Page 8 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Chef

"She's not a threat, Cameron," he said, his voice softer now. "If anything, she's exactly what you need. Someone who's not afraid to shake things up. Someone who's not impressed by your title or your reputation."

I looked away, his words hitting a nerve I didn't want to acknowledge. Ivy was different. She didn't cower in my presence or scramble to agree with everything I said, and that was both unsettling and refreshing.

But I couldn't let her in. Not now. Not when the company was hanging by a thread.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, my tone clipped.

Brody nodded, sensing the conversation was over. "Good. Just don't wait too long. The clock's ticking."

He left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I walked back to the window, staring out at the city skyline. My reflectionstared back at me, a man who'd built an empire but was now teetering on the edge of losing it all.

And there was Ivy, a wildcard I couldn't see. I could still see the way her pulse had fluttered at her throat when I'd stepped too close yesterday, the way her breath hitched when our hands brushed.Pathetic. I wasn't some lovestruck pup. I was a CEO. A fighter who climbed his way up from the streets to the gleaming glass boardroom in the sky. And yet, something about this fragile human broke my iron-fisted control.

I closed my eyes, a rare moment of vulnerability creeping in. My mother's words echoed in my mind, a memory I'd long since buried. "Cameron, you can't control everything. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith." Her encouraging words were what spurred me to create the company. But that was when I was young and full of faith in the world.

I shook my head, pushing the memory aside. Faith was for fools, and I couldn't afford to be one.

Still, as I turned away from the window and headed back to my office, Ivy's face lingered in my thoughts. The way she'd looked at me in the kitchen, unafraid and unflinching. The way she'd challenged me, her passion for her work shining through.

She was a risk, that much was clear. But maybe, just maybe, she was a risk worth taking.

For the first time in a long time, I felt something other than determination. I felt curiosity about the unknown.

And that scared me more than anything.

I escaped to the sanctuary of my office and slammed the door behind me. My reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows glaredback at me. A man in an expensive suit, not the beast that raged beneath. But my claws itched to burst out. My blood pumped hot and heavy, pounding in my ears.

Focus on the company, I told myself. Only the company.

Then why did my traitorous lips whisperher name instead?

Chapter 4

IVY

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the front of my crisp white chef's jacket and adjusting the collar. Today was my first official day at my new job, and I was determined to make a good impression.

I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, my heels clicking against the pavement as I walked to the subway station. The city was already bustling with activity, the sounds of car horns and chatter filling the air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my churning stomach.

When I arrived at the glass skyscraper that housed Cam's Comfy Cuisine, I paused for a moment and stared up at the imposing structure. Working for a large multi-billion dollar corporation intimidated me. It was a far cry from the cozy restaurants I was used to. Despite my nerves, I squared my shoulders and reminded myself that I belonged here.

The crisp cool air of the lobby washed over me as I stepped inside.

Brody was waiting for me by the elevator, a warm smile on his face. "Ivy! Right on time. Ready for your first day?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I replied, returning his smile.

The elevator doors shut behind us and as we ascended, he gave me a quick rundown of the day's schedule. "First, I'll introduce you to the team. Then, we'll head to the kitchen and let you work your magic. Sound good?"

"Sounds great," I said, though my stomach was doing somersaults.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into the bustling open-plan office. Brody introduced me to the team, and I did my best to remember everyone's names and roles.

When we reached the kitchen, there was a chef already there preparing the kitchen for the day.

"Ivy, this is Bridget," Brody said, gesturing to her. "Bridget's our sous-chef."

"Nice to meet you," I said, as I shook her hand.

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