Chapter Text
Feyre was busy with some research into a company SLI was thinking of buying one Wednesday morning in early December when her cell phone rang; she glanced at it to see if she needed to answer or if she could ignore it and just let it go to voicemail. Upon seeing it was Rhys, she moved immediately to answer it. Her heart was in her throat because neither one of them ever called the other during work hours, limiting themselves to texting, so her first thought was that something was very wrong in Velaris. She tried to hide her apprehension as she connected with Rhys.
“Hey, lover, what's going on?,” she asked, trying and failing to achieve a breezy tone.
“I really need to just be with you for a while,” Rhys answered in a serious voice. “Is there any way that it would be okay if I fly in today? It wouldn't need to be for long; I know this is your company's busiest time of year, so you're busy. I was thinking that I could fly back out tonight.”
“You are welcome anytime for any length of time; you know that, Rhys. No questions asked. When would your flight arrive?,” Feyre asked.
“I'm at the security checkpoint right now; boarding begins in a half and hour or so and takeoff is said to be on time, so I'd land at one o'clock,” Rhys answered.
“I'll meet you at the airport, then. I can leave here for the day at noon, and that will allow me time to get there on time. Do you want to talk to me while you're waiting to board? I can tell you are terribly upset, and I'll talk about whatever it is that's caused you this trouble or just listen while you talk, whatever you need,” Feyre offered.
“Just hearing your voice has gone a long way toward settling me down, Fey. It's a business thing; everyone here is in good health, so don't worry about that. I don't want to say much more about it until I've seen you, okay? I need to be with you to calm the rest of the way down first.”
“Sure, I get it,” Feyre answered even though she didn't have a clue about what was going on, but it seemed to put Rhys more at ease. “Remember that you still have clothes and toiletries here, so after you arrive and we get to my place, I'll let you settle in while I pick us up some lunch. Can you be thinking of what you would like and we'll talk about it when you arrive?”
“I can answer that right now,” Rhys said.
“Uh-uh,” Feyre answered. “That doesn't involve nutritional value, however pleasurable it is,” she laughed. “Think about real, actual food.”
“Okay, be that way,” Rhys grumbled. “I'll think about your idea after I imagine my idea. That's my best and final offer. I'm smirking, just so you know.”
Feyre laughed and said, “Oh, Prick, I've missed you. It'll be good to see you for whatever time we have.”
“I've missed you, too, love,” Rhys commented. “I'm ready to actually do the security checks, so I will let you go for now. I'll see you in a couple of hours, okay?”
“Yes; I can't wait,” Feyre responded. “I love you, Rhys; have a good trip.”
“Love you, too, Fey. I will,” Rhys answered and ended the call.
Feyre looked at her phone for a moment after the call ended wondering what in the Cauldron could have caused Rhys to be so upset. He said it had to do with business, and I know he's been working hard trying to set up and staff the new software division. I wonder if it has to do with that? The last I heard, the company got the software deal they were working on with Kallias Insurance and the roll out was supposed to start right after the holidays. I hope nothing went wrong with that, she thought. Enough. This is doing no good. I'll find out this afternoon, I expect.
She shook her head and went to the doorway to Alis' office to see if she could take the afternoon off. She had no meetings scheduled and was ahead of schedule on her research projects, so it shouldn't be a problem. Alis readily agreed that Feyre could leave at noon as she planned, but suggested that, since she was ahead of schedule in her research, she was actually free to leave right then so she could get groceries or prepare the townhouse for company, whatever she wanted to do. Feyre thought about it for a minute and agreed with Alis that, given the mystery of Rhys' very short trip and the fact that he was so unhappy, it would be best if they didn't have to eat in restaurants this trip, so a grocery shopping trip was in order. She thanked Alis and went to back up her research and to check in with Landri and Josef to be sure that they were also on track with their work and had no questions. They were doing fine, so Feyre was free to leave by ten-thirty.
