That was certainly an interesting tactic. No one would say anything other than rolling their eyes about a bet. EJ linked me, “I want to do that.” I reasoned, “We could just link each other.” EJ teased, “That’s not as fun.” He had a point.
The business group we were waiting on arrived. They were fifteen minutes early, like usual. I nodded to each of them. I felt Melanie’s annoyance immediately. What now? EJ linked me, “It appears Elise is not the only one who doesn’t like Essie or Kels.” This was going to make the process of this meeting interesting considered they’d just stepped into the room.
Oden snickered, “Mate is jealous.” It was slightly amusing since nothing had happened. It was incredibly ironic since Melanie didn’t understand why I was jealous of a lot of guys, but she’s upset with two women for smiling in my direction.
EJ linked, “Ohhhh Melanie didn’t like that you used nicknames to introduce them to her. Your mate linked mine asking what their real names are.” I pointed out, “They’re their preferred names.” EJ answered, “I know that. I’m just telling you that your mate, who tends to punch people, didn’t like it.”
Melanie would be just fine. Plus, she tended to break people’s backs from what I’d noticed; not punch them. I was ready to jump in when Kelsey sat beside EJ to get her into a new seat. EJ himself had been about to say something when Melanie jumped in.
Someone was going to have to tell me why this authoritative tone she used was so hot. Kelsey immediately apologized. Melanie was not moved by her apology the fact Kelsey moving seats. EJ linked me, “Angela downplayed the events of today. I would’ve appreciated a heads up on this.” I reasoned, “Angela would find this funny.” EJ inclined his head indicating I was right.
Melanie’s trepidation shot up from my foot so hard, I glanced over at her. My mate was studying Kelsey and Essie. Like she was trying to figure out pieces of a puzzle. I focused on the presentation but was acutely aware of Melanie’s annoyance mounting steadily.
I was seriously beginning to wonder how intensely I was going to feel my mate after our Hackura ceremony. My dad linked me, “Your mate is clearly linking Buttercup a question.” I looked away from the presenters to watch Melanie and Buttercup. Whatever they talked about annoyed Melanie even more than she already was.
I linked Wesley, “Do you know what that was about between our mates?” Wesley answered, “My mate answered a question about whether or not Kels and Essie ever present in these meetings.” I was about to reply that of course they had. Then I thought about it.
They had never said a word about their company or their presentations. Wesley sighed, “I think I had the same look on my face when I realized what you just did. Neither woman ever talks about the business.” That was odd. Why wouldn’t they? They were clearly part of the team, everyone else on the team had spoken but them.
Kelsey knocked over her drink and screeched. Jesus that was loud. Before I could even think about anything else Melanie leaped across the corner of the table and pinned Kelsey’s hands behind her back. EJ simply snapped himself clean.
My mom linked us both, “Do nothing right now. Either of you.” We both looked at our mom. She shot us a look and linked, “I love you both, but you are SO fucking oblivious sometimes. Let Melanie handle this. One, it’s fucking fun. Two, her mind works in different ways.” I sighed.
Melanie spoke to Kelsey and made excellent points. She warned Essie off doing the same thing to me that had just happened to my brother. Oden purred, “Mate is so attractive when she’s jealous.” She was. Essie paled from Melanie’s threats. The men giving the presentation were frowning and looking around at each other.
Cayden linked me, “Man, things are more fun with your mate around all the time.” I rolled my eyes, but it was true. The guys tried to argue it was an accident, but Melanie did not agree. EJ linked, “It had to be. I can snap things clean. It’s not a big deal.”
Then Melanie pointed out all the ways this was clearly an orchestrated event. My mate went further and accused the men in the group of using these women to flirt with the decision makers. I could see jaws drop around the room.
We didn’t expect that out of other Supernatural’s because they respected the mate bond. Flirting with me until today was ok, but not EJ. Certainly not in a business setting. Hell to the fuck no. Melanie directly asked Kelsey who admitted this wasthe plan. That their male co-workers didn’t even listen to their ideas.
My anger fired on all cylinders. It’s one thing if a woman flirts with men she likes, but to force them to do so was abhorrent. Making anyone feel like they had to flirt to keep a job probably made them feel dirty later.
This was so wrong and their behavior was completely despicable. These poor women just wanted to save their money and get out and travel around. Probably hoping to find their mate so they never had to go back. The guys made their move to attack the women from their own pack. Had everyone gone insane?
I linked EJ, “How the FUCK have people decided attacking people in our office will go well for them?” Melanie instantly protected Kelsey, despite her initial dislike for the woman. I grabbed two guys, EJ had another and Cayden had the others stopped.
I linked KJ, Fowler, and Chason, “Get in here.” They quickly entered the room and grabbed the men. Dylan was completely jazzed. Cassie popped in, and Melanie instructed the women to step outside with her because my mate wanted to hear the presentation with their ideas incorporated.
EJ linked me, “Did she just say GLARING? Glaring errors? How are they glaring? We’ve all been in these meetings. What was glaring?” I shrugged admitting, “I told her that’s why I wanted her in here.” What shocked us even more was Melanie’s knowledge of our allies' businesses.
Oden purred, “Mate is adorable even when she’s saying we are wrong.” She was. I linked Phil, “Did you have questions for Essie and Kels?” Phil replied, “Yup.” Gage linked, “I’m petitioning here and now for Melanie to join ALL our meetings.” Phil agreed, “Approved.” I rolled my eyes.
Melanie practically offered Kelsey and Essie sanctuary in our pack if the Daniels’ pack wouldn’t take them in. Max, EJ, and I agreed. The two women ran over and hugged Melanie. They’d recognized her name as the voice of the forgotten packs. Seriously? That had gone around everyfuckingwhere but here. Stupid magical peanut butter cookies!
Eventually, Kelsey and Essie stepped out. Melanie instantly informed the men of how she was going to dismantle their company. EJ linked, “Does that sound oddly familiar? I think it does, little brother.” It did. We’d gotten emails with suggestions of talent before. They were anonymous and we’d traced them back to our competitor's company IP’s.
We’d assumed there was a disgruntled employee who’d sent them to us. I linked Cayden, “Let Micah know he was bamboozled. That was clearly a false front I.D.” Cayden sighed, “Yeah, that sounds familiar. You could tell him though since he’s sitting beside Max.”
I shrugged because I wasn’t going to do that. Micah might be testy about it so I’d rather Cayden tell him. The first business that had gotten that detail was one of my dad’s. He was trying, and failing, not to smirk.
I linked him, “My mate protected your company.” Dad replied, “Not just mine.” I knew that. I conjured Melanie’s computer and watched her break into the people presenting’s company system in literal minutes. It might have been three maybe.
EJ linked me, “Holy mother of god. That’s terrifying.” My dad linked me asking, “Is Melanie really already in?” I answered, “For several minutes now.” Even my dad gaped now. Melanie mocked the men we’d now cuffed in silver saying their system was easy to crack.
EJ linked me, “We need her to try and hack our businesses.” I’d lay odds that my mate had already done that. At least formine and she’d likely done EJ’s because of Elise. Melanie she definitely hacked Elise and Jason’s.
Melanie’s angry increased once she got the details from this company’s personnel files. She easily toggled between social media accounts and messages before compiling several emails. Most of the names went to Emmett and Emma, but sent some to Elise, Dalton and Dakota.
