Fired by my Grumpy Dragon (Grumpy Monster Bosses #3)

FIVE

Loren

I feel strange when I wake in the morning. It’s lucky I set an alarm. I’m normally awake before I need to be. I’m definitely a morning person. Today, though, I blink my eyes open, gazing around the dark room, then stare at my phone screen in surprise. Still dark even though it’s relatively late.

Maybe I need to get some good blackout blinds at home.

I stretch, noting the way my body feels relaxed and loose. Maybe I just need a new bed. This bed—this room—is amazing. I thought the mattress would be too soft, but in fact, I can’t recall a better night’s sleep recently.

A tingle creeps up my spine as I get out of bed, tugging instinctively at the hem of the t-shirt I wear to sleep in. There’s no way anyone could be watching me, but that’s the feeling I have.

Shaking it off, I head into the bathroom to get myself ready. I open the door and look out into the living area of the guest wing. Sylvie is there, her long green hair rolled into a neat bun at the back of her head and a book in hand. She smiles when she looks up. “Did you sleep well? It’s so quiet out here on the estate. It’s a bit strange.”

I nod, walking out to join her on the sofa. “Yeah, I did. Really well. What’s the deal with breakfast? ”

Sylvie points to a menu card on the coffee table. “There’s a QR code on the menu. Just scan and order, and his kitchen staff bring it up here. You can eat in your room or outside on the terrace.”

“Wow.” Once again, I’m incredibly jealous of the life Kivrayn lives. Imagine having kitchen staff in your own home. I order the overnight oats with acai and goji berries and a strong coffee, and I take it out onto the terrace. This morning I’m prepared with a jacket over my blouse, and though the air is crisp, sitting at the little outdoor table listening to the birds chirp in the trees while I eat is worth it.

The slow trickle of water from the pool and the rustling of leaves are the only other noises I hear, despite the house full of people. It’s beautiful.

I’m allowing myself a moment to relax in the sunlight, which has just come up over the trees, when the sliding door opens, and I look up to see my boss step onto the terrace. He’s dressed in a gray shirt with the top few buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of smooth green scales. His shoulder-length hair is fastened back in a tie which makes his horns stand out and emphasizes the strong line of his jaw. “Ms. Carandang. I trust you slept well. I hoped you might have a moment this morning. There are some things I’d like to run over with you before the general staff briefing this morning, as this is your first time on the estate.”

Damn. That probably means spending some time alone with him, a situation I usually do my best to avoid. It would be unreasonable of me to refuse, though. “Sure.” I stand, brushing my tailored eggplant-colored trousers and adjusting my jacket .

Kivrayn leads me wordlessly back into the building and down the corridor we came through when I arrived last night. Somewhere near the gym, he takes a left turn, and I follow. We come to a stop outside a large gallery space. Over his shoulder and behind his wing, I can see a slightly dark room where objects on plinths and hung on the walls are illuminated with warm, soft lighting.

“This is the gallery,” he tells me. “Through here is the auction space and the lots on display. It’s also where I house my private collection. My hoard. I want to take you over the items for auction and what belongs in the hoard and the rules for this space. It will be up to all my staff to help ensure the guests follow my rules to the letter of the law. I don’t tolerate any disobedience on this.” He arches a brow at me, like he’s expecting me to argue.

I hold back my urge to roll my eyes. I don’t care. If he wants his stuff handled a certain way, that’s fine with me. It’s his stuff. And yes, I’ll probably think about breaking the rules, but I don’t care enough to actually do it.

I don’t.

What’s the point?

“Sure,” I say again.

He leads me into the space and takes me around the lots for auction. After the exclusive VIP event, we will be listing anything that doesn’t sell for an online auction, and it will be my job to oversee the listings, so I pay attention as he points out important details, including any condition notes on the older or more delicate items.

“Beyond this alcove is my hoard,” he says, pointing to the far side of the gallery. “What I’ve noticed is that holding the auctions here at my estate, with these items on display, lends to the exclusive feel of these events and encourages buyers to bid more.”

I nod. That makes sense. People are always more likely to bid more if they think an item has a higher value. Displaying lots like this raises that perceived value for sure.

“Buyers can look through this space. They can handle the lots. They’re all registered bidders. They must not handle anything from my private collection.” His voice drops low as he says this. “They must not even lean too close. Or breathe on them. Please watch closely to ensure this does not happen. And you might think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it just in case. This rule applies to you, too, Ms. Carandang.”

I clench my teeth, biting back the retort that rises on my tongue. Yeah. It could have remained unsaid. Is there a need for him to be so patronizing? The stupidity of a dragon who is so touchy about his stuff inviting people into his home to view it isn’t lost on me. It’s like a damn invitation for someone to piss him off.

My hands itch with the need to be that person.

I tuck them into my pockets. “Got it. No touching. Anything else?”

Kivrayn’s brows lower. “Are you taking this seriously, Ms. Carandang?”

Oh my god. “Yes. I’m taking this seriously. Nobody touches the hoard. Understood.”

His low growl vibrates down my spine, and we stare at each other for a heated moment. He opens his mouth, no doubt to give me a lecture, but at that moment, his phone rings. “I need to take this. Wait here and do not touch anything. We’ll speak more about this in a moment.”

Lifting the phone to his ear, he turns and strides away to the other side of the gallery.

I’m left fuming. What more is there to say? I didn’t even argue with him about his stupid rules. Yet he wants to keep lecturing me like a naughty child.

Well, if he’s going to be like that...

Glancing over my shoulder, I note that his back is still to me. His tail swishes the air and his wings flex as he talks quietly on the phone. I can’t make out everything he’s saying. Something about a necklace. “And she wants to sell? You’re sure?”

There’s a pause while he listens to the response.

“Well do they, or don’t they?”

Another pause, and then he sighs.

“I’ve had my eye on that necklace for decades and he knows this. What makes you think this isn’t just another attempt to fuck with me?”

Hmm. I wonder what the deal is with the necklace. It has him distracted. He’s not usually this agitated unless he’s telling me off.

I look around the items on display at the end of the gallery. I have to admit, he has good taste. There’s a beautiful wall tapestry which looks like it could be late Tudor era and a big golden ring on a pedestal with an emerald the size of my knuckle. Beside me, a set of delicate earrings hang on a T-shaped display. Three tiny discs of gold in decreasing sizes drop from the hook, delicately curved so they catch the light. They’re old. Older than they look at first glance. As I step nearer, I notice the small signs of age and wear. The misshapen link joining two discs, the faint signs of tarnish on the metal. If I’m not mistaken, they’re Roman. Possibly thousands of years old. Yet they look as if they might have been made only a few years ago.

So tiny it’s hard to imagine how they were made by hand with rustic, ancient tools.

Kivrayn is still talking on the phone. The low rumble of his voice from behind me reassures me.

With a pounding heart, I lean a little closer to inspect the earrings. Just stunning. I wonder how much they cost him. Just like everything in his estate, the cost, I’m sure, would be staggering.

Kivrayn continues talking. I lean closer still. What would it be like to hold one of these treasures in my hand? I’ve handled some precious artifacts, but never something quite this beautiful. He’s not even looking. And it would serve him right if I broke his stupid rule. He probably wouldn’t even notice.

I don’t dare to pick them up, but very carefully, I lift my hand and brush the back of my knuckles beneath the whisper-light gold of one earring.

There’s a hot gust of breath against my neck.

I freeze.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Kivrayn growls.