She stopped at the grocery store to pick up the usual foods they like to eat and drink on visits, getting enough for a couple of days, since she had no real idea if Rhys actually meant to go back to Velaris that same night or not. Dinners would be a problem, since Feyre didn't cook, but they could have a delivery from one of the restaurants they liked in Adriata or, if Rhys was feeling better, just go out.
Once she returned home and put the groceries away, she quickly straightened up the townhouse and made sure that Rhys' stash of clothing and toiletries was in good shape for him. Before long, it was nearly time to go out to the airport and collect Rhys; then perhaps the mystery regarding his unhappiness would begin to clear up. As she was fixing her hair in preparation for leaving, though, her phone rang. She grabbed it out of her purse and saw that it was Amren, which shocked her as badly as Rhys' call had. Amren had never called before. She picked up right away, but trepidation was much too mild a description for her emotional state just then. Abject terror was a much more accurate term.
“Hey, Amren. How are you?,” Feyre said cautiously.
“I'm good, thanks. And you?,” Amren responded.
“I'm okay,” Feyre answered, though that was shading the truth. “What can I do for you?”
“This is a little off the wall, I know, and the only way I know how to handle it is to be direct, and I hope you will be direct with me as well. Is Rhys with you?”
Feyre's heart lurched. She had no idea what Rhys wanted his family to know about his plans, but she wouldn't lie to any of them. She might leave out details, but she wouldn't outright lie.
“Um, no, he isn't,” Feyre hedged.
“I'm getting from that that you might expect him. Is that right?”
“Amren, I'm in an impossible position here. You wanted direct, so I will give you that. I don't know what happened up there and I don't know what Rhys wants people to know about where he's gone. I only know that he's okay right now, but he's horribly upset and maybe some time for him to to decompress is in order. That's all I can tell you, I'm afraid.”
“Okay, I'll accept that, and thank you for your honesty. I know I backed you into a corner and I'm sorry for that, but no one here knows where he went or how long he'll be gone. I'll leave it to him to give you the details but he and Azriel had a rather bad argument earlier this morning, and the next thing I knew, he texted me that he was taking a short trip out of town, so I needed to keep watch over the company. I don't know whether 'short' refers to the distance or duration of his trip or refers to both. In short, I'm in the dark here, and I really don't like that circumstance. I understand your predicament, though, and I won't press you for more information. If you hear from him, could you please pass on a message?”
“Yes, if I can find a way to do it without upsetting him further,” Feyre said.
“Please tell him that we have his calendar covered for the rest of the week, between rearranging things and Mor and I taking care of what can't be rearranged. And please tell him that Azriel feels awful about what was said and wants to talk to him when he can. That part will be the tricky thing to work into a casual conversation, so I understand that you'll have to be careful about where and when you tell him.”
“I will let him know the first part, certainly. The second will have to wait until he tells me about the situation, if he does. We don't want him to think we're going behind his back if he hoped to keep this matter between Azriel and himself,” Feyre commented.
“Agreed,” Amren replied. “If he's coming your way, you have my thanks for anything you can do to put him back together. I haven't seen him like this since his family passed away. I want you to know that I have never seen him so happy as he has been since the two of you have been involved. You've been very good for him, and I'm grateful for that.”
“Thank you, Amren. I appreciate your telling me this, and please know that he's been every bit as good for me as you think I've been for him. I'll do what I can as I can, all right?”
“I can't ask for more,” Amren replied. “Be well, Feyre.”
They ended the call and Feyre finished her hair and hurried out the door to go out to the airport. Fortunately, traffic was light and she arrived and parked with a few minutes to spare before Rhys' flight was due to land.
She was waiting outside of the door Rhys had to use to get to the airport exit when he emerged. He saw her immediately and they hurried to each other. Feyre wrapped her arms around him and just held him tightly. Rhys, in turn, set down his computer bag, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her hair, just breathing in her scent, the scent that calmed and centered, yet elated, him every time he smelled it. Gods of the Cauldron, I needed her scent so badly, he thought. I just needed to be near her so badly. They were out of other people's way, so they were able to remain this way for however long they wanted, just breathing each other in without saying a word.
