Chapter 13

Conrad's POV

"Man, I don't know you to get shaken by the little tricks of some idiot. I need your vibes next time." Ward's voice blares in the already empty hall.

He must have noticed how I behaved throughout the event. I tried to get my mind off the shit, but I couldn't.

Ward's promise to find out who sent the message is enough to ease my nerves, to an extent, but the thought of crushing whoever sent it still tugs aggressively at the corner of my chest.

I finally drop the almost empty glass of whiskey and turn to him. "Sounds more like a warning." I reply with a slight raise of my brow.

He chuckles. "I wouldn't dare, but whatever translation you give it..." He nods dramatically. "Then that's that." He shrugs, and I can't stop myself from scoffing.

I know exactly what he means. I've lost my vibes; I'm completely shaken. Conrad Beaumont would rather slap the asses of ladies than get shaken by a mere message from someone who chose to hide their identity, but the fact that Diane is caught in the middle of it all concerns me more than my own situation.

I don't know who's playing this stupid trick, but I don't want Diane involved, not even in the slightest way.

I snap my head to the other side. Diane is already standing, ready to leave. I return my gaze to the glass of whiskey, grab it once more, and gulp down the whole content.

I stand sharply, then glance at Ward. "I'm off." I tell him. He stands almost immediately, his lips pressing into a thin smirk.

"You're not leaving me here, dude. I've got to..."

I place my hand on his shoulder, so tight that I can feel the bone beneath my palm, and a slight groan tears through his lips.

"You're not dragging slots with my secretary, got that?" I mutter gruffly, my gaze fixed on Diane.

Ward whimpers before sighing. "She's just a secretary and..."

"You're just a lawyer. One snap of my finger and I'll have you replaced." I cut in with a cold glare.

Ward's eyes widen for a fraction, lips slowly parting. I smirk, excited by the reaction I get from him.

Well, Ward of all people should know who I am.

Ward stares at Diane, then back at me. "You're being cold." He hisses.

I tap his shoulder, this time gently. "Be a good guy, Ward." I give him a brief smile that disappears as if it was never there.

He rolls his eyes, then dips his hands in his pockets. "You'll need me." I hear him mutter under his breath.

I'll need him. In fact, I always have. Apart from being my best friend, he's my lawyer, so I do need him, work-related or otherwise. But right now, I have no business with him, so instead of responding to his yabbing, I waltz toward Diane, who gives me a smile that doesn't reach the corners of her eyes.

She looks so worn out and tired, and seeing her like that makes my heart clench.

She bows her head. "Get home safely, sir. I'll be heading home first." She mutters, her voice exhausted.

Without another word, she turns and starts heading out. My throat itches to call her, my fingers curling and uncurling.

God.

I want to tell her to stop. I want to grab her wrist and pull her back. I want to tell her how dangerous it is out there, and most importantly, I want to drop her off.

Why is it so difficult to call her back? Why is my heart thudding so loud in my chest?

Conrad Beaumont...

"Diane..."

Fuck.

My voice is low. Way too low, and I hate how it sounds. She halts but doesn't turn, as if she's waiting to hear her name a second time. Maybe a confirmation that I truly called her. And I do.

I call her, the second time.

Not because I want to boss her around or anything, but because I care. I don't know why, but I do.

She swivels around. "Did I forget to handle another..."

"It's not that, Diane." I cut her off, taking steps toward her. "It's late already. You won't be able to get a cab by this time, and considering the message you received, it's dangerous to go home alone." I gulp, then sweep back my hair with my fingers.

She stares at me, confusion etching across her face.

I sigh. "I'll drop you off."

And then it happens. She stifles a laugh, making my eyes snap wide. Not in shock, not in fear, but in utter confusion.

She... wants to laugh?

She stops, waves her fingers in the air, then peeks behind me to talk to Ward directly instead of acknowledging me.

"You shouldn't have allowed him to take too much alcohol. Now he doesn't even know what he's saying."

Wait... What?

Ward steps closer. "I tried to stop him, but he kept..."

My bones crack and my skull ticks like a timing bomb. I'm going to crush Ward. If Diane is clueless, he shouldn't be too.

He must notice how I'm staring at him because he instantly rephrases. "No... I mean he's not drunk. It's actually very difficult for him to get drunk, and besides, he's just genuinely concerned about you."

There's a pause. The smile on her face disappears, leaving me wondering if what Ward said mended the situation or worsened it.

She crosses her arms and tilts her head like she's the boss and we're her minions.

"I understand you might be worried, sir. But I'll find my way home without getting into any danger, and I promise to swim across a shattered bridge just to be at work tomorrow." She gives a smile. A mean, mocking smile.

I exhale, wiping my eyes with my fingers. "Can you listen to me as your boss? It's late already and I'm offering to..."

"I decline." She quickly cuts in with a smile.

That smile again.

"Diane..."

"You're my boss, fine, but that doesn't mean you get to force me into your car. I make decisions for myself too, and trust me, I won't get into your car. I'll take a cab and get home safely." She deadpans stubbornly.

Why is she this stubborn? Has she always been like this?

I nod.

I think I understand why she's acting this way. She thinks I might want to shove my dick into her pussy and fuck her after dropping her at her place.

I chuckle. "I'm dropping Ward off too. It's all the same direction and..."

Ward's jaw drops as he stares at me, his entire expression screaming, dude, you said I can't drag slots with your secretary, what the hell is this?

I stare back, nudging him to chirp in with anything.

He's right. I need him, and right now I still do. He smirks at me, then turns to Diane.

"Yes, he'll be dropping me off too after dropping you off, so instead of boarding a cab when we're all heading in the same direction, why don't you just hop in? He's Conrad Beaumont. Not a freak that feeds on human heads." He says with a smile, the kind that makes me want to pull out his teeth.

Diane grunts, then glances at Ward. "Fine!!" She snaps like someone left with no other option.

"Let's get in." She says, leaving with Ward toward the car while I stand completely shocked.

Is he really dragging slots with my secretary? However, just as Diane is about to enter the passenger seat after Ward pulls open the door, I do something unexpected, making their eyes widen.