21
NIRVANA
I was about to get out of my room to meet Kailin when there was a knock on my door.
“Where should I put these?” A man whom I saw shifted now standing before me. He had a British accent, carrying a box and an easel in his other hand.
“I don’t remember buying those things.” I was surprised to see some painting tools and a medium box carried by Zander.
“Alpha asked us to deliver these to you,” Zander said.
“Oh. I see.”
“Vana, are you ready?” Great. Kailin just came into the room. “What are these?”
“Apparently, the alpha bought these for me.” I gestured for the guys to bring the boxes inside. “Just put them on the corner. Thank you.”
“Aw. That’s sweet.” Kailin smiled, giggling.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, you find this gesture sweet.”
“He never did this to anyone. Well, he never brought women home. I guess he kept in mind what you like to do.”
My eyes narrowed. “I thought you were wearing AirPods that night.”
She lifted her chin. “I put my AirPods on and pretended I was listening to music, but I was actually listening to both of you. I thought you two were cute.”
“Not funny.”
“We’re done, Miss Thorne,” said the brown-eyed British guy.
“Call me Miss Thorne again, and I’ll tell the world I saw you shift and naked butt.”
His eyes widened.
“She’s kidding, Gage.”
“So you’re Gage?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Just call me Vana. Thank you, and to you, too, Zander, and tell Alpha I said thank you.”
They nodded and left.
“You can tell him yourself,” said Kailin.
“I don’t have his number and don’t know where he is right now.”
She just laughed at me. “You two haven’t exchanged numbers? Wow! He’s so dumb and slow.”
“Will you stop laughing now? I thought we were going out.” I picked up my bag on the bed. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Yes. That’s why we are going to my job.”
“And then what? I will watch you work until I die of boredom.” I followed her downstairs.
“Nope. When are you going to start your job?”
I smiled. “Yay! I don’t have to stay at the pack house 24/7 anymore. I’ll start on Monday, and my boss is sweet and kind.”
“Yeah. Haylo is a sweetheart, and she can keep secrets. Roisin, too, and she’s mated to Tucker. If you see a serious-looking guy. That’s him.”
I climbed into the passenger seat. “I need a bicycle to get to the winery. Unlike you guys, I don’t have the same endurance as yours.”
Kailin smiled as we drove off the estate. “You can borrow one of his cars.”
“No way.”
“Why not? He’s your mate. You have to understand Knight is sometimes dumb when it comes to you, and he is used to someone asking something from him instead of giving. And he’d love to give it to you.”
“Then you have to drive me to a bicycle store. I’ll buy one for myself.”
“Don’t be silly, Vana.”
“It’s so beautiful around here.” I watched the view of the vast vineyards in awe. It was so surreal and magnificent.
“I’m sorry I haven’t toured you around. I’ve been busy catching up with work.”
“That’s not necessary. I can borrow one of those trucks and tour myself.”
After twenty minutes, we arrived at the Blackwell Building.
“You didn’t tell me we’re coming to his office.”
“And then what? So you can make an excuse to unbox his gifts?”
“You always know what to say, do you?” I got out of her car and looked at the three-story modern building.
“Because I know you, Vana. And relax, he doesn’t know you’re coming with me either.”
“Gee, thanks.” I followed her inside as she grabbed a visitor ID from the front desk.
The interior looked spacious. The widescreen played wine ads.
“Let’s go.” She pinned the ID on the collar of my white shirt. “And you look like a hot corporate woman who works at a male-dominated job.”
“Let’s get it over with so I can go back and unbox whatever is in that box.” I walked after her towards the stairs.
“Do you know where you’re going?”
“Not exactly, but everybody seems to be going upstairs.”
The upper setting was divided by glass walls and hallways, reminding me how freaking wealthy Knight was. He could be a billionaire, while I was a working middle class.
I followed Kailin through the hallway to the far end until Knight’s name was on a gold plate on the glass wall, slapping me with his CEO position.
