My brow furrowed. I reached for him.
He slapped my hand away.
“Will you just leave us alone?”
I was about to lose my temper when Jenna interrupted.
“Ms. Rhimes, everyone has the right to choose. Beastmen included.”
him that comfort.
13:36 Mon, Aug 4
She stepped in front of Silas, a brave, defiant shield.
“Silas loves me, not you. You can’t force him.”
A very noble speech.
Except I was the one paying for all of it.
Including the salary of the professional beastman handler who was now lecturing me on beastman rights.
It seemed the handler wasn’t doing her job properly.
And a poorly performing employee gets replaced.
I pulled out my phone and transferred Jenna her final month’s salary.
“Pack your things and leave. Don’t come back.”
The words had barely left my mouth when Silas shot up, grabbing Jenna’s hand and glaring at me.
“I only want Jenna.”
Buoyed by his support, Jenna’s voice grew louder. The thirty–thousand–dollar transfer notification on her phone seemed to fuel her indignation.
“Ms. Rhimes, I took excellent care of Silas! He adores me. On what grounds are you firing me?”
A humorless laugh escaped my lips, sharp and bitter.
I wanted to cancel the transfer and file a formal complaint with her agency.
I raised an eyebrow.
“On the grounds that it’s my money, and I decide who I employ.”
I looked at Silas. He did look well–cared–for. But his affection was a closed circuit, flowing only to
Jenna.
I was funding their love story.
It was infuriating.
I told Jenna to hurry up and pack.
She stood her ground, a pillar of righteous defiance. “I’m not leaving. I need to be here to take care of Silas.”
She then turned to look at him, her gaze dripping with devotion.
13:36 Mon, Aug 4
What in the world?
D
X
I stared in disbelief.
“This is my house! You are a terminated employee. I have every right to demand you leave. And Silas, you let her go. I’ll hire a new handler for you.”
Silas shook his head, his emotions flaring. “No! I only want Jenna!”
He lunged forward, trying to grab me.
Jenna, seeing things escalate, quickly soothed him, stroking his ears.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
Silas visibly relaxed, then turned his defiant gaze back to me.
“Calla Rhimes, Jenna and I will never be separated. You are not allowed to fire her.”
He ate my food, lived in my house, used my money, and was now giving me orders.
Clearly, I needed a new handler. One who was stricter. One who could actually control a beastman.
Jenna refused to leave. v
