I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 99: Break Time

I scrubbed my hands clean in the sink, trying to feel clean again, and then finally sighed.

There was a sudden hush on the line and I looked up to find Alisha walking up to the register. She gave Charlotte a venomous glare as she did so and I saw Charlotte actually falter as Alex got on the register to take her order.

I slunked up behind them, feeling both relieved and shy.

Kye had been texting but she stopped to observe the shift in mood.

Alisha gave Alex a smile, professional but at least kind. 

Alex stepped aside so I could take over.

Alisha leaned closer. “Are you okay, Kitten?” she asked softly.

I nodded. “You didn't need to come yourself,” I told her. “Tye had it handled.”

“I know,” she said. “But I wanted to.”

I felt a little flush at that. 

“Do you want to continue working here?” Alisha asked.

I nodded. “Don't trouble yourself with this. I know … Charlotte's difficult but she's just Charlotte.”

Alisha had that discontent, thinned smile that was hiding a grimace. “If that’s what you choose,” she said. “But Sergei– did he say anything to you?”

I hesitated, which told her enough.

“I-I put salt in his coffee,” I finished. “And told him to choke on it.”

Alisha smirked a little. “Good girl,” she told me.

The heated fluster started to return.

“Don’t hesitate to call me if he comes back, understand? This isn’t just a coincidence, he’s testing boundaries and I need to be clear what happens if he shoves his head in the crocodile’s mouth.”

I nodded. “I know. But I also don’t want you to have to drop everything because of some pettiness.”

“Pettiness is my business,” she stated firmly. “And this is beyond just being disruptive, he’s threatening you. You did good telling Tye right away. But still, you should keep me in the loop.”

I swallowed a little. I forgot how intense her eyes could be. I looked down.

“Kitten,” she said softly. “You aren't a burden by asking for help because of something that bleeds over from my life. You're not the problem. They are. Sergei is. And frankly I don't think he has much longer to run around behind my back.”

I nodded. “If you're sure.”

“I'm certain,” she reinforced. She took a deep breath. “We can talk more later.” There was again that quiet observation of Alex, simply existing nearby. I knew they were watching, not because of Alisha but because Charlotte was still glaring annoyedly and they were acting as a buffer.

“Alisha,” I said quietly. “I can stay home for a bit. Until things settle. I really mean it when I say I don't want you to have to worry. And Tye is exhausted.”

“I know, Kitten. We'll have Matteo back in a couple days though. And that'll take quite a bit of strain off him.” She looked exhausted too, though. Under the makeup, there was still that demeanor of someone who'd been doing far too much for far too long 

I nodded. “Okay.”

She stood upright again. “Do you have a break coming up? I’d like to sit and chat with you.”

I hesitated, looked at Alex and they nodded. “I’ll cover for you,” they offered.

“Thank you,” I said and slid out from behind the counter.

Alisha offered a hand to pull me closer by the waist, and shot Charlotte a neutral but calculating look before sitting down at the high top with Tye.

She straightened out a stray piece of hair and then quietly looked at me.

I felt myself start to sink into her gaze. “I only have fifteen minutes,” I said quietly.

“I know,” she stated. “But I’ll take what I can get.” she reached over and rested her hand on my knee.

I put mine on top of hers, felt the softness of her skin.

The fifteen minutes didn’t feel like much, but I soaked in all of Alisha’s affection as much as I could, even if she didn’t have much to say and addressed a few more work things on her phone.

Her hand stayed on my knee and mine on hers. Even such a subtle expression of affection wasn't common from her in public so I'd take and treasure it.

When I went back to work she gave me a soft smile. There was pain behind it.

“Tye'll stay here with you,” she said. “So don't be afraid to let him know if you need anything.”

I nodded. It was sad to watch her leave and get joined by another member of her security. 

I sighed a little once behind the counter.

“So,” Alex said. “You know people. Or at least she knows people.”

I didn't answer right away, still I let myself half think about an excuse. “She has her own security,” I explained finally. “On account of all the death threats.”

Alex nodded. “She's got money money,” they followed.

