Fen got up, stretching. “I’m hungry.” He pulled the enchanted blue-light glasses off his face, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He’d had enough for the security team, as well as himself, Breya, and Axl delivered to the office by courier. He'd done the appropriate magic, then had Axl pass them out to security all before ten in the morning. This meant that, provided they wore the glasses, they’d be able to see any spirits within their range of sight. That said, he’d decided to wear them constantly whenever they weren’t at the manor, or any one of his homes, but that wasn't all that difficult.
“It’s time for lunch.” Axl said from his office, going and standing in the doorway. “Want me to go grab it from the house? Cook will have it ready for us.”
“Sure.”
Axl went to the part of the room that was the longest, braced himself, then bolted at the far end of the room. His magic surge, and he disappeared. About five minutes later, there was a swift breeze, and then Axl reappeared, carrying a large basket.
He skidded to a stop, just before hitting the wall. It was always a near thing. It’s why they preferred to make the drive in, rather than just jumping straight into the office. Driving in also kept up appearances with the human world. “That’s a lot more than usual.”
“Rose always thinks Mercy should eat more.” Axl laughed.
“I’ll get her, we can eat in here.” Fen motioned at his office, which was pretty large. There was a small sitting area with a couch, two armchairs and a coffee table in front of his desk. He poked his head out, “It’s time for lunch. Axl went and got it from the house. Come eat with us.”
Mercy looked up, “Okay! I’m starving.” She took care to lock her computer, then turned to him and followed into his office. “Can I bring some snacks tomorrow?”
“Of course." Fen shut the door again so they'd all be able to chat in private. "I'll have the cook make some specifically for you and we can bring them with us tomorrow morning. There’s a fridge in the break room over there if anything needs to stay cold. You can also keep whatever you need at your desk, they’re enchanted so bugs and mice can’t get in them."
“Cool! Does food ever go missing from the break room?”
“I don’t know. I keep my snacks in my own office, since I have a mini-fridge in there.”
“Hmm.” Mercy frowned.
Fen sensed something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing. I’ll tell you later.” she muttered, shaking her head.
“Our offices are enchanted so everyone out there can’t hear what's being said in here, if that's what you’re worried about.” Axl spoke up.
“Are they? That’s good.” Mercy relaxed a little, and sat down on the sofa while Axl unpacked the basket.
Fen sat beside her. “What’s up?”
“Someone has sort of been causing problems. I don’t know if it’s been the same person both times, but it did cause issues.”
Axl took over, “Whoever it is scattered the mail she’d spent an hour sorting, and then after she’d re-sorted it all. Then, once I'd gotten her started working on turning those financial documents into templates, they went through and deleted the ones she’d already finished from the shared file. She had to start over.”
Alarm flickered through the fey king, followed immediately by a surge of anger. “Seriously?!” He asked, eyebrows shooting up.
“Yep.” Mercy sighed.
“I’ve made her a password protected file for us to work from.” Axl told him, then wrote down the password. “There. You might need to get into it too.”
“Thanks.” Fen memorized the word, then burned the paper with a burst of magic. “Mercy, you tell Axl and me if it continues to happen. I’ll tell Breya and security to keep an eye out for the saboteur.”
“I have a feeling they’ll realize that I’ve told you. It’s not like people don't know we’re friends. One of your graphic designers, Willow, came and introduced herself to me. She was very, very nice and pleasant to talk to, but she did know that we were friends already.”
“We’ve not tried to hide that." Fen shrugged, "Nor is it an issue, actually. We’re not related, so it’s not nepotism, and you are qualified for the job. It only requires a bachelor’s degree, and a couple of years experience in admin, which you have.” Fen had had Mercy send him her resume and an application, just to keep things on the up-and-up for HR.
Mercy shook her head, “My point is that they’ll probably realize that I’ve told you, given that we’re friends and I’m literally living at your house right now, and they’ll be very careful. That’s not to say I don't want extra eyes looking out for me. They’d be very much appreciated, actually.”
“It’ll make it harder for them, at the very least.” Axl said, “Maybe they’ll slip up somehow.”
“Hopefully they’ll have gotten it out of their system, and still stop.” Fen sighed.
“I’m not that lucky.” Mercy grimaced.
“Fair point.” he waved his hand languidly.
