10
1129 Words
The next morning, Zane Rider walked into the top-floor office of Shiver Corp with the kind of presence that made people move out of his way without being asked. He owned the company, after all, and had no reason to hurry for anyone.
His scent of aged sandalwood, crisp mountain pine, and warm amber lingered faintly in the air as he crossed the office. It was a powerful Alpha scent, controlled but impossible to ignore. The sandalwood gave it a dark, earthy depth, while the pine added a crisp freshness and the amber left behind a warm, rich undertone that made his presence even harder to forget.
Zane dropped into his leather chair and reached for the files waiting on his desk. He had barely opened the first one when the door opened.
Catherine Williams stepped inside with a tablet tucked against her chest. She was tall, elegant, and perfectly dressed in a tailored skirt and white blouse. Her blonde hair was neat, as always, with not a single strand out of place.
Catherine was a Delta, which meant she was naturally intelligent, efficient, and good at reading people. Those were the reasons Zane had chosen her as his secretary five years ago. She had never been the type to waste his time, and Zane valued that more than he valued most things.
"Good morning, Boss," she said as she walked toward his desk. "Where did you disappear to last night? I tried reaching you several times."
Zane didn't look up from the file in his hand. "Personal matter."
Catherine stopped in front of his desk and studied him for a moment. She knew better than to push him too far, but curiosity still got the better of her.
"Did you rush home because of your daughter again?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That little girl really has you wrapped around her finger."
Zane finally lifted his eyes. "Becca is currently vacationing abroad with my mother. She's fine."
The hard look on his face softened for half a second before disappearing again.
Catherine noticed.
She always did.
"That's good," she said. "Since you don't have to worry about her tonight, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me so we could work on the suppressant project together."
She said it casually, almost as if the question had just occurred to her. Then she quickly added. "There's a new restaurant downtown. I could make the reservation if you're interested."
Zane closed the file. "I'm busy."
Catherine's smile faltered slightly. "I see."
"I promised Becca I'd video call her tonight."
"Of course." She nodded quickly. "I can move your evening schedule around if you need more time for the call."
Zane gave her a look. "Catherine."
She immediately stopped talking. "Right."
Zane leaned back in his chair and turned his attention to the city beyond the glass windows.
"Prepare to welcome a newcomer to the team. Clear the best lab space and adjust the schedule."
Catherine blinked. "A newcomer?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
Zane's fingers tapped once against the armrest. "Melena Roland."
The name was enough to wipe the smile from Catherine's face. "Melena Roland?"
Zane looked at her. "Did I stutter?"
"No." Catherine quickly shook her head. "I just thought you disliked her."
"I do."
The answer came so easily that Catherine stared at him. "Then why are you hiring her?"
Zane's eyes returned to the city.
Because she was brilliant. Because she had spent years researching wolflessness. Because his mother had been wolfless for most of her life. And because Melena Roland was the best person he had ever seen when it came to that research.
None of those reasons changed the fact that she was still irritating.
His mind went back to the summit three years ago. He could still remember the way she had stood in front of him, looking at him as if he were some greedy businessman who had just crawled out of a hole.
He had offered her a position at Shiver Corp, along with the best laboratory, the finest equipment, and unlimited resources for her research into wolflessness. He had expected her to accept.
Instead, she had looked him straight in the eye and rejected him. "I won't let my research be exploited for profit by a cold businessman like you."
Zane's jaw tightened at the memory.
He had offered her everything she needed to continue her work, and she had still chosen to work for Mark Thorne.
Mark Thorne.
A man who had apparently spent the last three years proving that Melena was a terrible judge of character.
Zane's fingers stopped tapping against the armrest.
"Why hire someone who is currently a lightning rod for scandals?" Catherine asked carefully. "She's also notoriously difficult."
"She's capable."
"But still..."
Zane's eyes moved to her.
Catherine immediately straightened. "Sorry, sir."
Zane leaned forward, his presence filling the room. His scent grew stronger, the rich smell spreading through the air around them.
"Her research is exactly what we need."
Catherine's expression changed.
Zane looked back toward the window. "I want her here because I hope her research can finally cure my mother's wolflessness."
For once, Catherine didn't have an immediate answer.
Then her curiosity got the better of her again. "Do you like her, Mr. Rider?"
Zane stared at her.
Catherine's lips pressed together. "That was a stupid question."
"Very."
She nodded. "I'll pretend I didn't ask."
Zane leaned back again. "She isn't my type."
Catherine glanced at him. "Good."
His eyes narrowed.
She quickly picked up her tablet. "I mean, good for you. That's what I meant."
Zane ignored her. "Even if she were the last Omega on earth, I wouldn't look at her twice."
Catherine raised an eyebrow, but Zane continued before she could say anything.
"She's stubborn, quick to judge, and naive when it comes to people. She has terrible taste in Alphas and a talent for making simple situations complicated."
"That sounds very personal."
Zane's gaze sharpened.
Catherine immediately looked down at her tablet. "Sorry, sir."
"She's a walking complication."
"Of course."
Zane watched her for a moment before speaking again. "Treat her well when she arrives."
Catherine looked up. "Despite everything you just said?"
"Her talent is valuable." His voice became colder. "Make sure it isn't wasted."
Catherine nodded. "Yes, Boss."
Zane returned to his files, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Catherine turned and walked out of the office. The moment the door closed behind her, she stood in the hallway for a moment, staring at it. Then she looked down at the tablet in her hands, her fingers tightening around it.
The smile she had been wearing earlier was gone.
Catherine glanced back at the closed office door before turning away.
- Writer
