Page 7 of Obsessed Wolf Daddy

"I know, I know." He laughs. "Chill, Lottie."

Charlotte pauses with her hand on the door. "For the last time, Terrance. It's Charlotte."

This time, I roll my eyes. At both of them. They're both great—the class clown and the class overachiever. And me? I'm not sure who I am. Just your average small-town girl, hoping not to embarrass herself on her first day.

Especially in front of Cole Matherson.

Just conjuring up his name makes my cheeks burn in anticipation. I doubt he'll even remember me, and I'm sure I won't even see him while we're here. It's a massive company, after all, and we're just interns. Despite knowing that, I still haven't been able to stop thinking about him or fantasizing about what it would be like to see him again.

I cringe as the thought runs through my mind again.He's not going to be interested in someone like you.

Pulling myself together, I follow Charlotte and Terrance into the building, trying to focus on their conversation even though they're just bickering. Thankfully, Charlotte takes it upon herself to go and introduce herself to the receptionist, who smiles at us all in greeting.

"Don't wind her up, okay?" I say to Terrance.

He winks, flashing me one of his winning smiles as he winks. "Sure thing. You know I'm only messing with her." He lowers his voice to a whisper, leaning in slightly. "I know how important this is to you, Saf. I got you."

The look in his eyes is so open and reassuring, I can totally see why he seems to have a different girlfriend every other month. I'm sure he's a lot of fun to go out with, but I've just never felt an attraction to him. He did ask me out the first week we met in college, but I'm so glad we were able to become friends instead. Charlotte can be a bit too serious sometimes, and I think Terrance and his antics will be a great distraction to stop me from brooding over Cole the entire time I'm here.

"Just look at this place," Terrance says with genuine wonder in his voice. "I mean, wow."

I scan the reception area while Charlotte chats with the woman at the desk. Being in such a corporate environment for the first time is a little intimidating. There are hardly any tech industries around here, and certainly, none are this impressive. Brite Corp has been built into the side of the mountain. A huge glass and steel complex blends into the rock face, with eco-roofing and living walls blending seamlessly with the forest from the approaching road. It's incredible.

The interior is no less impressive. The harder glass and steel elements are offset with warm wood accents and comfortable soft furnishings.

And I have never felt so inferior in all my life.

Before I can spiral into self-doubt, Charlotte walks back to us, followed by two women.

"Saffy and Terrance?" a very attractive woman asks. She’s in a skirt suit, wearing glasses that only make her look sexier. We nod and introduce ourselves. "I'm Carla, Mr. Matherson's personal assistant. This is Ruby Bailey from HR, and we're goingto be giving you a tour and assigning your first department teams. Excited to get started?"

We all nod enthusiastically, but inside, I'm dying. Carla is so sexy. If that's the kind of woman Cole surrounds himself with even here, then I'm an idiot for thinking he'd ever look twice at me.

As I stand, listening to Carla and Ms. Bailey talk about the security protocols, I feel a familiar feeling creeping through me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up—the feeling of being watched. I subtly glance around the expansive reception area, but everyone else is ignoring us, rushing around and certainly not looking in our direction. I can't shake the feeling, though, and although I try to listen to what the women are saying, I feel more flustered the longer we stand there.

Carla’s voice snaps me back to reality. "Okay. Follow us.” She turns and leads us through the maze of corridors off the reception area.

I can't help but gawp as we walk past the various open-plan workstations. The Brite Corp employees seem so young and trendy. Although plenty are wearing suits, others appear more casually dressed. Hanging out in smaller labs, they seem to be having the time of their lives, with music playing and people standing around, laughing and chatting. It's not what I was expecting.

"This is definitely my kind of place," Terrance laughs as if he can read my mind.

"It's so cool," I admit. "Look at all of them. We're so lucky to have been chosen."

We stop at a small glass conference room, and Carla picks up a small remote on the table. Instantly, the frosted glass doors slide open. "This is the training room,” she says. “We'll do your orientation here. You've got time to settle in while I help Rubywith something. Look through these files, and we'll get started in ten."

She smiles before disappearing in the opposite direction. I'm so distracted by my surroundings that I barely notice her leaving until the doors close.

The conference room is large, with a circular table in the middle surrounded by six chairs. On the walls are various framed photos of Cole Matherson's business achievements and awards, along with a giant LCD screen that looks like it could be used for presentations. The room has all the latest technology, with an interactive whiteboard system and multiple ports to connect laptops or tablets.

I straighten my skirt again and sit, still feeling completely out of place. Terrance continues walking around, checking everything out.

"It looks like someone has been spending all the company’s money here,” he jokes lightly before leaning back on his chair and asking me, "So, what do you think of Cole? Do you think he's really as bad as they say?"

I feel my cheeks flush and quickly look away before answering, trying to sound casual even though my mind is racing. "I don't know much about him. And what do you mean, bad?"

Terrance nods conspiratorially before leaning in. "It seems like he's into some kinky stuff, if you know what I mean." He raises his eyebrows suggestively, and I can feel my heart race faster as I realize what he's implying.

"That can't be true," I stammer, hoping to convince myself more than anyone else.

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