Chapter 12


    We’re in an underground car park. I follow Zenith to an elevator, step in and stand beside Zenith at the


    back. John stands in front of us. I feel under-dressed, wearing a hoodie and jeans while they wear


    expensive suits. After a few minutes, the elevator stops and the doors open with a ding. I step into a


    ‘This is the waiting room.’ he says.


    The waiting room has luxurious couches and recliners, designer coffee tables, fancy vases and fresh


    flowers. There is a long u-shaped desk centred in the room, and an ample water feature another wall.


    ‘This will be your desk. You will greet the clients and offer them drinks. There is a kitchen with a coffee


    machine and a fridge behind you. Give my clients whatever they want, he says. I nod.


    ‘This room behind your desk is my office. Don’t let anyone in until you have told me they are here via


    call. I will tell you when I’m ready for them!


    ‘What if they refuse to wait and enter your office?’ | ask.


    ‘Use yourmon sense, do what you must, just don’t let them in,’ he says.


    ‘Okay, I say, exhaling and visualising all usible scenarios in my mind.


    ‘If you need to call a client, this screen has all client details. This screen here is your diary to book my


    clients. I have ess to it on myptop, he exins.


    ‘Brooke is my assistant downstairs. Call her. Her number is there on the desk if you need anything,’ he


    says.


    ‘Okay.


    T’ll get her to bring you a skirt-suit, blouse, pantyhose, and court shoes. There is a staff bathroom down


    the hall to the right. Have a shower, get changed, and put some makeup on, he says, smiling before


    leaving.


    ‘Okay, I say, smiling at his hospitality. Ten minutester, Brookees upstairs with a cream blouse,


    navy skirt-suit, ck pantyhose, and ck court shoes in my size.


    ‘Hello, I believe these are for you,’ she says, smiling. I’m Brooke.


    ‘Brooke, nice to meet you. I’m Astrid. Thank you,’ I say, taking the outfit from her. Brooke is slim, petite,


    and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She wears a navy skirt suit too.


    ‘I have to go now, but if you need anything, call me, she says, smiling and going downstairs. I go into


    the bathroom, shower, and admire the gorgeous corporate attire, hanging it up on a hook. The hot


    water stings parts of my skin but feels glorious. It is precisely what I need after an exhausting morning.


    I push my feet into the ck pantyhose and pull them up over my


    hips, letting the ck sticised waistband rest on my stomach. They’re not too tight, and they fit


    perfectly. I step into the navy skirt and zip it. It fits me perfectly, like a glove. The cream blouse is silk. I


    tuck it into the top of the waist-high skirt and revel in how it feels against my skin. I push my arms into


    the structured sleeves of the gorgeous navy zer and step into the court shoes, which are my size.


    There is a brush and a bag of cosmetics under the bathroom sink. Once I brush my hair, I scoop it up


    into a scrunched bun before applying


    some foundation, eyeliner, mascara, and red lipstick and look at myself in the mirror. I feel and look a


    million dors. I’m ready to y Miss Corporate Barbie. My old clothes, socks, and shoes are on the


    Bathroom Vanity. With one final coat of red lipstick on my lips, I stuff the gold-encased lipstick into my


    zer pocket and push the bathroom door open.


    I’m just about to sit at the desk when a man enters. I know him straight away to be James, John’s twin


    brother. He looks me up and down like I’m a snack and whistles.


    ‘You epted Dad’s job offer, I see,’ he says with a grin.


    ‘I did. It’s a pleasure to meet you, James,’ I politely say.


    ‘The pleasure is all mine,’ he says, taking my hand and kissing it. Like father, like son. He winks at me


    and walks to the office to the right of Zeniths before stopping and turning to look at me.


    ‘In case you are unsure, this is my office. The one on the other


    side of Dad’s is John’s. So, we work together sometimes in Dad’s office,’ he says, smiling.


    Nodding, I smile. The phone rings, and I answer it in my best professional voice.


    ‘Zenith Creations. Astrid is speaking. How may I help you?’ || say.


    ‘It’s Dom Hayes. I need to see Zenith as soon as possible.’


    ‘Okay, sir. Please hold on a moment,’ I open the diary screen and find a free spot tomorrow.


    ‘Mr. Hayes, I offer, ‘I can book you in for 2 pm tomorrow?’


    ‘Okay, I’ll see him tomorrow, Mr Hayes says, ending the call before I can say goodbye. I spend the day


    answering calls from clients, booking appointments, and passing on messages. I see John and James


    leaning over my desk halfway through the day, looking right at me with coy expressions.


    ‘Is there something I can help you with?’ | ask them.


    ‘Astrid, there is something you can do. If you could follow me into my office, John says. James elbows


    him yfully.


    ‘Don’t mind him. He is just stirring, James says.


    ‘We would love a coffee, James says, winking and smiling.


    ‘How would you like your coffee?’ I ask, ignoring John’s smirks.


    ‘Latte, no sugar. John will have the same.’


    ‘Okay.’ I walk into the kitchen and look at the enormous copper industrial coffee machine sitting on the


    granite benchtop. How am I meant to use this thing? I recall what I learned in my six hour barista ss


    a few years ago. I surprised myself and made the coffees expertly. And ced the mugs and one


    teaspoon on a tray and walked with them out to the men. They look at me like I’m some divine goddess


    who makes barista style coffee. I put thettes down in front of them, they’re impressed


    ‘Won’t your father be angry? You two are out here staring at me instead of working?’ | ask. James


    grins.


    ‘You’re right, Astrid,’ he says, gives me a wink, and returns to his office with histte.


    ‘John, get back to work, heughs. John returns to his office with histte.


    ‘You know how to handle those two, don’t you?’ Brooke giggles. ‘You must tell me about yourself. How


    old are you? Where are you from?’ She asks.


