Page 15 of Escalating Alpha

“Or maybe not, but don’t put her in that position after how the president behaved,” Brian added. “The same with Bolivia.”

President Nuri’s aide who was on the call asked what we meant, and I clarified our president was the problem and technically I wasn’t allowed to talk about it.

“Your president knows,” Eva told the aide.

Perez shot me a worried look, clearly not looped in. It wasn’t worth getting his blood pressure up. We had enough to handle.

“While we’re not expanding, I do want a list of ideas for priorities—directions people want to go in so we’re all on the same page,” I told everyone. “Part of my being overwhelmed is people pulling me aside and giving me a list and it’s always a different list than everyone else’s. And then people decide other things without me and it’s done.”

Mauro snorted, knowing one of those “others” I meant was absolutely his sister. “Queen Laila, I did want to ask one thing before I start peeling back layers on those projects—is there any other fae alcohol? The nectar is divine, and I’ve always been a huge fan, but I always wondered why it was never expanded. Wines. Ales. A pricey scotch would be very marketable.”

The look of elegant surprise on Laila’s face was actually adorable. She quickly schooled it and said she would have to get back to him, but it was definitely something to look into.

There would certainly be a market for it. We sold fairy nectar faster than we could make it. Everyone always wanted us to expand and not just in North America.

“This was a really great start, and I think we’re all in agreement with the proposed changes and items you found,” I said, focused on Mauro. “Obviously, Eva was correct and you’re the right person for the job. My pack and I cannot thank you enough for taking this task on and helping all of us. I’ve heard over and over again that it’s clear we’re in good hands.”

The shock on his face wasn’t amusing but hurt me. He was a man who hadn’t been appreciated enough in his life and that was upsetting because he was awesome.

And I knew that feeling too well. I hated when others suffered the same.

I might have said more, but my door flew open again. “What now?”

“There’s a serious problem, and Noe is about to have a heart attack he’s so worried you’re going to rip his throat out and kill one of his hawks,” Remus told me.

“What could they seriously have done for them to worry about me like that?” I whispered, my eyes hurting almost as they went so wide.

He glanced all around and sighed. “Someone has the photos from the Siren’s Kiss photoshoot. All of them.” He swallowed loudly. “Even the ones you were a part of for your Valentine’s Day thank-yous.”

I adjusted my neck as people around me cussed up a storm. “I warned him not to be stupid and put any of that on the cloud or—”

“He didn’t,” Remus said firmly, nodding when I stared him down. “He did some big celebrity wedding and—his studio was broken into. They took his servers.” He kept nodding when we all swore again. “He didn’t report it sooner because he promised you that he would delete them and thought they had been. Then one of his people said they didn’t think they were.”

“So there’s a chance we’re worried for nothing,” Eva muttered. “It’s horrible for the hawk and he needs better security but—”

“When are weeverthat lucky that naked pictures of me won’t absolutely end up on the news?” I drawled.

“Naked?” Perez exclaimed. “Why the hell did you take naked pictures?Ever?”

“Have you seen how beautiful my granddaughter is?” Eva asked like he was the crazy one. It was oddly funny in such a bad moment.

I waved everyone else off and what they might have said. “Wait, someone broke in to steal his servers for a celebrity wedding? That’s a bit much, right?”

“No, it—the wedding led to some other deal and—I don’t know fashion. But he did some huge shoot for some big label that has a problem with people stealing designs and all the copycats. They wanted someone smaller and unknown so there weren’t leaks—they think it was about that. The timing. The wedding was how he got noticed.”

“And if it’s people willing to go that far and that shady, they won’t skip selling naked photos of an FBI division chief,” I said with annoyance.

“I still can’t believe you took naked photos like that,” Perez muttered.

“Technically, I’m not, but I am,” I clarified. “I mean they…” I glanced at Simone. “I think they could be posted on Instagram?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t see all of them, but you didn’t show nip or clit. It was ass in a thong or side boob—it was tasteful in our lingerie. But we’re shifters. We don’t care.”

“I care,” I corrected. “But not as much anymore and I’ve done worse since.” I shrugged when Perez groaned. “You don’t want to hear about my sex life on video calls.”

“Let’s end the meeting and handle this next issue,” Eva said, reminding me about the meeting.

Yikes. Right.

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