Chapter 6 Unexpected Encounters
Bonnie's POV
I knew the next day was going to be bad. I woke up feeling irritated and anxious, barely having slept the night before. The heavy rain outside didn't help my mood as I rushed out of the house to catch the bus, realizing too late that I'd left my raincoat on my bed. Well, I had my umbrella, and it would have to do for today.
As I was about to board the bus, a red convertible drove by and plowed through the biggest puddle near the bus stop, drenching me from behind. "Wait a minute! Didn't I see that convertible in the Rossen garage?" I thought to myself. It would have been nice if one of the Rossen family members had offered me a ride on such a stormy day. My family was kind-hearted and would have helped anyone in need, but I knew that the Rossen family had different qualities. They didn't go out of their way to help others; they saw it as a weakness.
Luckily, my backside didn't get wet, and I boarded the bus, shivering from the fall winds. The warmth of the bus made me feel cozy and comfortable. After a quick bus ride, I got off and rushed to the train station to catch the subway to school. Flustered and not paying full attention, I realized I had boarded the wrong train. The A train went straight to Grand Central Station without stopping, and that's where I ended up instead of the East Uptown train station. It was too late to turn back, and I knew I would be late for class.
At Grand Central Station, I rushed up the subway station steps and accidentally bumped into someone. As I lifted my head, I saw a familiar figure—it was Nathan Walters.
"Hi Bonnie, we meet again," he greeted me with a smile.
I returned the greeting, saying, "Hi, Mr. Walters; yes, we did."
I told him that I was surprised to see him riding the subway.
He said, "It is faster to get to work this way instead of fighting the traffic hassle. What are you doing at this particular subway station?"
I explained that I had gotten on the wrong train and would be late for class. Nathan offered to give me a ride to school since his car was parked nearby, and I thanked him for his generosity. We walked to his car, chatting along the way.
Of course, Nathan's real reason for offering me a ride was to discuss the job offer from his brother. During the ride to school, he asked if I would reconsider the offer. I told him I needed a few days to think about it. As we reached the campus, we said our goodbyes, and I promised to call him when I had made a decision.
The day went by quickly, and soon, it was time to return home to the drama of my new family. Elise didn't usually bother me, except today when she intentionally splashed me with her car. We met in the hallway, and I couldn't help but question her actions.
"Hi Elise, just out of curiosity, why did you splash that puddle on me when you could have easily avoided it?" I asked. She smirked and replied, "You need to move quickly; that's what you get for being a slowpoke. By the way, we have company tonight. You know, you don't have to join the family for dinner because you're not a Rossen." I could sense her gloating; she felt she had the upper hand.
Nanna overheard our conversation as she emerged from her room on the first floor. She looked at Elise, shook her head, and said, "Elise Rossen, you must learn to be kind to others. Although your cousin is not a Rossen, she is still part of our family. I insist she joins us for dinner. Dress nicely, Bonnie; young men are coming to dinner." Nanna smiled at me, and I appreciated her support.
I went to my room and got dressed for dinner, choosing a purple and pink tulle dress with nude shoes. I pulled my hair up into a loose bun, framing my face with bangs and tendrils, enhancing my features. Light makeup with a mild highlighter and bronzer completed my look, making me feel like an ethereal fairy. I wore a pearl necklace and dangling pearl earrings, and as I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but think, "Mom would be proud of me."
Descending the steps, I was greeted by the butler opening the door, and at the same time, I heard footsteps entering the foyer. As I reached the last two steps, I looked up and saw Mr. Handsome himself, CEO Alpha Brian, along with his brother Nathan, an older version of Alpha Brian, and a lady who resembled Nathan—Brian's parents.
They all stopped and looked at me, and Alpha Brian's reaction was impossible to miss. His mouth dropped open, his eyes widened, and he couldn't take his gaze off me. It was as if he'd missed a step.
Nathan moved forward to me and said, "We meet again, Bonnie." Then, he quickly introduced his parents to me.
"Bonnie, this is my dad, Jacob, and my mom, Roseann."
I nodded at Alpha Brian and said, "Hello, Alpha; it's a pleasure to see you again." His mom's raised eyebrows and his dad's expectant look directed at the Alpha made it clear that they were curious about our previous encounter. Nathan offered his arm, and I placed my hand on it as he said, "Let's go to dinner," leading the way to the drawing room.
As we entered the room, Elise rushed in and immediately headed for Brian. She hugged him, kissed him on the lips, and greeted his parents with warmth. Then she saw me, and her expression changed. She frowned when she noticed my hand lightly resting on Nathan's arm. After hugging Nathan, she asked, "How do you know Bonnie?" Nathan explained that I had interviewed for a position at Walters New York, but I had declined the job offer. Elise's frown deepened as she looked at me with raised eyebrows.
I could see how upset Elise was, and her face turned beet red. She was clearly not happy with my presence. Before she could make a scene, her parents, Nana and Louis entered. They all greeted each other warmly.
Alpha Brian's mom said to me, "Having you here would tidy up life a bit, but what a pity Nathan is going to the Milan office. You would be perfect for him, as Elise is perfect for Brian. Both my boys found such beautiful girls."
Brian's POV
As I stepped into the foyer, a distinct scent wafted through the air, a mixture of vanilla and honey. It was so potent that I couldn't help but wonder, "She couldn't be in this household, could she? If she was here, she had to be either a maid or a friend." The butler swung open the door, and an overwhelming sensation surged within me. My heart raced as if it might leap out of my chest, and a tingling feeling crept over my skin. My ears burned with a peculiar warmth, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight before me.
Descending the grand staircase was the most stunning figure I had ever laid eyes on. Her slender, graceful form epitomized beauty itself. I couldn't imagine a more perfect match for me. She seemed to have descended from the heavens, a goddess sent to bewitch and torment me. My inner voice, Damian, couldn't help but proclaim, "Mine!" I struggled to suppress his relentless demands and once again threatened him with the idea of marrying Elise if he didn't retreat to the recesses of my mind. Naturally, Damian sulked and begrudgingly obeyed.
Nathan acted quickly, introducing parents to this captivating presence named Bonnie, and they exchanged greetings with handshakes. Bonnie offered a warm nod to me, addressing me as "Alpha," and then turned her attention to Nathan, who extended his arm to her, placed her hand gently on his arm, and suggested we proceed to dinner.
As we arrived there, Elise dashed forward in her usual manner, heading straight for me. She embraced me tightly, sealing it with a kiss on the lips before moving on to greet my parents with equal enthusiasm. Her gaze then shifted toward Bonnie, who had discreetly placed her hand on Nathan's arm.
"How do you know Bonnie?" Elise inquired, and Nathan explained that Bonnie had interviewed for a position at Walters New York but had turned down the job offer.
I could sense Elise's agitation, watching as her face turned as red as a beet, her eyes glaring at Bonnie with an intensity that could pierce steel.
As my mother's words reached my ears, my alertness went up a notch, and Damian's restlessness was harder to ignore. I struggled to silence my inner voice, as Damian continued to chant, "Mine, Mine!" I excused myself and made my way to the washroom, desperately needing a moment to calm my agitated wolf.
I couldn't help but realize that I couldn't continue with my life in the same way. It was clear that I needed to find a way to make Bonnie recognize that she was my fated mate and assist Elise in finding hers as well.