Tyrith

My heartbeat pounded in my temples. I peeked at Odessa to check if she heard it. Her silence forced me to return my attention to the elevator doors. A ding sounded and the doors opened. I blew out a long breath. The bodyguard from the previous day greeted us with a scrutinizing look. I swore these alphas needed some manners.

I brushed past him and down the hall. Voices traveled to us.

Jaxon’s grunt floated in the air. “Stop treating him like a child. He’s an adult. If you spoil him anymore, he’ll get out of control.”

“Jaxon is just jealous,” a masculine voice teased.

Axel’s voice came alive. “You two, stop that. I’m at work.” The tenderness in his tone reminded me of a parent.

“Then, tell him to get lost,” Jaxon whined. I chuckled at the sound. Jaxon often came across as a stringent child. To hear him whine came as a shock. “First, he stays at your place, eats your shit, uses your stuff, and now he shows up at your work unannounced. I’m going to call dad.”

The small group of men came into view. The young man next to Jaxon threw himself down in the chair. “It’s not my fault dad is stuck in the Middle Ages. My parents are the only ones that think being a model is a hobby.”

“What does that have to do with Axel?” Jaxon asked. “You’re getting paid, aren’t you? Rent your own place.”

Axel sighed, rubbing his temples. “Guys, stop. Jaxon, Maxwell can stay with me until mom and dad calm down.”

“But---”

“No buts. End of discussion.”

The young man stuck out his tongue at Jaxon. The alpha scoffed and pushed away the guy’s face. It was a pity I could not see their faces. Their backs revealed nothing. 

The guard cleared his throat. All three men turned to us. Axel shot from his chair. Jaxon straightened. The young man observed us, not bothering to care.

“Thanks for coming, Mr. Keiser,” Axel strolled up to us. “Miss. Miry.” Odessa nodded. “Mr. Benedict is in a meeting with the congressman. You can have a seat. He’ll be with you shortly.” He guided us to the long sofa in the corner. 

Jaxon disappeared with the young man. Those two looked more like brothers than Axel and Jaxon. I guessed the young man was the youngest brother out of the three men. It had been a while since I saw him. I doubted he remembered me. 

I fixed my tie. “Can you excuse me? I would like to visit the restroom.”

“Yes.” Axel pointed to our right. “You can find it through that door.”

I followed his instructions and located two doors. One marked female while the other male. I entered the respective room and locked myself in one of the cubicles. The fresh air helped drown my anxiety.

I closed my eyes, hoping to get this deal over and done with. The next six months were not going to go in my favor. Lucian hated me far more than I disliked him. His demands were going to be out of this world. It would be a miracle to last six months around that psychopath. Regardless, I could not do anything. This was my fate. I had to endure it. Things would be easier if he demanded sex. It would be one night or day and done.

Fuck!

It was okay, Tyrith. I could manage this. It was Lucian. There was nothing he could do to me that I had not gone through already. I---

“…You should leave.” Jaxon’s agitated voice bounced into the bathroom. The bathroom door slammed. “You’re fucking twenty-three-year. Old enough to live on your own. If dad wants you to get a ‘real’ job, then you do it or move out. Simple. That’s what they sent you to college for. Stop using Axel as a buffer.” His pheromones grew more aggressive with each word.

I covered my nose.

“Me? Why would I be using Axel?” The same young man from before. The younger brother Maxwell. Despite Jaxon’s hostile tone, he maintained a chirpy tone. “My big bro is helping me out. Why would I refuse it? At least, I’m not the psycho following my older brother like some lovesick puppy. You do realize he doesn’t need your protection, don’t you?”

“Shut the fuck up, you little shit!”

“Oh, did I hurt poor Jaxon’s feelings? Grow some balls and stay out of my business.”

Jaxon’s cackle pierced through the air. “Your business. In case you lost a couple brain screws, I am your older brother. Your business is my business. Or do you want me to tell Axel you bought a nightclub? What about that apartment building on---”

“You bastard! Have you been digging into my shit.”

