You will stay here

They left the office and walked towards the elevator and boarded it. Annette assumed he was taking her back to the lobby, but imagine her surprise when Xavier presses 'P' instead of 'L' of the lift buttons after the door of the elevator closes.

She shot him a confused look but kept her month shut. She did not want to annoy him, before he changed his mind and decided not to help James anymore.

 It took them to the top floor of the building, and the lift door slid open.

He stepped out of the elevator ahead of Annette and waited for her to join him. 

She steps into what appears to be a receiving room.

Her eyes widened as she took in the lavish decor of the room.

"This is my penthouse," Xavier informed her, while stepping forward into the room.

This pales in comparison to what she saw in the lobby downstairs. From the luxurious fluffy carpets covering the floor to the gray and white decorations that match the dark wood furniture.

"Do you live here?" She asked him, moving further into the room. The room was stunning; she was yet to see the rest of the apartment, but she had a feeling that it would not look any less elegant.

The room was stunning but void of any personal touch. 

"Yes, from Monday to Friday. Weekends I stay at the mansion." 

"Ok, I get it." She said, nodding her head. 

"You will stay here, Annette, for the time being," he instructed. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but he cut her off.

"Don't argue with me on this." 

Well damn, Annette detests being told what to do, but for now she would do as he said, for James.

The Michaelson mansion. A few years ago, when she was a teenager and her aunt was still married to Xavier's uncle, she had lived in a small property set aside in the estate. 

There were enough rooms in the mansion to accommodate her family, but they were not allowed to live there. This has annoyed her mother, but Annette had seen the reason for their actions. They were humans, not werewolves like Michaelson and their pack, and for that reason, they did not fit in.

And now, it looks like history was repeating itself because Xavier took her to his penthouse and not the mansion, and like before, she was to be hidden and kept out of sight where she would not be seen by the pack. 

They walked into the sitting room, and what greeted them had Annette grinding her teeth. It was the receptionist, sitting on a white cushion like she owned the fucking place.

"Xavier dear, I was hoping...."

Her words trailed off when she saw Annette standing with Xavier.

'Xavier?'

'Dear?'

Seriously? Wait, what was she doing here, in Xavier's penthouse?

Her voice sounded off, just like it did downstairs. It was some kind of alluring and seductive voice. What was her name again? Sofia? Yes Sofia.

She has taken off the jacket she had worn in the lobby and put on some kind of camisole top, making herself at home. Was she here for a meeting with Xavier? Do Xavier often hold meetings with his receptionist in his penthouse?

It looks like the receptionist was not happy with the site of Annette, while, bitch, the feeling is mutual.

"Is she still here? I thought you were going to throw her out." Sofia said, giving Annette a cold stare, her eyes flashing bright amber.

Xavier moved deeper into the room, eyes fixed on Sofia. 

He did not respond to what was said by Sofia; he simply ignored her.

"Annette will stay here in the penthouse for some time. Get her proper clothing for the event that is to be held this evening, Sofia."

"Yes, sir," Sofia said, not meeting Xavier's gaze. 

So she was a werewolf after all, but not a born wolf - a wolfling maybe.

Wolflings are werewolves who were once humans but were made wolves after they got bitten by a werewolf and went through the transformation process.

Sofia's ranking in the pack will be based on the one who bit her; she could be a high-ranking wolf or a low one. If it was a high-ranking wolf, her rank in the pack can be higher than some born wolf. 

Could she have been bitten by Xavier?

Sofia turned to face Annette, taking her in. 

"I will do my best to find something that will fit her full figure."