Chapter 15
Revea
What does a strong, independent businesswoman do when her software infrastructure has been completely slated?
She cries in her car.
After Sylvan’s inadequate feedback yesterday, I told Margret I wasn’t feeling well, which was so unlike me that she didn’t even question it. She told me not to worry and that she’d close up shop.
Then I cried in my car, and there was no way I could go back in after practically bolting.
Which meant I had the rest of the day and evening to do what I do best.
Obsess, fixate, and research.
My systems are inadequate?
Fine. I’ll become an expert in all things IT.
And I never stopped.
Now it’s the next day. I drag myself away from my laptop and stare at the dark morning sky from my apartment window. I’ve barely slept. My eyes sting. But I’ve got a tablet full of sources, screenshots, contacts, and links, and I am ready to make my systems more than adequate.
When I step out of my car, my building looms in the early morning darkness. The air is crisp and cold as I fumble for my entry card at the back entrance.
I rush inside, reaching for the wall to turn on—
Why are the lights on?
I make quick work across the marble floor in my trainers, taking two steps at a time up my office stairs, pushing open the door to find—
Mr. Inadequate.
Sat at my desk like he never left.
Is this a nightmare? Did I fall asleep while researching?
The typing stops. “You’re here early,” he says, peering at me from over my screen.
When I don’t respond, still struggling to accept this is actually reality, he continues typing.
No. This is not happening. This is my office, that’s my desk, and how did he even—
“How the hell did you get in here?”
“Your sign-in system,” he answers, not looking up.
“Oh, so you decided to hack into my inadequate sign-in system just to prove a point?”
He stops typing, then slides my desk chair to the left so he can look at me fully. And look at me, he does.
I’m not in my normal work attire. I’m wearing baggy joggers covered in stains from hair dye, a hoodie triple my size, unstyled hair in whatever bun survived during my minimal sleep, and thick-rimmed glasses because my eyes were too sore to even attempt my normal contacts.
I’m sure he’s thinking, What a mess. Just like her systems. Inadequate.
“No… I borrowed Luciano’s card.”
“Oh.” I so wish I’d said that in my head. But lack of sleep will stop that mental filter. “Well,” I say, dropping eye contact because he’s still looking at me. “Why are you here?”
“I’m working.”
“Still?”
He nods.
I hold my tablet tighter to my chest, suddenly feeling very small and unsure as I look over him.
And annoyingly, he still looks exactly the same as he did yesterday.
When we met, everything about him screamed military background. His carved expression, studious gaze, the strength in his stance, his lean, muscular body. Beside Luc and Val, he fit in perfectly, and I knew immediately that they were pack, most likely served together.
My omega also immediately took notice, focusing on the small details, like the russet strands woven in his short, auburn hair, the small silver scar threading through his lips, those pale blue eyes that never stopped moving, not until I was right in front of him.
Clearly, a dangerous man. A dangerous man who said my systems were inadequate.
But he’s so damn gorgeous that fact doesn’t even negate his looks—
No, come on, Revea. You’re the big boss here. This is your office, and now is the perfect time to set him straight.
I take a deep breath, lift my head, and then walk over without stopping until he’s right in front of me. And he never looks away.
“After what you said yesterday, I went home and did some research.” I hold out my tablet and immediately regret the colourful stickers I’d spent hours decorating it with when I first bought it.
I flip it over so it’s screen up instead and watch as he slowly reaches out to take it.
“I looked up new scanners, new systems, new firewalls, everything.”
He starts flicking through all my saved screenshots, articles, even the little notes I’d made.
We’re silent as he scrolls and keeps scrolling. I’m honestly waiting for him to stop and scoff, laugh, fling the tablet away, and tell me it’s useless. Inadequate.
But he doesn’t.
He actually takes his time looking over everything, so long that my legs start to ache, and I find myself edging onto the corner of my desk.
Eventually, he reaches the end. He pauses over the last note I typed out, then places my tablet down next to me on the desk, and looks up.
“You did all that research in one night?”
Why do I suddenly feel embarrassed? Why does it feel hot? Why are his blue eyes a little too soft and a little too intent?
“And half a day,” I say, finding myself nodding for absolutely no reason at all.
“It’s very impressive.”
It’s... Did he just say... impressive?
Is this a different Sylvan? Does he have a twin too? I definitely didn’t wake up. I’m dreaming. Or I’ve been drugged…
“Are you okay?” he asks, brows furrowed. “You look a little flushed?”
I take a deep, deep breath. “Sylvan.” His eyes lock with mine. “All you did yesterday was tell me how inadequate my systems are, how I’ve been hacked, data’s been stolen, and something about the dark web. And then you start today by saying my research is impressive and asking how I am?”
He frowns, appearing confused. “You sound... mad?”
I blink at him. “You do realise how telling me all those things made me feel, right?”
When he stays silent, dark brows pinching further together, I realise he doesn’t understand. Not at all.
I sigh, losing some of my frustration. “You might not have meant to upset me—”
“I upset you?” he echoes. “I really upset you by saying those things?” He sounds so worried, so lost.
I suddenly can’t keep any bite in my tone. “Forget it, it’s silly.” I force my lips into a smile as I start to stand. “Just let me know when you’re done—”
“I’m sorry,” he blurts, standing with me.
We’re a little too close, so I sit back on the desk, meaning he’s towering over me.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.” He winces a little over that word, and my chest aches. “I’ve always been like this. I say things as they are. I don’t lie. Everything is either black or white. Good or bad. My packmates know me, they know I’m like this. I forget it’s not normal, that I’m not normal.”
