Page 44 of Obsessed Wolf Daddy

I roll my eyes. "It's not college work; it's a serious proposal."

"Of course, of course," he replies, but I can't help but think he's brushing me off. "There's all the time in the world for you to work on projects, Saf. This isn't the time, but we'll talk about it soon. I'm serious about this. About you. I meant what I said."

Mine.

A shiver runs through me, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me. But then I remember Annie. Blushing, I look over at the little girl, who has stopped coloring and is watching us intently. She laughs when she sees us looking and then makes a comic smooching sound with the back of her hand until her sneezing stops her.

"Oh my goodness," I say, cringing in sympathy as Cole laughs.

This feels right, the three of us together. I just need Cole to take my project seriously, but I'm sure he will once he sees the finished version.

Ten minutes later, Carla buzzes through to let Cole know everything is ready. "Do you want me to hang back with Annie?" I ask him. I don't want to miss the announcement, but Annie looks quite worn out right now.

Cole considers it for a moment but shakes his head. "I don't want you to miss this," he says, scooping Annie up and placing his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. "Besides, Carmela will want her there, and she seems ok."

I falter slightly; Cole hasn't mentioned Carmela all morning. Just the thought of her being here puts me on edge, but I try to shake it off for Cole and Annie's sake. After all, she's Annie's mom. Even though she's a witch and intimidating as hell, there's no reason for me to be concerned.

The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses fill the air as I follow Cole and Annie out of his office. The room is abuzz with excitement, and everyone's eyes are fixed on the small platform, where a gorgeous floral arrangement stands proudly next to a microphone. Not wanting to make my appearance with Cole obvious, I step away from him as he approaches the stairs to watch from the side.

Annie notices and runs back to me. "Can I stay with you, Saffy?" she asks. I look at Cole, and he nods. A strange emotioncrosses his face as he looks at us, but it's gone in a flash, and he's walking toward the stage.

Only then do I spot Carmela, looking impressive as always. Her long dark hair reflects the light as she takes the stage, smoothing her fitted dress in a way that only emphasizes her curves. She greets Cole with an overly familiar kiss on the cheek that makes my wolf grow instantly restless. She scans the crowd, immediately falling on where I'm standing with Annie. Her eyes narrow as she whispers something to Cole. He appears to shake his head, but she steps in front of him.

"Annie, honey, come down here,” she says. “This is a family announcement, after all."

What the hell?

Annie is nervous, but I walk her to the stairs and give her a gentle nudge. "Just go to your mom and dad. It's okay," I say reassuringly. Still, I can sense her reluctance and hate watching her walk through the crowd. Cole's expression is carefully blank, but as Annie approaches him, he pulls her against his side and whispers something to her that makes her smile again.

The room echoes with applause as Cole steps forward to take his place at the podium. He clears his throat, adjusting the microphone with a steady hand. The lights dim, casting a warm glow over the crowd. A hush falls over everyone as Cole begins to speak, his voice deep and confident.

"Good afternoon, everyone," he says. "We are gathered here today to celebrate a new chapter in our company's history. A partnership that will bring us unprecedented global success and growth." The excitement in the air grows as he pauses dramatically, building anticipation.

He goes on to introduce Carmela's involvement as she stands confidently at the front, her eyes darting around the room like a predator sizing up its prey, taking in everyone's reactions. She smiles demurely and clears her throat, drawing theirattention back to her. The unease I've felt ever since hearing that Carmela was here only grows as she begins to outline the new joint venture.

"...Cyber security...harnessing AI technology...evolutionary new program...any mobile device."

The more she speaks, the more I realize...she’s talking aboutmyprogram. The whole room spins, and I'm forced to grip the rail to steady myself. Suddenly, it all makes sense. Terrance mentioning Carmela's company, and the fact that he saw my program and knew its capabilities.

The flash of a camera bulb goes off, snapping me back to the moment. Carmela's voice continues to fill the room, her words full of glee. My stomach churns as I watch her and Cole. They look so good standing on the stage together. So glamorous and successful. I can't breathe properly, my lungs working double time to pull in enough air. This is an absolute nightmare.

Bile rises in my throat as Carmela finishes her speech and shifts back toward Cole, who has a broad grin plastered across his face. His eyes flicker to mine, his smile faltering a little as our eyes connect. Silently questioning.

After what feels like a lifetime, Carmela and Cole work their way around the room. Annie spots me in the crowd and rushes over. "Can we go back upstairs now, Saf?" she pleads.

I bend down to her. "Just one sec, okay? I just need to speak to your dad about something."

As I stand, Cole makes his way over to us. His suit fits him to perfection, molded to his strong shoulders as he strides confidently through the appreciative crowd. My mind is still reeling at the realization that this is actually happening, and my stomach is roiling with nausea. I struggle to remain composed despite the urge to run from the room, screaming.

Annie's small hand slips into mine, and I give it a gentle squeeze. I don't want to cause a scene, especially not in front of her.

"So? Excited?" Cole asks, stopping in front of me.

I'm completely at a loss for words, but I know I need to say something. "Cole. That's my project. That's my work," I ramble as his face morphs from excitement to incredulity.

"What on earth…don't be…" Cole laughs but is cut off by Carmela approaching. Her eyes flick between Cole, Annie, and myself unnervingly quickly.

"Cole, darling," she coos, slipping her arm through his. My wolf instantly comes to life. "Well, well. Jealous little pup, isn't she?" Carmela laughs.

---