“Well, let’s not worry about it, we have a plan in action. We should eat.” Axl told them.
“Right. Yes, food. Rose sent us plenty.”
“Indian food!” Mercy giggled, surveying the feast laid out on the coffee table. “Please tell the cook I love her! I still haven’t met her yet.”
“I keep forgetting. We’ll make it happen.” Fen nodded.
They ate for a while in contented silence.
“You were worried that any food you bring in, specifically to keep in the break room, might get stolen, weren’t you?” Axl asked her.
“Yes. I'm sure whoever is doing this wouldn't be above stealing food." Mercy shrugged. "Or possibly doing something to or putting something into the food they know is mine."
“You can keep your snacks in here. There’s always room in the mini-fridge, and in the cabinet over there.” Fen offered, motioning at the front corner of the room, where there was also a coffee pot and a tea station. “Nobody will bother it in here.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. I have protective spells that prevent thievery. It’s not practical to put it over the entire office building, though, as it can cause problems because its interpretation of stealing is very black and white, given it’s a spell and not a conscious thing.”
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“I see. I don’t want to keep it in here if it’ll cause you any problems, what if you have a meeting?”
“I usually have my meetings in a conference room. If I do have one in here, it won’t be one that you can’t come into. And if it’s just me and Axl, we’ll just stop, let you get your snack, then pick back up.”
“Alright. Thanks, Fen.”
“No problem.”
-
“Alright, it’s quitting time, Mercy.” Fen said, coming out of his office.
I had noticed the other office workers beginning to pack their things, and some had already left.
“Okay.” I gathered my belongings, and followed him an Axl towards the elevator.
“We need to get you some more business clothes still, right?”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.”
“We’ll go eat dinner, then go get what you need. Will your cats be alright?”
“Yeah, I’ll text Rosie and ask her to love on them for a bit. I know they like her.”
“She’s fond of cats as well, so it won’t be any trouble!” Axl chuckled.
“And they’re very good kitties.” I smiled as I texted the housekeeper.
“They are.” Fen agreed. “What sounds good for dinner?"
“I’m not picky!” I shrugged.
“How about Japanese food?”
“Sounds good!”
“Do you care if I run home for dinner so I can eat with Rose? I’ll bring it back for Breya as well.” Axl asked.
“You know it’s fine, you don’t even have to ask.” Fen snorted.
“Well, I know you hate eating alone. But you’ll have Mercy with you this time.”
That made me sad, to hear that Fen hated eating alone. I hated eating alone as well, so I totally understood. It was good Axl was his best friend and his bodyguard, so it wasn’t weird to have him around, but it was probably nice for Axl to be able to eat with his wife more often, since I could keep Fen company, and vice versa, at meal times.
“Yeah.” Fen shot a smile at me. “I’m glad you’re here.
“Me too!”
We disembarked the elevator, and hurried to the car.
“Which Japanese place do you want to go to?” Axl asked Fen, looking at him through the rear-view mirror.
“Go to the hole-in-the-wall one on 3rd Street.”
“That one is good.’
“You’re welcome to join us, if you’ve changed your mind.”
“No, I’ll go home and see my Rose.”
“It’s not far from the store I want to take Mercy to, so we’ll just walk, and Breya can keep tabs.”
“Alright.” Axl nodded.
“I’ll just get Mercy home myself, so you can stay at the house and relax for a bit.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m more than capable.” Fen smiled slightly, “And I bet we can find a secluded place to make the jump, but if push comes to shove, I’ll just text you to come get us in the car.”
“Breya couldn't pick us up?”
“She’s usually on a motorcycle, so we wouldn't all fit.” Fen replied. “The cars are convenient because they let us get a little ways out from the city without being suspicious, and we can get to secluded places more easily. There’s one street in particular that usually does the trick.”
“I always wondered why you had cars if you could teleport.” I laughed.
“Well, you also have to be moving fairly quickly for it to work, and cars are also convenient for that. It also takes a fair amount of magic to jump, so doing it too much is an easy way to get exhausted.” Axl told me.
“I see.”
The valet continued, “And it helps us keep up appearances. As a CEO of a major company, Fen is sometimes in the press, and never seeing him coming or going to the office would be odd. That’s why the windows on his vehicles aren’t tinted, for the most part, except for the SUV. So people can actually see and mark that it’s Fen, doing normal human things like driving to work. Albeit I’m the one actually driving him, but still.”
