Trident Kings

Chapter 7

She was silent in the elevator and the men cast glances at one another, she was withdrawn into herself and they didn't like it. They wanted their fiery girl back. They could tell her mind was racing and could recognize her tell tale signs of her anxiety building. She was nibbling on her bottom lip and she was twisting the bottom of her shirt around her fingers. She shifted from one foot to the other and then the other. They hadn't seen this side of her since she first became their assistant.

"Sit," Jason commanded gently as they led her back to her desk. Gabriel walked around behind her and shut down her computer. She looked at them confused, "You need to collect yourself, take all the time you need. If you want to talk we're here," Jason said as John placed her food on her desk. They headed to Gabriel's office and left the door open.

They started eating and would occasionally look up to see her fidgeting around. The desk phone started ringing and they noticed a look of relief come across her face. "Don't even think about it Luv," Jason said coming over to her desk. He picked up the phone and started talking. After a couple of minutes he hung up the phone. He smirked at her confusion. "Come on Luv, let's go talk."

She shook her head, "It's not appropriate, you're my bosses."

"Sweetheart, you've had to deal with all our flings," John said coming over to them. "Just talk to us."

"Can I see the contract?" Jason asked.

"I'd rather not," She shook her head.

"Ok," He nodded in understanding. She looked up at him in shock, "What?" he asked in confusion.

"You are normally so pushy," She said honestly. "Once you set your mind to something you push until you reach your goal."

"In business, yes," He nodded. "But this is your personal business and I respect you. You said no so I will respect that."

"You're strange you know that?" She frowned up at him causing him to chuckle.

"You still have a lot to learn about us Mi Amor," Gabriel smirked. "Now will you please eat?"

"I have no appetite," She shook her head. "I'm sorry you wasted your money."

"It's fine," Gabriel said softly. "Just grab one of your new books and read for a little bit. I'm not comfortable with you leaving right now. One of us will take you home, I didn't like the look he gave us when we interrupted your argument. I won't risk it."

She opened her mouth to protest but seeing their looks she sighed in defeat, "Yes Sir."

"Good girl," John smiled when she looked up at him in shock. "I just want to say we are proud of you for respecting yourself and ending whatever is going on with him when you realized he wasn't treating you like the queen you are."

She looked down at her hands and started twisting her fingers again. Jason knelt down and took her hands in his, "What is it Luv?" he asked gently.

"Nothing," She whispered as she blinked back tears.

Jason gently placed his fingers under her chin and slowly tilted her head up to face him, "What is it Luv? Talk to us, please?"

She took a deep breath and shakingly let it out slowly. "I've been trying to get him to end it for over a year, Sirs," she whispered.

"Que?" Gabriel asked in shock.

"The necklace you no longer wear was his collar?" John asked and she gasped in shock. "Sweetheart, we recognize everything about you, we just didn't know it was a collar, it's not a typical one."

"I didn't want a typical one," She whispered.

"Of course you wouldn't," Jason chuckled then went back to being serious. "Be honest with us," he commanded and she nodded. "The bruises weren't just from you being your clumsy self?" She shook her head and they growled in frustration. "Why didn't you come to us, Luv?"

She scoffed and withdrew her hands. She stood and started pacing as the room felt like it was closing in on her. "Seriously? What the hell was I suppose to say? Sorry Sirs but I can't come in today even though I know you have serious meetings on expanding your business and I'm the only one who knows where everything is in the damn building? Sorry I can't be there to take notes on meetings even though I know you depend on me to notice the little details that you don't notice on whether someone is serious about something or just lying. Sorry I can't come in because yet again watching you spend what little free time you have on someone that doesn't deserve you and is only using you making me sick to my stomach and I can't fathom how you can treat yourselves like that knowing they are just using you. Sorry I'm not what you expect me to be all the time! Sorry the girl you depend on and have multiple times over and over isn't always so strong!" She started gasping and clutching her shirt. She slid to the floor as everything started to spin around her.

"Oh Mi Amor," Gabriel said taking a step to her and she shook her head.

"Don't touch me," She gasped and he stepped back. "Please don't touch me please."

"No one is going to touch you Mi Amor," Gabriel said holding his hands up. "Please try and breathe. Look at me Diana." She locked eyes with him, "good girl Diana look at my chest, copy my breathing."

She tried and after a little bit she had managed to get herself under control. "Oh my god," She wiped at her face. "So embarrassing. I have to leave."

"No," They said in unison.

"You are going to go wash up," John commanded softly, "then go to my office and spend the rest of the day reading your books and relaxing."

She nodded and slowly got up and headed to the bathroom. While she was getting herself under control they grabbed her things and took them to the office. She came into the office and sat in his chair.

"If you need anything we'll be in the other offices," Jason said and she nodded. "Just relax for today, we'll handle everything later, don't worry about it right now."

She nodded and Gabriel smirked, "Get lost in your stories Mi Amor, everything will be okay."

She glared at the nickname and they chuckled, there was their girl getting her spirit back a little bit. She grabbed one of her books and opened it. After a few hours she shut the book then glanced down. Her food was gone and she glared, "They tricked me those assholes."