CheckMate

Damn it!   Philip throws his stress ball against the wall, leaving a dent before it returns to his hand.  There has to be a mole in Sam’s office, worse yet, one in my pack.  He buries his head in his hands, rubbing at his scalp trying to calm his agitation.  He slams his hands down on his desk stands up and begins pacing.  Greg said they found out where he was staying and left a threat.  Are these rogues disguised as one of his subsidies? He rubs his chin, staring out the window at the city skyline.  If they’re rogues, who knows how many there are and what they’re capable of.  How did they get together? Have they formed a pack of their own in my territory? He tries to mind link with Greg but is blocked.  He’s annoyed but then remembers that Sam, Greg’s human mate is ovulating.  It's the equivalent of a female lycan in heat.  He grins and chuckles at his best friend and beta’s luck.  However, he sighs in frustration.  Gone are the days of it just being the ‘guys’.  He is now the lone man on top.  Four hundred years has been a long time looking for your mate.  Now that Greg has a mate should I just settle and bond with a strong female who would be a strong Luna?  My pack is going to be looking for me to be stronger now and I won’t be at my full strength until I have my mate next me. He exhales loudly and lets the stress ball fly at his office door.  As it’s about to hit, the door opens and a tiny figure quickly puts a hand up and catches it.  It was inches from her face.  Horrified, Philip heads over to check on the stranger.  However, instead of his normal, polite self, he finds it strange that he lashes out at her instead of asking if she’s alright.  “Who are you?  What are you doing in here?” She blinks up at him through her thick glasses and hands him back his stress ball. “I believe this is yours sir.  And I’m Tabitha.  I was sent up from the secretary pool to fill in as your assistant while your current one is on leave.” He leans in for a moment, towering over her and smells.  He rises back to his full height and glares down.  “Knock next time.”  He nods towards her desk and slams the door behind her as she walks back out.  Why can’t I smell her?  He eyes the door suspiciously.  I smell perfume but no underlying scent.  Every being has a scent, even humans.  He walks back to his desk, he has much to think about. He’s twirling his pen through his fingers when Greg comes through his mind link.  “Yes Alpha?” “That took awhile, lucky dog.” Silence. “Come on...give me something!  I’m a lonely man over here! You only ever block me when your intimate with Sam. I know what you were doing.” “Was there something you needed or did you just miss me?” “Both…Fine.  From their tactics I’m beginning to think that the subsidiary is a rogue pack.  What are your thoughts?” “That would make sense.  That’s how they fought when they attacked us at the site.” “Have you figured out if they are using different company names or are they being contracted through our subsidiary?" “That’s what Sam and I are trying to figure out.  We’ve gotten through one year and found several hidden fees that could be passed off as double entrees that were just 'missed'.  We’re headed to her office to finish pulling and copying the files for the last two years.  We’ll be at the office for a couple of hours if you need me.” “Very well… WAIT!  Have we hired any other super naturals to work in the head office?” “What are you talking about?” “There’s a small…girl I think, that claims she was sent up to be my assistant while Sandra’s on maternity leave.” “Okay, good.  How is Sandra and her pup?” “Doing great, all went well.  But Greg…I can’t smell her.” “Please tell me you aren’t going around sniffing at the office help.  That’s going to be an HR nightmare.” “You know I don’t mix business with pleasure!  But I can tell you each species as it walks in our doors.  I can only smell her perfume.” “A covering spell?” “I don’t know but I don’t like it.  Check in with HR when you get a minute would you?  She says her name is Tabitha.” “No last name?” “She didn’t give it but they’d better know who they sent up to work for me, last name or not!” “Yes Alpha, you are correct.  I’ll check on it for you, anything else?” “Greg, buddy, give me something…anything!  I can only live through you right now.  Please!” “Courier me over a small container of the TBP cream.  Later.” Philip slapped his desk and started to laugh.  Things must be getting a little out of control and intense if Greg’s asking for a bottle of ‘To Be Pleased Cream’.  Good for him.  I hope I get a nephew soon.  That would be a great distraction.  He picks up his phone and calls over to the pack pharmacy to have the doctor send it over to Greg’s apartment. After hanging up, he pushes another button on his phone, hearing it beep outside his office door.  “Yes Mr. Lycan?” “Miss…what is your last name?  I will not be calling you Tabitha.” “Faeleen sir.” “Fine, fine.  Miss Faeleen, I need you to pull a list of all our subsidiaries and all the contractors that have worked with them in the last five years.” “All of them, sir?” “Did I stutter?” “No sir.  I would just think that will thousands.  You aren’t wanting it within the hour are you?” “No.  Two hours should be fine.  In the company file you should find separate files that Sandra kept.  Simply find them, merge them, alphabetize them and then make each year a different color.  Understood?” “Yes Mr. Lycan.  Anything else?” “I’ll let you know.”  And he hangs up.  He sits at his desk waiting to sense her displeasure at his command, her anxiety or frustration at the time limit he’d ordered.  After ten minutes he gives up.  He can feel nothing except the normal secretaries that surround her. Is she wrapped in a damn bubble?  How can I not even sense her?  Irritated he gets up and stalks over to his door and rips it open to see if she is even sitting there. Looking up from the computer screen she pushes her glasses back up her nose and just stares at him. “Yes sir?” He stands there, staring at her.  He tries to have a feeling or smell, and can only sense nothing.  He looks around the room.  Joan’s allergies are acting up; he can hear a slight wheeze in her lungs and smell the inhaler she just used.  Thomas has athlete’s foot.  He can feel the angst in him as he tries to not stop what he's doing and just scratch his skin off.  Melissa is anxious and sweating.  He’ll have to talk to the Oversight Manager and find out what's going on with her.  Other than those behind closed office doors there are heartbeats, wiggling legs, pens tapping, and telephone conversations.  In front of him…absolutely nothing.