Page 15 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“She's pretty well connected,” Jarrod shrugs as he follows me into the elevator. “Definitely not an amateur.”

“I hope not,” I sniff. “We're paying good money for this deal.”

“That's why you'll have to go to this meeting. As per her assistant's instructions…Alone.”

I frown at my best friend. “Why are you being so weird about this?”

Jarrod's eyes light up. “Doesn't it feel exciting? Thrilling? We've never had to go rogue before.”

I stare at him blandly. “That's not funny, Jay.”

“I'm sorry,” he pouts, dropping his head shamefully. “That was a tasteless pun.”

“Hey, I'm fucking with you!” I chuckle and slap him on the back. “Where is this meeting with Asuka's rep supposed to take place?” I lean back as the lift takes us down and fold my arms over my chest.

“I'll send the coordinates to your navigation system. But I'm sure you know where Shogun is.”

“How fitting…” I mumble dryly. The only thing we know about Asuka is that her name is of Japanese origin. It might just be made up, along with her ethnicity, since she wouldn't want us to know her real name.

It might get her into trouble if things went south with a deal. I admire her for her bravery, but I still have to remain cautious.

“A reservation has already been made. You'll be Mr. Joe Brown for tonight.”

“Joe Brown?” I chuckle. “So I have an alias too?”

Jarrod grins. “It's just a precaution.”

“I can live with that…” I muse, thinking about all the mischief I can get away with if I don't have to be Cyrus Rudolph for the night.

***

“Reservation for Mr. Brown,” I tell the hostess at the front desk, leaning over the counter and staring at her dipped neckline that shows off her cleavage.

“Mr. Brown…” the woman's voice is sultry as she lifts her eyes and notices where my gaze is. She blushes lightly and doesn't take her eyes off me when she speaks to her waitress.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I wink, tapping light fingers on the counter as I smoothly follow the waitress. The hostess was practically salivating after me, and all I had to do was be unapologetically me.

Oh, I'm going to have so much fun tonight! I think with a bemused grin as the waitress shows me to the reserved table.

I purse my lips in contemplation, throwing a glance at the sushi bar on the left. It wouldn't hurt to wait for the hacker, Asuka, out there.

I'd received detailed instructions about our meeting tonight. I'm to be Mr. Joe Brown, while Asuka's rep will play Mrs. Brown, my wife.

It's only for the sake of keeping our identities hidden, and it's no reason for me to act like a doting husband.

I don't care if I appear like a douchebag. It's just a job, after all.

I spot a few apt ladies hanging at the bar, unchaperoned and too smartly dressed to be without men. While I wait, there's no harm in flirting and securing a takeaway for tonight.

So I turn to the waitress with a sly smirk. “If my wife…” I clear my throat when the word feels strange coming from my mouth. “... When she arrives, please call me from the sushi bar.”

The pretty, young brunette nods. “Yes, Sir.”

Straightening up and tugging the lapels of my suit jacket, I make my way toward the bar. It usually doesn't take much to have a human falling at my feet.

Tonight's meeting with the hacker's rep wasn't such a bad idea when I could kill two birds with one stone.

Chapter 5 - Cassandra

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