Page 56 of Til Death
Things at home had loosened. After learning the truth about what was going on with Xylina, I lowered my guard with her and tried to be less defensive. Normally Xylina would be in and out of the house, but the past week she’d been locked indoors, either in the back by the pool or in her room. Sometimes, when I was in the living room going over paperwork, she would sit next to me with her Switch. She didn’t say much, but I noticed the way she would straighten the papers I had scattered around the coffee table.
My birthday was a week away and I was trying to get the developmental stage of our next project finished by then.
I was preparing to leave when Xylina came down the steps with Princess. I was confused to see her dressed in a pink tweed cropped long sleeved blazer with a matching mini skirt. This was the first time in a week she’d been in something that wasn’t loungewear.
“Oh good! I didn’t miss you.” Her heels clicked when she got to the bottom of the steps.
“What’s up?” I raised a brow and gave her another once over.
“Me and Princess are going to the office with you today.”
I was taken back by her words. “What? Says who?”
“Says me! If I keep sitting in this house alone, I’m just going to get more depressed. Also your assistant or whoever is still gone, right? I can help. If your actual office looks anything like your home office, it needs some TLC.”
I thought about it. Xylina was beneficial when it came to keeping organization around the house. In the week she’d been locked in the house, she had taken it upon herself to reorganize the kitchen. She found her way into my office, doing the same, and I was sure those weren’t the only rooms.
My secretary was great at helping me at the office, but if Xylina needed something to help keep her occupied, then so be it.
“Fine. Just don’t get in the way.”
Xylina grinned widely. “Of course not, hubby.”
I shook my head, hoping I wouldn’t regret this. I could count on one hand how many times she had been to my office.
“You’re bringing Princess too?”
“Yes! She’s my emotional support dog.” Her chin lifted as she sashayed past me.
Pushing a deep breath out, I shook my head, already feeling like I was going to regret this.
Blue Shield Innovative first started as a cyber security company that I eventually transitioned into something bigger. The next field I was ready to tackle was home security and Wi-Fi. With everything becoming smart eligible, it only made sense for that to be the next step in the company’s growth. First starting with residential, my company quickly started gaining commercial business, becoming one of the top techfirms in the nation. By the time I was forty, I planned to have a monopoly on the tech world.
My morning had been spent in meetings, working with the development team and meeting with my lawyer. The patent for my newest product had finally gotten approved which only put us a step forward in our newest launch.
My stomach grumbled by the time I made it back to my office. Outside of a bagel this morning, I hadn’t eaten. If I was hungry, then I was sure Xylina was too.
I nodded at Iris. “Any calls for me?”
“No, sir. Although…” Her voice trailed off and she glanced toward my closed door.
My body tensed. “What happened?”
“Nothing to be worried about, well… I don’t think. She’s just been blasting music the whole time you’ve been gone. When I tried to ask her to turn it down, she ignored me. Your office was in disarray as well when I peeked inside.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I nodded and thanked Iris before walking to my office door. I could hear the music Iris mentioned before I even reached the door. Inhaling a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
I expected my office to look like a tornado hit it, by the way Iris was talking, but it was the complete opposite.
For one, Xylina was curled up on the couch inside with Princess laying in front of it. Both sleeping peacefully.
I went over to the speaker on my desk and pressed pause to stop the music. Next I walked to the couch. For a second, I didn’t move. I just studied her. She looked to be at peace, breathing slowly, her lips slightly parted. She had taken off the blazer and rested in a black tank top. Her phone gripped tightly in her hand.
Kneeling, I gently shook her and called out. “Xylina, wake up.”
She groaned and muttered before slowly fluttering her eyes open. “Yosiah?” she breathed softly. Covering her mouth, she released a yawn. “Did I fall asleep?”
Moving out of the way, I allowed her to sit up and stretch. “I was about to order something to eat. Are you hungry?”
