Chapter 7
909 Words
-Ava-
“Begin. You have ten minutes. Use them well,” a wonderful voice said.
It was soft yet carried an unmistakable power beneath it. The kind of voice that belonged to someone unafraid to speak their mind. And still, it felt like a caress against my skin. For reasons I couldn’t explain, my body reacted in ways it never had before. Heat pooled between my legs, and I froze in confusion just as I heard Miss Colt inhale sharply. That sound made me notice something else: a sweet scent, pleasant and intoxicating, drawing me in.
What is that? my wolf asked, her voice echoing softly in my head.
She hadn’t spoken much since I met Zachery. Suddenly, I felt her stir, her power awakening as she searched for the source of the scent.
“Well?”
Knowing I had to face this woman, I finally looked up…
Mate.
My wolf’s power surged through me, almost pushing me forward, but I held her back.
Oh, Goddess. That’s her!
No. No, no, no, I thought. This is bad. Very bad.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve always thought women were beautiful, my wolf said, but she was reading me completely wrong.
Have you forgotten why we’re even here?
She didn’t get a chance to respond.
“Calliope?” Miss Colt called.
“Oh…” I realized I hadn’t spoken a single word since she’d given me permission to begin.
Her red lips curved into a smile, a smug expression playing across her face, though I wasn’t sure why. I knew vampires didn’t have a second presence guiding them the way wolves did. But had she already figured it out? Should I leave? My eyes flicked toward the door.
“Would you like to sit?” Miss Colt asked, and I turned to see her gesture toward one of the black leather chairs across from her desk.
It was too late to run now.
I nodded and sat, taking a deep breath. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“I always like to see people show initiative,” she replied. “It’s important.”
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks and tried to hide it.
“So, Calliope,” she continued, lifting my application and scanning it, though I was certain she’d already read it. “Tell me why I should hire you. You don’t qualify at all.”
“I know,” I admitted, staring down at my tightly clenched hands. I forced myself not to shrink inward. If I wanted this job, I needed to show her I meant it.
“I may not be as qualified as others,” I began, lifting my eyes and steadying my voice. “But I’m hardworking, good at multitasking, and I learn quickly.”
“These are just words.”
“Aren’t those just typed words?” I inquired, pointing toward the large stack of papers marked with small stickers.
For a moment, surprise flickered across Miss Colt’s face, and I worried I’d overstepped. Then she smiled again.
“They come with recommendations, many of them,” she replied. “People I’ve personally contacted to ask whether they truly believe the person they recommend is good for the company.”
“They could be lying.”
Her smile widened. “You’re trying to make others look bad to make yourself look better. Quite the shark.”
“N-No! That’s not my inten… shark?” I repeated, startled.
“Well, some sharks hunt and live alone,” she said calmly. “You’re not really making friends this way.”
“Oh, no. I wasn’t trying to make others look bad,” I said quickly. “I was just trying to show you that everything is still just words unless you know the person… directly.”
Sweat gathered at my temples. This was not going the way I’d hoped.
“Interesting,” she mused, studying me closely.
I attempted a small smile, but it failed miserably.
“What else do I need to know about you, Calliope?”
“I-I’m good at following orders,” I said.
Her smile darkened slightly, which confused me. “What else?”
“I… well…”
“Don’t you think you’re missing something very important?” she inquired.
“Something important?”
Miss Colt nodded. I thought for a long moment, but I couldn’t tell what she was looking for.
“I-I’m good with order, too,” I added.
“That’s not what I’m looking for.”
“No?”
She shook her head, her smile never leaving her lips. “Try again.”
“I-I don’t usually take time off.”
“But you’ll have to soon, won’t you?” she asked.
“What?”
Miss Colt sighed softly, her expression shifting to something gentler. “Calliope, you’re pregnant.”
I froze. I opened my mouth to respond, but no sound came out.
“You didn’t think I’d be able to smell it?” she asked, pressing a finger lightly to her nose.
“I…” I stammered.
“I’m over six hundred years old,” she said calmly. “These things don’t slip by me.”
Feeling completely defeated, I slumped forward, my hands resting on my thighs.
“How far along?”
“Almost two months,” I whispered, barely audible.
“And wolves are pregnant for ten months, correct?”
I nodded, already knowing where this was heading.
- Writer
