The saying a watched pot never boils crossed my mind more than once as I started down the clock until it hit five p.m.. It seemed more relatable now after becoming a reaper—infinite time was perpetually boring.

“Let's go.” Kartine hollered from her cubicle.

The released air from her PC shutting down pierced the silence.

I rolled my knuckles and pressed the off-button. “Okay. Let me grab my coat.” I rose from the chair and turned as Grim strolled through the front entrance.

I shrunk back down and scooted closer to the monitor. Manifesting, praying to disappear into the computer screen. Please. Please. Oh, fuck. Please. Not again. I peeked over the divider. Grim called Larissa over and their faint conversation sent my heart into a panic.

His grey suit, perfectly snug and pressed like it went through the dry cleaners—when in fact—he made me soul-reaper until sunrise and forced me to come straight to work without going home to freshen up.

My jaw clenched thinking about him having the time to tidy himself when I was forced to wear two-day-old clothes.

Running into him so soon would ruin my mood all night. He needed to get lost. Immediately.

“What are you doing? We're leaving, remember?” Kartine popped up from the opposite side of the divider and a muffled squeak bubbled up my throat as I clamped my hand over my mouth.

“Jesus. You creeped me out.” I withdrew a heavy breath.

I looked up and met Kartine’s cheerful eyes as her radiant self overtook my line of sight.

Maybe, I was a tad jumpy.

“Bold choice in words.” Kartine lifted her eyebrow and tilted her chin, staring with curiosity at Grim and Larissa.

“This.” She twirled her hand, pointing at the entire office. “By far, is the least terrifying thing that's happened to us, in and out of the office. So, get off your ass. It’s still happy hour at Cinder’s and mama needs a stiff drink.”

I glared at Kartine and whispered, “Easy for you to say, you didn't have him materialize in your apartment while straddling a dude.”

Kartine’s eyes went wide and she leaned in. “Tell me more. You left out so many details. I'm a little hurt actually.”

I rolled my eyes and inclined back, noticing Grim disappeared and Larissa stood a few steps away.

My body flinched and I squeezed my fist to my chest and the chair lobbed me backward.

An audible click of disapproval came from Larissa’s mouth as she caught the sidearms, stopping me from crashing into the carpet.

A pensive look soured Larissa’s features as she stared at me.

“You need to get your shit together by tomorrow. Grim informed me you will be working under him until he figures out the issue regarding your file.”

“Are you sure he's not talking about Kartine? She sucks at her job, too.”

“Hey.” Kartine shot back. “Throwing your only friend under the bus. Despicable.” She shook her head in disapproval and I smiled.

“Don't be a smartass. You know what happens if we don't do our job.”