After several minutes, they eased apart and Rhys picked up his bag. Feyre eyed him carefully and asked him if he would be okay until they reached her townhouse, or if he wanted her to arrange for a room at a nearby airport hotel in case he wanted to talk to her immediately about what had caused him so much trouble.
“Let's just go home, Feyre. The trip will allow me to try to arrange my thoughts so that I can maybe explain rationally what happened.”
“All right,” Feyre answered. “Then let's go. We'll have lunch when we get there—I stopped at the store after I left work and picked up some deli stuff for lunch for us. And a light wine,” she winked at him.
“Oh, no, my mood today would need aged whiskey, not a genteel wine, but you made a noble attempt, and I thank you for it.” he responded with a very small smirk, confirming to Feyre just how bad his frame of mind was. When he can't even smirk, I know we're in trouble, she thought.
“There's a liquor store on the way home,” Feyre said. “Think about what you want and what mixers you want, if any. We'll stop and get it. It will just add a few minutes to the trip.”
By this time they were at the car, so Rhys put his bag in the small trunk and they were soon on their way. Feyre surreptitiously watched him as best as she could; he was very quiet and she honored that, trying to make it a comfortable silence so that he could begin to relax. They reached the liquor store and she asked him what he would like her to buy him in the way of whiskey and mixers.
“I'll go in with you, okay? It feels good to walk,” Rhys said. “I'll get the whiskey, though. That's only fair.”
“I won't argue with you over it today, but it's really no problem if I get it,” Feyre said.
“I know,” said Rhys. “Another time you can get it or buy me a new set of lingerie or something,” he said, trying and failing to wiggle his eyebrows.
Feyre smiled at him and took his arm as they walked into the store, made their purchase, and continued to her home.
When they arrived, it was fairly obvious that Rhys was worn out and Feyre thought he was likely very hungry as well. She knew from experience that the flights they took between Adriata and Velaris were perilously short on the food front, so it had been a long time since he ate anything resembling real food, on top of his obviously horrible day. She offered him a shower before they ate and he was quick to agree to the plan, so they put his computer bag on the table for now and went upstairs where Feyre had laid out his clothing in the bedroom and his toiletries on the counter of the bath. She asked if he needed anything else at the moment, and he responded by taking her in his arms and kissing her deeply, gently stroking her back. She responded to his touch immediately but she gently let him know that the order of business would be a shower by himself and eating lunch. After that, the schedule was open.
“You're firm on that?,” he asked.
“I am,” Feyre responded with an arched brow.
“Oh, the dreaded arched brow; I know I'm not changing your position when I see the arched brow,” Rhys feebly joked. “Okay, I'll see you downstairs in a few minutes—and Feyre? Thanks for being here and for letting me visit. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Rhys. I'll just be downstairs if you need anything. Bring whatever clothes that need washing with you when you come down, all right? I'll be in the kitchen or sitting room.”
While Rhys showered and changed clothes, Feyre put together lunch plates containing a few salads, some cold cuts, cheeses, and Italian bread. She waited to see what Rhys wanted to drink before taking care of that, but she was able to get the plates made up and set them and the needed silverware, napkins, and spices on the table before Rhys came back down. He came up behind her and put his arms around her, once again taking in her unique scent.
“I so love your scent. Thank you for the shower, love. I needed it more than I knew. I put the clothes in the laundry room; I can wash them after lunch.”
“You always smell so good to me, too” Feyre commented. “I can say it now, but when I smell your scent, it warms me, not only in a sexual way, but it also makes me feel calm and happy. It's hard to explain in words.”
“I know it is,” Rhys answered. “I find that your scent calms and comforts me as well as excites me and makes me happy, all at the same time. It's like I've come home when you are near.”
“Exactly!,” exclaimed Feyre. “We are definitely strange, but I like us just the way we are.”
She gestured to the table for Rhys to sit and asked him what he wanted to drink with lunch. He wanted ice water, as did Feyre, so it was a small matter to get them large glasses of it and sit down to lunch.
