Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)(37)

I sat silent as Katya, a long-legged fiercely intelligent woman who had bigger balls than most men, strode in. Her talents lay in project managing and sourcing new contacts. Kevin, with his balding head and spectacles, was in charge of accounting, Samuel, with his dreadlocks and scruffy clothes, worked mainly with trade staff and hands-on affairs, and last but not least was Sandra, the stern, grey-haired woman in charge of human resources.

They smiled and murmured greetings, but no one dared talk to me outside a business level. And that’s the way I liked it.

Once everyone was seated, I clapped my hands once and said, “Now we’re all here. Let’s begin.”

*****

Two hours into the debrief, an ache formed relentlessly behind my eyes. The headache I’d fought since the helicopter nagged stronger and stronger.

Logistics and figures swarmed in my head until I couldn’t hear anything but a gentle buzz. I battled through it.

Turns out I had two weaknesses: control and f*cking migraines.

I poured some water, hoping it was just dehydration. Forcing myself to focus when all I wanted to do was go back to Tess and curl up to rest.

Ten minutes later, the numbers on a new acquisition in Hong Kong bounced off the page and slithered onto the table. My vision fuzzed then sharpened like I took a strong hallucinogenic. A sure signal I’d left the realm of headache and ploughed straight toward a migraine.

“Yes, but what if we bought the building next to it. We could consolidate the lots and secure the permit for a thirty-story hotel,” Frederick said to Katya, chewing on the end of a pen.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the overwhelming thickness taking over my brain. Shit, this couldn’t come on a worse day. What with the stress of Tess’s panic attack and hearing the Red Wolverine wasn’t happy, I didn’t have time to be f*cking sick.

Katya said something and the entire table turned to stare at me.

I couldn’t move my tongue to make a proper sentence. Merde, I never got this bad so fast. It normally crept over me, stealing a little of my senses, giving me time to get the hell out of there and hide my one bodily weakness.

“Mercer. You all right?” Frederick patted my hand. My eyes shot to his, but I had to squint against the pain of bringing him into focus.

I can’t do this.

The only way to break it was a dark room, and Tess’s heavenly fingers to massage away the agony.

Tess.

All I wanted to do was be with her. I needed her. She’d help cure me—just like she cured me of everything else.

The beast inside whimpered, agreeing that in this circumstance, it didn’t want to hurt her. It wanted her to be gentle and nurse me.

Shaking my head, I swallowed back the rush of nausea and stood. Forcing myself to act cool and fully in control, I said, “It sounds as if you’re more than under control here. If you’ll excuse me, I have other business to attend to.”

Frederick frowned, but nodded. “No problem. I’ll keep you up to speed with what we decide on the Hong Kong and London development.”

I nodded approval, which sent the world suffering a bout of turbulence. I hated when it got this bad. I hated being so weak.

Keeping my lips tightly together, just in case my morning coffee decided to make a reappearance, I strode firmly out of the room.

The second the door closed behind me, I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. It felt as if no oxygen existed inside this goddamn building. I fumbled with my collar, trying to undo the top button.

The door clicked open, and I spun painfully to face whoever it was.

Frederick watched me with concern. “Another one? That’s one a month for a while now, man. You promised you’d go to the doctor.”

I didn’t have the strength to tell him I did go to the doctor. And for me to admit I had a problem was a big f*cking deal. But on paper there was nothing wrong with me.

The headaches were stress related, apparently.

In my painful haze, I mumbled something incoherent and headed on the marathon journey to get back to my private office.

Don’t think. Just get to Tess.

Frederick followed me to the elevator, and I swiped my identification to activate my private lift. It was the only elevator that went to the roof. I didn’t want anyone else going up there without my permission.

The whir of the arriving machine cut off as the metal doors swung open. Frederick’s arm stuck out, barring my way.

Fiery hot shards poked my brain, stealing my colour vision, making him look as if he dripped with sienna and taupe. “Get out of my way, Roux.”

He lifted his arm and let me enter, but jumped in a millisecond later. He eyed me, prodding me in the temple with a finger.

I winced and swung at him, but my perception was way off; I punched the mirrored wall instead.

“Yep, you’re having a full attack, man. Not good.”

Agony flared in my knuckles and I growled, nursing my hand. “Thanks for the advice. You going to charge me for that?”

He smiled. “Nope. That’s on the house.” He pressed the top button and we rode in silence before he said, “Don’t bother wasting your breath telling me to f*ck off. I’ll stay until you’ve had some painkillers and that woman of yours has got you on the couch and resting.”

I didn’t want to argue with that. It sounded f*cking perfect. But I hated being told what to do. The last time I obeyed anyone I was eight and let my father kill a slave for sneaking out to find food for her starving bed mates.