Oh, I don’t like that at all. My fingers grip the desk as he keeps going.
“You are not your systems. They’re not a reflection of you, and I apologise if that’s how you took my criticisms.”
That’s... exactly how I took it.
“You’re kind and helpful, you think about others before yourself—”
“How would you even know that?” I cut in. “You’ve not left this room.”
“I watched you in the cameras,” he says without missing a beat.
“You... watched me on the CCTV?”
He nods. “You really need to upgrade to one with sound and higher definition, but I could still see you well enough. I find watching people is the best way to discover their personalities. And normally, I wouldn’t need to come back a second day, but I couldn’t stop watching you on the cameras.
And when you left early yesterday... The twins told me I’d done something wrong, but I wasn’t sure what.
I didn’t have a way to contact you, so I came back to try and fix it. ”
Wow. He really doesn’t lie. And I find it oddly... refreshing.
“I’m sorry for upsetting you, Revea.”
It’s the first time he’s said my name, and my heart races.
“But that reaction, and this—” He points to the tablet. “—shows me how committed you are to this business. That you’re driven and independent. Smart and resourceful. The twins were right.”
Right about what? But I don’t get a chance to ask.
“And I’ve nearly fixed all these issues.”
“What?” I gasp, remembering the extensive list of notes. “How?”
“I’m very good at my job,” he says without an ounce of arrogance. “I’ve also booked an appointment for your scanner to be updated to a retina one tomorrow, around 8 AM. That’s the salon’s off day, right?”
My mouth parts, then I slowly nod. Now I understand this is just how Sylvan works. I don’t really know what to say.
“Thank you for... the kind words and all of your help, but… isn’t a scanner like that really expensive?”
He shrugs. “Expensive to some.”
I realise I need to be clearer. “Sylvan, I really appreciate what you’ve done for me, but I’m not sure I can afford it, especially not a retina scanner.”
He frowns. “You’re not paying for it.”
I squint at him, trying to figure out how to break this down. “But someone has to pay.”
“I am. Well, our company, Nexus, is.”
My eyes fly open. “Why? Why on earth would you spend hundreds—”
“Thousands,” he corrects, and I’m speechless for a moment.
“Sylvan, no.” His brows furrow deeply as I shake my head. “You’re not paying for this.”
“Why?”
“Because... because it’s my business, my responsibility, and I won’t be able to pay you back.”
“Ah, you want to make this a transaction? That will ease your worries. Yes?”
I scoff. “That’s the thing, I can’t afford to pay for it, remember?”
“Give me your phone.”
I stare at him, mouth wide open, then sigh when I realise he’s still waiting. I slip it out of my jogger pocket and hand it over.
He takes out his too, spends a few minutes tapping, then gives me mine back.
“What did you do?” I ask, a little worried he might have installed some type of system.
“I took your number,” he says, slipping his phone away with no further explanation.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted it.” Then he tries to smile, and that… that’s actually so sweet I need a moment to recover.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Sylvan, I can’t read your mind. I need you to explain yourself a little more when you answer my—”
The soft touch of fingers on my jaw has my eyes flying open to meet his baby blue ones.
“I could have hacked into your phone from the WiFi and taken it, but that wouldn’t have been transactional. Now, it is. You’ve paid me with your number.”
I’m so distracted by him touching me that I almost forget what we’re talking about.
“B-But why do you want my number?”
“So I can text you.” He’s clearly catching onto my expressions because this time, I don’t have to ask why. “I like talking with you.”
The swoop in my middle makes my breath stutter, and he catches it, those analytical eyes darting to my lips. Then back to my gaze.
“You’re very interesting, Revea.” Then his voice lowers. “And very beautiful.”
I’m not equipped to handle this. Even my omega is in shock, staring out at this alpha with no idea how to respond.
This is completely unfair. I’ve turned into putty in his hand, and he knows it. Those lips kicking up into a soft smile like he can read my mind. And Sylvan is deadly when he smiles.
When he suddenly steps back, hand falling away from my face, I remain seated, confused, light-headed, and a little aroused.
What is wrong with me?
The clicking of keys brings me back, his eyes once more on my screen like he hadn’t just held my face and called me beautiful.
“I’ll be done in about an hour,” he says, not looking up.
I just nod, slowly sliding off the desk, wondering what on earth to do with myself.
“Can I… Am I okay to stay here?” I find myself asking, which is ridiculous because this is my office.
“It’s your office.”
I should’ve expected that. He’s just stating a fact.
I decide the sofa will be my desk for today. I’m pulling all the cushions around me, dragging the heavy throw from the back over my legs, when I realise the typing has stopped.
Soft blue eyes are fixed on me. “Was that rude? What I said?”
“Erm…” I tilt my head, scrunching my nose as I run my hand over the fluffy throw. “A little.” I smile.
His mouth parts, brows dipping with concern. He suddenly looks so vulnerable and confused.
“But it’s okay, you’re right, this is my office. I don’t need your permission. It was silly of me to ask.” I curl up against the cushions, tablet in hand. “Just let me know if I’m bothering you, I can always go—”
“Don’t.”
I frown, but he isn’t looking at me anymore.
He’s busily typing away as he adds, “Don’t go. I like you being here.”
I’m still staring, heart thumping, wondering if Sylvan is going to say anything else, look at me again, walk over and touch my face… but he doesn’t.
It’s quiet, just the hum of my mini fridge and his clicks. Soothing.
I stare down at my tablet, catching my wide-eyed reflection. Yesterday, it was two stupidly attractive alphas causing a problem… Looks like I’ll need to add one more to the tally.