They talked of inconsequential things during lunch, both of them finishing their plates and then enjoying pastries Feyre had thought to buy from the store's in-store bakery that morning. After they had pronounced themselves to be full, they rose from the table, Feyre to rinse the plates and silverware and load them into the dishwasher, and Rhys to start the laundry. They met at the davenport in the sitting room, sitting as close as possible to each other, with Feyre holding Rhys' hand; she was drawing comforting patterns with her thumb on his hand this time. Their refilled water glasses were on the coffee table and Feyre had chosen a soft jazz music stream on her audio system to provide some background noise.
“Are you ready to talk to me now?,” Feyre asked cautiously. “I can get you some whiskey, if you like.”
“Maybe two fingers of whiskey on the rocks,” Rhys requested. “I'm sorry, Feyre, but this is pretty bad. It's going to be hard to get through.”
“All right; I'll be right back,” Feyre said as she rose and went to the kitchen. She brought him his drink, sat, and resumed holding his hand and drawing patterns.
“Do you want to lay on the davenport so I can hold you? Would that help?,” Feyre asked quietly.
“I'll try it upright for now,” Rhys answered. “I apologize because it might be a bit disjointed and confusing but ask questions if I'm not clear, okay?”
Feyre nodded and merely told him that she was here for him.
“Do you remember when I told you that I was planning to give software development its own division with its own management tree and that I wanted Azriel to decide if he wanted to lead that division or continue leading the IT division? That was in September, right?,” Rhys began. Feyre nodded.
“I had hoped he would have a decision made by December first, which he was aware of, so that we could start moving on the personnel structure of the new division just after the first of the year. A week or so ago, I asked him where he was on making the decision. He hemmed and hawed about it and I told him then that I had to have an answer in a week. He seemed to accept it, but he obviously wasn't happy. At the time, I couldn't tell if he wasn't happy about the decision itself or because he didn't want the structure of his IT department to change—as I told you, he loves both development and handling IT issues for the company. Running the support service, while a very necessary part of a software development firm, is less exciting to him, but he handles it well also.
“Anyway, the deal is, as you know, the upper management team, who is also my family, agreed that we as a company would be best served by splitting software development away from IT. We decided in October with, as I said, a target date of January second for the start date on the split. So fine. Azriel hadn't given me a hint that he was dissatisfied with the decision, or I was too blind to see any hints that he offered, something, but he kept putting off making his own decision until I put my foot down this morning.
“I had him report for a formal meeting in my office at nine o'clock, and both of us were there on time. Roger, my admin, was at his desk right outside, and the door was closed. It started out reasonably enough, but it became clear to me today that, in reality, Azriel didn't want either the structure or his own place in the structure to change. That wasn't going to be possible; under our restructuring plan, development is going to have its own management tree and it will be split off from IT. This isn't odd, by the way. Most of the larger development companies are structured this way. Eventually, we're looking to add a third division by splitting software support away from IT, once the size of our support output justifies it.
“So, to continue, our discussion was proceeding, but not really getting anywhere. I was hoping to get Azriel's decision on which division he wanted to lead: software development or IT, not try to re-justify the decision to restructure, but that's what the meeting was becoming. He couldn't let that go.
“Around nine-thirty, I called a halt to the discussion about the restructuring itself, and told Azriel that I needed a decision from him on which division he wanted to lead by the end of the day, or I would have to assign him to one by January second, based solely on the company's needs—fairly cold of me, I will admit. Unfortunately, I was running out of patience with him. So that was one wrong move I can see that I made right now.
“That set Azriel off, and I reacted very badly to it, I'm afraid. We went back and forth for a few minutes and then he told me that he really wanted to work in a smaller operation where he could do all that he loved to do, and if he couldn't do that at Starr Technologies, he'd look elsewhere. This was not my finest moment, Fey, and I'm already ashamed of myself. I truthfully saw red in that moment. He'd been part of the company for all of its thirteen years and I couldn't believe he was talking about leaving it and I was equating it to his leaving his family, it seemed to me. I told him exactly that, and he told me that I was being, in colorful terms, an asshole CEO, as well as a tyrannical head of the family. I ended the discussion there, he left, and I didn't see him before I left Velaris today,” Rhys sighed loudly.
