Falling for my best friend's dad

Chapter 3

Cecilia

My heart picks up pace, but I refuse to back down after coming so far. I gather the courage to stare right into his eyes before I open my lips to answer, "It may look like that, but we should embrace it instead of getting cautious of the evil eye. After all, showing one's prowess and strength also work wonders.

We aren't a small pack, so we shouldn't be watchful of others. Instead, we should show them what we are capable of, being a pack of such an enormous size with a powerful leader who rules the entire west.

I believe we shouldn't leave any stone unturned in the preparation for the majestic moon ball as well, and our theme is such that it will satisfy both the purposes." I finish, and he doesn't say anything for a second, which stretches on like one torturous minute before his lips tilt into a small smile.

"Very well," He states, making me blush for no reason. I quickly pull myself together and finish the rest of the ppt.

After a few more questions and the ending credits, I conclude our presentation, "Thank you for being a part of our presentation. That is all for the Moon ball theme," I say before walking towards my chair, aware of Alpha Aaron's gaze escorting me.

I dare not look up at him, feeling too relaxed after the big thing. My legs give out and I feel relieved to be sitting back in my chair.

"You were awesome there, Cici. I told you, you were going to rock!" Nora whispers, making me smile.

"Thanks Nora, it wouldn't have been possible without you and our team." I whisper back, grinning back at her like a schoolgirl before both of us go quiet when Grace's team starts their presentation.

After another almost twenty to thirty preoccupied minutes, the lights brighten up in the meeting room again. Grace's team has also concluded their presentation and honestly it was amazing. The overall floral theme coupled with a swing of the outdoor venue to make it feel as if it's bonded with nature was very thoughtful.

The moon goddess watches over nature, so coming up with this theme was a good idea. I am bubbling up with happiness by the end of it. I am still greedy about the promotion, but I think I wouldn't feel too bad if it went to Grace and her team because their work is also good.

"As expected of Grace, that was a brilliant presentation," Nora says, and I can't agree more.

"I just can't wait for the results now," I add.

She nods, "I feel the same."

Just then, Juliana stands up, "Today's meeting is over. It went smoothly and for that I would like to thank both our planning teams for their hard work. We have decided on our votes. The results will be announced tomorrow. Everyone is dismissed for today."

"I wonder how I am going to sleep tonight," Abigail mutters and I stifle a laugh.

All of us stand up, and wait for Alpha Aaron and other seniors to leave first. Melanie help tidy up Alpha Aaron's stuff which makes me wonder about his secretary's whereabouts. Amidst me thinking about unimportant things, Melanie's hand hits his fountain pen while she is gathering the documents and it rolls over to my laptop.

I blink twice before I grab it and stretch a little to hand it over, but instead of her, Alpha Aaron himself takes it. A jolt runs through me when our fingertips touch slightly, and linger for a second before I quickly withdraw my hand, leaving his there.

"Thank you." He says, again with that small smile, which is a potential threat to triggering my panic symptoms.

I form a shaky smile of my own, "My pleasure." I manage to say without looking up at him. However, I can still feel his gaze on me before it falls away, accompanied by a couple of different footsteps, with his resounding the loudest in my ears.

I can't believe how I was able to hold myself with his eyes on me almost all the time during the meeting.

I raise my eyes only after he has left. The meeting room suddenly feels empty despite still bustling with so many people. I release a much-needed breath before I go back to sorting my stuff.

I collect my handouts, files and other important documents. It's time to wind up.

"I am just glad that it is over, and hey, we gave our best." Nora suddenly says when I am in the middle of putting my laptop in the bag.

"Yeah, we did and I also feel relieved that the presentation is over. It's something we have been working on for more than two weeks. It feels rewarding after finally going through it." I put my two cents.

"And now today calls for a party." Nora grins like a cheshire cat, hinting at whatever mischief is cooking up in her mind.

"What is it?" I ask, fully aware that something is up, but I am not going to say yes to another sleepover. Not happening.

"Do you remember when we agreed on touring Paris at night after the meeting?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me excitedly, quickly taking me back to one of the similar conversations I had.

Right, how can I forget that the River Claw pack is nestled in the woods close to Western Paris, unlike my old one? Despite it being risky, night outings in Paris aren't uncommon here among the pack people.

I nod, "I remember."

