Lycanthrope's Moon

Chapter 2

I put the cup of coffee on Mr. Ivanov's table. I tidied it up, and before I left, I opened the window to ventilate the room for a few minutes and sprayed his perfume all over the place. Mr. Ivanov said he didn't want to smell any traces of my scent in his room, which I find weird. Even though I think it was very unreasonable and somewhat offensive; because it made me think that I might smell bad, I still need to follow. I needed to keep my job.

It had been almost a month, but I never met Mr. Ivanov again after the day the woman in ripped jeans hired me. He would just call me through my office phone if he needed me to do something for him, or most of the time, Atticus, his lawyer, would tell me personally. It's like he's avoiding me for no reason.

I have to go to work earlier than everyone to set up his office and to leave his coffee on the table. And before I left, I had to spray his perfume on the entire room, which I still do not understand.

I sat on my swivel chair and started my paperwork. I immediately started my job that day without going through an interview. When I accepted the job as the CEO's secretary, they already gave me a bonus. They said it was a gift of appreciation for accepting the job on such short notice, though I would admit that I accepted it because I badly needed the money.

I flinched when my door flew open. It was Atticus. He had a serious look on his face, which meant I was in trouble.

"You left this," he said as he showed me my handkerchief.

I groaned and secretly cursed at myself inside my head when I realized how stupid I was.

"Did I lose the job?" I asked him.

"He's pretty furious about it," Atticus said as he sat on the couch. "But I guess you can still keep the job," he added. I immediately sighed in relief.

"I'm really sorry. I'll be careful next time," I said, then picked up my handkerchief. "Do you want coffee?" I asked as I stood up

"Yes, please. I'll enjoy your kind hospitality since I planned to stay here for a bit," Atticus replied.

Unlike Mr. Ivanov, Atticus was a pretty nice guy to me. He would frequently stay here in my office, actually, and he would keep me company. Most of the time, we would talk about Mr. Ivanov. I handed him the cup of coffee I had made, which he politely accepted.

"You know? Zach is a very nice guy," he started.

"Yeah, yeah. You kept telling me that, though that doesn't matter to me. I needed the job; that's why I'm here," I said as I returned to my paperwork.

"He's just stupid for rejecting you, that's all" I laughed at what he said. "I'm sure you'll change your mind once you meet him," he added.

"Naah, I'm not interested. I'm just fine by how things are going," I said while my eyes were still on the computer.

"It's a pain on me, though. I'm his lawyer, but I somehow felt like his personal assistant," he groaned. I laughed because I honestly think the same way.

"You're going to be fine, man," I said, trying to cheer him up.

"So tell me, do you have a girlfriend?" he said, which caught my attention.

"Why are you suddenly asking that?" I asked in confusion.

"Well, someone I know might want to know if you have any," he said with a teasing face. I just gave him a weird look before returning to my computer.

"I'm dating someone," I replied

"Really? That's a bad thing. I suggest you break up with her," he said casually.

"What the f**k, man! Why would I do that?"

Before he could answer, the door opened. I tensed up at the very familiar feeling. Mr. Ivanov entered my office, looking at Atticus and me furiously. My throat went dry upon feeling his vicious aura.

"So this is where you go every time you disappear," Mr. Ivanov said

Atticus immediately stood up. I could sense that Mr. Ivanov's presence shook him too. It felt like we were caught cheating.

"I-I was just…." Atticus tried to explain, but Mr. Ivanov didn't let him finish his sentence.

"No wonder I can smell him on you," he added as he smirked. Then he looked at me coldly, sending chills all down my spine. "Out!" he roared as his eyes were still on me.

I immediately looked at Atticus, giving him a begging look. I didn't want to be left alone with him. Something about him was intimidating me. But instead, to pity me, he just saved himself from the demon.

"What are you trying to do, Mr. Larsson?" I flinched upon mentioning my name.

"I-I wasn't doing anything, s-sir" f**k! Why am I stuttering?

"Really? Are you trying to seduce my lawyer?" His question dumbfounded me. Why the hell would I seduce a dude? Was he crazy?

"I-I would never do that, sir," I replied as I kept my eyes down. I can't bring myself to look at him.

I cursed myself a hundred times for behaving like a timid little girl in front of his presence.

I flinched when I heard footsteps walking toward me, which made me even more anxious. Mr. Ivanov slammed the table and leaned closer to me.

"Do you want to keep your job?" he asked. I just gave him a nod. I honestly couldn't bring myself to speak. "Look at me," he demanded, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

I felt like my skin burned when he held my chin up so that my eyes would meet his.

"You need to look at me when I told you so," he said.

"Y-Yes sir" are the only words I can utter.

"I don't want you to go near him again. Stay away from my lawyer. Do you understand that?" Mr. Ivanov said that as he looked at my eyes, I felt like melting.

"Y-Yes, sir," I answered.

"Good"

He let go of me and just left my office. That's when I remember to breathe. I was too scared that my mind forgot to let me breathe. My knees went weak, and I fell on the floor while breathing heavily.

"f**k! What was that?"

I suddenly felt sick, and I could feel my body burning. I felt like I wouldn't make it through the day.

Even if Mr. Ivanov just gave me his damn orders, I couldn't just leave my office without any notice. I picked up the office phone and dialed Atticus' number. It only took three rings before he answered his phone.

(This is a so f*****g bad timing to call) he said on the other line

"You said I would change my mind once I meet him?"

(If you call to tell me that, I'm hanging up. I'm also in trouble, you know.) By what he said, I can sense that Mr. Ivanov's furious with him too

"Wait! I just want to inform you that I can't make it through the day. I suddenly felt sick. I'm going home. Please fill in for me," I said and ended the call before he could even say no.

I barely managed to leave the building and ride a train. My body was burning up, and I felt like I would pass out any minute. Luckily I managed to reach my apartment. I just lay my body on the bed.

This was the worst fever that I had ever had. I could feel twice as hot as it usually was, and my body seemed awfully tired. I just closed my eyes as darkness started to take me.

*Zachary Ivanov's POV

I looked at the man who was talking on the phone. I was certain he was talking to my secretary, making me want to grab my beta's neck and snap it.

"He's going home," he said when he was off the phone. I bit my lower lip to avoid asking why my secretary was leaving my building.

"I know. I heard your conversation," I said coldly.

"Are you still going to reject him? He just left his handkerchief in your office, and you immediately lost it. Just accept it. You can't deny the bond," he said

"f**k that bullshit bond!" I said as I realized I was holding my secretary's handkerchief. When did I take it?

"You've banned female secretaries just to avoid meeting your mate, but it turns out that your mate was not a she," he teasingly said

"Shut up! I don't need a mate," I roared.

"Don't be stupid. You'll kill yourself if you keep rejecting Flynn," my beta said. I mentally raised an eyebrow at him. Since when did my beta and my secretary become close? They're even using their first names to address each other.

"You know that I can handle that," I confidently said, which earned a frown from him.

"But he can't. He's suffering from it now. Do you really not care about your mate?" he asked.

"Just leave, please," I replied.

I heard him sigh before he left.

I looked at the handkerchief as I tried to calm myself from his scent. I needed to get used to it so that he wouldn't have any effects on me.

"Mate? Don't make me laugh. I would never need such a thing."