Whisper in the Shadows

reap the punishment

Mr. Bogdan looked up before I even walked into the room. He narrowed his eyes when he saw it was me. I slammed the door shut behind me and stalked over to him trying to appear strong, and praying he didn't see the bloodshot eyes caused by the tear stains on my cheeks.

"Mihaela, what's the-", he started but I cut him off.

"Mr. Bogdan, why the hell is your new hire obsessed with me, I was basically manhandled the last hour, and forced to accompany him to a lunch I didn't want to go to. I will absolutely not stand for this kind of behavior." I told him sternly and quickly.

All of a sudden he burst out laughing, "Mihaela, I'm sorry, but he told me you were the most beautiful piece of art he'd ever seen, but I didn't think he would actually pursue you since you are now his boss", he said, almost needing to wipe the tears from his eyes.

I just stared. Did he really think it was ok? "Mr. Bogdan, I'm going to have bruises from how hard he grabbed me, and he referred to me as his future wife. I don't think that's respectable behavior out of an associate at this firm, don't you agree?", I said, clearly upset as my voice cracked as I spoke.

He got serious all of a sudden, "Miss Erikson, I am a majority of the shareholders in this firm, and Mr. Costel will be staying on the staff as he is a major asset. He is a werewolf, he is big and clumsy, and doesn't notice his boundaries like...most people. I will speak to him, but from now on please knock when you enter my office. I respect you enough to have you on this floor with me, don't make me regret it", he finished, looking back to whatever he was working on, as if dismissing me.

I walked back to my office shaking. Was he really taking up for Geri? Rumen would have never allowed anyone at his company to treat another employee like that. Especially not me. Now that I was sure he was a werewolf, it made me even more confused, Mr. Bogdan hated humans and werewolves unless it involved him making money. Why would he take up for one and brush my feelings aside? Oh. Right. I'm a woman. A woman who owned 25% of shares in this law firms profits. Our conversation proved just how much he was interested in profits and not mentoring me as a partner.

I needed Rumen to continue mentoring me, but he was taken from me. He was supposed to be here to show me all of this. My heart pounded in my chest for his loss. Was it too soon to come back to work?

I finally sat down in my chair and started taking deep calming breath, trying to clear my mind.

Then I got to thinking about the photos on the Voror Website. Mr. Bogdan demanded I ignore Miles, but laughed about Geri? It didn't make sense. I wish Miles hadn't brushed me off like he did, I really had some questions for him now, but with no way to contact him. Plus, our last interaction was devastating. I covered my eyes thinking about him touching me the way he did, just to disappear. -Sigh- I stood back up, walking over to my door and dead bolted it. I text Layla and told her I needed her to walk me to my car this afternoon, and I would talk to her then. I pushed the last two hours out of my mind and got back to work, wrapping up unfinished task and never ending past due to do lists.

-

For the next couple weeks, I arrived to work early, always at different times, and made sure my office door was locked at all times. I had Layla keeping an eye out for Geri and when he left, so I would be safe to leave. I stopped driving and instead had a car bring me so he wouldn't know if I was still at work or not. I felt odd. Here I was, the daughter of Rumen Erikson, and was terrified of an employee. I dove headfirst into work, and that is all that consumed my life. I slowly started getting more comfortable, and figured Mr. Bogdan spoke to Geri and laid down rules. I no longer saw him stalking in the shadows like a hidden whisper. I started driving back to work, and leaving my door unlocked. Things were back to normal.