Chapter 66
“Dear, it’s eight o’clock already. Aren’t you going home?”
The voice startled me, nearly making me spill my coffee. I looked up to see an older colleague from the accounting department, standing in my doorway, concern on her face.
“Oh no,” I exclaimed, suddenly remembering my promise to my mother. I was supposed to be home early for dinner with Thomas and his family. “I completely lost track of time.”
I hurriedly gathered my things, stuffing files into my bag with little regard for organization. “Thank you for telling me.”
The woman smiled kindly. “You’re such a hardworking girl.”
Her words, intended as a compliment, struck a painful chord. Hardworking or foolish? Here I was working late into the evening, doing tasks that weren’t even mine, while Derek had probably gone home, unaffected by the day’s events that had left me so shaken.
I hurried through the empty corridors toward the elevator, my heels clicking loudly on the polished floor. The executive floor was eerily quiet, most offices dark, with only a soft glow of light coming from beneath Derek’s door.
Was he still here? My wolf perked up at the thought, but I firmly tamped down her interest. The last thing I needed today was another encounter with him.
As I headed toward the regular employee elevator, I found a notice taped to the doors stating that the regular elevators were undergoing routine maintenance after hours tonight. Unfortunately, as the last employee leaving, I wouldn’t be able to use the regular elevator.
Just then, the executive elevator doors slid open. Derek emerged, along with the Beta wolf who was supposed to have dinner with me tonight–Thomas. They were deep in conversation, neither noticing I stood just feet away.
I instinctively pressed against the wall, fingers clutching the hem of my blouse, heart racing with an irrational fear of being seen, despite having every right to be there. My eyes fixed on the open elevator doors, praying they would close quickly so I could make my way to the fire stairs.
Derek’s scent wafted toward me–cedar and leather, now mixed with tobacco–making my wolf circle uneasily within me. My feet faltered, uncertainty washing over me. Should I wait for them to finish?
Try to slip by unnoticed?
Before I could decide, Thomas looked up and spotted me. He gestured in my direction.
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Chapter 66
Derek turned, his sharp gaze immediately finding mine. I couldn’t read his expression, but something made my skin prickle with awareness.
“What are you still doing here?” Derek asked Thomas, though his eyes remained fixed on me.
Thomas straightened slightly. “Alpha, I was waiting for someone. She’s here.”
As I approached, I could feel the tension radiating from Derek. His jaw was tight, eyes slightly narrowed. Whatever conversation I had interrupted was clearly unpleasant.
“Miss Blackwood,” Derek acknowledged with a nod, his tone coolly professional, revealing nothing of the tension from our earlier exchange.
“Alpha,” I responded, respectfully lowering my gaze.
Thomas stepped forward, smiling warmly. “Ready to go?”
I nodded, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end, acutely aware of Derek’s gaze piercing through my back. My voice was an octave higher than normal: “I’m sorry I’m late. I lost track of
time.”
“It’s no problem at all,” Thomas assured me, placing his hand lightly on my elbow to guide me
toward the exit.
I could feel Derek’s stare intensify, almost like a physical touch. My skin tingled, a warmth spreading from where Thomas’s fingers contacted my elbow–not from his touch, but from the way Derek was looking at that point of contact.
Surrendering to an irresistible impulse, I risked one final glance at Derek and immediately regretted it. His expression had completely transformed, no longer the composed, controlled Alpha but a
primal predator.
His brows were drawn together, lips pressed into a dangerous line, the muscles in his jaw and temples jumping beneath his skin. The air was thick with his anger, suffocating. For a moment, I was certain I caught a flash of gold in his eyes–his wolf looking directly at me, possessiveness and fury
intertwined.
I quickly lowered my head, my chest tight, breathing difficult, heart pounding violently against my
ribs.
The elevator doors closed behind us, the heavy metal sound echoing in my ears, sealing the three of
us in the small space.
