind of altercation that has them both acting weird now. Perhaps her problem with Emory isn’t about Emory at all?

“I might until they get to know Emory a little better. It won’t be often, though. All of their lives are just as busy as mine. Why do you ask?” She’s… flustered? This isn’t like Anna at all. Where did my unflappable assistant go? She’s thoroughly flapped.

“No reason, just curiosity. I’ll get in touch with Emory’s manager right away, sir. Here’s that file.” Efficient as always, Anna hands me a paper copy of the file to match the one she emailed me right before she walked in. I put it front and center on my desk so I can take care of it before I get to all the minutiae of owning a corporation.

“Excellent, thank you, Anna.” I look down at the file, dismissing her. It looks like I only have about a half day of work here, which will be helpful for catching up with the pack today as well. I’ll be able to set my office hours a little longer than usual. I bet there will be a lot of pack members that come just to get a look at their new Luna.

After a boring few hours of paperwork and a lively meeting with my head of CFO, I round up Emory and we make our way back home. The drive is much easier at 2 PM than it usually is at rush hour, but that only puts a glaring spotlight on the beat up car following us. It’s clearly someone inexperienced, as they’re following too closely and the car is a bright, memorable, teal mixed with rust. I’m no expert at spotting a tail, but even I felt the driver’s eyes boring through our windows. Silverson loses them easily enough, just like he’s been trained to do.

I set my office hours to start at 3:30 this afternoon so I can look at anything the Elders felt needs my attention beforehand. Usually, I only have five to ten people to talk to during these open door times, so I anticipated 15 at the most due to Emory’s presence. Clearly, I’m stunned to find more than thirty people waiting impatiently in line when I check before opening the door.

“Well, little rose, I thought we were a pack of wolves, but we might actually be a flock of chattering magpies. All of these nosy people must be here for you. Are you ready to meet them? They seem pretty excited.” I expect to see Emory take a deep breath and put her armor back on, but I don’t. I suppose I should have downplayed my surprise, because I see the color flee her face and the anxiety replaces the calm notes in her scent. Damn.