“Oh yeah, the normal human things like a bodyguard driving him to work in a luxury sports car to the sky-high office building he owns in his custom made clothing!” I laughed, teasing Fen gently.
“Well, I’m rich in this world too, I have to act the part.” Fen shrugged, the picture of innocence.
“Must be nice.” I snorted, like I wasn't one-hundred percent benefiting from his wealth and status.
Axl pulled up to the curb, and parked. “Alright, all out for Japanese food!”
“Thanks, Axl. Enjoy your time with Rose. Mercy, wait for me to open your door.” Fen said as he got out.
“Tell her I love her! And love on the kitties too!” I giggled as Fen went around the car and opened my door.
“Will do!” Axl said as I climbed out.
“Bye!” I called as Fen shut the door.
He offered me his arm, which I took, and he pulled me towards a very humble-looking Japanese restaurant. “It doesn't look like much, but it’s the best hibachi place in the city. There’s a fancy sushi place that’s great, but this place is the best hibachi.”
“I love food.” I sighed, inhaling deeply as we entered. It smelled divine.
“Me too.” Fen agreed.
We were seated and ordered.
The food was as good as Fen had said it was, not that I’d doubted it.
“That was so good.” I sighed, sinking back into my seat.
“Good.” Fen motioned for the check.
I leaned forward again, pleading as I tried to tug the bill from his long fingers, “Let me get it, please? You pay for everything. I can at least treat you to dinner!”
Fen blinked. “But I…”
“Please? I-I can’t really do much, but I can pay for dinner, and I’m happy to do it.”
“It would make you happy?” he muttered, seeming conflicted.
“Yes.” I nodded emphatically.
“Fine.” he sighed, and let me tug the bill from his lithe fingers.
“Thank you!” I chirped, pulling out my wallet and handing the waiter my card. It made me ridiculously happy to be able to buy him dinner. “I’ll be able to afford a lot more on my own, now. Thank you, Fen.”
His lilac eyes blinked once, “You’re welcome, Mercy. Thank you for being my friend.”
“You’re welcome!” I beamed at him.
“I’m paying for the clothes, though, it’ll be out of your price range.” he said mildly, picking at his fingernails. He wasn't being rude or mean, just stating a fact.
“I’d say you’re the worst, but thanks.” I muttered, my thoughts turning to shopping for clothes. I’d never been shopping with just a guy before. Well, other than Michael. Speaking of Michael, “Fen?”
“Yeah?”
“Could I ask Michael to join us? We've texted plenty, but I've not seen him since I went to Faerie."
“Oh, sure.”
“He’s good at helping me decide whether or not I actually like clothes, or if I’m just in a good mood and want to buy something.” I told him, pulling out my phone and calling my best human friend.
“Helloooooo gorgeous!” Michael answered on the third ring. “What’s up? How was your first day at your new job?”
“It went well! Actually, Fen and I are about to go shopping because I need some more clothes for work, I never had many, and the ones I had probably don’t fit anymore.”
“Cause your ass and tiddies got bigger!” Michael snickered.
“Michael!” I gasped, my face turning bright red. I was very aware that Fen could likely hear what my friend was saying. “I mean, I have gained weight.”
“Don’t worry, doll, you’re still gorgeous.” his familiar chuckle rang down the line.
“Whatever! The entire reason I called is because you’re really good at helping me pick out clothes, and-”
“Say no more!" he sang, "Where should I meet you?”
“What’s the store, Fen?”
Fen told him the name of the brand, and I gasped in surprise, causing him to frown. "What? Do you not like their clothes?"
“Fen, that’s too expensive!” I protested.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I said I’m buying. Besides, the dresses that Astrid made you cost way more than what we’ll buy today.” he shrugged, totally unbothered.
“Fen!” I cried.
“Use his money, girl! Dude is loaded! And royalty. This is literally my dream. Let me live vicariously through you!” Michael told me.
“I…okay. Whatever.” My brain was still short-circuiting.
“I’m getting into my car. I’ll be to the store in about twenty minutes.”
“We’re walking from the restaurant, we’ll meet you there.”
“Alright, see you in a bit!” Michael rang off.