Chapter 173

Victor arrived at my office the next afternoon before I expected him to be there. But I was happy to see him. His help with the report was invaluable.

The report was coming together way ahead of schedule, and the research was revealing the data and numbers I was hoping it would show. The team I selected was doing a great job.

“This is an amazing report,” Victor said. “You should be proud, Daisy. You should be ready to present it to the board on Monday.”

“I would like you to be there,” I said. “You give me extra confidence.”

Victor grinned. “That’s good to hear. And I would be glad to be there to watch you persuade them to let you start the project.”

I sent the meeting request to each board member, asking them to be present in the conference room on Monday afternoon at one p.m.

“I can’t wait, but I’m nervous too,” I told Victor.

“That’s understandable,” Victor said. “You need to unwind before then. You know, have a little R and R. You deserve some fun.”

“What did you have in mind, a run?” I asked. It was how I usually unwind. It always made me feel good.

Victor shook his head. “Something even better. How would you like to go out with William on a date and have a much more romantic ending than before?”

I was speechless. What was Victor doing? He never liked me hanging out with William in the past.

I studied Victor’s expression for a moment. There was something different about him. What was going on?

The only way I’d find out is to ask. “Why do you suddenly want me to go out with William?”

“One of these days, our agreement will be fulfilled on my end,” Victor said. “Alex is feeling better, but he wants to take some time to do what he wants. So he’s pressuring me to take on the leadership role soon.”

“He’s not …”

“No, he’s not dying yet,” Victor said. “As I said, he is feeling better, but he has things he would like to do without being tied down with such a large responsibility as the leadership of the Alpha Association.”

“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “Do you think it’s safe for me to be on a date with William? What about reporters and photographers? They could be anywhere.”

“It doesn’t matter since our fake engagement is coming to an end soon,” he replied. “It’s okay with me, Daisy. William is stopping in later to ask you to go out with him, and I want you to go with him.”

I did a palms up. “If you’re telling me it’s okay, I have no reason to say no.”

But this new development had caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for our agreement to end. And it felt weird for Victor to be fixing me up with William. I know it was part of our deal, yet it didn’t feel right.

I knew this would happen someday, but it seemed far away and obscure. Now that the time for our agreement to be fulfilled was here, I felt panicked and off balance.

However, our lives must move on. In exchange for me being his fake fiancée, Victor had promised I would have a relationship with William, and he would keep his word.

It was what I wanted, right?

“There are some things you can do to attract a male wolf even more than your beauty already does,” Victor said.

“How do you know these things?” I tried to hide my red cheeks behind a folder.

Diana stirred in my mind. “He is a male wolf, Daisy,” she said. “Listen to his advice. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Please tell me what to do.”

“Males like to be considered smart, funny, and strong,” he began. “Let him teach you things. Let him help you with something, and always laugh when he’s trying to be funny.”

I began laughing on purpose, stopping when he glared at me. “Oh, you were serious,” I said innocently.

“I can’t believe you are the same shy girl I met at your foster parent’s house,” he said and began to laugh at my jest. His face looked even more handsome when he laughed or smiled.

“What other advice do you have?” I asked. Victor’s first bit of advice was bland and ordinary stuff. He must know better things that attract males. I was curious.

“Flirt with your eyes,” he said. “You have gorgeous eyes. Look into his eyes as much as you can. And touch him whenever you can, especially when he’s not expecting it.”

“Touch him?” I thought of the woman at Gray’s restaurant who took off her high-heeled shoe and caressed Victor’s leg with her toes.

Could I bring myself to do that to William?

“Run a finger over the back of his hand.” Victor demonstrated on my hand. He used a light touch and moved slowly. “Or brush your body against his arm while escorting you somewhere.

“Remember, don’t be too bold. You want to tease and tempt him. It will make him want to touch you even more.”

Okay, now I was blushing like a roasted tomato.

“Touching him will also tell a male you are interested in him physically,” Victor added. “Giving the right signals matters.” He stood in front of my desk. “Get up and stand in front of me.”

I did as he asked.

“Try this.” He took my hand as we stood face to face and placed it on his chest. “Run your hand lightly over my chest. It’s a move that’s irresistible to males.”

Again, I did as I was told. Truthfully, I enjoyed it. Caressing a masculine chest like Victor’s made me tingle from head to toe. I didn’t want to stop.

“Like this?” I asked while trying to ignore my previous thoughts. Victor was teaching me how to attract William. It was pointless to think of him as a lover.

“Now, look into my eyes at the same time,” he instructed.

Looking into Victor’s eyes while I stroked his broad chest made my breathing turn ragged and my heart pound. This touching and caressing was potent stuff.

Victor is a genuinely experienced male.

I remembered the day William almost kissed me, but I pulled away. Could I do this to William?

It was so complicated. Was I ready for romance? This touching felt good doing it with Victor, but I knew he wasn’t really interested in me, so I was relaxed. He was once again teaching me something new.

“Finally, open a button or two on your blouse before William arrives,” Victor suggested.

My mouth dropped open, and my hand flew to my neckline. “I can’t do that! I don’t like to show off my body that much.”

Even though I didn’t wear baggy, unflattering clothes anymore, I had a personal rule against showing too much skin. It made me uncomfortable.

Victor rolled his eyes. “I’m not asking you to show him your, um …breasts. I’m saying show a little of the skin above them to make him want to see more.”

I had turned away when Victor said the word breasts. He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me around.

“Men are visual,” he explained. “Show us a little bit of skin, and our imagination will do the rest. Trust me.”

“Fine,” I groaned. “Two buttons and no more.” I unbuttoned my top until my cleavage was still hidden by an inch of fabric. “Good enough?”

“I like it,” he teased with a huge grin on his handsome face.

“Victor! Be serious,” I scolded, but I enjoyed how we teased each other now. I would miss spending time with him every day. Yet I had to move forward with my life, and this date with William was moving on.

I wished I could text Amy and tell her what was happening, but I couldn’t. It was like there was a void where she used to be in my life. There was nothing I could do about it now.

“Any more advice?” I asked Victor.

“Yeah, smile,” Victor replied. “Here comes William to pick you up now.”