“Move out.”

Silence and pheromones filled the air. Black dots blurred my vision. I pressed my hand against my nose.

“Fine,” Maxwell let out. “I guess you would not mind if I told Axel you’ve been spending your nights in a hotel. I wonder what he will find when he goes there looking for you. It’s quite shocking to hear about your double life. The things omegas talk about you. You have some bizarre taste in the bedroom. Will Axel be disappointed? His poor younger brother being an escort for fun. That’s…”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Are you? I am just saying anything is possible. Stop hogging Axel like he’s only your brother.”

More silence.

“Fine,” Jaxon gave in. “But this stays between us. If this gets out, I could lose my job. You know how unforgiving Lucian can be. That asshole gets on my nerves all the time. He might take it out on Axel. And Axel worships that jerk.”

Huh? I should have known Jaxon hated Lucian. He saw everyone around Axel as the enemy. 

“Your secret’s safe with me, big brother. Can I assume you’ll keep mine?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I should have known you would have dug up dirt on me. You were always a sly bastard. Just make sure you report back to me about Axel’s home life.”

The aggressive pheromones petered out. I held in my cough. Any longer and I would have passed out.

“Are you going to pay me?”

“Pay my ass. Isn’t he your brother? That’s the only pay you need.”

Maxwell hissed. “You are no fun. Sometimes I wonder if we are related. I wouldn’t be surprised if mom said she picked you up at the hospital.”

“Ha! The last time I checked, I was the only one who looked like dad. If anything, you are the one they adopted.”

“Whatever. I look like gramps. Handsome and awesome.”

Jaxon laughed. This time there was no hostility. Pure genuineness. “Keep dreaming, kid.”

“Hey, I am…” Maxwell’s statement faded as they exited the bathroom.

I sighed in relief and slumped on the toilet. Axel’s brothers were far stronger than I remembered. Back in college, Maxwell was a small tat. Now, his pheromones were overwhelming enough to make me want to puke. As expected from two dominant Alphas. Axel must be proud. As long as he never found out what they did behind his back.

I never pegged Jaxon to be the escort type. One should never judge a book by the cover. Things like these made me glad Kara was no longer here. I would be pissed if she turned into an escort for fun or indulged in any activity she shouldn’t.

When my legs resumed working, I left the cubicle, washed my face, and joined Odessa. Axel brightened at the sight of me and dragged me with him in into Lucian’s office. The congressman remained in the room. I got comfortable in the seat across from Lucian’s. Ryder made no attempts to leave.

I began, grateful for the company. “I read the contract and found no flaws.”

“No questions?” Ryder arched an orange brow.

“No, no questions.”

“Then, let’s sign,” Lucian saved me from another one of Ryder’s questions. He was the first to scribble his signature on the paper. I copied him. My anxiety intensified at the sight of my signature on the paper. I signed away my rights. This was selling my soul to the devil.

Axel returned and collected the document. “I’ll get you a copy of the signed document.” He retreated. Ryder chuckled and trailed him. My soul cried out for him to stay. He never stayed, though.

I fidgeted in the chair. Lucian returned his gaze to the computer screen. The screen reflected in his gold irises. His peach-colored lips tightened, adding to his grim expression. They must be tired of the same expression every day. I bet they didn’t know how to stretch into a smile. It was a pity such good looks were wasted on such a man.

I exhaled through my lips. “Is there anything else? Do you have any command for me today?”

Lucian eyed me through thick lashes. “Excuse me?”

“We signed the contract. We are both busy, so make a command. Ask me to do something.” I did not have the time to sit here and stare at him. Sick people needed my help. Mayor duties awaited me. I did not have time to waste.

“And what do you think I should ask you?”

I shifted. “I don’t know. Anything.”

“You said that before.” Lucian ignored his monitor and gave me his full attention. “I am sure there must be something specific that you thought I would want.”

I clasped my hands. “Sex.”