CHAPTER 1 - POOLSIDE ADVICE

-NIA’S POV-

“Come on, Nia. Get in the water.” Brooke encouraged as she came out of the Grecian pool with beads of water trickling down her curvaceous figure. Her perfectly toned and tanned 5’6 body was on full display in an olive bikini.

We were in the backyard of my Mom’s Dutch colonial house having girl’s time. Her amber eyes regarded me with concern as her soft, slapping feet padded across the warm, traditional tessellated tiles.

“I'm not in the mood.” I groaned, lying on the white lounge chair with my sunglasses on, baking in the afternoon sun.

Brooke grabbed the yellow towel from the lounge chair beside me. “Stop moping over Dalton. He'll come around.”

I glanced at her as she flipped the bulk of her wet, dripping blonde hair over her left shoulder to blot out the excess water.

“He disappeared for a week and won't take my calls. He could be serious about me cutting off my Dad.” I sulked with hurt and sadness rippling in my heart.

My inner wolf was also depressed and longing to see her mate. Had it not been for Beta Chase, Brooke’s older brother, I would not have known that he had left for a business trip.

Brooke chuckled as she spread the same towel on the chair and sat down, looking at me pitifully. “That Alpha boy loves you.”

“It's been a dreadful week without you, too,” I complained. I had missed being able to run to her with my drama and to get her advice. “With Dalton gone to the convention and you to your cousin's wedding, it was boring.”

I was downright miserable.

“Well, I'm back now and I've got great news!” She beamed, taking up her sunscreen from the round poolside table.

Absorbing her excitement, I perked up in the chair and turned sideways, piqued with interest. “What-what?”

“I met my mate.” Her eyebrows raised with extreme joy as her lips spread into a full smile.

“Eeeeee!” I squealed, feeling so happy for her. “Don't hold back the details. Tell me everything.”

She cleared her throat, tapping down her exhilaration, and began a sappy ranting. “He’s handsome and thick.” She uncapped the tube and began rubbing the sunscreen along her slender arm. “We go out to the most expensive restaurants. He’s always all over me and sends me the cutest text messages.” She switched to the next arm. “Girl, he makes me breakfast in bed. He treats me like a queen and he’s loaded. Plus, he showers me with gifts, and he’s going to help me open my accessories store.”

“Who is he?” I queried, fully turning to her and picking up my glass of mimosa.

She laughed merrily. “I'm not ready to share as yet. We’re taking it slow.”

“Uh! That’s not fair. I tell you all of my business.” I mumbled with disappointment and laid back down with the glass in my hand, sipping my drink.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a beep. She picked it up and her face lighted up again. Her deft fingers began working. It had to be a text.

“Is that him?” I asked, taking another sip.

“Uh-huh.” She responded without looking at me and adjusted to lie down with her long legs stretched out on the chaise.

“Awww…..my best friend's in love.” I taunted.

She giggled and ignored me, sinking into her conversation. Dalton and I used to be like that. The good memories pained my heart because I miss those special times with him.

Brooke and her mate messaged back and forth for a while. At least one of us had our relationship going well. At this point, Brooke was my only friend. I never had many of them because of my leaf-shaped ears with tiny golden hair that they used to mock me about in high school. Brooke stuck by my side during those two torturous years. Her mother, Carolle, was a teacher. Her Dad, Walden, has a mechanic shop while Chase is on a pack salary as Dalton's second in command.

On the other hand, my Mom owned a large, exquisite restaurant and my Dad had a construction company. He also buys old buildings and auctions them off to wealthy businessmen with aspirations of constructing profitable establishments under contract. My Dad was one of the reasons for the rise in tourist attractions, employment, and development of our pack.

“Hey!” Brooke threw a towel at me.

“Hmmm.” I hummed, after realizing I had drifted off, giving her my attention.

“Can I borrow your credit card again? I’ve got a date with him and I wanted to look super hot.” She asked, timidly. “I have to make an impression.”

I humphed. “Seems like you got a high-ranking wolf as your mate.” I darted a mischievous smile at her.

She clasped her hands in a prayer sign and mouthed the words, “Please, please, please.” Her expression got even more desperate.

I shrugged. “Fine. Of course.”