“To be honest, I have no idea how much,” I told them. “But it's enough.”

“I get that,” they agreed.

I started a bit wistfully for a long moment. I wanted Alisha back, if just to see her here, safe, quietly holding the entire room in a chilled calm that Charlotte only wished she could command.

“Should I worry?” I asked Alex.

“About what?” they asked.

“Everything. I'm in a relationship with a woman in a completely different part of the financial class. She routinely gets death threats and now… since I'm close to her, I am too.”

“The way you two look at each other, I don't think you have anything to worry about,” Alex reassured. “Do you have any backup plans if things do go astray?”

“... This job,” I told them.

They looked almost pitingly at me. “Well… that sucks.”

I nodded.

Charlotte came over then. She didn't say anything but we got the message. I let Alex handle the register for the day and took to cleaning again, and making sure the pastry case was neat.

Sergei didn't come back, probably knew Tye wouldn't hesitate to shoot him if he did.

Tye drove us back to the monitoring center. I was surprised when Alisha was there with Lili. The stopped immediately and waited by the door to the break room rather than going in. I got the undertone immediately and followed his example, waiting patiently by the door as Alisha was addressing Lili.

“You want to be reinstated?” Alisha asked. There was that carefully neutral tone in her voice, guarding what her feelings on the topic were.

“Yes… I know… I froze up during the incident but…” I heard Lili’s voice shaking a little. “I just didn’t know what I was stepping into before. And now I do. But… I would like more training, in more than just firearms or whatnot. I need to know the stuff that matters so when something does happen I don’t… freeze like I did.”

Alisha was quiet for a while. “Very well then,” she said finally. “I’ll speak with my people to see what we can do. You’re certain you understand what you’re choosing to walk into?”

“Yes, Ms Takeno,” Lili stated.

“One of my previous guards got his face blown off a couple weeks ago. You understand that theres a risk something like that, or even worse could happen to you no matter how vigilant you stay?”

I winced internally at that reminder. I didn’t expect Alisha to be so brisk about it.

“Yes, I understand,” Lili answered.

“Alright. We’ll arrange something.”

A moment later Lili passed by us on the way out of the cramped breakroom. Her posture was awkward still but straightened upon seeing Tye, even if I saw the quiet wince as her battered body was forced to support itself.

Alisha looked up as we entered. She had her legs crossed and was still in boss mode. She gave Tye a nod at the door and he turned to shut it without a word, and then pulled the blinds down.

“I told you,” Tye chided her gently.

Alisha took a deep breath. “Yes you did. But she still needs training.”

I looked between them, confused.

“Lili’s back in,” Alisha explained. “Which means we have one more enforcer to work with.”

At my continued silence she continued.

“I didn't think she had the balls to stand in front of a loaded gun willingly,” she said. “But she stood in front of me to ask so.” Alisha nodded at Tye, “you think Matteo can give her desensitizing training?”

Tye nodded. “But we should check her progress.”

“Mm,” Alisha agreed. “Alright. That does make giving Kitten a ride easier,” she decided. “Matteo can pick her up and then take Lili out for training. And when Kittens done he can pick her up again and drop her off. Thatll free you up a bit in the morning and afternoon.”

Tye nodded. “One more stop I can make in a day.”

Alisha sighed. “Right,” she agreed. “But eventually we should be able to have Lili watch over Kitten on her own. And then Matteo's free.”

“Yes,” Tye agreed.

Alisha stood then, and pulled me in briefly. “Alright. Let's go home. I have a phone call with Sergei to make.” Her fingers were tense against my side, and her gaze was sharper than a blade.

I felt a chill down my spine. That was scary Alisha, as Sergei had once called that side of her.

And Sergei wasn't afraid of scary Alisha until a punishment was delivered.

An: sorry for the radio silence. Work got me burned out but I'm recovering now and had one of those conversations with my boss that is basically a warning like, keep letting your supervisor be a dick to me and I'll walk out. And it's not like this would be a hard job to replace. So alas. Hopefully I'll be back to regular updates.