CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 11 THE OBSESSED SUITOR

Draven’s POV

Suddenly, that unbearable harpy Ella Howard, who had witnessed the entire scene right in front of us, started speaking almost with a shout.

"What do you think you’re doing, you little hussy? Get your hands off Draven, you gold-digger!"

Without releasing my grip on my assistant’s waist, I whispered in her ear, "Don’t you dare move away." Of course, she had felt my arousal pressing against her, but no one else needed to witness that. I looked at the harpy with murderous eyes, Alaric snarling as I said, "Lower your voice, Ella, and apologize to Miss Caroline immediately."

"What’s this, Draven? I’m just putting this nobody in her place. She’s openly throwing herself at you." Ella’s eyes flashed with indignation. "Besides, she blocked the door and wouldn’t let me in to see you, saying I needed to be announced. That’s ridiculous! Since when do I need to be announced? Tell her who I am and put her in her place. You need to reprimand her, Draven. I think you should even fire her."

Ella’s eyes were crackling with hatred, her souring scent assaulting my enhanced senses.

"Ella, apologize to Miss Caroline, or don’t complain about the consequences," I said quietly, gathering what little patience I had left. Alaric was growing more agitated by the second, protective instincts flaring at the threat toward the woman in my arms.

Ella looked at me as if she were hurt, but I knew she was furious and would tear Caroline’s eyes out if she could. To irritate her further, I tightened my arm around Caroline’s waist.

"You won’t apologize? Fine then. Ryan, would you please escort Ella to the elevators and make sure she goes to the reception?" I said, taking a step into the office with Caroline, not even looking at Ryan, though I knew he was enjoying the situation.

He despised Ella more than I did; she never missed a chance to be unpleasant to him, constantly treating him with disdain ever since he’d refused her attempts to use him as a way to get to me. It disgusted me more and more.

Ryan gave me an amused look. He knows I always give him the opportunity to throw this insufferable woman out so he can have fun at her expense.

"Leave it to me, Alpha," he said through our pack mind-link before speaking aloud. "I’ll make sure to escort dear Ella all the way to the building’s exit so she doesn’t get lost." He winked at me and left the office with a huge smile on his face. I saw him make a mocking bow to that clueless woman and indicate the way out.

I slammed my office door and locked it. I took a deep breath to try to calm my mind and control my body, but having Caroline pressed against me was intoxicating. What a devil of a beautiful woman!

I was still holding Caroline and didn’t want to let go, but I needed to. I inhaled deeply for a few more seconds and very reluctantly released her. She stayed against my chest for a few more seconds; I realized I wasn’t the only one affected by our proximity, and I almost wrapped my arms around her again, but she moved away, took two steps forward, and turned to look me in the eyes with a very professional air.

"Alpha, I apologize, but I was instructed that no one except Beta Ryan should enter your office without your authorization. This young lady walked right past Linda and tried to enter without being announced." She spoke with such gentleness and calm after all that commotion that it made me want to kiss those perfect lips painted with pink lipstick, which made me smile.

"Don’t worry, Ms. Bennett, you acted correctly, and I expect you to continue doing so. I don’t care if it’s the Grand Alpha or a company director, only you, Ryan, and Clara can enter my office without my express authorization." I said, composing myself as much as I could while walking to my desk. I picked up the phone and called the building’s head of security.

"Daniel, from this moment on, Ms. Ella Howard is prohibited from entering this building. I don’t care what she says, I don’t care what her father says, this woman cannot enter here anymore, and if she does, you’ll be the first to lose your job." I heard the security chief agree on the other end of the line and hung up.

I looked at the phone and decided to personally notify that annoying woman’s daddy. I couldn’t stand Howard either, but he had my late father’s trust, so out of respect for his memory, I kept Howard in his position. It was irritating how he tried to push his daughter on me as if she could ever be my Luna.

"Howard, I want to make something clear. Your daughter is banned from entering this building from now on. I won’t tolerate any more of her disruptions here. This is a workplace, not a stage for her dramatic performance. I respect you as both my financial director and a pack elder, but I won’t allow her to disrespect my employees or act superior because of her delusions about becoming my Luna."