Her face splits into a full-blown grin, "Then what are you dilly-dallying for? Let's go. Rather than walking through the cobbled streets and admiring the Eiffel Tower tonight, I will take you to Paradis Latin and by now you can probably guess the reason. It's because of the cabaret, but that's not it--

"Nora, breathe," I remind her, cutting off her speedy chatter, holding her arms, and watching her chest go up and down from the excitement as she takes a second to calm down before going back to speaking again. "It's because my favourite actor, Lucas Hayes, is going to do a guest performance there, and it's going to be a romantic musical vignette." She pretends to faint and I support her.

"Okay...?" I mutter, not a stranger to her love for musicals and Broadway.

"OKAY? Cici? Okay means we are going there tonight and watching it! I have had the whole plan sketched out. First we will go to Paradis Latin, have dinner, watch Lucas's performance, and then we will go to Tuileries Garden and enjoy the Ferris wheel, have some icecream and come back. How does this sound?"

Not good.

I move my neck in a no then a yes, confusing both her and me.

She slaps my arm, "Is it a yes or no?"

"Ouch." I answer and she huffs angrily.

"Cici." She calls my name sternly, making my fuse blow up.

"Ugh fine, the plan is terrific, but we aren't exactly allowed to go near human civilization, Nora, and with the recent news in the newspapers about late-night vandalism and other activities, the patrols have gotten even stricter. I don't think you will get the permission to do so," I say, and instead of sulking, she smirks.

"That's it?" She snorts, making my eyes go round with bafflement, what is wrong with her?

"Yes...?"

"Then you don't have to worry about that. I convinced Declan. We will leave in the evening, and I have also roped in Hudson, Abigail, Avery, Ella and Jack." She says smugly, and it hasn't done anything to cease my bafflement till now. If anything, she has just given me more questions.

"When did you rope in these people?"

"Oh, I will. Don't worry, and they will agree so in a way they are into the plan. I know Grace wouldn't come since she will still be busy with other stuff, so let's skip her out this time." She says, giving TMI that I didn't even ask.

"No, wait. You haven't asked anyone yet, and I might be the second person after Declan with whom you are sharing your plan, right?" I ask, trying my best to keep up with her.

She nods eagerly.

Sigh, this girl.

"Alright, so you still haven't answered my main question. Convincing Declan is one thing, but you still wouldn't be allowed to go outside the pack borders, Nora," I say, and she giggles as if I just cracked a joke.

"Why did you think I convinced Declan? Silly. He will handle everything," She says, as if it's no big deal, and I stare back at her in amazement.

She is an Alpha-in-making. I shouldn't forget that. Just look at how well she is using the surrounding resources. Shaking my head, I smile, feeling a little onboard with her crazy plan. I do need a little time off for many reasons.

"Alright then, when are we leaving?"

"At 6."

Hmm, we will reach the perfect time for dinner.

"Sounds awesome, but are you sure about Grace? Won't she feel left out?"

"No, she won't. She is going to help her mom at the bakery, I am sure, and she doesn't like to go out on the nights after the office meetings. If it's a dinner night or drinking night in the pack only, then she will participate, but outside the pack, she won't, since she likes to revise her performances and conduct a positive criticism of herself." She answers, and I take in the new information about our friend.

"She is indeed a workaholic, but I like her principles," I say in awe.

"No way, you are coming with me! Secretly, Grace also wants to come, but then she chooses her files over night outs every time. Now, don't you too!" Nora cries and I laugh. "I won't. Calm down," I say, wringing my arm out of hers.

She beams again, and I wonder whether she smiled like this at Declan as well to convince him, because convincing him for a night out is a crazy ordeal, one that only Nora can achieve, and so, after wrapping up our stuff in the office, we go back straight to packhouse, have lunch and then start getting ready for the night out.

I choose an ivory silk blouse with slightly puffed sleeves, a similar bow tie and pair it with a high-waisted sleek black skirt. To finish my look, I accessorize it with flower-shaped white earrings with a pearl decoration in the middle and black pumps. Lastly, I pull my hair into a neat low bun and wear a thin gold bracelet in my left hand with a similar ring on my middle finger.

I get out of my room after one last look in the mirror, about to fetch Nora when I stop abruptly only a few inches before Alpha Aaron, about to bump into him at the corner of the corridor. Surprise radiates off my body while our gazes clash and his zeroes in on at me.