Page 33 of Howl You Doin?
I stare in horror at her offer. This vexing chit has never offered to make me something other than fucking cupcakes, like she wants to give me diabetes and ruin my day.
“That sounds delightful. I’ll be sticking around for a little while, business with Mr. O’Doyle here, you see, so I may just take you up on that offer.” The shithead doesn’t even eat real food and would never. Why is he talking to a human?
“Frank. I’m in the middle of a hotel-related business meeting,” I say, wanting him gone but trying not to reveal that this woman and her scent puts me on edge. “You know better than to waltz in here. This isn’t Talbot, nor your domain.”
Hating being told what to do, his head whips to mine, and a faint glow lights in his irises before dimming. I meet his stare head-on, knowing he will have a lot of questions later, but for now, I need him away from her before I lose my shit entirely.
I don’t even knowwhyit bothers me, only that it has my fur itching beneath my skin to come out. Wolfing out right now would be an absolute disaster, and then Frank would take glee in shutting her up,permanently.
Jekyll’s medicine is either a placebo or he’s lost his damn touch as a mad scientist. I’m going to have to tell him his concoction isn’t doing shit.
“That’s fine,” Frank answers, picking at the sleeve of his suit to appear unfazed. “I’ll reconvene with you later, once you’re done playing hotel.” His tone is clearly an insult to everything I’m trying to do here. He turns to leave, bowing to her on the way out. The snake. “I will see you later for a meal, Miss Whitt.”
The moment he’s gone, and I hear his fat feet lumbering down the hallway, I settle back into my chair. What’s just transpired doesn’t sit well with me. Frank may appear to the world as a cool-headed businessman extraordinaire, but in our world, he’s a ruthless killer.
Other than the concerning news about who infiltrated his network security with their last data footprint being the castle, he’s probably here to check in and make sure no one else knows about our kind after what happened with Vlad and his new mate, Aubrey.
A chill creeps up my spine. What if he suspects Whitley has something to do with Talbot’s breach?Fuck.
“So, you will wear your regular attire for now,” I tell her, turning to greet her amber eyes. “I’ll also hire more wait staff, so you don’t have to interact with the guests as much.”
Hopefully that keeps them apart for as long as I can.
She goes still, regarding me with a strange expression, as if she doesn’t understand my sudden change of heart. “What?”
I just know I need her as far away from him as I can get her—now. Everyone who was here during Talbot’s breach has been under investigation, but I can already tell that neither she, Aubrey, nor George had anything to do with it. This woman barely uses her social media platforms, and she doesn’t appear to have a single device in her private room that could be used to hack any system.
But if Frank gets involved in my investigation, shit will hit the fan.
“You will not be required to join in the festivities.” It will make her happy, as she won’t have to wear anything and she’ll have less responsibility, since she won’t have to hand out so many of her meals personally. It fixes all the issues, especially revolving around that giant. “Yes. Good. You may go.”
My hands shake uncontrollably as I stand up and head for the door, and after gesturing for her to go through it, I clasp them behind my back.
“What? Just like that?” she asks, her tone telling me I’ve finally rendered her speechless.
My hands fall to my side, clenching into fists, and my blood begins to boil. This stubborn brat. “Woman, can’t you be happy? I thought this was exactly what you wanted!”
“No, I just need a costume that fits.”
“This way you don’t need one at all. I will speak with Frederick.”
“It’s precisely about the costume that I wanted to speak. I don’t need it to be masculine. I just need it to fit and not risk burning myself or this big-ass castle down with you in it. As tempting as that is.” The cheeky bitch doesn’t know when to quit, obviously not sensing the danger she is in.
“You are the most troublesome woman I have ever met.” I inwardly seethe, attempting to keep my heart rate down for fear of showing her my true eye color. It is always the first sign I’m losing hold on my form, but that usually never happens—until her and her stupid perfume I’ve been forced to breathe for days. I hastily move to the window and fling it open, sucking in blessedly clean air.
“Must you argue with everything I say? And do you always flirt with every male you meet?” I blurt, surprising us both.
“I don’t even know why I bother trying to have an adult conversation with you. Do you hear yourself right now?” A look of scorn flashes across her face before she moves to the door. “I should have just emailed.”
“Next time, see that you do. And no more wandering the halls. Just do your job and stay in your designated wing.”
“You are not the boss of me. I don’t care who cuts the checks.”
I step into her without fear or remorse, because whether she likes it or not, I am her boss, and I’m trying to protect my employee.
“Whitley,” her name rumbles out of me, my voice deepening. I watch her nostrils flare with hate when I reach up and tuck that indomitable stray lock of her hair that never stays in place behind her delectable ear. “Iamthe fucking boss of you.”
My chest brushes hers, and I breathe slowly, the soft scent of her arousal filling the air between us. Her pupils dilate, cheeks beginning to redden. Interesting that even while Frank was attempting to woo her, no such smell came from her. I bend and inhale more closely before I can stop myself.