“I was also wrong to cut and run today, but all I could think of at the time was that I had to get to you. I had to see you, even if it's just for this afternoon, so I called you.”
“Oh, my love, you know you are always welcome here. Always,” Feyre said as she kissed his cheek, handed him his whiskey, and watched him take a sip.
“All right,” said Feyre, “That seems fairly straightforward, if distressing. I don't see that it's an absolute disaster in the long term, though. At least it doesn't have to be. How do you want me to help?,” she asked.
“Tell me I'm not a total fuckup, even if I was this morning, for starters,” Rhys replied. “Really, though, I've told you everything exactly as I remember it, so I'd like your analysis and any suggestions for how to mend my relationship with Azriel.”
Feyre thought for a minute, then took one of Rhys' hands in her own again. “So, first of all, I'm seeing this from the outside, and I haven't talked to Azriel to know how he feels about the restructuring. I can, then, only go by what he said this morning. I know your thoughts and feelings about the restructuring plus what you said this morning.
“If we keep that in mind, it will help. I don't think you are wrong to restructure your company. A large portion of its reason for being is software development. Everything else that you do stems from that. Acting in such a way as to maximize the possibility of development's success only makes good business sense for Starr Technologies as a whole.
“The problem for you arises with Azriel not being comfortable with the restructuring and not being willing to choose one of the divisions to lead. The problem for Azriel arose when restructuring came up in the fall. I want you to try and see his position, love. Some people are happier in smaller companies, and they're happier for a lot of different reasons. In Azriel's case, we know that he wants to both develop software and help with the device maintenance that surrounds the development. We know that he can and will manage the help desk work. There should be a place for him in another company in the Night Region, if not right in Velaris. He may not be able to stay at one company for his whole career under his current preferences, because successful companies usually evolve to your proposed model eventually, but he should be able to have a career.
“Was he wrong in the way he handled your meeting? Yes, but like you, he was under stress. I would like you to make allowance for that, just as I would advise him to make allowance for you being under stress.
“All right. So what did you do right? For the most part, almost everything, so far as I can tell. Azriel should have opened up about his discomfort with the restructuring, and he should have warned you that the new job, leading either division, was untenable for him. That was his biggest mistake, but it's a common one. It's hard to take a stand with your workmates and CEO. I can't imagine how hard it is to take that stand when all these people are your family, too.
“The major error you made was in equating Azriel perhaps leaving the company with Azriel perhaps leaving the family as an automatic if-then situation. A threat to leave the company as a threat to also leave the family, if you will. That was an emotional behavior when the meeting demanded calm, rational behavior. I doubt Azriel has any intention of leaving the family, no matter what, and if he thinks that you perceived his intention to possibly seek a job change as meaning he wanted to leave the family as well, he must be hurting over it.
“I know that you can see this error at this point, Rhys, and given your whole family's history over the years, I can understand why your first reaction would be to think what you did. But, looking in from the outside, I see only the possibility that Azriel may leave Starr. I perceive no threat to the family from what you told me. But this isn't a fatal error, Rhys; at least it doesn't have to be, on either side.
“So, you and your family have worked together for about thirteen years, right? And you've been part of the same family for that long or longer in most cases? I can see where the two units would overlap in some ways. That's a good long while for both units to coexist, and it would be a shock to the system if someone wanted to leave either one of them.
“Let's accept as a given the most likely thing that Azriel would do: leave Starr for another job but stay in the family. Do you and your upper management have a non-compete clause in your contracts? If Amren drew up the contracts, I would think that you would—they're common in the tech industry.” Feyre looked at Rhys, waiting for an answer.
“I'd actually have to see the contract to verify whether or not it does,” Rhys confessed. “I just signed it, trusting that Amren wouldn't screw me over. That probably sounds like a pretty stupid thing to do.”
