Page 8 of Knot in Their Wildest Dreams: Part 1

Chapter 5

Celeste

If my uncle didn’t have the technical shared rights to the property, I’d have him thrown out. He waited until the end of our conversation to let me know that my enemies were here, in my family’s compound, waiting for my response. If he weren’t family, and part of the board, I’d try to fire him. I stifled a scream and stormed away to save myself from tearing up the contract he handed me.

After a few rough hours, my decision was made. I’d consulted our best and most discreet attorney, grateful that he was able to come to the emergency meeting on short notice. We walked through the halls, my lawyer and uncle flanking me on either side after drafting our additions to the contract. We were heading to the meeting room where Pack Lockwood was waiting. I was beyond irritated that they had sprung this on me at the last minute, and on my own family’s property no less - but I was going to surprise them as well. I was going to accept their terms. If they wanted to use my reputation to clear their own via blackmail, so be it. But I was going to make their lives miserable.

We finally reached the room where my adversaries were waiting. My uncle had explained to me that earlier in the day, he’d received word from Pack Lockwood that they had an urgent matter to discuss, in person. When he heard the threat, he’d allowed them to come to the North Wing, where my family used to conduct business with politicians, foreign dignitaries, and other industry leaders. It was a safe and neutral area, far from our living quarters.

I braced myself as the tall, double doors swung open. The room was expansive, with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over our acres of land. Pack Lockwood stood with their backs to us, far away on the opposite end of the room as they took in the view. Once we arrived, they turned, and I immediately wanted to punch them in their smug faces.

Liam, Dante and Vigo. They’d somehow beaten the odds, scraping their way up from nothing to create Manticore Tech, one of Harringday’s fastest-growing competitors. They claimed to be a more ethical company, although I believed no one was truly ethical in the Eastern Province. And there was certainly nothing ethical about this pack.

Liam was the first to turn around, his sharp green eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that was almost unsettling. His golden hair was pushed away from his chiseled face, his suit tailored to perfection. He was the brains behind the whole company, starting it when he was only a teen. Now, he looked like he held pure power, but the air of smug satisfaction around him made me want to wipe that expression off his face.

Next there was Vigo, the wild card, his blue eyes already alight with amusement. With his repudiated charming personality and quick humor, he was supposed to be as good at closing deals as he was with making women swoon. At least, before I ruined their reputations with all the women in both provinces. He leaned casually against the edge of the table, his dark hair falling slightly into his face as he gave me a slow, infuriating grin.

Finally there was Dante, his presence a stark contrast to Liam’s polished demeanor and Vigo’s casual charm. His dark eyes were steady and piercing, his expression unreadable, but there was a fire behind his gaze that made it clear he was not afraid to do battle. The tattoo on his wrist was just visible beneath the cuffs of his tailored jacket, offering only a glimpse of his mysterious past. His posture was relaxed, but there was a hidden tension in his frame.

We stared at them across the vast room. Liam spoke first. “Celeste. So nice to see you. Have you come to a decision?” He said in a smooth, velvety voice, his eyebrow cocked as he looked at me. I bit back a snarl, knowing that they thought they had the upper hand. But I would show them.

“I assume you have read the updated contract?” I retorted, and I saw Dante and Vigo glance at each other.

“Yes, we have. If word was to get out about your company’s… indiscretion, so to speak, you’d want a stake in our company as collateral. A rather large one at that. Creation of a board with you as a member.” Liam said with a bemused voice. I hated how good-looking he was. I wished his outside would match his ugly inside. “But how are we to know that you won’t leak our contract yourself to gain control of our company?” He asked, and I wanted to march up to his face to tell him exactly what I thought about that. How dare he think I’d tank my own reputation for a stake in his business? But my uncle held his arm out, keeping me from approaching them.

“We would never do such a thing, and you know it. Harringday Industries has an impeccable reputation, and despite what you may believe, the Tedena incident was not the fault of Miss Harringday.” My uncle said, looking at the alphas with the cool neutrality that only a beta could deliver.

“We have an addendum of our own. If any of this gets out, whether it be your company's mishandling of Tedena or if Miss Harringday ever decides to say our courtship was anything other than real, then we get an equal stake in your company as well - a seat on your board.” Dante’s deep, velvety voice practically echoed in the room as he stepped forward, standing next to Liam.

“That’s ridiculous! A stake in my company is far more valuable than one in Manticore Tech!” I said, and my uncle remained holding his arm out, stepping in front of me.

“So, if any of this gets out, we will both have a stake in the other’s business. I think it’s safe to say no one here wants that to happen?” My uncle said as he looked around, first at me and our attorney, then at the Pack Lockwood. I could tell that everyone thought that would be a disaster. We’d be so at each other’s throats in sabotage that both companies would tank. “So then, I think we can agree to these terms. Mr. Delacourt, would you please write up these terms in the contract and we can all sign and get this over with?” My uncle said to my attorney, who quickly nodded and went to one of the long, oak tables to pull out his laptop and type up the addition. He printed a new copy, then brought it over to me before walking over to the pack, making the long trip to the other side of the massive room as if he were crossing into enemy territory. I read through the contract one more time, satisfied that it was the best we could do in the short timeframe.