She burst with gratitude and then offered a solution to my problem. “Listen, when your guy's acting up, this is what you should do.” I listened attentively as she fed me the advice that I had been eagerly awaiting.

By the time she was done, I jumped from the lounge chair and wrapped the towel around me.

Brooke raised up on her elbows, questioningly. “Where are you going?”

“I'm going to go shopping.” The words rushed out. “I have tonight to prepare for.”

With that, I left her shaking her head as I dashed across the terrace to get things ready.

-

Later that evening……

Parking my black Spyder Ferrari underground of the skyscraper building of Wattampere Powermasters Corp., I took one last look at the rearview mirror. I breathed out a long breath after being satisfied with my makeup and buns and waves combo hairdo.

I grabbed some extra stuff from the passenger’s seat. Then I got out of the car to take the elevator to the presidential floor, six stories up.

Usually, around 6 p.m., most of the staff would have left or be on their way out if this place operated like my Dad’s. Security was lax. The opulent floor was mostly tranquil. Only executives were on this level. No one was rushing around, talking loudly, or anything.

Straight ahead of the elevator was the CEO’s office. Two executive assistant desks were on either side of the mahogany veneer double door. The black aluminum desk nameplates made their titles obvious. The heavily pregnant blonde was on the office phone while the auburn-haired one was compiling some files. Although their snarky eyes were on me.

Each sized me up, running up and down my mid-length, double-breasted camel, trench coat, and strappy high block-heel sandals. I wasn’t empty-handed. I had a bottle of champagne in my right hand and in the other, a lunch bag with chicken quesadillas. The way to a man’s heart.

Walking towards them, I passed the glass-enclosed conference rooms on the left and the right. I locked eyes with Aisha. She tilted her auburn head with an upturned nose and humphed.

The ladies didn’t expect me to quicken my steps and burst open the CEO’s door. Blondie dropped the phone and Aisha flung the files over her shoulder and bolted after me.

Dalton’s head whipped up from the laptop in front of him and butterflies swam in my gut. At the same time, his assistants grabbed my arm and we wrestled.

“You can’t go in there!” Blondie gritted and pulled my right arm.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. We’ll handle her.” Aisha apologized, running in front of me to push my chest.

“Security!” Blondie yelled on repeat, refusing to unhand me.

“Dalton!” I cried, fighting them with all I’ve got.

My mate hissed his white teeth and raised an imperious hand, shouting. “Christa, Aisha, get out!”

Their jaws dropped from shock.

Christa snickered with displeasure. “Cheap slut.”

Aisha scoffed condescendingly and they left, closing the door behind me.

Dalton leaned back in his large, leather, gray chair. He raked the flat fringes of his blonde hair back and scowled. “Why are you here? You know better than to come to my job.”

Ignoring his grouchy mood, I sashayed over and placed the wine bottle and lunch on the long, black desk. I got behind him and began massaging his shoulders. He closed his eyes and his head tipped back on the headrest. His body relaxed under the feel of my fingers. He released a long moan that did things to my insides.

A pleasing smile came to my lips.

“I brought your favorite,” I whispered softly and sweetly in his ears, and went around the front of the desk to open the lunch box. I held up the white food container and singsonged, “It’s chicken quesadilla!”

His cobalt eyes flickered down my body and his nostrils expanded. He seemed conflicted as he sat forward and rubbed his forehead. “Leave it and go. I’m busy. I have a late meeting.”

My hands lowered with a stab of disappointment. I frowned and my heart wept. “You just returned from your trip yesterday. We haven’t seen or spoken to each other in days and I miss you.”

Undeterred, he eyed me contemptuously. “Don’t you know how ultimatums work?”

“You can’t be serious.” I gaped at him.

“Nia, go home.” Dalton insisted, going back to his laptop.

Persistently, I reached across the desk and drew the laptop away from him, slamming down the monitor.

Rage overtook him. He jumped out of his chair and aggressively latched onto my right hand with a bruising grip.

“What the fuck did you just do?” He let out a slavering snarl. Angry veins popped on his forehead with vicious bulging eyes promising to make me pay for that.

My whole body trembled in fear and my legs screamed run, run, run!

-