The men with them gave the presentation. The longer this went on the reason Kelsey and Essie were here became obvious. I’d seen this tactic in a lot of forgotten packs. It irked me becausetheir pack and company had gotten past me through to Black Mountain because I usually made sure they did not.
I linked Buttercup, “Have Kels or Essie EVER spoken or given a presentation when they come to the meetings? Hell, have they even spoken about the business?” Buttercup startled. I winced realizing she must not have expected that I could link her. She quickly recovered when Wesley put his hand on her thigh.
Buttercup linked back, “Can you hear me?” I answered, “Yes.” Buttercup gaped for several seconds. Eric was looking between us both. Buttercup answered, “No, Kels and Essie are just part of the team. They sit by Alexander and EJ and do what they are doing now.” Oh, I’d just bet they did.
The two women in question kept giggling and twirling their hair and moving their hands to their breasts which were on display. Technically speaking, they were both pretty women and had nice boobs; however, they were more than that. I hated packs who let women believe this was their purpose.
Tristan linked me, “Why do you look so mad?” I replied, “Other than the obvious?” Tristan told me, “I’m going to need you to state what’s obvious before I answer that.” I explained, “That this presentation is unworthy of anyone in this rooms time?”
My big brother chuckled, “Yes, other than that.” I admitted, “I have seen the tactic of the beautiful women flirting with the Alpha’s in charge… and I don’t like it. It implies… that’s all women are good for… it demeans the men they flirt with and themselves. It’s a horrible scheme and I don’t like it… and I might rip their faces off.” Tristan said, “I’ll just warn dad then.” He could do that.
Whether their pack used the scheme or not… the CEO of this company certainly did. I bet if they used their whole team, which included these women, they could improve this presentation. I knew I could. Freya reasoned, “Not everyone is you.” True, butthis presentation had some glaring holes the team was trying to gloss over.
Essie’s slight eye roll that I would’ve missed had I not been looking directly at her told me she knew too. Heck, Essie probably also offered a suggestion on how to fix it. I turned my attention to Kelsey who tipped her cup over directly onto EJ’s lap.
The woman screamed so loud I’d swear everyone outside could hear the fake shock in her tone as she exclaimed, “OH MY GOD! Alpha EJ, I am so sorry let me just….” She grabbed a napkin, the ONLY napkin on the table other than the one by Essie.
You have GOT to be kidding me. How blatant. Two napkins which just happened to be beside these girls? How orchestrated and planned. Kelsey went towards EJ’s crotch with the napkin. I was out of my seat in a second.
I grabbed her arm and pinned it behind her back in a flash. Sierra linked, “Ok, that last longer than I thought it would.” I replied, “I didn’t even link you about all the issues I’ve found.” Sierra cackled down the link. Well…it felt like progress. I kept my inside thoughts….inside.
Kelsey gasped, “What are you doing?” I answered, “Stopping you from making more of a dolt of yourself than you have since I got here. I’d imagine you’ve done it before as this is not the first business meeting.”
“Let me be so abundantly clear right now, you do not touch mated men. You definitely don’t touch them where you were about to. EJ is NOT yours. The man is a partial Fairy… so it’s obvious that he doesn’t need help cleaning up. He’ll snap and bam... his pants are clean.”
I pinned the woman beside my mate with a glare warning, “Essie I swear to god, if you spill your drink on my mate inanother fake drink spill… I’ll rip your arm off before you touch my mate in his crotch region. Are we clear?”
My dad linked, “So very clear. Take a deep breath.” I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t sure if I needed to be mad at Essie or Kelsey yet. Their answers to the questions I was about to ask would determine that. Freya grumbled, “I want to be mad at them.”
We might be… we just didn’t know yet. Financial freedom was worth degrading yourself for many women because it was their hope of getting out of bad packs. I could understand them doing that to be free because it was a viable option to a better life.
