Chapter 6
Nyah
I arrived at Mr. Hillard’s office with four minutes to spare. Fonda was Mr. Harris’ secretary but was able to keep her position when he sold the company. Personally, I think the two of them had something going on, but it wasn’t my business. I’m sure the blonde bombshell has already set her sights on Mr. Hillard. Why did the thought of her doing that made me want to snatch her ass from across her desk and let my wolf scratch her eyes out? Get it together, Nyah!
“Hello, Fonda. Mr. Hillard is expecting me,” I tell her, trying to sound polite.
“Yes, Ms. Lightfeather. Please have a seat and I will let Mr. Hillard know you’re here,” Fonda responds.
I take a seat while Fonda begins to speak quietly into her earpiece. A few seconds later, she says, “Ms. Lightfeather, Mr. Hillard will see you now.”
“Thank you, Fonda,” I returned, getting up, then walking to his office door.
I count to five before opening the door. My feet feel like I just stepped in cement. Mr. Hillard is on his cellphone, standing at his office window with his back to me. His suit jacket is gone, leaving him in his black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Even with the fabric covering his back, I could see the definition of his muscles. Shit.
He turns around to see me in the doorway and waves me in, then points to the empty chairs in front of his desk. After closing the door, I take a seat.
“Send Levi and me specifics on the hotel. I think it’s time for me to expand my brand overseas. Turks and Caicos is the best place to start.” He nods his head up and down as the person on the other end says something to him. “I look forward to checking them out. Thanks, Mario,” he says, then ends the call. “Sorry about that. I have a new venture in the works and needed to take the call,” he says, sitting in his chair.
“No need to apologize, Mr. Hillard,” I responded, opening up my portfolio. “These are the notes that I have taken of the areas in the hotel that need improvement.”
I handed him the portfolio. Mr. Hillard moves his chair closer to the desk as he lays the portfolio on the mahogany wood. I try to read his demeanor as he turns the pages but can’t tell if he likes my notes or hates them. Since he wasn’t throwing them back at me, I’ll assume he likes my ideas.
“Your notes are very thorough and detailed, Ms. Lightfeather,” Mr. Hillard praises, which puts me somewhat at ease. “Since you’re the new General Manager, I’m going to give you a budget to execute all of the enhancements you have listed.”
Stunned by his words, I quickly put on a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Hillard and I promise you won’t be disappointed.” New ideas begin to pop in my head.
Mr. Hillard slides the portfolio back to me. “I hope not. I’m entrusting you to bring this hotel up to date. I don’t have time to babysit my staff which is why I have General Managers. Your job is to make sure my hotel is running smoothly and effectively. If you can’t do that, then...”
Did he just challenge me? Oh, Hell no. I might be new in my position, but I would never let his ass mess with my mind. Mr. Hillard was trying to get in my head, and it wasn’t going to work.
“You don’t have to worry about me getting the job done,” I inform. “Once all of the upgrades are finished, I’m sure they will be to your liking. I’ll have Fonda make copies of my notes for you to use as a checkoff list.”
“Very, well,” Mr. Hillard counters as I rise from my seat. “Our meeting isn’t over, Ms. Lightfeather. Please re-take your seat.”
Reluctantly, I sit down, staring at the man who is slowly becoming the bane of my existence.
Mr. Hillard smirks, intertwining his fingers on top of his desk. “Now that we’re done with hotel business, we need to address the incident at the elevator earlier.” His eyes seem to twinkle with amusement as he peers at me. “I saw your Alpha wolf through your eyes, so I understand the way you reacted. But as an Alpha male, it was a sign of disrespect.”
Did he really just say that to me? How the Hell can he talk to someone about respect? Daddy didn’t raise a docile female, so I counter with, “Just like the same respect you showed my Pack by coming onto our lands uninvited?”
Mr. Hillard frowns as he leans back into his chair, giving me the opportunity to continue.
“Yeah, I sensed your ass earlier and I should have informed my daddy about you, but I chose to keep it to myself. Not to protect you, but because I don’t like to mix my personal life with my business. To me, I’m doing you a favor because my Pack doesn’t take kindly to unknown wolves venturing on our lands.”
Mr. Hillard momentarily eyes me before breaking into a fit of laughter. He stands from his chair then makes his way towards me. “Is that all you got from our interaction?” He asks, clearly invading my personal space.
