I glanced around for the nearest room, where I could run in and stretch my wings. The discomfort was building up fast, and when this happened I knew I could not focus until I relieved this terrible itch.
Keeping my wings hidden for so long throughout the day was not normal. Heck, pushing it half the day was gradually driving me crazy. This was why my home was out in the middle of the forest, which takes an hour to arrive at work by normal circumstances. Luckily enough, I flew a good chunk of that time, and took the rest on the train. This took at least a good 30 minutes of my time.
I looked around, searching for an empty room. My shoulders shrugged a few times, becoming extremely uncomfortable. This doesn't happen with regularity, but for some reason today, of all days, was one of those days that I needed to get that stretch out.
I groaned, my back muscles tensing. I rolled my shoulder once more.
Quickly, my feet searched for any open rooms. Hell, if a damn stairwell was here, I would take that without a complaint.
I opened more doors and peeked inside some to check if they were clear, at a rapid pace, until I finally located the fire escape stairs. I reached out, coming close to breaking the push bar, I flew in.
Another burst of angry groans kissed my lips; I could feel the shudder of my wings starting to emerge from my back. Quickly, I unbuttoned a few buttons on my blouse, pulled it over my head, and threw it off, leaving me with just my black bra. My gold necklace with a cross hung on my chest.
Black, small wings sprouted in real time, growing with increased speed until four pairs of wings graced my whole back. I felt my right wing opening, stretching out the aching pain. I couldn't completely extend it out as the stairway was a bit small. Taking a quarter turn, I faced the wall where the stairways went up. My wings extended out, hitting the other end, and it was not enough to open fully.
My head touched the cold wall; sweat slicked my forehead. I couldn't help letting out a satisfied smile, shoulder rolling as my right wings went up and down. A pleasurable relief sprouted from my lips.
My goodness, the relief! The sweet, relief that I have been sitting through, how could this day get any worse than this? Why today? Why not yesterday, when I had enough time to laze around at home and fly around in the sky without a care in the world?
I banged my head a few times against the wall, cursing my unfortunate circumstance. Closing both my right wings, I flipped over like a pancake to get my left wings. Each reach, each attempt, each stretch that didn't feel like it was enough was cloying at my guts to go out and fly.
Could I? I looked up, wondering if the stairs led to the roof. With a swift close, my four wings tucked near to my back. I pulled my blouse over my head, letting it rest like a scarf. I could pull it down if necessary. The end of my wings dragged behind me like a wedding dress as I climbed with hurried steps. Five flights of stairs. That wasn't too bad.
I looked up.
Damn, that was a lot of stairs.
With quick steps, I hurried up the stairs.
After a while, I came to the twelfth floor, seeing that there was one more floor that led to the rooftop. Thrilled, I climbed the last stairs, finally pushing the door open, allowing me to step out on the rooftop.
The wind hit me, throwing my long black hair around.
Oh my goodness. It was amazing! I welcome the sharp wind hitting my face, kissing me as if it were welcoming me home. I needed this.
Stepping forward, I heard the door click. I spread out all four of my wings to the fullest. I groaned; pure pleasure escaped my lips. Damn, I love this.
I could feel the wind calling me, telling me to take flight. I knew this wasn't a good idea. My phone rang. I looked down, pulling up my phone.
Damn it.
It was Isaiah.
I swiftly pulled back my wings, forcing it back into my body as it dissolved away. With one hand and another, I pulled down my blouse, fixing myself as fast as possible.
Opening the door, I flew down as if my ass was on fire. I couldn't believe I allowed this itch to bother me so much. Without thinking, I burst through the door of the twelfth floor.
I appeared right next to the elevator. There was a long hallway with two beautiful receptionists on both sides as if they were guarding a guard dog.
Walking forward, I brushed my long hair down from the messy wind with haste.
Both assistants looked up with a gentle smile.
The woman with brown hair spoke, "You are?"
"Sarah Gibbons, I've been told that the CEO wants to see me?" I stopped, waiting.
"Ah, yes. Please go in. He is waiting for you."
I nodded, pushing the door open .