Kailin pushed the door open without knocking. I guessed she didn’t have to knock since she was the assistant. “He’s still in the meeting in the conference.”
“I’ll wait in the waiting area.”
“Are you silly? Stay here. I’ll go check on him.”
“Why aren’t you there with him?”
“My job is assisting his pack business, fixing his schedules, and then I forward it to his executive. Since she’s human, she doesn’t know what we are.”
“Right.”
I stayed in his modern, minimalist, spacious office. I checked some of the trophies and plaques from the wine competition on the shelves. I also saw a family photo. I picked it up. Knight was still a teenager with his parents. I put it back when I felt someone was watching me.
I turned around, and I almost tripped. Yeah, I wore high heels today.
“Hi.” I swallowed.
Knight caught me off guard. He looked hot in his expensive dark gray suit and light gray tie.
“Hey.” He seemed surprised to see me, too but managed to put a small smile on his lips. Kailin was right. She didn’t tell him I was coming with her.
“Sorry. I should go. I came with Kailin.”
“Stay until she gets back.” He walked closer to me, making me self-conscious.
“Wait. She came to find you. Haven’t you bumped into her in the hallway?”
“No. She’s probably with my assistant.”
“Yup.” I nodded slightly. Suddenly, I didn’t know what to say or what to do.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No. I’m good.” I looked outside the window-nothing much to see than a giant Ferris wheel in the distance.
“Take a seat, Nirvana. Your heartbeat is piercing my ears.”
“Sorry.” I went to sit before his desk.
“Did you receive the painting supplies I gave you?” He went to his desk and picked up some folders.
“Yeah. You don’t have to do that. I was planning to buy a sketchbook but haven’t gotten out of the vineyards.”
“I’m sorry. I was planning on taking you to the mall this weekend. I bought those supplies online. Check out what is missing and let me know.”
“I can’t really get ahold of you, and I don’t have your numbers to thank you.”
Knight smiled. “Give me your phone.”
I took it from my bag and unlocked it before giving it to him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For the supplies.”
“No problem.”
The door suddenly swung open, but it wasn’t Kailin who walked in. She must be the executive assistant.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a visitor. I must have missed it in my schedules.” She has the sweetest voice. I wanted to gag. She was also tall, blonde, and beautiful.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
I rose from the chair. My mind went a million miles an hour.
“She’s not in my schedule,” Knight said calmly, didn’t even mind looking at her.
“I’m-” I was about to introduce myself when he cut me off.
“She came here to see me. This is my girlfriend, Nirvana Thorne.”
“Oh.” The woman had a funny look on her face before coming to me and offering her hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Jada.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” I shook her hand.
“Wait here. I’ll get you something to drink.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Bring us cups of coffee. One sugar and two cream for her.”
I shut my mouth. How did he know about my coffee? Of course, from Kailin.
When Jada left, my phone rang in his hand. Before I could ask for it, he answered the call.
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“Who’s calling?”
He ignored me, replying to the caller, “She’s with me right now. I suggest you stop calling her.”
Oh, my God. Axell must be the one calling. He sent me a text this morning, but I deleted it.
“Knight, can I have my phone back?” I politely asked before I triggered his wolf. The book said a werewolf could involuntarily shift when enraged or became too emotional.
The way he turned his head at me in slow-mo, eyes narrowing, brows meeting together, scared the crap out of me.
“I know what you are. If you want to keep your windpipe attached to your neck, I highly suggest you stop calling my mate. Do you understand me?” He hung up the phone and gave it to me.
“Ever heard of space and privacy, Knight? It doesn’t mean we’re bound through eternity that gives you the right to answer calls on my phone.”
“I told you to stop communicating with him. Why is he still calling?” He was terrifying when he was pissed off. At the same time, he looked hot, and it bothered me so much.
“My bad, I didn’t block him. He called me last night, but I ignored it. He sent me a text, but I deleted it. Then he called again. Maybe I should confiscate your phone too, right, mate?”
“Go ahead.” He pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket and threw it on the desk. “I have nothing to hide.”