The Last Silver Wolf

Jordan I was running through the trees, feeling the wind blowing through my hair. I felt the fresh air in my lungs as my muscles ached in the familiar pain that came from exercise and the adrenaline rushed through me. I could hear the leaves rustling, feel the grass and the pavement beneath my feet. My body felt alive with electricity, as if I was a part of the forest. A deep part of me felt like it was trying to escape, to call back to the wild… to become one with nature. “Look out!” My trance ended as I jumped to the side, barely missing a man on a bike hurtling towards me. “Look where you’re going, moron!” he yelled as he passed. “Sorry,” I called, knowing he couldn’t hear me but not being able to fight my manners. I stopped running and looked around myself, realizing I had forgotten where I was yet again. I took out my headphones and the sounds of Central Park and the bustling city around it flooded my ears. The ever constant sound of honking, construction work, and sirens was normal for me as I grew up in the city, but I was grateful for this green paradise I could escape to every day. It was the closest thing to the forest that I had ever been to, my mom had never allowed me to leave the city while growing up and once I became an adult, I never saw the need. She tried her best though, I do have memories of making blanket forts in the living room & sleeping under fake stars from my star nightlight. I'm sure to my 6-year-old self it was just as good as the real thing. Checking my smart watch, I had run 6 miles that morning already and I needed to start heading back to my apartment if I was going to have time to get ready for work. I started my run once again and took the next left turn, hoping to finish the loop and had another two miles. I used to find it weird that even after running for several miles I barely broke a sweat and my body felt more alive when I was running, but I think it was just in my genetics. I was built to be a runner and an athlete, physical sports and exercise always came easily to me. After another 10 minutes, I was finally back at my apartment building. I clicked on the elevator button and took the opportunity to stretch while I waited. “Hey Jordan,” a familiar voice rings as the elevator door opens. I looked up to see my neighbor, Scott McDowell looking at me with a huge grin. He wore his usual business suit, or as I liked to call it, the finance bro uniform. “Hi Scott,” I said politely, moving over, so more people could exit the elevator. Scott exited as well but stood by my side, probably wanting to have a further conversation. “How many miles today?” He asked. I smiled politely and made my way into the elevator. “Eight.” He whistled impressed. “Wow, maybe next time I’ll join you.” I pushed the button next to Floor 19 and replied politely, “Sure, maybe next time.” I gave him a small wave as the elevator door closed. I wasn’t completely oblivious, I knew that Scott was flirting with me as he did every morning. And I also wasn’t blind to the fact that he was very attractive, and I’m sure he had no problem getting women into his bed. But I wasn’t interested in him or any man for that matter. Given my history with men and my career goals, I had no time for romance or relationships. They were only a distraction and one I couldn’t afford right now when my dreams were in sight. After my shower, I decided to wear one of my favorite pastel pink silk blouses tucked into a pair of black trousers. I slid my pair of Louboutin heels into my work bag & put on a pair of reasonable sneakers. Later at the office, I would change into heels. This is common practice for commuting women. There's no way I will ruin my red bottoms on the dirty New York streets, nor would my feet appreciate the gratuitous torture. The office was in SOHO so I hopped onto the A train and enjoyed reading my novel. Although most would assume I was entirely business 100% of the time, I allowed my 25-minute commute to indulge in one of my biggest guilty pleasures - romance novels. They weren’t the most glamorous, but they gave me my fix of romance that I avoided in my own life. This specific novel was an 18th-century period drama that for all its purposes, would make even the great Jane Austen faint from its improperness. I couldn’t wait to continue reading later when I was alone in my bed and with my favorite vibrator. After only a few chapers I tucked my k****e into my bag quietly, the chapter getting too steamy to read in public with prying eyes. As the train stopped, I tried to hide the blush I’m sure had crept onto my cheeks & made my way to the office. I barely made it 5 steps out of the elevator when I saw Michelle, my friend and the company’s receptionist waiting for me. She was practically jumping up and down with excitement which only meant one thing, juicy gossip. Her blonde curly hair bounced from side to side as she ran towards me, her heels making a click-clack on the hardwood flooring. I laughed at the sight. “Do I have time to get my coffee first, or are you going to burst if you have to wait a moment longer before telling me the news?” She stuck her tongue out at me in defiance but couldn’t keep the excitement from her features. “I have to tell you now! Although, I’m technically not supposed to tell you because Charles is going to tell everyone at the morning meeting.” Charles Klein was the company’s CEO and founder, and one of my mentors. I had stated working as a lowly intern when the company was only a startup and I had since worked my way up through the ranks and I was now the youngest executive, being promoted to Director at the age of 27. That was two years ago and I was determined to get the role of VP before my 30th birthday. The company was now a Fortune 500 company and worth almost a billion dollars, thanks to Charles incredible leadership and my own marketing efforts which is what earned my many promotions. I feigned disinterest and checked my nails, pretending to be bored. “Well if Charles is going to tell me then I guess I’ll wait for the meeting…” “Ah you’re the worst!” Michelle cried. I laughed at her and rolled my eyes. This was why she was one of my best friends, she always made the office fun and her fun personality really brightened the office. “Just promise me you’ll act surprised, okay?” She didn’t wait for me to respond before she started, “A huge investment firm just purchased majority shares of the company so they’re our new owners!” I couldn’t hide my shock at the news. I knew that since going public Charles was hoping to get noticed by some big investors, but that seemed to happen really fast. “Do you know what firm?” Michelle’s nose wrinkled as she tried to remember. “It was like Tart or something and I know there was a J in there somewhere.” My jaw dropped. “Was it J.A. Tate Group?” Michelle laughed “Oh yeah! It was Tate, not Tart. Why? Have you heard of them? Are they like good? I don’t know if I want a new boss! Although maybe he’s like super hot and is always in the office. That would be okay with me!” I glanced at my watch and saw it was close to my meeting starting. “Thanks for the heads-up Michelle! I have to go, I’ll talk to you after, okay?” I walked away, grateful I was on the good side of the office gossip. My mind was spinning. Why J.A. Tate Group? Everyone has heard of them. They’re a huge investment firm with an impressive portfolio. They were also from old money, with the fund founded over 100 years ago, and they say leadership has stayed in the family ever since. But that’s all anyone knew. They seemed to be pretty secretive as their current CEO, the Tate heir, never did any interviews. The media outlets have tried for years to find out any information on his personal life but it’s almost as if it didn’t exist. Why would they be interested in us and what kind of new owners would they be like? I worked so hard to get where I was today, the last thing I wanted was an outsider coming in and disrupting our efficient organization or telling me how to do my job.