Howard tried to intercede for his daughter, but I cut him off impatiently, "I don’t care, Howard. Your daughter doesn’t work here and never will. She has no business being here. Consider this your warning." I hung up the phone and looked at my assistant.

Caroline was standing in front of my desk, with a serious and professional posture. Didn’t this woman ever flinch? A spoiled she-wolf had just made a scene, was arrogant and rude, I hugged her with an intimacy we didn’t have, and she only broke from her absolutely professional demeanor when I pressed her against my body and she felt my erection against her backside—and then when I released her, but it was for just a split second.

I looked at her and couldn’t help myself, letting my eyes wander over that magnificent body and fixing my gaze on her face, looking at every detail and focusing on those green eyes.

She’s so beautiful she could make me lose my mind. But you know what? It was going to be fun to mess with Ms. Bennett and see how far she could handle being teased.

"Ms. Bennett, please, have a seat." She sat in front of me, and I sat down as well and continued, "I apologize for this awkward situation you had to go through. Ella can be quite unpleasant."

"Don’t apologize, Alpha. Dealing with people is part of the job, and I know not everyone will always be pleasant, so to speak. I don’t mind handling it." Her composure was remarkable, especially for someone who I assumed must be from another pack. Most wolves would have shown more aggression when challenged.

"That’s good. I see you have an enormous capacity to remain unshakeable. That’s very good in the business world, and it will be very good for me to have an assistant with your professionalism. Should I also apologize for the way I held you and my body’s reaction to feeling yours?"

She widened her eyes and blushed slightly. I noticed I had gotten under her skin and cracked her stoic professionalism. My smile widened as I caught her eyes lingering on my lips. Alaric pawed eagerly within me, unusually interested in this woman. Well, well, looks like I wasn’t the only one who was impressed. She shook her head as if trying to shake off unwanted thoughts and said, "Alpha, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I assure you there’s no need to apologize to me. I should be the one thanking you for preventing my fall."

I smiled at her. Sure, she was intelligent, professional, and discreet, but I had already noticed that I had some effect on her. I cleared my throat and decided to return to professional matters.

"How are things going with Clara?"

"Very well, Alpha. Clara told me she’s already passed on everything important, and from here on out, it’s just a matter of you and me getting in sync, which I believe won’t be difficult."

"I hope not. And where is Clara?"

"She went to accounting."

"Right. Let’s wait for her to return so I can brief both of you about my trip at once. Although she’s leaving, this information will also be important for her new position in London. You can go back to your office."

"Yes, Alpha. Excuse me." I watched her stand up and walk away with light, graceful movements. When she closed the door behind her, I banged my head on the desk. I was so screwed. Keeping my distance from this woman was going to be really tough. Alaric whined in agreement. The last thing I needed was complications at work, but she was way too beautiful and incredibly sexy without even trying.

Those stunning eyes and graceful curves especially caught my attention, stirring a sense of familiarity that made my heart race.

I gritted my teeth and forced my focus back to the contracts in front of me, but my mind kept drifting to the masked woman from the gala years ago, the one who’d vanished before dawn, leaving only the ghost of her touch.

When I turned around to find her after dealing with things, she had already disappeared, as if it all had been a dream.

I mind-linked Ryan before I could stop myself. "Any updates on the woman from the Moonlight Masquerade Ball?"

His laughter echoed through the connection. "Still hung up on your mystery she-wolf, Alpha? What happened to ’I don’t do attachments’?"

"Shut it," I snarled, though my pulse spiked at the memory of silver-streaked hair and a laugh like dark honey. "Just tell me if the trackers found anything."

"Nothing. She’s a ghost." A pause. "Unless... you think Caroline?"

I severed the link before he could finish. Ridiculous. Caroline Bennett was all crisp efficiency and guarded professionalism, nothing like the wildfire in silk who’d tasted my throat and disappeared.