“I, uh, um, yes, I'm afraid so,” Feyre said gently. “You're undoubtedly right that Amren wouldn't screw you over, but where this is your company and it was entirely your money that funded it, it's best to read the full contract and understand all the clauses before signing. Just for future reference. Do you know what a non-compete clause is?”
At Rhys' blank look, she went on to explain that basically, it limits where an employee can work for a specified period of time following the end of his or her employment at the company for whom a contract containing such a clause was signed. In other words, Azriel could leave Starr and look for another job, but he could not go to work for a company whose products directly competed with those of Starr Technologies for a specified length of time.
“If your contracts have that language, and, as I said, it's common enough, Azriel would be limited in his job search efforts, but there are development companies such as gaming studios and other specific types of development that don't directly compete with your company and what it creates. He should have little trouble finding a position, even if your contracts have such a clause.
“So, there's that to find out, and I think you should go to Amren and ask her, plus read your own contract and see what's in it, just for your knowledge, but it may come up if Azriel leaves Starr. Next we come to a more emotional issue. Can you accept Azriel perhaps working elsewhere and still being your brother?”
“I truthfully hadn't thought about it before today,” Rhys said slowly. “You are very correct, as it turns out, that I'm viewing my family as not only family, but that the family is identical to my upper management team—it's been that way for thirteen years and this is the first time I've had to try to separate the two in my head.
“The obvious answer is yes, of course, but I can see that, should he leave, the remaining team members can no longer discuss sensitive business issues outside of the office. That's only the first complication that occurs to me, but I imagine others will arise.”
“Let's establish a basis for your separation of the units then,” Feyre suggested. “Do you love Azriel, your brother?”
“That's an unqualified yes. I've loved him for many years longer than the company has existed.”
“Wonderful, then. Try to imagine how your family would function if you had all chosen jobs with different companies when you finished school, not all working at one company as you are. You'd still have your family dinners, of course, and you'd text and call each other, maybe go to that club of Mor's sometimes. You'd still celebrate birthdays and holidays. All of that is just like now. If Azriel leaves, you maybe wouldn't physically see him as often as now, and you wouldn't discuss business in front of him outside of generalities, but those are the only major things that change that I can see. It's easier said than done to separate them in your head and heart, I know, but it can be done. I'd much rather lose an employee than to lose an employee and a family member, Rhys.
“So, it looks like you will need a leader for the new development division as well as the IT division. That's okay; you may have qualified people in your company right now who can step into those roles, or hire from outside. As to Azriel, would he be willing to leave his management role and assume a joint role in the development and IT divisions that would allow him to do both jobs? I realize that it would be more of a hands-on and less of a management role. He'd likely need to be a developer and a tech with minimal supervisory responsibilities if he wants a dual role, but you can figure out how you want to set it up if both of you wanted to try it. It would be a way for him to stay at Starr, though you would likely not talk business on a corporate level in front of him as you do now. Would you be willing to create such a role for him? It would require the leader of each of the divisions to cooperate with his scheduling and it would likely pay him less money. For his sake and for the sake of the divisions in which he'd be working, he couldn't stay in upper management at all, and probably not in management at all, but that's up to you and your people to decide, and, if you were to offer it, up to him to decide if he'd want to step down under your terms.”
Feyre picked up her water glass and took a deep drink, then turned to Rhys and looked at him carefully. “What do you think? Does any of that make sense?”
“All too much of it, unfortunately,” Rhys said, taking another sip of his whiskey. Somehow, most of it had disappeared while Feyre was talking and she asked if he'd like a refill. He shook his head and thanked her for offering.
“You've given me an awful lot to think about, and I'm grateful beyond words, Feyre. I would hate to lose Azriel as a team member at Starr, but I can't lose him as a brother, too. I will need to talk to him and apologize for making him feel that his family loyalty was being questioned when he was only trying to tell me that he might need a different job. He's my brother and I only want to see him happy.
