Chapter 165 Good to know

Chapter 165 Good to know
Emerald’s POV

“You’re not kidding Spinel. Here’s the kicker from the small sample size I pulled together, it appears that this type of fraud was committed in about 30% of  the units. Now, they didn’t always use the chandelier method, as you can see from my notes, they used other mid-range items as well. They were smart in using mid-range items because it wouldn’t send up a red flag unless someone looked through everything line item by line item, we don’t do that with progress billing. Peridot Industries policy is we focus on the first page of the progress billing submitted, then pay the invoices.”

“We need a detailed audit.” Jet huffed and ran his hands over his face. “I’m so tired of people stealing from me!”

“Is it possible it’s a mistake?” Spinel asked, thumbing back through the few pages of  Emerald’s notes.

“What do you mean?” I asked, completely confused by the question. “Are you asking if my math is wrong, or are you questioning my ability to read a bid and progress billing?”

“Hey, hey, slow down, Turbo. I’m not saying any of that. I know these bids are done in a contractor friendly computer program. Is it possible the program the contractor used glitched?” Spinel asked, glaring at me, over the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe you thought I was calling you stupid. What’s wrong with you?”

I sat down with a sigh, “I didn’t get much sleep.”

Spinel shook his head, “I would think with that fresh mark on your neck, you’d be in a better mood.”

I stuck my tongue out at Spinel and flipped him off.

“Mature.” Spinel mocked, repeating my actions.

“Stand down you two, you’re being childish. Emerald, you need to get ready we’re leaving for the airport in three hours. Did you contact Paige?” Jet asked, changing the subject and finding a way to avoid the argument that was brewing between Spinel and me.

"She started it."

I looked in Andrew’s direction, “Does anyone have their phone? I left mine in the bedroom.”

Jet reached in his pocket, pulled out his phone, unlocked it and handed it to me. I took the phone from his hand, scrolled through his contacts, found Alsie’s number and dialed it.

“Hey, Jet. Everything ok?”

I giggled, “It’s Emerald.”

“Oh, even better. Is everything ok?”

“Yes, everything is fine. Is it possible for Andrew to go to Nebraska with us, it’s just an overnight trip.”

“Emey, you don’t have to ask me for permission to have one of your mates accompany you anywhere.” Alsie said, scolding me a little bit.

“I’m asking because he’s your mate, you guys have a small football team of children, and I don’t know what you may have planned with him this weekend. I don’t want to mess up any plans you might have or work he may need to get done. You guys are the Royal Family.”

Alsie laughed, “Silly human. If there were anything we needed to be done, or plans we may have had, I have seven other mates, I can separate myself from one of them for a few days. You had Declan and Dante all to yourself for 22 days; we managed to handle things over here. I love that you think you need to ask and that you’re doing it out of respect for me and the bonds that I have with everyone. I assure you that your bonds are just as important as ours. Andrew is a big boy; he can decide if he wants to go to Nebraska. Now, I felt something pretty powerful through mine and Andrew’s bond a little while ago…”

I giggled, “Yes.”

Alsie squealed in my ear so loud I had to pull the phone away.

“Oh, Alsie, you left out a very interesting detail, well two actually.”

“Right, your bond with Andrew is only 33.3% complete, you will need to be marked by Osiris and Evander to fully complete the process. Once that happens you will go into another heat.”

“Andrew explained all that, that is NOT what I was talking about.”

I heard Jet and Spinel whispering amongst themselves.

“I know.” Alsie giggled. “I’ll see you four tomorrow evening, and Emey for the record it’s a lot fun and totally worth it, if you’re into it. If you’re not, it’s not a deal breaker.” Alsie ended the call. I handed the phone back to Jet.

“Why does it always feel like I’m being passed around?” Andrew asked, taking another drink of his coffee.

I looked at him, then at the other two, “You get passed around…Shuttup.” I shook my head, stood up and refilled my coffee.

Andrew, Jet, and Spinel all laughed.

“Did you two feel what Alsie was talking about?” I asked Jet and Spinel.

Both Jet and Spinel nodded their heads. “Every time one of them marks you, we feel it. Each time it gets stronger, and we can feel more of the bond between the three of us.” Jet said. “It’s becoming powerful, like it’s awakening something.”

“What do you feel?” Spinel asked me.

I stood still for a second, closed my eyes and focused on what my body was feeling. “My body feels like it’s lowkey humming, I feel charged. The more of you that are around me the happier and safer I feel. I always feel protective of all of you and when I’m in the same room or around all of you that feeling grows. I don’t want any other woman, except Alsie, too close to you. Maggie, house staff, and Samantha from the Café are exceptions, but others, even mated females, I don’t like it when they get too close.”

“What constitutes too close?” Andrew inquired.

I tilted my head and thought about the question, “Arm’s length.”

“That’s respectable.” Jet confirmed.

“What else?” Spinel asked, making mental notes of my answers.

“I want to jump out of my skin when women openly flirt with you. It’s so disrespectful and disgusting. I want to be around you all the time. I hate it when I can’t have all of you in my bubble at the same time. I’ve noticed the sparks, or the electric tingles have become stronger, I feel them more now. I still have the feeling of a hollowness when I’m not with you guys but it’s not as drastic as it used to be, my chest doesn’t feel empty, or hurt, and I no longer get nauseous thinking about being away from any of you. However, I know with every part of me, I cannot live if I am taken or removed from you.”

“That’s the bond settling down and excepting our everyday life. The feeling of protectiveness and not being able to leave, that will always be strong and will continue to grow stronger.” Andrew said, finishing his second cup of coffee.

I scoffed at Andrew, “Great, so I’ll continue to kill people who threaten what’s mine. Good to know.”

Six eyes turned to me and widened with surprise.

“What?” I asked, completely confused.

“She doesn’t even know what she said.” Spinel said to Jet and Andrew, as he walked over and kissed me.