Page 11 of Billionaire Wolf Needs an Assistant

I nearly dropped my tablet. Reeve stood in front of my desk, his usual intimidating presence softened by something almost hesitant in the way he held himself. His eyes flickered with vulnerability. After three days of distance and avoiding each other, his sudden invitation sent my heart racing.

"What?" The word tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it. Not my most intelligent response, but I was still in shock. What had changed all of a sudden? And why?

"Dinner. Tonight." He ran a hand through his dark hair, disheveling its perfect style. The gesture made him seem like a normal man instead of the untouchable billionaire CEO he was. "Unless you have plans?"

"No plans," I managed, trying to ignore how my pulse jumped when his gaze met mine. Heat crept up my neck under his examination. "Just surprised."

His lips twitched. "I do occasionally eat, Katie."

"In restaurants? I assumed you survived on coffee and the souls of terrified employees."

The corners of his lips lifted into an actual smile. My breath caught in my throat, taken aback by the boyish grin. Reeve was usually handsome in an intense and brooding way, but when he smiled, he was utterly devastating.

Satisfied that he had accomplished his goal, Reeve rapped his knuckles on my desk. "I'll pick you up at your place at seven o'clock," he said. "Wear something warm."

I gaped at him as he retreated to his office. My mind spun with possibilities. Warm? What did that even mean? Frantically, I pulled my phone out of my desk drawer and fired off a text to Lacey.

Me: "He asked me to dinner. Told me to wear something warm."

Lacey's response came immediately.

Lacey: "He's taking you to Elysium. It's this over the top fancy schmancy place at the top of National Tower. Blake took me there for dinner once. The view of the harbor is insane."

My eyes widened. Elysium was one of those places that I had only read about in glossy magazines. It was the kind of place I never imagined I would set foot in.

Me: "How do you know that's where he's taking me?"

Lacey: "Because that's where all the big-shot businessmen here take their dates to impress them. Plus, you'll be so high up that you're among the clouds. There's a walk-out sky deck, which is why he asked you to wear something warm."

Me: "What should I wear?"

Lacey: "Go home and find that emerald green dress you helped me pick out last month. Make sure you put your hair up so it doesn't get tangled from the wind. Wear that thick shawl you have in the back of your closet. And bring makeup for touch-ups. You'll need it after the helicopter ride."

Me: "The WHAT? You can't be serious."

But at seven exactly, I found myself sliding into the backseat of Reeve's car. This time, there was a driver, so Reeve was sitting in the backseat next to me. I looked at him in confusion as the driver took us back to Alpha Fang. My unvoiced question was answered when we stopped in front of the building's private elevator. Moments later, we emerged on the building's helipad. I said a silent thanks to Lacey for her warning and clutched the shawl around my shoulders. The winter wind whipped around us, and Reeve wrapped his arms around me to shield me from the cold arctic air. My hands trembled slightly as he helped me into the passenger seat, his touch lingering on my waist. A shiver ran down my spine, but it had nothing to do with the cold weather.

"Is this yours?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the roar of the helicopter’s blades.

"The company's. I am but a cog in the corporate machine." His voice rumbled pleasantly in the enclosed space. He flashed me a wide grin, once again giving me a glimpse of the mischievous side of him. The man who hid underneath the CEO's crisp suits and the wolf's fanged snarls. "But I fly it whenever I can. There's nothing like seeing the city from above."

The flight was magical. City lights sparkled below us like a sea of stars as far as the eye could see. Reeve proved surprisingly talkative, his voice animated as he explained the intricacies of aviation to me. His genuine enthusiasm was infectious, and it made him seem younger and more approachable. By the time we landed on National Tower's rooftop pad, I was completely charmed.

Elysium lived up to its name. Glass walls offered panoramic views of the harbor, while subtle lighting created an intimate atmosphere. The maître d' led us to a corner table that somehow felt both private and prestigious. Several diners nodded to Reeve as we passed by. Whether it was because they were fellow wolf shifters, or simply in awe of his reputation, I wasn't sure.

After we placed our orders, I took the time to appreciate the view. "This is incredible," I breathed, taking in the glittering cityscape. "Thank you for bringing me here."

His expression softened. "You've earned it. The way you've handled crisis after crisis was amazing." He paused, something dark flickering across his face. "I should have told my mother off for the way she treated you."

I shook my head. "It's fine. She's your mother, Reeve. And I get that Sophia can cause a lot of trouble for you."

"She's not who I want." His voice was low, but the intensity of his words sent a jolt through me. Our eyes met across the candlelit table, and the tension of what was unsaid crackled between us.

"Reeve? Darling, is that you? It's been so long since we've seen each other."

The silky voice shattered the moment like glass. A stunning woman in a red dress approached our table with another equally glamorous woman beside her. Both of them moved with the grace of a predator, which I now recognized as the stealth of a she-wolf. Not even the most expensive silks could mask the nature of their beasts.

Reeve went rigid, his face draining of color. His distress hit me like a punch. He was both in pain and infuriated. The relaxed vulnerable bit of Reeve I saw in the helicopter was replaced by the stone cold mask he wore so well.

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