Deeper Healing

50| Two-Faced

Nikolai Coleman

I strode into my office with a deep sigh, loosening my necktie in frustration. "Have you heard from Leila?" I asked Carlos for the fifth time in the past half an hour, turning back to face him as he walked behind me, closing the door.

He shook his head. "No. I tried calling, but she's unreachable."

"It's been hours," I pointed out contemplatively, pacing up and down. "She should have called by now."

I was worried sick about her and I was beginning to lose my mind. What if things had gone horribly wrong and she wasn't okay? What if she was in danger, given there was some psycho hell-bent on making her life miserable?

Fuck.

I couldn't let anything happen to her. It'd hurt me worse than it'd hurt her, kill me even. The sooner I figured out where she was and how she was doing, the better.

Fuck it.

"I'm going to find her," I informed Carlos, marching towards the door.

I could hear Carlos' footsteps as he walked after me. I didn't mind him coming along. With the two of us looking for her, it could be quicker if we split parties.

I opened the door swiftly and stepped forward before freezing in place, my eyes connecting with Leilani's. I'd nearly bumped into her in a hurry and I was glad I hadn't otherwise, I would have hurt her.

"Leilani," I acknowledged her, a huge wave of relief washing over me so strongly I couldn't resist the urge to sigh. "I was about to go find you."

Something was wrong and just looking at her confirmed my worries. In the morning when she left, she'd been nervous and panicking, but those emotions had been diluted by anger and helplessness.

There were no tears in her eyes or signs that she'd been crying but I knew deep inside she had to be bleeding tears. Her eyes reflected unspoken pain.

"Hey," I cooed, following her eyes. "Did something happen? Are you okay?"

Of course, she wasn't okay and I could see it through her, but I needed to hear it from her and know how bad the situation was. Nothing couldn't be fixed. I was there for her and I'd make sure of it.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, walking further inside the office as Carlos closed the door.

I followed after Leilani and stood before her, framing her shoulders with my hands. "Leila, talk to me. What's wrong?" I implored.

She released a breath she'd probably been holding for long before looking directly into my eyes, her emotions highlighted in her trembling voice.

"I got promoted," she sighed.

That was supposed to be good news, something way better than what she was praying for, but given her tone, that wasn't what she wanted.

"You don't sound thrilled," I commented, confused by what her tone meant.

"I got promoted to fucking Hungary, Nik," she burst out, fuming. "It's no fucking promotion. They're intentionally throwing me away and I can't accept it. I resigned and I'm officially jobless for God knows how long!"

Her outcry made sense and I could feel the pain, disappointment and anger in her voice. She didn't deserve this.

"Come here," I murmured, sweeping her into my arms.

Leilani instantly threw herself into my arms like she'd been dying to do so, looping her arms around my neck and pressing her face into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her back, holding her close to me like my life depended on it. I didn't know what to say or how to say it because I knew what her job meant to her.