What welcomed me was a three-man that I was with in the elevator in the morning. It was a short encounter, but their image seared into my mind like a hot brand. It's something I could not forget even if I wanted to. With steady steps, I walked out of the elevator and walked straight towards Daimon, who was sitting at his desk.
How the hell was this whole floor an office room? Bright light cut through the window on the left, while four large L-shaped sofas graced the floor. Underneath the sofa was a Persian rug, as a glass coffee table sat in the middle.
Book shelves lined up the back of the desk from left to right, while the ebony desk reminds her of a historic and old desk hand-carved by an artisan. There were lion designs on the base of the legs.
Plants decorated the sides of the room, giving it a nice homely feel. It was a stark contrast to the area I worked. I couldn't help but see a hidden door behind the desk between the bookshelves. Most people would not have been able to see it, but I could tell that there was something about it.
Daimon caught my gaze, staring at me with intensity. His eyes flickered for a moment as if he caught something of interest to me. Just as swiftly as it came, it disappeared.
I stopped, a bit uncomfortable under his gaze. It felt like he would strip me bare by the intensity of his stare. What the hell was wrong with him?
"You're late." His husky voice vibrated out with annoyance.
"I needed a moment." I didn't want to lie. Hell, it sounded like a bad idea.
"A moment? You smell like the outside." He got up from his chair, walked around his desk and stopped in front of me.
His large presence pressured me down; I didn't budge nor cower. Why would I? Fear wasn't something I would allow to course through me at this moment. It was rare, but this wasn't fear I felt. No, it was power. I recognized power anywhere I went, and there weren't many people who could push their authority into the air. Such ability was super rare; even certain CEOs I have run across and authority figures couldn't even do it unconsciously, but this man could. I could tell it was intentional.
It had a tingling, tangy taste to it that gave a sour feel, but his…. it tasted sweet. Weird.
My tongue licked my lips, wetting them in haste. Blueberries? Not bad of a taste.
Daimon's eyes went straight to my tongue; he glared and looked back at me.
"I don't like to repeat myself."
"I am sorry; it was not my intention to come late. I needed to get a moment; the situation was overwhelming. Seldom, the feeling hits, and I have to leave to take a breath."
Daimon frowned, his body tense as if he were warring with his mind. "This is your first day, you have an episode, and you come late. Will this be a frequent occurrence?"
"No," I spoke with clarity. Knowing full well where this was going. I didn't want to leave this company yet; I needed information. It wasn't easy to get into such big-name corporations. "I'll handle it before it escalates."
"How?"
"Tell my superior. Walk outside, take a 10-minute break. That's all I need." I said with a clip tone. God, why is this man so uptight as if he has a stick up his ass?
"That will be docked from your pay."
"I know."
"And you don't care?"
"Look, sir." My lips were thin, getting annoyed at this man. "I understand money is time, and it's precious; I don't steal time. Nor can I steal time as it is not tangible, but I assure you, I will record those 'times' at an accelerated pace. It's something I can't control, but it's something I can handle." I replied curtly.
Daimon took a moment, really took a moment to contemplate what he was going to say next. The air was tingling with power derived from feelings that I couldn't understand why this man was throwing around his weight as if he was trying to prove a point. Heck, I could tell the other two beside him were putting up their own authority to counter his oppressive feeling.
Huh, what a strange combination. There are three powerful forces here, in the same spot. This was rare. Hell, truthfully not normal for such people to even share space. Heck, I have seen men with this level of energy go to war over encroaching on each other's territory. This war became bloody as hell. Tearing families apart, territories fall and rise, but to see three in one spot with not an ounce of war, strange. It's strange. Something about this was not right. I knew I had come to the right place. Something was here that needed to be untangled. I just didn't know what.
The intensity of his authority and presence began to climb higher and higher. I could feel the pressure becoming bigger and bigger until his cloying smell overwhelmed my senses and his presence became suffocating.
I stood my ground, my head throbbing. It was like someone got a sledgehammer and decided to slam it against my brain repeatedly.
My back started to itch.
What the hell?!
Not good, why now, again?!
An angry coil of energy stirred in my heart; I wanted to shout, snap, and flare out my wings. Slamming back the energy that seems to crawl under my skin, telling me to submit. Hell no!
