Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"You look quite nice," he remarked after a brief awkward silence, casting that unsettling predatory gaze he always had at the office.
"You know, it's impolite to stare at people like that," I retorted, attempting to maintain a professional tone while internally wishing I could give him a piece of my mind and tell him to go to hell.
"Really? And how exactly am I staring at you?" he replied with an amusing expression on his face.
Suppressing my irritation, I replied, "Like your mother didn't raise you properly," accompanied by a smile that anyone could see was dark and pretentious.
"You know, your boss holds you in high regard," he advanced closer to me within the confined space. "It would be a shame if he were to fire you because of something negative I said about you. And trust me, I can be very persuasive," he added with a deceitful smile. Leaning over the table to meet my gaze, he asked, "So, darling, what's your name?"
Something about the way he asked the question the second time made me realize that he wasn't joking about his earlier threat.
"E... Eloise," I cursed myself mentally for stammering.
"Eloise," he repeated, causing a shiver to run through my body. "Would you care to join me for dinner?"
"I'd rather eat dust," I replied in a painfully polite voice.
"I see," he said, smiling. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smile off his face with a slap. "I'll hold you to that."
"Excuse me, sir," I said, walking out of the room without waiting for him to say another word. I wasn't even sure if I could restrain myself from slapping him across the face if he looked at me with those irritating eyes or made another comment.
"Have a pleasant day, beautiful," he called out, standing near the door as I passed by him.
Eric's pov:
She was perfect.
Everything I could have ever imagined in a partner. She appeared as though she wouldn't tolerate any nonsense from anyone, and that made me want her even more.
Her scent was a combination of sandalwood and vinegar. It was an unusual blend, but for some reason, it drew me in like a moth to a flame.
I desired her, I needed her, and every fiber of my being craved to have her by my side. My wolf went wild the moment she entered the room. It wasn't pleased with the way her dress accentuated her curves, something that was meant for my eyes only. No other man deserved to see those curves.
Her voice had a calming effect on my wolf, something I didn't know was possible. And that was saying a lot, considering how aggressive my wolf could be.
I walked back to the main office where the rest of the staff was located.
"He should be around here somewhere," I thought to myself as I scanned the room.
"Bingo," I muttered as I slowly approached the guy.
"Do you have a minute?" I asked, looking at him innocently.
He seemed scared.
"A changeling," I thought to myself.
"Look, dude," he stammered, searching for a way to escape.
"I said a minute!" I spoke in a low, steady voice.
He followed me to a quiet spot away from prying ears.
"Now, let me make this clear," I said, smiling. I could sense his growing fear. "Remember that cute blondie you tried to harm a while ago? You won't lay a finger on her. You won't even go near her or catch a whiff of her scent. Or else," I let my aggressive side show for a brief moment, "you and I will have some serious problems. Got it?"
My voice came out deeper and harsher than I had expected, but at that moment, it was more the wolf in control than myself.
"I understand," he replied, hastily retreating from my sight. I let out a sigh. The fragrance of my mate lingered in the air.
"Just a little longer, my love," I thought, smiling to myself. This was the most genuine smile I had worn in a long time.
Unbeknownst to her, she was changing my world. Even without her realizing it.
...
Eloise's pov
As the day went on, it transformed from annoying to even more bothersome. My frustration was impossible to conceal by the end of the day.
"Did you show Eric around the new restaurant as I instructed, Almara?" I took two deep breaths before answering, cautious not to say something wrong.
"No, Mr. Tinch," I replied in a professional tone.
"Are you out of your mind? He's going to be one of our most significant partners! I specifically told you to leave your other tasks and guide him around!" He insulted me, calling me an empty-headed person.
I bit my tongue. I needed the money to find a new place and move out of my current house. He wasn't worth jeopardizing my plans.
"If it weren't for your looks and body, you'd be utterly useless to me," I said, snapping my gaze toward him.
He made it sound like we were involved intimately.
The thought made me gag.
I would rather sell my organs than be involved with him in any way.
"You instructed me to stay by your side all day long! Almara, fetch this for me! Almara, fetch that for me!" I held my tongue, struggling to contain my irritation towards him.
"I'll address your attitude in a moment," he said, taking out his phone to answer a call.
"Well, it seems we're running into each other again, huh?" Eric said, approaching to stand next to me.
I rolled my eyes at him. "What do you want?" I said, not bothering to sound polite. There was something about him that made me relax to the point where I couldn't care less about being polite around him.
"Would you believe me if I said I missed you?" he said, accompanied by that silly smile.
"Oh, please, spare me."
"Very well then. You promised me a day at the restaurant and dinner. I was told to find you here; I guess I was right," he smiled at me.
As we were conversing, my boss returned to me with a scowl on his face.
"Sir, I hope you don't mind if I borrow Eloise for a moment?" he said, his expression changing from friendliness to a smile.
"Oh, not at all. Make sure you show him the places with the best view," he replied, turning away.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"Shall we?" Eric said, extending his hand for me to hold.
I placed my hand in his and paused for a moment.
A whirlwind of diverse images rushed through my thoughts within a mere moment, all featuring a connection between him and me, brimming with pure joy. One snapshot captured us engaged in a tender kiss, while another depicted us wrapped in a warm embrace. It seemed as though we were sharing a living space, residing together under one roof. Determined to free myself from these overwhelming visions, I uttered, "Let's move on," shaking my head vigorously.