The men of Pack Lockwood conferred privately on their side of the room, speaking in hushed tones while I seethed. I hated that they had done this. I hated that they rushed me into a decision, I hated that they wanted me to lie to save their deservedly ruined reputation, and I hated that it would throw my own reputation into doubt. I already had enough to deal with. Most of all, I hated that I would have to live near these horrible, disgusting alphas. They were no doubt just as awful as any other status-chasing and money-hungry pack, only they wanted to take me down as well. But I had to do this to save my company. I also planned to do my own investigating to find out how they had come to get this information. If Arnault had leaked this to them, what else was he willing to do for revenge?

Finally, the pack turned toward us. “We accept these terms.” Liam said. “We will sign these unless you have any objections. In any case, if you don’t want to go forward, we will be releasing the information we have to the press by nine pm.” I seethed at his words.

“Let’s sign this and get it over with.” I said to my uncle. With our attorney as a witness, we signed our copy before having him bring it to their pack to sign. Once we each had a copy, the pack seemed to exude even more confidence.

“Miss Harringday, now that we’ve come to an agreement, we expect you to be at our residence this evening. As the contract states, you will move in officially tonight, although your statement to the press will indicate you’ve been seeing us privately for at least a month now.” Liam said in a deep, confident voice.

I hated his tone, and that he thought he could tell me what to do. The contract outlined a detailed timeline of events about our fake courtship that we would tell the press, and included weekly public appearances to make the entire thing seem real. We were all to be on suppressants and descenter during the duration, and it was timed so that I would not have a heat until the contract was over. I hadn't let myself dwell on that too much yet. I was still reeling from the fact that this entire fiasco had happened all in less than a day.

“I understand the terms of the contract. And as such, I expect nothing but the best behavior from your pack, and anyone else in your residence. If you, or any other person, so much as touches a hair on my head, the contract will be void. I will not put up with any poor behavior, and I will defend myself if necessary.” My words rang out, and my lawyer startled at my side. Some people were still not used to an omega standing up for themselves, even though I was known for being strong willed. The pack seemed to have a visceral reaction to my words.

“Miss Harringday, I can assure you our pack is honorable, despite whatever personal opinions you carry. We would never use our alpha traits to coerce or intimidate an omega. I promise you that our pack will not harm you, and we will protect you as if the courtship were real.” Liam said, the look on his face almost convincing even me that he was disgusted at the thought of using his alpha bark, or any of his alpha strength, on me. “And besides, the contract already outlines that we void any claim on your company if any of our members were to cross your boundaries using our designation’s influence. But no need to worry, we have no plans on interacting with you other than what the contract stipulates. We only want our name cleared.” The pack looked at me like I was something they found on the bottom of their shoes. Meanwhile, I was eyeing them up and down with the same expression.

I never really had the opportunity to look at them up close before. I’d seen their pictures online and in magazines as they rose to prominence in our industry. I’d even been in the same room as them at the Darlington Ball before the infamous kidnapping occurred. But seeing them this close was different, even if they were still on the other end of the conference room.

Liam, Dante and Vigo were more attractive than even their photos, and I wanted to kill them for it. Now I could assess that they were absolutely stunning in person, and unfortunately, just my type. I guess I’d just have to change my type, then. After all, I’d be repulsed by anyone who looked like them once this whole ordeal was over. I’d have to separate how attractive they were, even with their stone-cold stares, from who they were as people. And I’d have to do it for the next few months.

“Now, a handshake to seal the contract.” My lawyer stated, following the old traditions of the Eastern Province. We started to walk to the center of the room, where so many prior meetings had occurred in the generations that had lived on this estate. Each step I took brought me closer to my enemies, the pack who had tried endlessly to take me down. Part of me didn’t want to believe that this was real. Why couldn’t I just be able to live and do my job? There was always someone trying to stop me from succeeding, but this pack was the worst. I knew it was them behind the kidnapping, and I knew they had motives behind this blackmail other than fixing their reputation.

I needed to find out what they were really trying to accomplish, and I’d have to do it while in the middle of the enemy’s territory. But I was stronger than they knew. I wasn’t the Celeste of the gossip columns, a partier and spoiled airhead with everything handed to me. I was a fighter, smart and calculated. I’d succeed, no matter what it took. I’d been through worse, and I’d get through this too.

We finally met in the middle of the room, and my uncle shook each of their hands, as customary in any contract deal. Then, the three of them turned to face me, lined up to shake my hand. Liam, the one who had led the majority of the negotiations, reached out his hand. I looked up at his icy green eyes. There was nothing behind them except the look of a predator who thought he’d finally caught his prey. I held out my hand, ready to give him a firm handshake, hopefully one that hurt.

A funny thing happened as I reached out to him. The air around us shifted, and a distinct scent hit me - oakmoss and blood orange. It was an oddly comforting fragrance, like dusk settling over a sun-warmed forest. I’d encountered plenty of appealing scents on alphas before, but this was different. With each breath, the aroma seemed to weave its way through my lungs, curling into my thoughts and lingering there, more intoxicating than I’d anticipated.

---