Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
Td like to take you up on that job offer if you’ll still have me?’ II ask nervously. Zenith smirks.
‘When can you start?’ He asks.
‘I can start now if you like?’
Zenith looks me up and down, studying me. He is curious.
‘Has something happened, Astrid?’ He asks.
I’m no longer living with my father, and no one here is looking to employ new staff, I explain, leaving Ryker out of the story.
‘I see,’ he says, scratching his half-missing ear. He opens the car door and gets out.
‘You may as well hop in, you work for me now, he smiles. I glance around to make sure no one is watching and climb into the car.
Zenith scans the area to see what I’m looking at and says nothing about it. A young guy in the car smiles at me and pats the seat next to him, motioning for me to sit. Sitting next to him, I click my belt.
‘Astrid, this is John, one of my twin sons, Zenith introduces him.
‘Nice to meet you,’ I say, politely holding my hand out to shake his. John places a kiss on my hand as he takes it.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Astrid,’ he replies with a cocky smile. He looks a lot like Zenith but less bulky and much thinner. He has the same dark eyes, dark hair, and nose. A few days of stubble has grown on his face.
‘So, your business, Zenith Creations: what is it you do exactly?’ I ask. Zenith chuckles.
‘I do many things. Mainly, I have meetings with high-profile clients. I go through their designs and make their products, he explains.
‘Oh, okay. What are you employing me to do?’ I ask.
‘I need a personal assistant to take some calls, book appointments, make me coffee, and run little errands, he says.
‘Okay, I smile. I look out the window, wishing things were different with Ryker. I want to be in his arms and wish Vanessa and Alice weren’t part of the pack.
‘Astrid, I need to talk to you about something before we arrive, Zenith says. ‘It’s brilliant of you hiding your scent with those leaves. I suggest you leave them in your pocket until we arrive at the workplace.’
“How do you know I’m a werewolf?’ I ask, surprised. Zenith’s eyes change into his wolf’s eyes.
I’m also a werewolf and the Alpha of my pack.’ His eyes change back to his human irises. John is grinning. My chest suddenly feels tight, and I hyperventilate.
‘Stop the car, please!’ I yell.
‘Ignore her, Ralph. She is just overreacting, Zenith says to the driver, placing his hand on my shoulder, making me cringe.
‘Astrid, you are one of us. I will not hurt you. I’m hoping you’ll even consider joining my pack. You’ll have our full protection from whoever you’re running from, he smirks.
I’m not running from anyone.”
Zenith sighs and pinches his brow bone with his thumb and index finger.
‘Astrid, you don’t have.to play dumb. I know you’re running from someone. Who are you running from?’ He asks.
‘It doesn’t matter whom, I won’t see him again, I say, sadly, looking away.
‘Well, my offer always stands, become part of my pack, and you’ll always have full protection, he repeats.
‘We’ve arrived, he says as the car stops. He opens the car door and reaches his arm out for my hand to help me out of the vehicle.
‘Thank you,’ I say, stepping out of the car and feeling John brush up behind me as he gets out of the vehicle. I step forward to put space between us and ignore him.
We’re in an underground car park. I follow Zenith to an elevator, step in and stand beside Zenith at the back. John stands in front of us. I feel under-dressed, wearing a hoodie and jeans while they wear expensive suits. After a few minutes, the elevator stops and the doors open with a ding. I step into a large, clean, classy foyer. I follow Zenith to a large door.
‘This is the waiting room.’ he says.
The waiting room has luxurious couches and recliners, designer coffee tables, fancy vases and fresh flowers. There is a long u-shaped desk centred in the room, and an ample water feature another wall.
‘This will be your desk. You will greet the clients and offer them drinks. There is a kitchen with a coffee machine and a fridge behind you. Give my clients whatever they want, he says. I nod.
‘This room behind your desk is my office. Don’t let anyone in until you have told me they are here via call. I will tell you when I’m ready for them!
‘What if they refuse to wait and enter your office?’ I ask.
‘Use your common sense, do what you must, just don’t let them in, he says.
‘Okay, I say, exhaling and visualising all plausible scenarios in my mind.
‘If you need to call a client, this screen has all client details. This screen here is your diary to book my clients. I have access to it on my laptop, he explains.
‘Brooke is my assistant downstairs. Call her. Her number is there on the desk if you need anything,’ he says.
‘Okay.
I’ll get her to bring you a skirt-suit, blouse, pantyhose, and court shoes. There is a staff bathroom down the hall to the right.
Have a shower, get changed, and put some makeup on, he says, smiling before leaving.
‘Okay, I say, smiling at his hospitality. Ten minutes later, Brooke comes upstairs with a cream blouse, navy skirt-suit, black pantyhose, and black court shoes in my size.
‘Hello, I believe these are for you,’ she says, smiling. I’m Brooke.
‘Brooke, nice to meet you. I’m Astrid. Thank you,’ I say, taking the outfit from her. Brooke is slim, petite, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She wears a navy skirt suit too.
‘I have to go now, but if you need anything, call me, she says, smiling and going downstairs. I go into the bathroom, shower, and admire the gorgeous corporate attire, hanging it up on a hook. The hot water stings parts of my skin but feels glorious. It is precisely what I need after an exhausting morning. I push my feet into the black pantyhose and pull them up over my hips, letting the black elasticised waistband rest on my stomach. They’re not too tight, and they fit perfectly. I step into the navy skirt and zip it. It fits me perfectly, like a glove. The cream blouse is silk. I tuck it into the top of the waist-high skirt and revel in how it feels against my skin. I push my arms into the structured sleeves of the gorgeous navy blazer and step into the court shoes, which are my size. There is a brush and a bag of cosmetics under the bathroom sink. Once I brush my hair, I scoop it up into a scrunched bun before applying some foundation, eyeliner, mascara, and red lipstick and look at myself in the mirror. I feel and look a million dollars. I’m ready to play Miss Corporate Barbie. My old clothes, socks, and shoes are on the Bathroom Vanity. With one final coat of red lipstick on my lips, I stuff the gold-encased lipstick into my blazer pocket and push the bathroom door open.
I’m just about to sit at the desk when a man enters. I know him straight away to be James, John’s twin brother. He looks me up and down like I’m a snack and whistles.
‘You accepted Dad’s job offer, I see,’ he says with a grin.
‘I did. It’s a pleasure to meet you, James,’ I politely say.
‘The pleasure is all mine,’ he says, taking my hand and kissing it. Like father, like son. He winks at me and walks to the office to the right of Zeniths before stopping and turning to look at me.
‘In case you are unsure, this is my office. The one on the other side of Dad’s is John’s. So, we work together sometimes in Dad’s office,’ he says, smiling.
Nodding, I smile. The phone rings, and I answer it in my best professional voice.
‘Zenith Creations. Astrid is speaking. How may I help you?” I say.