East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

"You expect me to believe that you've changed your perspective?"

"Yes. I don't know what it's going to take to prove it to you. My point is that I'm willing to try. You were right; Denning and I were a powder keg, and I was harboring resentment. I put that and my feelings toward him before work, and I shouldn't have. It was a lapse in judgment, and it won't happen again."

He frowned, watching me closely. "I have to tell you, Nyla, I'm surprised that you're even here. I never expected you to say any of these things."

"Well, I have had some time to reflect, and it has changed my perspective."

"Yes, I'll bet it has." He nodded steadily as he leaned back against the conference table. "And your relationship with East Hale?"

I blinked rapidly to suppress any lingering feelings. "It's over. A passing dalliance. I know what's important now. I should have regarded Agent Sinclair's concerns with more seriousness. I'd ask a few things upon my return though. One, that I'd be allowed back on my team and on my old cases, even if it’s a provisional status. I’d like to be given an opportunity to show what I can do without being under the auspices of Agent Sinclair. Maybe if there was a buffer between us, or if there is another team available, perhaps financial crime?" I would rather die than move to financial crime, but I was there to humble myself and get my fucking job back, because who was I if not an agent? And also, it was what I needed to do to move things forward with Theroux and the London Lords.

Are you going to do everything Theroux tells you to do? 

That was a very, very good question. And the answer worried me. But I wasn’t about to do anything illegal. Before I met East Hale, the idea of even having a gray area made my blood run cold. But I was learning to walk in the gray now, because sometimes, one needed to be in those kinds of situations in order to get to the good side of things. "Nyla, this might not be a good idea. Maybe now is the time for you to explore another career."

"I don't want another career, Dad. I want this one. I've worked hard for this. It’s the one I made happen with blood, sweat, and tears. I don’t want anything else."

"Just because you want it, doesn't mean it’s the best thing for you."

"I know, I know. And I have a lot to make up for. If you want, put me on probation. I will prove to you I can do this."

And in a matter of time, I'll bring in Theroux, and you will have no choice but to see me. 

He frowned. "You want your job back? You want to be off the desk? In the field?"

"Yes." I wasn't sure what he was trying to get at.

"Fine, then you will have to exhibit that you’re up to the challenge and show me that you really mean this. You only need to do two things."

"Okay." I would do whatever it took because I was going to make this happen.

"One, you report to Amelia. She'll be your supervising agent."

My heart squeezed. But it was Amelia. There was a time when she’d been my best friend. I didn't give a shit who I reported to. She was good at her job. Things might be awkward for a bit, but we’d figure it out. "Okay. And the other thing?"

"Amelia now reports directly to Denning. She will manage your daily ins and outs and interactions, but you are still on Denning's team, which means that you need to apologize directly to him."

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me. You will need to apologize to Denning."

“I—” I swallowed.

 “I know I didn't stutter.”

"Of course, you didn't stutter. No... You're actually right. I just need to figure out a way to do that."

"It's really simple. You let him know that you have no plans to cause problems again, and that you're here to work. None of your outside life becomes a distraction."

I didn’t really have any choice. After all, I was backed in a corner. "Fine, I'll do it."

My father's gaze on mine was steady. "Do it now."

There was no arguing with him. After all, I'd come to get my job back, and I needed to do this. If he wanted me to apologize to Denning, I'd fucking apologize to Denning. I could play nice, do what I was supposed to do. “Fine, where is he?”

It was as if Dad was waiting for me to balk, to refuse at the last moment. But I kept my cool. "I believe he's in his office. So, what do you say? If you can do this, you can have your job back."

Goddamn it, I could do this. I had to do this. "All right, lead the way."

Again, the halls felt familiar. They felt like home, and at the same time, they weren't. It was like an alien had completely taken over my space. It should bring me comfort, but it didn't. We found Denning in his office as my father had said. We knocked, and my father went in first. Denning looked happy to see him. He looked significantly less happy when he saw that I was trailing behind my father. "What the hell is she doing here?"

Dad, ever the politician, smiled at him. "Well, Denning, my daughter would like to say something to you."

What, now? With him watching? Ugh, God. I immediately hated Francois Theroux. I hated him with the fire of a thousand suns for subjecting me to this moment.

Nothing lasts forever. 

That was true. Besides, who gave a shit? Denning Sinclair wanted me to crawl and lick his boot. But soon enough, I would have the collar of a lifetime. And what would he have?

I took a deep breath. "Hello, Denning."

Denning just glowered at me. "Again, with all due respect sir, what the fuck is she doing here?"

That