Chapter 68

**Artemis**


Somethings off with Blue this morning and I don’t think it has anything to do with what we did last night. Even with the scars she has on her body she doesn’t usually seem shy around me, so why now?

I walk downstairs and here the familiar sounds of food being prepared and head in the direction of the kitchen. When I enter, I find a disheveled looking Alan sitting at the island facing the kitchen drinking coffee. He turns his head enough to see me and sets hi cup down making it a lot easier to see the ridiculous smile on his face. It’s one of his knowing smiles, but I won’t be discussing anything with him. If he knows what’s good for him he won’t try to imagine anything either.

“Sleep well?” He asks but I don’t bother replying.

Instead, I sit on the seat next to him and slide one of the coffee cups sitting in front of him over to me. He sets the French press in front of me as well and I pour myself a cup.

“So, what’s the plan boss?” He asks.

He must have picked up on my mood and is doing the wise thing of ignoring it and focusing on anything but my personal life.

“We need to get a full break down of what my father has been looking into. Have you found the employees helping him?”

“Yeah. It’s not good man. He must be shitting out gold in front of them for so many to turn on you.”

That is disappointing, but maybe it was time for an overhaul if so many of my employees were willing to buckle under the slightest pressure.

“This won’t give our clients confidence if they realize we’ve been locked out of our own company.” He points out as if I wasn’t aware of that fact.

“That isn’t important right now. It’s time to scrap everything and go mobile.” I say. “No one can break my security and we can have the whole system shut down by lunch. We need to keep our circle small and get rid of all the dead weight.”

“What do we tell the clients when things go to shit? People are going to panic when all the servers get whipped.”

“We’ll have all calls routed here and have Abigail explain everything to them. Transparency in times like this is important and she’s great at bullshitting her way around uncomfortable questions.”

“I guess I will take that as compliment.” A familiar voice says from behind me.

I turn to face my assistant who is carrying a larger bag then usual today. “Who called you in?”

“Your wife. She needed some assistance, and I figured if I work for you then I also work for her. Or is that not true?” She looks unsure but there is a look in her eyes that says not to question her.

What is it with all the women in my life pulling their claws out all of a sudden? Even Abigail who has always been very respectful is acting a little salty.

“Of course. What did she have you bring?” I ask.

She gives me a strange look. “Tampons. But I also go her some pain killers, a hot water bottle, chocolate, ice cream, and a book that will make her cry for days.”

Now I’m the one confused. “Why didn’t she say anything about being on her…”

“TOM.” She says with a smile. “She calls it TOM.”

Alan chuckles. “Why did she name it after a guy?”

“Well, I assume because men cause women a lot of unnecessary pain and come when you least expect them to and leave you feeling miserable. I’ll take this up to her.” She turns on her heels and walks off while Alan laughs as if that was the best joke he’s ever heard.

“That sucks man. I wonder how bad hers get. I dated this one chick who had to stay in bed for two days because her cramps were so bad. Thankfully my housekeeper happened to be here and knew exactly what to get for her.” He goes on but my mind is on Blue now.

Was she embarrassed to tell me she’d started her period? Why?

“I wonder why she didn’t say anything?” I say without thinking.

“Because a lot of guys are immature and make women feel weird for being on their rag. It’s juvenile but does a good job of pushing women away. It’s natural and only an immature asshole would make a woman feel ashamed about it.” He shakes his head and takes another sip of his coffee. “Man, I’m beat. I can’t bounce back like I used to.”

“We’re thirty, not fifty and I keep telling you that all that shit you do is going to catch up with you.”

“Just because you’re socially awkward doesn’t mean the rest of us are, and I am only out doing those things so I can meet my soul mate like you did.” He smirks at me and I feel the urge to smack him.

“Soul mates aren’t real and there is no such thing as ‘the one’. You are either compatible with someone or you’re not. Fortunately I met someone who doesn’t make me want to give up sex completely.” I say.

“Well look at it this way, you can have sex any time you want without putting in all the extra effort to get it. You guys can lounge around in the evening, go to bed, fuck and sleep. Rinse and repeat every night. Sounds nice.” He sighs as if he’s imagining how that scenario would go.

“I don’t lounge around the house.”

He scoffs. “You do. From what I hear, you have been making sure to go to bed with your new wife every night. I’m guessing that you don’t sleep right away so at some point there is lounging involved.” He is making me sound like an idiot.

“None of that is your business. Your focus should be on getting things shut down at the office.” I push to my feet and pour another cup of coffee for Blue. “Have the cook send up our food to our room.”

I walk away before he can make another smartass comment and make my way back upstairs. When I hear voices coming from our room, I stop short and try to hear what the girls are talking about.

“Are you sure you’re, okay? You don’t look so good.” I hear Abigail say.

“I’m fine. I just bleed a lot and I’m no doctor but I think I’m already anemic and the bleeding now is probably making me feel weak. Nothing a few supplements can’t fix.” Blue sounds carefree and unaffected but I know well enough now that most of the time it’s an act.

She would have to be clearly dying before she admits anything is wrong.

“Okay, but if you pass out, I’m calling a doctor.” Abigail insists.

Blue laughs. “Deal. Only make sure you talk to Artemis about it first. I’m sure he’ll have some crazy safety measures set up for that sort of thing. I’m not sure if he considers Rhea a security risk or not and she’s, his sister.”

“She did break into your hotel room twice.” Abigail points out.

It’s a reminder to me that I need to update her on what’s going on and remind her not to drop by unannounced. Maybe I won’t tell her where we’ll be living after this just to be safe. Actually, I might not tell anyone but Blue, and we will meet people in a neutral location instead of bringing them into our real home. I need to start working on that soon, but for now I need to remind Blue who she married. She won’t ever need to hide things from me, especially this. I push into the room without warning and get two shocked faces in reply. I walk over to the night stand next to Blue and set down her coffee.

“Thanks.” She says and sends Abigail a side glance.

“Alan needs help with the next phase Miss Simmons.” I tell my assistant.

She is on her feet in an instant. “Of course. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will thank you so much Abby!” Blue calls after my assistant.

Once the door is shut, I focus all my attention on the nervous creature in front of me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugs and starts to fidget with the edge of the blanket in her lap. I can see a cord coming from behind her and realize she has a heating pad behind her. Do those help?

“I don’t know. It’s not something I go broadcasting.” She says sounding defensive.

I don’t want to upset her so I take in a deep breath and sit on the bed next to her. “I never have to hide from me. Even with this, but you’ll need to educate me on what to have on hand when this time comes so we can be fully stalked.”

She smiles. “Who are you? Why are you so sweet to me?”

“Why do you keep asking me? I’m being nice to you. Big deal. Now…eat some chocolate or something. I’m going to shower.” I walk toward the bathroom with her laugh following behind me.

It’s easily one of the best sounds I’ve ever heard.