“What else is there to get?” I “defiantly” inquired as my wolf went haywire under my skin.
“I think you know the answer to that,” Mr. Hillard leans in close to my ear and whispers. Goose bumps appear on my arms as he lets out a low rumble. “Mate,” he says in a deep raspy voice.
What the absolute fuck?! Now it all makes sense. The way my wolf and I reacted towards him earlier and the way I wanted to physically harm Fonda. How did I not see the signs? Fuck my life! I just got this new promotion; I didn’t think a mate would come with it. I’ve worked too hard to let the antiquated beliefs of other shifters keep me from reaching my stars.
The only thing I could do is deny, deny, and deny.
“Mr. Hillard, I think you are mistaken. I am not your mate.” I lie, knowing my words were further from the truth.
Mt. Hillard chuckles as he runs the backside of his hand along mine. “Oh, but you are.” He leisurely runs his fingertips over my arm. “You see that?” He asks. “Just by the mere touch, your body is already welcoming the feel of my skin against it.”
I stood immediately to get away from his sensuous touch. He gave me a mischievous smile. Maybe mate recognition happens faster with males than females. Either way, I didn’t have time in my life to be anyone’s mate. Being General Manager was already going to be a heavy load, so miraculously finding my mate at the same time didn’t fit into the equation.
“Mr. Hillard,” I start, but he interrupts me.
“Please, call me Braxton, seeing that we are mates.”
I take a step back as he takes one closer to me. Holding up my hand, I tell him. “ Mr. Hillard , what you just did could be classified as sexual harassment in the work place.”
He raises his brow, tilting his head to the side. “By what, the human law? You can try to deny our bonding, but our wolves know the truth,” Mr. Hillard clarifies. He triumphantly grins. “I can see your wolf trying to come out to play with mine. I can lock the door so they can get acquainted if you’d like.”
Huffing, I respond, “I think they got acquainted enough the other night and you see how she didn’t back down. We are not your typical submissive female.”
Mr. Hillard claps his hands together. “That I do know, and I love it. There’s no room in my life for a soft woman or wolf. The two of you are the Alpha’s, my wolf and I need.”
Letting out an exasperated breath, I honestly tell him, “We may be what you need, but I’m not sure you’re what we need.” His forehead creases as I continue. “You’re the type of man who doesn’t settle into one place. Your life is jet-setting over the globe and that’s not how I see mine. I’m family oriented and my daddy and my sister mean the world to me. I can’t see myself being away from them for extended amounts of time. Especially my daddy. So, with that being said, I acknowledge you as being my mate, but I do not accept the bond.”
If looks could kill, I would have been six feet under from Mr. Hillard’s face of rejection. If he would have come into my life two years ago or two years from now, I would have accepted the bond. But now that I’ve reached one of the milestones in my life, to accept his claim, I would have to walk away from all that I have worked for. I didn’t spend all of that time and hard work to be an Alpha’s trophy wife.
As I walk towards the door, Mr. Hillard asks, “What happened to the fawn?”
Why the Hell is he asking me about Crown? I wanted to ask but my mind and body thought otherwise. The words that I wanted to leave my lips would get us no further. I know he followed us back to the house last night, but what is his motive for inquiring about Crown? Did he plan on going back to try and hunt for him?
Lifting my head high, I reply, “Anyone...and I do mean anyone who fucks with him will have to deal with me.”
My eyes flash to my wolves for more emphasis. You can mess with me, but Crown is innocent and if anyone, Braxton Hillard or anyone else thought they’re brave enough to harm Crown, need to sit with my daddy and find out how many predators and adversaries I’ve taken down. My motto is: Family, Pack, Faith, and abundance. I don’t know if Mr. Hillard shares the same values, but I wasn’t going to turn my back on mine because he’s my mate.
Mr. Hillard laughs, tossing his head back. “That’s the nurturing nature in you. As long as I’m here and after, no one will harm the fawn.”
Frowning, because, how he makes a decree like that when he’s not my Alpha over these lands. My daddy is my Alpha. Braxton Hillard needs to move on to the next city on his list. Even though my bones ache for his touch, I don’t think he’s the type to hang up his bachelor shoes. When I settle down, it will be just like my parents. I’ll proclaim my love to my destined, and we will spend happy years together until the Lord separates us.