I gritted my teeth. My eyes water, and the throbbing pain is excruciating now. Even the crawling intensity of his power getting under my skin was torturous. All my wings were slowly starting to emerge, making my skin crawl. Downy feathers tickled my back, telling me that in the next five minutes, if we don't get this testosterone in the air under control, I'm about to snap. My fist was about to slug out and punch him in the sinful-looking face and break blood.
What a sight that would be.
Shocked at my thoughts, I bit my lower lip. Banish! You have evil thoughts. I chastised myself.
Daimon's nose fluttered; there was a momentary daze in his eyes.
"Daimon! Rein it in!" Tyler snapped.
Just when the pressure was heavy, it disappeared just as quickly as it came. The aching pain in my back slowly receded. I didn't realize I was holding my breath.
Daimon's lips curled on the side with a sinister smile. He rolled his shoulders, standing sharp and cold. He took a step, his hand reaching out toward my shoulders. I felt his hand, brushing my shoulder as he pulled it back.
I flinched, taking an unconscious step to the side. Looking at him with bewilderment.
In his hand was my black feather, the small, downy one. I almost gasped out loud, gulping it a few times.
I didn't think I would lose a feather; heck, I usually collect them all without missing a beat. My mother used to say, whoever gains a feather is in need of help. Why? I don't know, but I followed that rule as if it was ingrained in my soul. She never told me why or for what . I haven't had one of my feathers lost or found by anyone ever since my parents' death. It was like a nagging voice, telling me not to scream at myself. I need to do something.
To run straight into whatever shitshow was coming. My feathers never lied, not once. I wanted to reach out, snatch that feather from his hand and stuff it back into my pockets. Just to get away from whatever storm is brewing around him.
No, I shook those uncomfortable thoughts out. This was good. This meant that I would be closer to my goal, figuring out the needed information.
The other two looked at him, holding the feather in his hand, in a peculiar way. Eric seemed dazed; Tyler confused. Daimon twirled it around his finger as if he were seeing something that he couldn't explain.
"There is a saying from my mother," I spoke, breaking the silence. All three of them broke out of their thoughts.
"Whenever you find a feather, help is around the corner. Make a wish, let it go, and help will arrive." I unconsciously blurted out those words. Authority hidden in my tongue wrapped around the feathers and crawled into Daimon's hand. Lightly kissing his smooth skin and disappearing, wrapping the two: man and feather.
I shuddered, knowing full well that I'm fucked. This was a binding contract to fulfil. Why, God, why? I cursed inwardly.
Daimon tucked the feather into his front pocket, ignoring what I had said. It was as if whatever had happened never happened at all. "Mrs. Gibbons. Welcome to Regis Corporation. Isaiah would usually have been going over this, but they informed me that you would take over the social media and advertising for our bullet train project. The VIP promotions that Eric involved in ."
"Yes."
"Eric Sol is one of the major sponsors and the face of this project. I expect you to work with him for the next month until it goes public."
"I understand."
Eric grinned; he showed his hand, reaching out for me to grab and shake.
I did.
His large hand grasped my fingers, holding them firm. He shook with a big cheesy smile. "I like you already."
"Um…"
"Don't worry about these two pinpricks. I assure you, they aren't fun to work with. I expect you to be here tomorrow morning at 7, and we will be going in the same direction. It'll be a date."
Daimon spoke with a sharp tone, "Eric."
"Alright, alright," he said in a relaxed manner, "but it's not my fault if she falls for my charm."
I rolled my eyes. Men.
"Keep your dick in your pants, will you?" Tyler grunted, annoyed. "I don't want to hear another one of your stupid scandalous escapades blaring on my screen the first thing I wake up on my news feed."
Eric shrugged, "Not my fault. She had it coming."
"Sir, would that be all?" I spoke, bringing their attention back. I did not want to be in the middle of whatever was going on here. Being around three powerful figures who could blast out their authority like an elephant in a china shop was a recipe for disaster.
"Yes, that will be all." Daimon said, "You may leave."
I nodded, turning my back and walking straight out the door without looking back at all. Their heated gaze glared down my back as if I was the next fun thing to break.