Page 5 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid

For a moment, he just stared at me, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly, like he was trying to decipher a puzzle he wasn't sure he wanted to solve. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched, just barely, a ghost of a smile that vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. My heart skipped a beat, the small surge of victory warming me like a sudden burst of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

He actually smiled. It wasn't much, but it felt like a crack in the armor he wore so tightly around himself. Progress. Real progress.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said. His voice carried a flicker of something I hadn't heard before. Amusement. There was a lightness to them that hadn't been there before.

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared back into his office. I stood there for a moment, my cheeks warm and my pulse racing. Did he just joke with me?

I stared at the closed door, listening to the faint click-clack sound of him typing on the keyboard audible through the wood. Why does he shut me out like this? I wondered. It wasn't just the coldness, it was the way he seemed to carry this weight, this unspoken burden that made the air around him feel heavy. I wanted to ask, to dig deeper, but the fear of overstepping kept me rooted to the spot.

Patience, I reminded myself. You can't force someone to open up.

Jenkins's voice interrupted my thoughts. "You're wasting your time, you know. He's not the type to let people in."

"Everyone needs someone," I said softly, more to myself than to him. "Even him."

Jenkins didn't reply, and the silence that followed felt almost like agreement.

Later that afternoon, I took a break to call Maggie. Her voice was a welcome comfort, grounding me in the chaos of the city.

"So, how's the grumpy billionaire?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"Still grumpy," I said with a laugh. "But I think I'm making progress. He almost smiled today."

"Almost?" Maggie echoed. "You're a miracle worker, Nina."

I smiled, leaning back against the couch. "I'm trying. How's Max?"

"He's good. He drew you another superhero cape. Said you're going to need it to fight off the evil coffee mugs."

I laughed, letting thoughts of my nephew chase away my worries. "Tell him I'll wear it proudly."

We chatted for a few more minutes, Maggie's encouragement giving me the boost I needed to finish the day strong.

"You're doing great, Nina," she said. "Just keep being you. That's all anyone can ask for."

I smiled, leaning back against the couch. "Thanks, Mags. I needed that."

"Anytime. And hey, if he's still a grump by the end of the week, I'll send Max over. He'll have Dean wrapped around his little finger in no time."

"I'll keep that in mind." By the time I hung up, I felt ready to tackle whatever the penthouse, or Dean, threw at me. One step at a time, I reminded myself. One smiley face at a time.

As the evening settled in, I finished my work, leaving the penthouse feeling more organized and welcoming than ever. Before I retreated to my room for the day, something came over me, spurring me to pull out the sticky note pad. I hesitated, the pen hovering over the bright paper.

What do I say this time? My mind raced through the possibilities. I wanted to remind him he wasn't alone, that I was there to lend a friendly ear if he wanted to talk to somebody, but the words felt too big and heavy.

In the end, I settled for simplicity.

"You're human, even if you try not to be."

As I stuck it to the fridge, I felt a strange mix of vulnerability and determination. This is me, reaching out. Whether you take it or not is up to you.

"You're relentless," Jenkins said, his tone a mix of admiration and exasperation.

"It's called persistence," I corrected, grabbing my bag. "Goodnight, Jenkins."

"Goodnight, sunshine."

Since I didn't feel like another meal of cold sandwiches for dinner, I made up my mind to scope out the neighborhood to see what interesting restaurants I could find. I was just about to leave Dean's apartment building when the elevator doors opened to an elderly woman who barely came up to my chin.

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