Chapter 3

Aubrey

     Sherron tripped me! That bitch! Then she acts like I clumsily spilled everything! I can play like I don’t know it was on purpose. I am used to bullies!

      I knew Alpha Zachariah is hot, but he is much more sexy in person! I shouldn’t say that about my Dad’s best friend, but the man is single and I’ve seen him in magazines more than in real life.

      I need to tell Avery how he smells like warm pine, juniper, lavender and spice with something fresh and unique underlying it that I can’t put my finger on. And how he dresses so nicely with his pinstriped suit and floral tie. 

      I need to pay attention to what he’s saying…oh my goddess! Look at the view ! Look at this office!

      He has gorgeous leather couches and an elegant desk…is that mahogany?! Behind his desk is a beautiful portrait of the alpha himself, but the rest of the art seems to be more tasteful, modern expressionism. 

       I catch his eyes and blush when he smiles softly at me.

       “You should familiarize yourself with this space! I run both my business and my pack from this office most of the time,” he says. “When we have meetings you will sit by my side to the right. When we are not in meetings, you may sit wherever is most comfortable for you to work. There is a small portable desk or a standing desk behind the partition here. I can always move them or order you something more to your liking.”

       “Thank you,” I say and subconsciously bite my lower lip.

       “Don’t do that, Aubrey. Please don’t bite your lip and look at me that way,” he says in a raspy tone.

       That tone of voice is so sexy! 

       I can’t believe this man is my Dad’s age! 

       “I’m sorry Mr Zachariah!” I say coyly.

       “When we are alone, call me Adonis. When other people are around it’s Mr Zachariah or Alpha depending on what business we are attending to.”

       “Yes, Adonis!” I say with a smile. “What work do you need me to do today?”

       “Today, I need you to sit by my side and I will show you and explain to you about my plans for the West Coast Mating Ball that takes place here in the hotel next door in three months’ time. Then, I need you to join me for lunch and sit by my side and take notes for a meeting here then one where I address the pack, this evening at the packhouse. I trust your apartment in the packhouse is sufficient. I had my Gamma female stock it with anything you might need for a couple of days and I hope my Beta gave you the credit card you are to use for personal expenses,” he says in a very professional tone.

      “Yes, thank you. I found the gym and training room quite useful to keep in top form and the choice of cooking my own meals or eating with the pack was thoughtful. I am not used to being accepted in pack spaces. The apartment is much more luxurious than I would expect for a Personal Assistant,” I say.

      “Yes, well…to be honest, it is adjacent to mine. It should be my Luna’s apartment for when she wants her own space, but I have no Luna and you are my best friend’s daughter so I should do you the honor of making sure you are both safe and comfortable.”

       I blush and bite my lower lip again.

       “AUBREY! PLEASE! For the Goddess’s sake! DON’T! DO! THAT!” He says breathing heavily and stepping into my space and looking down at me, then using his thumb to pull my lip out from my teeth. 

        “You don’t understand what that does to me, princess,” he says in a husky voice.

        I suspect what it does to him is similar to what his voice and actions are doing to me.

        “I’m sorry, Adonis,” I breathe and his lips are barely an inch from mine when we are interrupted by a knock and come to our senses.

        I just almost kissed my new boss, who is my Dad’s best friend!

        “Mr. Zachariah I got your usual coffee and guessed from the sweet syrupy smell your new PA likes sweet frilly drinks, so I got one of those for her!” Sherron says as she brings the coffees in and rolls her eyes at me as I straighten my blazer and the pleats on my skirt.

         “Thank you, that will be enough, Sherron. I will be showing Aubrey her expected tasks and taking her to lunch to discuss her father’s visit and when I should expect my best friend to finally make it out here. After lunch, we have that meeting about the charity auction and I need you to file these in the correct files for me,” Adonis says as he pats a pile of papers.

        After she closes the door he looks at me and asks, “That trip this morning wasn’t an accident, was it?”

       I hate to admit it, but I nod and reply, “I believe she tripped me intentionally, sir.”

      “Please, don’t call me ‘Sir’, Aubrey,” he sighs before sipping his coffee. “Come sit here and I will get my computer and yours so I can show you what I need you to do and explain the event.”

      “I know what a mating ball is. I’ve never been to one, because the East Coast Werewolves don’t include other shifters in events like that and they are the most prominent shifters,” I say bashfully.

      “Well, you will come to this one as my esteemed guest and you are going to help plan it. If I had a Luna she would plan it and her Personal Assistant would help her do so, but I think I am in capable hands with you,” he says with what seems like a flirtatious smile. 

      There is no way he is flirting with me!

      “I will show you the ballroom where the event takes place before we return to the packhouse, tonight, but here are the plans I was thinking of and the date of the ball,” he says after a sip of coffee as he shows me an idea board and date.

      “I will need to see the room and I suggest a theme rather than just certain colors. Once we have a theme, you can choose colors, however the layout and feel of the room will help us brainstorm themes and ideas,” I say.

      I have been to the Met Gala a couple times, so I know how large, fancy events can be when properly designed and planned. 

      “I chose those colors because of your parents’ wedding. It was the most beautiful and elegant event I have ever been to,” he admits.

      “I’ve seen pictures, but I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t know,” I reply.

      “Actually you were… in utero. Your mother was three or four weeks pregnant already when your parents got married. They had mated and marked one another months before, but the wedding was more for human formality and a way to celebrate with friends and family,” Adonis says with a grin.

      He is quite handsome and has a boyish charm when he talks about my parent’s wedding or generally about my Dad. 

      “What was it like going to college with my father?” I ask.

       “That is something I can’t answer in a short period of time. How about I tell you one story now and another after we get our work done and can relax this evening,” he offers with a genial smile.

        “I would like that,” I reply.

        “The first day I met your father, he was in a tree, sitting on a branch eating an apple. A werewolf was under the tree taunting him and he just sat there eating his apple until he was done and hopped down in front of the wolf. He asked the werewolf one question. Do you know what it is?” He asks.

        “No,” I reply, shaking my head.

        “He asked him if his dick was too small or his underwear was too tight because he was acting like he had something to prove to someone who didn’t give two shits about his opinion. Your father didn’t care who the werewolf was or what his rank was, just that he had an attitude. That werewolf was me. I had never met a Kirsune, but had been told a lot of species-ist things about your kind. Your father spoke to me in a way no one else ever does. Please, be honest with me, like your father. I don’t need another person who blindly agrees with me. I need someone like your father,” Adonis says.

        “Adonis, I will be honest. Your office is beautiful and you have superb taste in clothing, but this idea for the ball is shit!” I say with a head bob.

       “That is what I need to hear!” He laughs. “But…is it really shit?”

       “Yes! It’s dated and boring. Sure it is pretty, but there is no excitement or pop! You are in Los Angeles! You need POP!”

       “Then make me POP!” He says, then immediately covers his mouth and his eyes go wide.

       “I could, but I don’t think it would be professional,” I laugh.

       “I-I didn’t mean…” he says.

       “I know. You want the party to POP, not your champagne bottle,” I chuckle, indicating his crotch when I say champagne bottle.

        “I think we need to keep my champagne bottle out of this,” Adonis says when he recovers.

        “If you insist,” I say with a wink.

        I should not be flirting with my dad’s best friend! 

        I should not be flirting with my boss!