One of the guys cleared his throat, “It was clearly an accident.” I looked at him and rolled my eyes. Dad linked, “Are you going to be more bug than lady? Because I’m here for it. Damn if I didn’t miss your takes on situations. You always had such a unique view that was closer to my own.”
My dad had missed my takes? Freya said, “Pepper is quite excited to hear what we are about to say, so yes.” Well… then he’d be happy because I planned to be very much more of a bug than lady. Jason linked, “And here we go. God, I missed you little sister.” I was NOT going to cry. I replied, “I missed you too… a lot… ok… I’m gonna focus.” My brother chuckled back.
I informed the man who had spoken, “I wasn’t born at night buddy, and if I had been… it wasn’t last night. There are two napkins on this table. Both of them just HAPPEN to be by the two women you’ve decided are only good enough to use their bodies to cozy up to the men in charge…. Be less obvious… seriously… try and be less obvious than that… you’re standing there acting like a man yet you’re playing pup’s games.”
Red Run’s line was literally choking out laughs which only served to emboldened me. I was used to silence… and people who were annoyed with me… but Haley looked really proud. Dylan was deeply amused… my dad was proud… Plus, I heardAlpha Peter laugh… all I’d wanted for years was for him to be proud and love me again.
I questioned the guy talking, “Did you tell these two women what they had to wear today? I bet you did. Newsflash, your presentation has glaring holes. Telling anyone who works for you to try and flirt with the key decision makers instead of listening to their ideas is sick… and insane when your presentation is bad as yours. I’m just saying.” Dylan screamed gleefully into his hands.
I let Kelsey go. I looked her in the eyes, “It’s hard to hear, but you wouldn’t… like… umm… you… is Si still here?” Because she should’ve said something by now. Phil said, “No, but I’m getting links about how my mate knew this would happen and is annoyed she had to step out for a meeting.”
I winced, “Umm so…that’s not ideal. She usually explains…So… EJ… wouldn’t have been… into you rubbing his crotch… so…” Haley interrupted, “My daughter in law is saying my son would not have been aroused and she’s absofuckinglutely correct.” Aroused was the right word.
I hummed, “Exactly. He’s mated and loves Elise… He always has… he’s her EJ.” Kelsey replied, “I know that.” I admitted, “I want to know if you do this because you want to or because those men over there are abusing their positions of power to coerce you to act this way for a paycheck.”
Freya growled, “For their sakes their answer better match their apologetic wolves.” Kelsey immediately answered, “They won’t listen to our ideas. We are often told we belong in the kitchen or on our backs. They give us these clothes. I never shower enough for touching the mated men I do and neither does Essie.”
Kelsey was near tears explaining, “We feel so gross, but if we keep saving the money we make from this job then we can quit and start traveling. Our packs are full of good people, andour Alpha isn’t a bad man. It’s just that the new crop of leaders coming up behind him have different ideas. They got hooked up with some other pack’s Alpha with crazy ideas about women, sexuality, and restricting power.”
She admitted, “I’m scared. These are our future Alpha’s best friends, and they are changing him. Honestly, I like coming here because Alpha EJ never even stares at my chest and doesn't make me feel gross. I’ve written Elise anonymous apology emails.”
Kelsey pleaded with me to understand, “It’s just that I have to do this to survive. I want to get out and travel before the new group comes to power. I’m sorry about the incident. The cup spilling is part of the script today. It always is close to the end of the sales process.”
I replied, “I understand more than you could possibly know… or maybe you do… which is why you explained it.” Kelsey grinned at me. The guys with her went to grab Essie and one flew across the room at Kelsey. Like I was freaking standing right here….able to stop him…which he had to know I could do.
He was a Beta blood, but so was I. Kelsey wasn’t… and he had no reason to attack her. I pushed Kelsey behind me and slammed him onto the table so hard I heard a crack. Dylan howled with laughter declaring, “THE PARALYZER HAS COME TO THE ALPHA MEETING! EVERYONE BEWARE!”