“But, as Rhys, the CEO, I need to get the lead positions of the two divisions figured out now so that we as a company can set up the development division. You present an intriguing option for Azriel, and I will think it over carefully to see if it should actually be offered to him, maybe discuss it with Mor—she has a good sense of the practicalities of the business, but it's an interesting idea. Why does he need to leave management?,” he asked curiously.
“That would have to do with the morale of your people in those divisions as well as other staff members watching to see how this plays out. See, if he takes a dev role and a tech role, none of the people with whom he would be working would have upper management status. It sets him apart when what he needs to do is establish himself as just another member of whatever teams he's assigned to. If he keeps management status, particularly upper management status, and tries to establish himself with his teams, he goes in with a whole lot more status than any of them have now and more than most of them will ever have. Particularly software development is often done in teams with recognized ladders of responsibility. He wouldn't fit that description at all if he kept management status, I think, and that might make it unpleasant for him as well as his teammates. And then you end up with a morale problem. But that's just my thought. If you have a human resources department, run it by them and see what they think. But remember, love, it is your company and your decision to make.”
“I feel so much better after talking to you, Fey; thank you.” He leaned over and kissed Feyre tenderly.
“I know it was a dumb thing to do, jumping on a plane only to return tonight, but something in me had to do it,” he continued. I just feel like you're home to me, and I had to go home. That makes no sense, but it is what it is.”
“I know very well what you mean, Rhys; you're home to me also. I would go so far as saying that I feel complete when I'm with you; I have since June,” Feyre responded. “This had to be excruciating for you and if I was able to help you understand what happened and maybe start to solve it, then I'm happy and am pleased to do it. As I said, though, you didn't make a fatal error and I think the situation is solvable.
“I need to tell you that Amren called me shortly before I left for the airport. She wanted to know if you were coming here but I told her that she was putting me into an impossible situation and that I wouldn't confirm or deny any assumption she made. I did agree to pass on a message if I talked to you, so here it is: she wants you to know that she and Mor worked with Roger to clear your calendar through the weekend. She said they rearranged some things and that she and Mor would handle the rest that couldn't be rearranged on the schedule.
“She also asked me to tell you that Azriel feels very badly about the meeting and wants to talk to you when he can. Are you serious about going home tonight or can you stay at least overnight and get a good rest—even if I have to sleep in the guest room to make sure that happens?,” Feyre asked with a smile.
“You had me reeled in right up to the part where you're sleeping in the guest room. You lost me there, I'm afraid,” Rhys smirked, a real one this time.
Feyre rolled her eyes and flipped him off. “Be semi-serious while I work out the logistics, please. It's my calling in life, Prick.”
Rhys raised his hands, laughing. “I'm sorry, Feyre Darling; I couldn't help it. Let me think for a little while. I would love to stay through the weekend, just to be able to be with you, though I won't ask you to take time away from your job during your busy season. At least I could see you in the evenings and this weekend, and I'll be back here for Solstice. I also want to see Azriel, though, and I think it has to be face to face. Otherwise, I would just call him or video chat. Is it okay if I stay overnight and fly out tomorrow evening? Again, I want you to work your regular schedule, so I'd grab the seven-thirty flight, if that works.” He looked at her expectantly.
“Of course, Rhys. Where I want the time off off between Solstice and New Year's, it would be best if I did work regular hours now where it's so close, but if that's all right with you, then it works for me.”
“Okay, then I'd better text Amren and Mor and let them know that I'll be back in the office Friday morning, and ask them to schedule time for Azriel and me to meet then. That's all they need to know for now, I think.”
“If you really do feel better, you should let them know that, too, Rhys. I'm sure they're both worried about you yourself more than whether or not you're in the office,” Feyre commented. “If you don't feel much better, then tell them that.”
After Rhys had sent his texts, he looked at Feyre and said, “Shall I demonstrate how much better I feel,” he asked, pulling her close and kissing her deeply. She understood and agreed immediately that he was indeed better. They went upstairs to her room shortly thereafter.