Her mouth tightened as her fingers, nails clean of varnish, trailed over the papers. “All Lives deals with many cases of shifters forced to leave their neighborhoods and homes—their jobs, even.” How the hell could she sit there telling him about the plight of other beasts in such a professional tone after being responsible for his family suffering? “As we know, minority groups are often at a disadvantage economically, which means they need both emotional and financial support to set up their lives again.” Their eyes met, and she looked away, nervous. When she spoke again, he detected a wobble in her voice. “With extra funding, we’ll be able to support families with young children…arrange rooms or subsidized apartments for them…give them the counseling that they need and help—basically, help them search for jobs…help them resettle…”
She stopped suddenly, as if unable to go on.
“It sounds like a great project, Iris. Shame something like this wasn’t around when my family and I needed help. Remember that time?”
“Damien—”
He tried to control the pressure that pounded inside his head, breathing deep, but it made no difference. “Seriously, you’ve some nerve, coming into my office and putting forward such a proposal. After what happened to my family…and do you know what Linda’s so-called friends did to her?”
She nodded, eyes misting over. “I’m so sorry. When I heard, I came to—”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” He paused, giving the rage a chance to abate. “You know your father has been here asking for funds, too?”
“He goes to a lot of places…”
“How bloody rich is that? What did he love to call us in his speeches? Abominations that should never have walked this earth. And now it suits him, he’s seeking favors from the same creatures.”
Her face was calm, although her eyes were still bright, flickering with anxiety. “Is this why you arranged this meeting, Damien? To have a go at me?”
Maybe that was it. After he told her the truth about his beast, he never saw her again—only spoke to her once, when she phoned. He never had the chance to tell her what he thought of her attitude toward his kind.
Even before that night, her father’s morals had come through in her words, in comments such as how they were lucky to live in a town where those creatures would never venture. But he’d ignored the signs, as those in love do, believing—hoping—that she would one day see past what he was.
“What about you, Iris? You were so damn terrified when you found out who I was? But damn, money makes humans forget a lot of evils, doesn’t it?”
The reason non-humans were allowed to settle here in the first place. In a post-plague world, confused and terrified humans emerged from hiding after months, putting their lives in the hands of their respective governments. Non-humans, untouched by the Great Plague that took many of Iris’ kind, chose that time to reveal themselves to the authorities. In control of vast amounts of wealth, they had offered to help restore collapsed economies in return for being allowed to live among humans and share the same rights.
With no other choice, governments had agreed to the demands, but an unofficial agreement was reached. None of the other kind would procreate with humans, for fear that the latter species, which had just escaped extinction, would be wiped out—or that more alternative species would be created.
Iris looked down at the proposal, suddenly so forlorn that part of him wanted to cease this rant against her…comfort her. What was a bit of money? He’d fund the whole project if it brought a smile to her face…
But that was all he could share with her. A business relationship. He could have all the money in the world, but it made no difference, did it? Because she would still find him repulsive—he would always be the other kind for her. And that made him want to punch something.
Instead, he had another go at her. “You’re a damn opportunist, and now that it suits Bill and you, you’re making money and publicity out of helping others like me.” He had no words for how sickening it was.
She picked up her briefcase and placed it on the desk. Back straight, she returned the documents back inside before standing.
No, his wolf begged. Don’t let her go.
“Thank you for your time,” she said, “I understand we won’t have the opportunity to work together on this occasion.”
And with that, she turned her back on him, shutting the door behind her.
Damien leaned back in his chair, feeling as if he’d done ten rounds in a boxing ring. It hadn’t made him feel any better, coming out with what he thought of her. And now she was gone, a hundred questions ran through his mind…questions he wanted to ask her.
During all these years, did you ever remember me, Iris?
CHAPTER TWO
* * *
SEEING DAMIEN AGAIN…IT only reminded Iris of how, even after leaving, he’d never stopped being a part of her life.
His memories had been with her as she spent long nights awake, yearning for someone who didn’t leave her cold the way her liaisons with other men did.
In the end, she had given up on relationships and thrown herself into charity work, something that brought her some peace and made her feel as if there was a point to being alive…and in a way, it was her redemption.
She parked her battered car in the small courtyard, attached to the building where she worked. The two-story converted house cried out for renovation, but the management team had decided to do it up as they went along. The building had four rooms on each floor, converted into small offices and waiting areas. There was a common bathroom on each level and one kitchen in the whole building. Just as well the charity could only afford four officers plus a receptionist.
It appeared as if the receptionist Michael, sat behind a counter constructed of recycled wood, had been waiting for her. Brown eyes wide, he spoke before she reached him. “Fatima asked for you to go straight to her office when you get here.”
Iris had already seen the missed calls on her mobile. “Something urgent?”
“She’s called a few times over the past half hour.” Bloody great. As she took the stairs to Fatima’s office on the first floor, she wondered what the hell she was supposed to tell her boss. That she didn’t get as far as pitching the project?
Even if she had kept her cool long enough to remain in Damien’s office, she didn’t know if she could have delivered the pitch a project such as this deserved. That start had been fucking atrocious, with her reciting the words like a robot before stumbling over them. She just couldn’t do it, not with his adult self sat there, staring at her through the green eyes of the teenager she’d known. Seeing him again had brought back emotions she’d tried to ignore over the years, evoked the longing that always accompanied the guilt.
She’d had relationships since him, but never again experienced that overwhelming need or love…Love? Nearly made her laugh out, that. She had been a kid with no idea of what that sentiment was. If they stayed together, she would have only taken from him. It was only after losing him that she’d learned to give.
She drew a deep breath, trying to clear her head before she knocked on Fatima’s door.