Page 14 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Chef

Denver was right. My wolf had chosen her. The question was, was I brave enough to follow its lead?

Sleep eluded me for the rest of the night. Despite Denver's words, my mind remained restless. The sun wasn't even up yet, and I was already seated at my dining table, the glow of my tablet illuminating the dark room.

I flipped through the meal kit proposals she'd submitted, each one a testament to her creativity and skill. The Thai curry, the Tuscan Sunset, the Hearty Harvest. She'd breathed new life into my company's offerings. It was impressive, unnerving even, how she'd managed to disrupt the carefully curated balance of Cam's Comfy Cuisine.

My fingers tapped impatiently on the table as I scrolled through the reports. The numbers from the sales team were good, better than good. Sales projections for the new kits were promising, and the marketing team was already drafting campaigns to capitalize on the buzz.

The thought of Ivy, her boldness, her optimism, her undeniable talent, gnawed at me. She was a wildcard, an unpredictable force that I couldn't control. And control was everything.

I tossed the tablet aside and stood, pacing the length of the room. The city skyline stretched out before me, a reminder of all I'd built. But even the view couldn't quiet the storm brewing in my mind.

The trip to FoodieCon loomed ahead, and I was dreading it. Not the conference itself, I thrived in that environment, but the thought of spending days in close quarters with Ivy. Everything about her unsettled me, I didn't know if I could survive multiple days in close proximity to her without caving into my wolf's primal desires.

By the time the car arrived to take me to the office, I'd already rehearsed the day's agenda in my head. Meetings, calls, preparation for the conference. It was a tight schedule, and I welcomed the distraction.

But when I stepped into the office, the first thing I saw was Ivy, standing in the lobby with Brody. Her laughter filled the space, bright and like a tinkling melody. For a moment, I froze.

She turned, catching sight of me, and her smile widened. "Mr. Fitzgerald, good morning!"

I nodded curtly, my expression neutral. "Ms. St. Clair. Brody." Brody gave me a knowing look, one I chose to ignore. "Morning, boss. We were just going over the final details for the conference. Ivy's got some great ideas for the presentation."

"I'm sure she does," I said, my tone clipped. "Let's not waste time. Ms. St. Clair, my office. Now."

I didn't wait for a response, striding past them toward the elevator. The doors slid shut behind us, the silence settling over us heavily. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ivy straighten her jacket, her usual cheerful demeanor faltering for a moment. Good. She needed to understand this was serious.

Once we were in my office, I closed the door and turned to face her. "The conference is our chance to prove we're still the leader in this industry. I expect nothing less than perfection. Are we clear?"

Ivy met my gaze, her expression steady. "We're ready. The kits are solid, and I've been practicing the presentation. I won't let you down."

Her confidence was admirable, but it didn't quell the unease in my chest. "See that you don't."

The rest of the week passed by as we prepared for the conference. By the time we boarded the private jet to Paradise Peaks, I was exhausted. Ivy, on the other hand, seemed energized.

But her excitement wasn't what caught my attention. She wore a white silk blouse and a black knee-length skirt that hugged her generous curves and showed off her delectable legs. It was a far cry from her usual chef's whites and the effect she had on me was devastating. How was I supposed to concentrate on presenting at the conference when she looked like a walking pinup? Her ass looked as delectable as a ripe summer peach as she bent over to store her overnight bag. I could spend the rest of my life sliding my dick between those cheeks. She was a temptation come to life, and I wanted to do nothing but rip off her blouse and bend her over my seat.

I let out a growl before I could stop it. It was a sound too deep to be human. Ivy froze. Shit. I coughed as she turned around and met my gaze with those sweet curious eyes. My heart pounded as I pulled out the table from the side of my seat to cover my growing erection. If she knew the dirty thoughts in my mind, it would send her running for the hills. I had to get a grip on my lust, there was no way I could risk losing Ivy.

"The air at high altitude is so dry." I quickly pulled out a bottle of water from the cubby next to my seat and took a gulp.

Her brows furrowed. "It feels fine to me."

"Ms. St. Clair." My voice cracked. It was a warning. A plea.

"Have you ever been to Paradise Peaks before?" I asked. That's it. Banal small talk was the perfect distraction.

Ivy shook her head, filling the air with the scent of cherries. "No, it's my first time. I'm so excited." She tilted her head, exposing that long elegant unblemished neck of hers. Her pulse fluttered under her delicate skin. God, I wanted to bite it. I wrenched my gaze away.

This hour-long plane ride was going to be the end of me. Maybe we should have flown commercial, then I would have had the company of other passengers to distract me. This wasn't going to do at all.

"Well, you're in for a treat." Clearing my throat, I pulled out my tablet, putting an end to our conversation. Think about the business, future strategies, and sales projections. There was nothing like numbers and boring reports to dampen my need to claim her.

The flight was quiet, the hum of the engines the only sound. I busied myself with my tablet, reviewing the conference schedule, but I couldn't shake the awareness of Ivy sitting just a few feet away.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her glance at me, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her skirt. "Nervous?" I asked, not looking up.

"A little," she admitted. "This is a big opportunity. I just want to do well."

"You will," I said, surprising myself. She looked at me, her eyes wide, and I quickly added, "You've prepared thoroughly. Just stick to the plan."

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