Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
He pulls out a chair for her, then pulls one for himself. I smoothly beat him into it, nearly knocking him on his ass as I shoot him an innocent look.
“Thank you, apparently the rampant rumors aren’t true—you are a gentleman.” Not a complete womanizer I want to end.
He clenches his teeth and forces a smile in my direction while simultaneously flipping me off with his right hand, right where Ava can’t see him.
Amused, I tilt my head and smile, my fangs no longer an issue since he’s not temptation, he’s my enemy.
I would never be friends with someone like him.
He adjusts his tie and sits down on the other side of Ava and leans in.
“I was just telling your new assistant that I thought she was one of the celebrities.”
I clench my teeth.
“Expensive dresses and makeup can make anyone look glorious, take a look at yourself, for example. You actually showered.” I lean forward.
“Washed your hair, oh got a manicure, good for you!”
Ava’s head lowers, she clutches her hands in her lap.
“And you aren’t stealing my assistant, she’s new and still in training and we can’t have you hiring her just because you want to see her naked.” That’s my right.
No wait, it’s not.
I clench my fists again, my claws dig into my palms.
“Wow.” He shakes his head, his smile gone.
“I guess the rumors about you are the opposite—they’re actually true, a grumpy, rich, bored CEO with anger issues who doesn’t even take into account a woman’s feelings. No wonder you’ve never dated.”
Low blow.
How does he know?
How does anyone know?
“I’m busy.” I snap.
“Too busy to tell a woman she looks beautiful.” He smirks and turns to Ava. Does she have tears in her eyes?
“And you do, look absolutely stunning, don’t listen to him, he’s always got a stick up his ass.” He stands and holds out his hand.
“Should we dance?”
Ava swallows and looks at his hand, then back at me.
“I was actually just going to walk back to my apartment. I should go.” She stands abruptly.
“Nonsense.” Xavier shrugs.
“I’ll drive you.”
My mouth drops open. He’s going to leave just to take her home or just to piss me off?
Ava puts her hands in front of her.
“Oh no, I don’t want to put you out.”
He grabs one of her hands and kisses the back of it.
“It would be an honor.” He places her fingers on his elbow.
“Just give me your address and let this one over here wallow at his empty table with no friends, champagne for miles, and billions of dollars. He’s used to it, after all.”
I jerk like I’ve been punched—he’s not wrong.
All I have is Gabe.
All I have is money.
Loneliness.
An empty table because I’m too intimidating to approach.
A part werewolf side, ready to rage.
And the knowledge that I’ll probably die a virgin.
They walk off hand in hand.
She looks back at me once, hurt etched all over her face. I lift up my empty champagne glass, my smile confident, when my heart is beating so fast I swear the entire room can hear it.
Cheers.
Chapter 10
Full Moon Grumpiness
AVA
The ride home had been uneventful.
I wasn’t sure if Xavier would try something with me or was just truly being nice. But we made small talk the entire way, he answered a few calls that seemed mundane, his driver was quiet and I just watched the city go by before we stopped in front of the corporate apartments.
He kissed my hand again, waited for me to get in safe, and I slept like crap.
Now, I’m almost late for work.
I grab Eli’s latte and quickly shuffle into the office. Gabe is nowhere to be seen until I knock softly on Eli’s door and hear a gruff get in.
I’m wearing a simple black pair of trousers with purple heels and a loose white shirt tucked into them. I kept my hair away from my neck at first, then decided to let it down.
“Good morning!” I force as cheerfully and painfully awkward as I can and quickly go over to Eli’s desk and set down the latte, he’s on the phone but immediately gets off of it the minute he sees me.
Gabe gives his head a small shake in my direction as if to say, not the time to say good morning, as if it’s the worst sort of morning.
Eli points a pen at the latte.
“What’s this?”
I frown.
“You’re morning latte.”
“You keep it,” he grumbles.
“Apparently, anger is fueled by caffeine, so my therapist cut me off.”
My eyes widen, I internally panic.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
His nostrils flare.
“Yup, okay.” I quickly grab the latte.
“I’ll take this far, far away.”
“Take it into your stomach and get me my schedule for the day, it’s a full moon over the next few days.”
Is this some sort of weird astrology thing?
“Um, okay, is there a reason we avoid full moons?”
“The transformation.” Gabe winks.