Bedmates Soulmates novel Chapter 166

Fifteen Minutes of Fame 

She paused. ‘I can’t put it out of my mind just like that. I’m afraid it’s going to start me down a slippery slope. What if some new enemy comes along after the Vaughns are destroyed? I’ll run to you for help. What if I don’t like the sideways glance someone is giving me in the office? I’ll run to you for help. Power is addictive, and I’m not sure I have the courage to quit once I’m hooked. So it’s best not to open that door to begin with.” 

There was a wistful look in her eyes. ‘Dad always taught me to be content with our lot. Greed is an insatiable monster, he said. Once you let it in, it won’t be happy unless you’ve fed it everything, including your soul.‘ 

A hush fell over the lounge after she finished. 

Austyn looked at her, unblinking. 

He’d always known Kira had a good head on her shoulders, but today he realised what an understatement that was. 

Growing up in the kind of environment he had, he’d seen more than his fair share of folks who spent their entire lives chasing after power. 

They could be a billionaire before the age of thirty, or the holder of high office, or the winner of numerous prestigious awards in their field, but it was never enough. 

They probably wouldn’t understand what she was talking about. 

Giving up power when it was within their grasp? 

Never! 

Austyn tried not to think if he belonged in the same category as them. 

Instead, he focused on the present. ‘So, you’re just going to let them walk all over you?” 

Kira looked at him. I’m not. I would’ve gotten my retaliation some other way.‘ 

‘Oh yeah? How? Like that time in the hospital. It was two against one. What would you have done?” 

Kira’s eyes lit up. ‘Speaking of which, I owe you a huge thank–you. You got Helen to slap Georgina! You have no idea how satisfying it was to watch that.” 

Helen doted on Georgina. 

For a mother to turn against her own daughter must be deeply traumatising for both. 

And deeply gratifying for Kira. 

She couldn’t help it; she gloated. 

‘Don’t change the subject,” Austyn said. ‘What if I weren’t there that day? What would you have done?” 

Kira shrugged. ‘I would’ve called the police. The scratch marks they left on me were evidence of assault. Besides, everything was caught on tape. My father’s ward has a CCTV camera. They could deny six ways to Sunday, but they couldn’t argue with hard evidence. They’d probably spend a few days behind bars.‘ 

Kira grinned at that image–Helen and Georgina locked up, makeup smudged, hair in a mess, banging on the iron bars and wailing. 

Austyn watched the mischievous twinkle in her eyes. 

He didn’t realise he was smiling. 

After a long lunch where neither ate much, Kira was finally allowed to go. 

She kept her head down and used Kal’s sturdy body to shield her from the curlous glances from the secretaries. 

She breathed out when the lift door closed. 

“What’s wrong? Kai noticed her dejected look. 

“Your boss‘ whim is going to land me in hot water when I get back to the office.‘ Kira sighed. 

“You don’t want others to know you’re married to Boss?” 

‘Why would I? Kira slumped against the wall. ‘I don’t want to be hounded by my coworkers and the press, which is bound to happen if they know I’m married to Austyn. I’m not interested in getting my fifteen minutes of fame, thank 

you very much.‘ 

‘You don’t have anything to worry about, Young Madam- 

“Call me Kira.” 

‘Um, okay. As I was saying, you have nothing to worry about. Even if everyone at the company knows you’re married to Boss, they won’t dare breathe a word of this to the media. Not if they want to continue working at the M Group.” 

Kira’s sigh was louder this time. 

“What? You’re not convinced? Trust me, Boss has that kind of power. If you want, I could suggest to him to issue a gag 

order to the staff. Then no one will- 

‘No, no, that won’t be necessary. Thank you.‘ Kira shook her head vehemently. 

‘Are you sure?‘ 

‘Yes, absolutely sure.! 

She bounded out of the lift when the door slid open. ‘I can find my own way back to the office. See you!” 

Kira hid in the restroom to wait out the lunch break. 

Once her coworkers were busy with work, they wouldn’t have time to grill her about her trip to the 48th floor. 

Kira washed her face and checked out the bitter smile on her reflection in the mirror. 

She didn’t want Austyn to be this nice to her if she could help it. 

She already owed him too much. 

Money could be paid back. 

But what about favours and feelings? 

Kira clocked out at 6 pm. 

Austyn’s text stopped her. ‘Come downstairs. Look for the Hummer.”