Chapter 5

The Job

(Layla)

“My daughter Annie needs full-time care,” Samuel explained, tapping his fingers on the diner table. 

“She accidentally ingested wolfsbane and the accident left her legs paralyzed.”

I stared at him across the booth, my red dress feeling ridiculous again as I remembered her.

“Your daughter…”

“Yes, my daughter.” His eyes narrowed. “Surprising?”

“I just…” I shifted in my seat. “I didn’t know you had one.”

I had never known him to have a public Luna, yet he had a daughter. Maybe I could be his Luna too…

Ridiculous, I chided myself. You’re being ridiculous.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Samuel motioned to the waitress. “Coffee, black.”

“Same,” I muttered, needing something stronger than water.

“Three weeks ago,” he continued once the waitress left, “Annie got into the wolfsbane garden. Doctors say the paralysis should be temporary, but she needs constant supervision until she recovers.”

“And you want me to…”

“Be her nurse. Five days a week, live-in position.” He pulled out a folder. “Full benefits, double your old Beta salary.”

My heart jumped. That kind of money would cover Mom’s treatments with plenty left over. “Why me?”

“My last nurse quit without notice. You’re qualified, available, and desperate.” He slid the folder across the table. “Simple as that.”

The waitress brought our coffee. I wrapped my hands around the hot mug, buying time to think.

“What about…” I gestured between us. “That night?”

“A mistake. One we won’t repeat,” he said dismissively.

My face fell despite myself, but I composed myself when he shot up a brow. You’re being ridiculous, I told myself again. Preposterous.

“Right.”

I blinked, but I could not stop remembering how his hands had felt on my skin, how his teeth had marked my neck.

“This is strictly professional,” Samuel said. “Annie doesn’t know about what happened, and she never will.”

“Of course not.” I flipped through the folder, scanning the contract. “When do I start?”

“Tomorrow morning. Eight AM sharp.” He wrote an address on a napkin. “Pack whatever you need for the week. You’ll have your own suite in the east wing.”

“The east wing?” I looked up. “Just how big is your house?”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “Big enough that we won’t run into each other outside of necessary interactions.”

Something about his tone made me bristle. “Worried you won’t be able to control yourself?”

His eyes flashed. “Careful, little Beta. Don’t mistake my offer for anything more than it is.”

“And what exactly is it?”

“A job. Nothing more.” He drained his coffee. “I’m not Mason. I won’t make promises I can’t keep.”

The mention of Mason’s name sent fresh pain through my chest. “I never asked for promises.”

“No?” Samuel leaned forward. “Then why are you wearing that dress?”

I flushed, looking away from him. “I thought…”

“You thought I called you here for a repeat performance.” He sat back, eyes trailing over my body. “Can’t blame you. I did say to call if you needed anything.”

“I do need something,” I snapped. “A job. Money for my mother’s treatments. Since your precious nephew made sure no one else would hire me.”

“Mason always did let his ego override his common sense.” Samuel’s lip curled. “Rejecting a fated mate for political gain? Pathetic.”

“Says the man who used me for, I don’t know, mocking his nephew for denying his mate bond?”

“Is that what you think happened?” He raised an eyebrow. “You practically threw yourself at me that night.”

“Because I was drunk and heartbroken!”

“And now?” His eyes locked on mine. “What’s your excuse for coming here dressed like that?”

I grabbed my purse, standing so fast my chair scraped back. “This was a mistake. Find someone else to take care of your daughter.”

Samuel caught my wrist as I tried to push past him. “Sit down.”

“Let go of me.”

“Sit down,” hissed Samuel with such authority my throat tightened.

I swallowed and sank back into my chair, hating how easily he could control me.

“Look,” he said, releasing my wrist. “We both made mistakes that night, but this job offer is legitimate. Annie needs help, and you need money. Everything else…” He shrugged. “We can forget it happened.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” He pushed my coffee closer. “Drink. We’ll go over the contract details.”

An hour later, my signature graced the bottom of the employment papers. Samuel gathered them into his folder, all business now.

“Eight AM,” he reminded me. “Don’t be late.”

We stood to leave, neither of us looking at each other in the aftermath of the awkwardness from earlier. I adjusted my purse strap, desperate to escape.

“Layla.”

I turned back reluctantly. “Yes?”

“That dress…” His eyes raked over me one last time. “Save it for someone who can appreciate it properly.”

Before I could respond, the diner door chimed. Mason walked in, his steps faltering when he spotted us.

“Uncle Samuel?” His gaze darted between us, lingering on my dress. “What’s going on here?”

I opened my mouth, ready to explain, but Mason didn’t give me a chance. His hand shot out, grabbing mine with a desperate urgency, pulling me as though to shield me from Samuel’s gaze.

“Let her go,” Samuel’s voice was low, barely a growl, but there was a finality in it that made the space between us freeze.

“Why?”

“Cause she’s mine,” Samuel said calmly, staring down at his nephew.