~~Chapter Four

Chadwick's POV 

Settling on my executive chair that fit my office aesthetic, I crossed each resume with a fountain pen and watched with satisfaction as my best friend's frown grew like a balloon in size. 

  

"Are all the candidates female?"

"Come on, Chad. Do you always have to be so picky?" He spat out, "I see you're still onto your hate against women."

"I don't hate women. But don't you think I should be more careful with my selection?"

"I thought you've have moved past the last time? Why are you hell bent about not hiring a woman for a secretary."

Through the years, I mastered an unshakable calmness, where I don't have to argue or shout just because I don't agree with something, a trait my best friend, Ken hates. I stared at my son's picture in a small frame instead. 

 "Thanks, but I'll pass. I can't make the same mistake again."

Ken groaned, "You can't judge all women based on one bad experience with your ex. Women make excellent secretaries."

"And gold diggers as well," I reminded him, sinking my feet into the plush rug on the floor."What's with the opposing power? Last I remembered, I own this place."

"Whatever," he mumbled, pointing at the resume above the rest. "You might want to take a look at this one. I think she'll fit in the position."

I stared at the name scrawled across the top of the form in black ink.

"Ashanti?" I raised an eyebrow. "Is it a coincidence that the same redhead you saved last weekend has the same name?"

A smile curled Ken's lips, "You're smart, and yes, that's her. She sounds very intelligent."

I scoffed, "Kenneth, I don't mix my business with pleasure. If you want to bang her, do it outside the confines of the office."

"Ew," he scrunched his nose and I laughed. "Don't ever say that to me."

"Why not? Are you allergic to women?I said while glancing through the document. My laughter evaporated and I glared at Ken. "She doesn't have a degree, you fool."

Ken's smile returned, "True, true. But look beyond academic qualifications. She passed my screening process and is quite intelligent. How many of these so-called degree holders can speak good English?"

I rose, heading to the bookshelf that lined my wall, "Kenneth, show yourself to the door."

"I'll send her in," he laughed and headed out while I wondered what had come over him. Perhaps he fancied the girl and wanted to bang her. 

If that was the case then maybe I needed to be a bit lenient because Ken has never been in a relationship in years. I found it strange because 

__________________

Ashanti's POV

Ken motioned for me to follow him to the next office and I hoped this would go well. He wished me luck and headed back to his office.

The next office was slightly bigger and spacious with a large window overlooking the city, a shiny, huge desk made of walnut veneers.

Damn, my heart banged like an overwound clock. My mate was here and I was acting like a lovesick puppy. He looked way better than my memory of him.

“Are you going to keep staring?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth.

“I’m sorry,” I said, clearing my throat. While tried to compose myself and act normal, the door burst open, and a handsome, little boy rushed in, with tears streaming down his face.

"Daddy. Daddy. I want my daddy," he sobbed as he ran to my mate’s arms. 

No fucking way!

Out of all the million men in the world, the moon goddess chose to pair me with a married human. 

What a sick joke.

My throat felt like someone lodged a stick in it. I didn't know how to react to everything that was happening all at once.

Finding a mate in the human world was the last thing I expected, much less a haughty one with a son. My heart clenched with envy as I wondered who his wife was.

She must be a high-class socialite from a prestigious family, carrying herself with an intimidating presence.

Shaking off the thoughts, I tried to focus on the present. But I couldn't stop thinking about the whole thing. The Moon Goddess must be a sadist who loves to destroy lives and was dumb for creating the stupid mating bond.

My mate's son seemed about five years old and was a spitting image of his dad with the same sea-blue eyes. Except that instead of his father's dark hair, the boy's dirty blonde hair reached his neck. His ruby cheeks and spotless skin made him pass for a girl.

"Dad, why don't I have a mommy?" The boy continued to lament. "Did she throw me away because she doesn't love me?"

Holy fuck.

As much as I felt pity for the poor kid, my heart loosened up with relief. There was no woman in the picture.

"Don't say that, Elen," my mate pacified his son, pulling him closer and forgetting I was standing in front of him. "Your mommy loves you very much. She just can't be with us."

The little boy spilled his heart about his classmates teasing him, and his father wiped his tears, telling him that crying and acting weak were not traits of a big boy. 

My gaze settled on a photo of my mate and his son. There was no photo of any woman. My horny wolf pictured me as the woman of the family.

"I can't go to school unless you provide me with a new mommy," the boy said firmly to his father. 

An elderly woman dressed in an expensive-looking A-line skirt dress walked in. Her salt and pepper hair was styled into a neat bun.

"I am sorry, sir," she rushed to the boy. "This arthritis is making my movement slower. I tried to stop Elen from bothering you."

He waved a hand in dismissal. "It's fine. What happened?"

 "The school called an hour ago, concerned that Elen was throwing tantrums and asking to see his dad. So I went with the chauffeur to pick him up."

 "I see," he said grimly. "Take him home and satisfy him with lots of ice cream or whatever he wants."

"No, I want to stay," the boy resisted, looking up at his dad pleadingly but his dad shook his head slowly and sternly.

 "Go home, son. I'll be back early. I promise."

"But-"

"No arguing, young man," he cut the child off firmly while his nanny stepped forward, nudging him.

"Come on, Elen. Daddy is busy. I promise you I'll let you play some video games for two hours."

Agreeing reluctantly, the boy headed out with his nanny. Alone with my mate, the mating scent thickened the air, making a surge of desire fill my body. 

He blinked when his gaze landed on me, probably forgetting that I was still there. In a split second, the former coldness returned to his eyes.

"Sit."

Obeying him, I adjusted myself in the chair and my gaze wandered around the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bulletin board that stored his huge achievements, anywhere but the man's face.

Crazy how my life had changed. In the lycan pack, male Lycans lay at my feet and begged for my attention. I fed them scraps, and they took it. But now, here I was, lusting after a weak human.

Bea, my wolf, couldn't stop poking me to ask if he was divorced or widowed.

"You're a fool," I scolded her. "He'll dump us like a hot potato if he finds out that I am a freak. I'm here for the interview and nothing more."

"The interview could be your ticket into his life," she whined, but I ignored her. 

"Tell me about yourself," Chadwick said, his gaze unflinching. I answered my well rehearsed lie of being a high school dropout while informing him about my real work experience.

He didn't look satisfied.

"You don't have a bachelor's degree," he said with a condescending tone. "And you expect me to hire you? Even some of our janitors have better qualifications."

"I have lots of work experience. I've worked as a self-representative for a year, a cashier at..."

"Spare me the details."

I don't know if it was the coldness of his tone or the coolness of the office that caused goosebumps to fill my skin. 

The man was a fucking brat.

"Are you married?"he asked, sounding very detached.

"My marital status is stated in my resume."

His eyebrow perked up, and my palm rested on my lap.

"I'm not blind. But I need to hear from your mouth. Do you have a boyfriend? Are you seeing someone? Aren't you the same person Ken saved from your psycho fuck buddy?"

"He's not my boyfriend," I snapped, wondering why he was acting like an asshole. His mouth curved upward in a smirk.

"Watch your tone, young lady."

"I'm sorry."

He relaxed in his seat, staring at me with that coolness that bothered me. If only he could feel the mating bond. Silence settled between us until he spoke. 

"Okay, let's keep this brief, miss. You do not meet the requirements for the job, and I can't hire you."