~HELENA~
I ended Axel's call with a nod Jason and Ryan couldn't see, pocketing my phone as we trudged home from the grocery store, bags in hand.
"You okay, Hel?" Jason asked. He was fourteen and too perceptive for his own good, swinging the bag of milk like a pendulum.
Ryan kicked a pebble ahead of us. "Yeah, you look weird."
"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "Boss just needs me in the office early tomorrow."
I wondered how he even got my number. HR, probably. I'd given it when I started working for Layla, but I never expected the big boss himself to call.
Jason shrugged, launching into a rant about some bullies at school who'd been bothering his friend. Ryan chimed in with stories about his latest video game wins, talking a mile a minute about levels and bosses and things I barely understood.
"Can we get pizza this weekend?" Ryan asked, hopping over a crack in the sidewalk.
"Maybe. If I get my paycheck on time."
"You always say maybe," he complained.
