Page 45 of Obsessed Wolf Daddy

Cole looks between us and shrugs Carmela off, much to my wolf's satisfaction, "Carmela, Saffy says this program is hers."

Carmela throws her head back and laughs before eyeing me cruelly. "That's hilarious. This is not intern-level technology." She cackles again. "This has been worked on at the highest level. I have the data trail. Cole, you can't honestly think your intern is capable of this?"

I look at Cole and instantly know who he believes. He looks almost apologetically at Carmela and then turns to me. "Perhaps it's just in the same field..."

"There is no doubt who created this program. And now it's here, on Brite Corp servers, so you have full access." Carmela sneers.

I look at Cole, but he's glancing away as if hoping no one is listening to our conversation. I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me as I realize what she's done. By uploading it to the Brite Corp servers after I’d downloaded it and wiping my data, she knows I can never prove I created it first.

I gently squeeze Annie's hand, my voice shaking. "I just need to go out for a moment. I'll see you soon."

Cole reaches for my arm. "Meet me in my office in half an hour. We can talk about this properly there. If your project is in the same field, you'll be perfect for the team. I just need to do some press with Carmela."

I nod, trying to hold my head high as I walk through the crowd and slip outside. In a daze, I walk to my truck, only letting the tears fall when I'm safely inside. As I drive, anger and disbelief churning in my stomach, my tears subside, and a quiet rage begins to build. My hands clench and unclench on the steering wheel, nails digging into my palms. I can feel the adrenaline surge through my veins as I imagine how they thought they could steal this from me.

The hum of the engine lulls me into a different headspace for a moment as I wait for my call to connect to the one person I know can help me: Tanya.

By the time I'm rushing into the kitchen, Tanya has already set up her FBI-issued laptop, and Zack is making her what looks like her second pot of coffee. "I'm in," she says with a wicked smile. "The security is extensive. It's a shame they're not actually using your program yet, though. That might have been able to stop me. Idiots." There's a small pause before she continues, "I have access to emails between them, financials, everything."

My heart leaps at her words. Tanya is amazing. Always one step ahead of everyone else.

"Anything that could prove it's mine?" I ask, a glimmer of hope in my voice.

"I'm looking," she replies quietly, her fingers flying over the keys. "How about this?" She asks after a few minutes, turning the screen around.

"She paid him," I murmur, looking at the highlighted records.

"Yep, and there's this." She brings up another screen. "An NDA signed the evening Terrance stole your bag. There's more here. I can put together all the evidence."

Tears of gratitude roll down my face, but I know this doesn't solve everything. Tech copyright is messy, and I'm just an intern. Carmela is rich and powerful, and so is Cole. There's no guarantee who will win here.

And there’s no guarantee Cole will feel the same about me after I embarrass Brite Corp following today's big announcement. But I’m not about to let Carmela and Terrance walk all over me and steal what’s mine.

Chapter 23 - Cole

I’m on edge as I walk through the reception area. A few people try to catch my eye, but I'm in no mood. My strides are purposeful, my gaze hard.

I'm fucked off. Saffy hasn't taken any of my calls since she slipped out of the celebration yesterday. I was on the verge of driving out to her cabin, Zack be damned, but a single text from her finally came through.

I'll be in at eight tomorrow. We need to talk.

Perhaps she's had time to consider her ridiculous outburst and wants to apologize. I've been through it so many times in my head I can only assume she's been working on something using AI that she thought might be useful, but Carmela's program renders it useless. AI is the future, though, and every cyber college student between here and Tokyo is looking at how to utilize it. It's obvious that someone with Carmela's connections would get there first.

I know I have to remember how young and ambitious Saffy is. I'm sure her frustration simply got the better of her. And I'm not blind—I saw her reaction to Carmela's presence. Part of me found it satisfying, not because I want a jealous mate, but I can't deny it was gratifying to sense her wolf's reaction. I hadn't seen that side of her before, and I'm not even sure she’s fully aware of it herself. But her wolf burns with indignation whenever Carmela is near.

Carmela has that effect on people at the best of times. But what Saffy failed to realize is that to me, she shines far brighter than Carmela ever has. I've always been wary of the true mate stories, but looking back to the day I met Saffy at the fairground, I knew even then. Carmela was right about one thing—I do have certain sexual tastes. But having sex with my mate has already surpassed any other thrill I've found.

Whether Saffy wants to apologize or not, I won't play games. Not taking my calls, sneaking out, putting herself at risk to be nice to Terrance—all that stops today.

The scene yesterday only highlighted that I need to be firmer with how I want things to be with Saffy. I've treaded lightly so far, aware of her naivete, the pack dynamics I've avoided all my life, and the potential repercussions from Diego if our relationship went sideways. But I'm done with that now. With this new program, Brite Corp is going to experience exponential growth. I need my private affairs fully under control so I can concentrate on bringing this thing to market.

I've always needed to have control. Losing my parents at such a young age was so rare in the shifter community that I hated the feelings of loss and emptiness that came with it. The death of my parents seemed to trigger something in my wolf's development, too, because I couldn't submit to the pack structure, constantly got in trouble, and always had to have things my own way. Ironically, it's this independence that has given me so much success in business, but it's not something I can change. And I don't want it to change.

Saffy will adapt. I know she feels the bond between us, too. She'll be powerless to deny it.

I'm well aware my mood is written all over my face as my staff look up to greet me but then tactfully look away. I stroll by Carla's desk, intending to ignore her as well, but she jumps up and follows me, scurrying to keep up.

"Mr. Matherson, wait," she pleads, and I slow to a stop, trying to bite my tongue so I don't snap at her. "There's some kind of presentation happening in the main conference room. Jonah's been trying to contact you. He's already there."

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