Page 104 of Knot Your Baby

The doors open directly into the executive reception area. It’s all polished surfaces and tasteful artwork.

Denise, an older woman who used to be the company receptionist and who is now Thorne’s new executive assistant, looks up from her desk with a warm smile.

“Zane! And Dr. Miller. What a delightful surprise.” Her eyes land on Freya and Stone, and her smile widens. “And this must be Ms. Rose and your baby. Mr. Stone told me all about you.” Freya grins. “He will be thrilled to see you all.”

“Is he available?” I ask.

“He’s just wrapping up a call. Should be free in five minutes. Why don’t you all take a seat and I’ll get you a drink.”

“Can I see the office he has for me?”

“Of course. It’s just down the hall. I’ll take you.”

Freya and Miller follow. Denise stops at an office. A frosted glass window stops anyone from looking in. She opens the door and before we step inside, a door further down the hall opens. Maya steps out, tablet in hand.

She freezes when she sees us. Her expression shifts from shock to narrowed eye calculation, and finally, she gives us a plastic smile.

“Zane. Miller. What a surprise.” Her eyes flick to Freya. Her lips purse for a moment as she glances at Stone. “And the new...addition.”

“Maya,” I acknowledge coolly. “Yes, the new addition to our pack. He is a Stone, not an O’Hearn.”

She chuckles. “Whatever you say. Anyway, I have some reports to give to Thorne.” She holds up the paperwork to prove it.

“Mr. Stone,” Denise starts. “Is busy on a call. I can take them because Thorne is going to lunch with his pack immediately afterward.”

Maya’s smile tightens. “Of course. How lovely of you all to visit. Tour of daddy’s office for the baby?”

The condescension in her tone makes my jaw clench. Beside me, Freya withdraws slightly, her earlier confidence dimming.

“I’ll let Thorne know you’re here,” Maya continues, turning to head toward Thorne’s office.

“I’ve already done that,” Denise interjects firmly. It’s a lie, but I have a feeling Thorne has asked Denise to keep Maya out of his sight until he can get rid of her. “Mr. Stone was expecting them.”

Maya pauses, frustration flickering across her face before she masks it. “Fine. I’ll leave these reports with you then.” She slaps the paperwork into Denise’s hands with more force than necessary, then turns back to us.

Her gaze lands on Freya again, assessing her. “Quite the transformation, isn’t it? From stalker to pack omega. I suppose trapping an alpha with a baby is one way to climb the social ladder.”

The words land like slaps. Freya pales, but then her back straightens. “I know you, don’t I.”

Maya laughs. “I doubt we’d cross paths.”

“That’s enough,” Miller says sharply.

Maya ignores him, stepping closer to Freya. “You think you’ve won, don’t you? Playing house with the pack?”

“I do know you,” Freya says, assessing Maya carefully and not rising to her words.

I step forward, placing myself between Freya and Maya. My blood pressure is rising. My vision narrows until all I can see is Maya’s smug face. “You should leave,” I growl, my voice dropping to a dangerous low.

Miller’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Zane,” he warns quietly.

Freya moves beside me, her fingers brushing against mine. “No, it’s okay.” She studies Maya with new clarity in her eyes. “I definitely remember you. It’s all coming back to me.”

Maya rolls her eyes. “Please. We’ve never met before your little pack arrangement.”

“Club Midnight,” Freya says confidently. “The blonde hair, the white mask. It’s you. You’re the girl who used to follow me around and you stole my perfume. You said you liked it.”

Maya’s face flushes. “That’s ridiculous. Why would I want to steal your smell?”

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