Chapter 16

Grace

As Charles and I gathered all the documents from the boardroom, I couldn’t help but sigh. The plan was making my gut twist into knots. It was a good idea. It was the best idea I could come up with. Charles seemed to think it would work, but I couldn’t help but worry. I wasn’t just gambling with the company, but with my children’s well-being. The million dollars would go a long way to keeping us afloat, but it wouldn’t last forever. Wolfe Medical had to get back on its feet.

Our hands brushed as we reached for the same stack of pages, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

The sensation was unexpected, and I quickly pulled away, trying to ignore the zing of desire that surged through my veins. It pooled hot and needy between my legs. His eyes dilated and he stared at me. For a moment, I could feel his hands on the back of my neck, dragging me across the table to crush our mouths together. He’d pull me across the table and pull me close until our hips met and I could feel the hot rigid length of him pressing against me.

I could almost taste the coffee he’d been drinking. I could feel the heat of his hands ripping my clothes open. I could feel the hot pull of his mouth on my neck.

He licked his lips, and I could see that he was thinking the same thing. He reached out.

"Um, Charles, we need to focus on the press conference," I stammered, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I couldn't let myself get distracted by these feelings, not now.

His hand stopped midway between us. He nodded, his expression serious, and I could tell that he was also trying to regain his composure. It was evident that the connection between us was undeniable, but we had more pressing matters at hand.

I took a deep breath and focused on the task ahead, pushing aside the fluttering emotions inside me and kept gathering the pages together. When I had a neat stack, I shoved them into one of the folders.

“A-About the press conference…”

We needed to get a sense of where Wolfe Medical stood and prepare to meet Eason tomorrow. Exposing the truth about Wolfe Medical and setting the record straight had to be priority. Any distractions, especially those of the romantic kind, had to be put on hold.

My face heated. Romantic? Was I insane? He had a mate! There was no romance happening between us. No sex. Nothing but business. I had been the one to set that rule, and here I was, drooling to break it at the first opportunity.

“Yes?” He asked, his voice a low, velvety rumble.

I looked up at him, meeting his gaze again. I was trapped. He looked like he wanted to say to hell with my rule and have me anyway. I clutched the folder to my chest like a shield. My heart was hammering.

“Uhm…”

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my pack lawyer.

“I looked into the legal aspects of dealing with Devin.” Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do against Devin legally," He sighed, his tone sympathetic. "But taking down his public image could make a significant impact."

My heart sank. The realization left me feeling frustrated and powerless. Sure, Charles had said otherwise, but that was under lycan law. What about werewolf law? He couldn’t just get away with it all could he?

“You’ll have to be cautious about libel and slander, but telling the truth and publicly announcing the shift in rule wouldn't be crossing any lines.” He snorted. “Especially if there is proof. I don’t know anything about lycan law, but I have a colleague.”

I glanced at Charles who was still looking over documents.

“There’s no need. I have a contact. And thanks. I won't resort to false claims, but I will make sure the truth is out there for everyone to see."

It might even help my war. Public perception could be a powerful tool in influencing the stockholders' decisions. My heart was racing at the thought. My mind raced with possibilities of how to reveal Devin's betrayal to the world. I knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but I was willing to do whatever it took to make people wary enough to give up their stocks in Wolfe Medical.

“So what is your plan?”

"I plan to tell the whole story," I continued, my voice resolute. "I want everyone to know how he neglected the company and used it for his own gain."

“I’ll look over your press release if you want.”

“Thanks. I’ll get back in touch with you as soon as I have something drafted.”

As I hung up the phone, I felt a mix of emotions – anger and frustration at the legal constraints, but also a glimmer of hope that perhaps by exposing the truth, I could further my goals to restore Wolfe Medical to its former status. It was such a risky move, but I had so little left to lose, and the fight was worth taking to save the company my father had built with love and dedication.

“Are you sure about this?” Charles asked. “There is still time to change courses.”

I nodded resolutely. It was a war on two fronts, and I couldn't afford to be afraid. I needed to stand my ground and face the challenges head-on.

"It’s a worthwhile risk.”

He nodded and gathered the papers. “Should we head back to your office?”

I winced and looked at the dent in the wall. “I should probably make plans to fix that.”

“There’s no board,” he shrugged. “Consider it a memento.”

I laughed and gathered the rest of the papers. He opened the door for me and followed me out of the room and back down the hallway. As we headed back to my office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and anticipation. The path ahead was uncertain, but I didn’t feel like I was just lost in it all. Charles was a steady presence that I could trust if only because he had his own investment in making this go well. He seemed… honorable in a way that set me at ease.

Against all the odds, we were in this together.

“You know… if someone told me I was planning a smear campaign and major corporate shift with the Lycan King a few months ago, I would have laughed in their faces.”

He opened the door to my office. “Is that before or after you gave me a fake number?”

I flushed. “Are you ever going to let me live that down?”

“Unlikely.”

Once we arrived, I sank into my seat behind my desk. It seemed like it had been hours since we had been in here. My coffee was cold on my desk. Charles took the seat on the other side of the desk and started to work.

As we continued to work, I tried my best to keep my thoughts on the steps ahead. But every so often, my gaze would inadvertently linger on Charles, and I couldn't help but feel a pull towards him. His eyes met mine for a moment: intense and full of barely restrained desire.

“I’m calling in a few favors to figure out how they pulled it off and the historical data on their stock value. We’ll need to know about timing.”

“Thanks, I—“

Something chimed. He frowned and pulled out his phone.

“Do you have to go?”

I felt a bit sad at the thought. Though I wasn’t planning to hop into bed with him, I couldn't deny the attraction between us. It was still simmering in the air. It felt like it was only being kept at bay because of the direness of everything going on right now.

“No,” he said. “I just have to extend my reservation.”

“You’re renting a car?”

“That as well, but on my hotel room,” Charles said. “I originally thought I would only be staying a few days, signing a deal and returning home, but I can’t just leave you now.”

Warmth gushed through me. I took a deep breath trying not to show how much of a turn on it was and how absolutely touching it was. He could leave me. He could have just walked away from this deal, money or not, and let me flounder around trying to get Wolfe Medical back under control, but he wasn’t.

He dialed a number. “Yes, George. I’ll need you to extend my reservation…”

My gut clenched. His presence had been a steady anchor throughout this tumultuous day, and I found myself wanting him to stay by my side a little while longer. A lot longer and not because I couldn’t stop thinking about what he looked like naked…

Though that was a large part of it.

“At least another week.”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

"Would you like to stay with me?" I asked, feeling a slight blush creeping up my cheeks.