    I’ll be eighteen in five days. I used to live with my Dad, a forty five-minute walk from here,’ I reply.


    ‘How exciting! You’ll meet your wolf this week!’ She says excitedly. I give a fake smile.


    ‘Yeah, so excited…’ I say with a tinge of sarcasm and sadness


    -the phone rings.


    ‘I better get back to my desk downstairs, Brooke says, running downstairs in her court shoes. I answer


    the phone.


    ‘Zenith Creations. Astrid is speaking. How may I help you?’ ask.


    ‘It’s me. Zenith. Make us both atte and bring them to my office,’ he says, ending the call. I push open


    his door with thettes in my hands and put them on his desk.


    ‘You’ve done well today, Astrid, he says.


    ‘Thank you, I reply, sipping mytte.


    ‘We need to discuss your living arrangements. You can stay in the packhouse with me and the boys, if


    you’refortable to do so, Zenith offers.


    I pause in thought at his offer. I don’t have anywhere to stay, and I don’t want to live with his sons. So,


    what choice do|| have?


    ‘Okay, just for now, though, I smile, epting his offer.


    ‘Good. It’s settled then, Zenith smiles, sipping histte.


    At 5 pm, I follow Zenith to the elevator. John and James follow behind.


    ‘You can hop in with me, James offers, smiling.


    ‘Thank you. I’ll go with your Dad, I say, smiling.


    I get into Zenith’s car. A vital phone call takes his attention for the duration of our ride home. Finally, we


    arrive, and I see a sign that reads Shady Crest. I gulp. Wait, this is the Pack Vanessa, and Alice lived!


    The Pack abused Vanessa and used her as the pack ve.


    ‘Is something wrong?’ John asks, staring at me.


    ‘No, I’m just admiring the house. It’s so lovely, I say, trying to contain my nerves. His house isrge and


    impressive. It’s not as big as Ryker’s, but still gorgeous. The car stops. Zenith opens his door and helps


    me out. My court shoes crunch on pristine white gravel.


    ‘Are you okay, Astrid? You’re shaking,’ he says.


    I’m fine. I’m cold, I lie, rubbing my arms.


    ‘Let’s go inside.’


    We walk up the twenty stone steps to a glossy green front door and walk inside into a foyer. Zenith puts


    his ck leather case on a nearby table with his coat.


    ‘This way, to the dining room’, he says, smiling. I follow him


    into the dining room. People sit at a long mahogany table and are being served tes of food by


    employees.


    Everyone goes quiet and stands with Zenith’s arrival.


    I’d like to introduce you all to Astrid formally, he says, cing a hand on my back. There are a few


    gasps and whispers among them.


    ‘Silence, Zenith says calmly.


    ‘Astrid is staying with us. Hopefully, she joins our Pack too. I know I can count on you to make her feel


    wee and at home, he says, with utmost authority in his voice.


    Zenith walks to his chair at the head of the table.


    ‘Astrid, you may dine next to me tonight.’ he says. I nod and sit in the chair next to him. All eyes are on


    me. I look around the table and give a nervous but friendly smile.


    They all smile and nod. I realise they’re excited I’m here. I eat, and the Pack members introduce


    themselves to me. James sits next to me, and John sits opposite me. The pretty girl next to John


    shakes my hand.


    I’m Amelia, John’s mate,’ she says, smiling. I look at John, tilting my head in surprise.


    ‘John, you never mentioned you had a mate, I say.


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    ‘Oh, didn’t l?’ He says. James smirks.


    ‘I suppose you have a mate too, then?’ I ask James. He smiles while eating.


    ‘No, I haven’t. Dad is telling me to choose one, though, he says, winking and brushing my leg with his


    under the table. I blush and look away.


    .


    ‘Amelia, I’d love you to give me a tour of the house,’ I say, smiling at her.


    I would love to, Astrid,’ she replies with a smile. We finish our meals, and she skips around the table


    and links her arm with mine. ‘Let’s tour, she says excitedly.


    Strange that Vanessa said she was once a ve here and beaten. Everyone seems pretty civilised


    here. Everyone has been amicable. I might even get used to the boys flirting. I’m sure I can find out


    more information through Amelia.


    ‘This is the dining room, she giggles. She shows me through the kitchen, the hallways, and the


    bedrooms upstairs.


    ‘This is my room, mine and John’s. This room over here is vacant. You can take this room if you like,


    then we will be near each other, she says excitedly.


    ‘Sure. I’ll take it,’ I say, smiling. The room is pleasant and


    straightforward. It doesn’t have a bathroom.


    ‘Where would I find the bathroom?’ | ask.


    ‘Only the highest ranks here get a bathroom. There are a


    couple ofmunal bathrooms. One-two doors up and the other down the hall. James’ bedroom is


    next to yours if you need anything,’ she smiles.


    “Oh, thanks. That’s great, I say, hiding my unease.


    ‘You brought nothing with you. I’ll give you a nightie to wear, she says, crossing the hallway to her


    room.


    ‘Thanks.’ I smile and ept the nightie and towels she gives


    me.


    ‘Here you go,’ she says. ‘Have a good sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she says, skipping to her room.


    Once in the bathroom, I lock the door behind me and shower. I step out into the corridor and explore.


    It’s just bedrooms and bathrooms, so I return to my room and sit by the window.


    ‘Moon Goddess, I know I’ve only just learnt you exist and that I know little about you. Please watch


    over Ryker. I miss him so much and wish things were different and will treasure the short time we had


    together, how he would gaze into my eyes, and how he would hold me tenderly. I am so grateful that


    you matched us as mates, but I’m sorry it cannot be.’


    Pushing myself up from the floor, I fold a nket back and climb into bed for some much-needed rest.