The fluorescent lights of the office felt suddenly too bright, the murmur of keyboard chatter too loud. Ethan's genuinely friendly presence had been a brief, unwelcome reminder of the normalcy I'd traded for this gilded cage. Now, I had a new, immediate problem: an alert popped up on my screen demanding my attendance in the CEO's office.
SUBJECT: Review of Initial Lore Proposal.
URGENCY: Immediate.
Lilith Thorne. My wolf-demon boss.
I pushed myself out of the chair, forcing a sense of professional calm, and walked the short distance to the large corner office. The door, a slab of dark, polished mahogany, felt cold beneath my knuckles.
"Come in, Chase. Don't stand on ceremony." Lilith's voice, a low rumble that promised a storm, came through the wood.
I opened the door and stepped inside. The office was vast, modern, and intimidating. One entire wall was glass, offering a stunning, terrifying view of the city skyline, lit up in a tapestry of neon and shadow. A large, dark leather couch sat opposite a coffee table that probably cost more than my apartment. But the centerpiece was the massive executive desk, behind which Lilith sat.
She wasn't wearing a jacket now; just the severe black button-down shirt that molded to her figure, giving a generous view of the cleavage I'd already tried and failed to ignore. Her dark hair, streaked subtly with vibrant turquoise, cascaded over one shoulder, and she rested an elbow on the desk, her chin propped on her fist. She looked less like a CEO and more like a queen waiting for a tribute.
"Take a seat, Chase," she commanded, gesturing to one of the chairs facing her.
I sat, placing the initial lore documents on the desk. The air in the office was thick with her scent—ozone, spice, and something faintly floral, masking the deeper, musky pheromones of the Alpha.
"I only had time to skim the initial files," I began, adopting a crisp, professional tone, "but I found the historical timeline to be inconsistent with known mythological structures, and the 'Essence' descriptions lacked scientific rigor—"
Lilith leaned forward, interrupting me with a slight, mesmerizing tilt of her head. "Oh, Chase. Always so focused on the structure and the science. That's what I hired you for. You ground us." Her red eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in intense inspection. "But I didn't call you in to discuss timelines."
My pulse quickened. Control, chase. Control. "Then what is the immediate matter, Lilith?"
She smiled—that beautiful, lethal flash of sharp teeth. "You. You are the matter. Specifically, how you're settling in." She tapped a perfectly manicured nail on the desk, sending a small, resonant thump through the silence. "Tell me, Chase. Do you feel comfortable? Are you finding the environment… stimulating?"
I kept my face perfectly neutral. This was the first test. Was she a concerned employer, or was she fishing for a reaction? Since arriving at this company I've felt more uncomfortable than plotting assassinations "The environment is certainly unique. I appreciate the professional atmosphere and the focus on results."
"Professional," she repeated, tasting the word. She chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "You wound me, Chase. I was hoping you'd find me… less professional. I find you highly stimulating, personally. Your presence alone seems to be having a wonderful effect on the morale of my staff."
"I'm glad my efforts are appreciated," I replied stiffly. "I pride myself on being a good team player."
"Oh, you're a beautiful team player," she purred, her eyes trailing from my collarbone to my lap. "A valuable resource. I can sense the potential in you, the sheer depth of it. It's intoxicating, honestly. You have a scent that makes even my oldest, most disciplined executives start looking for excuses to work overtime."
This is flirting. Or is it just her way of explaining that I smell like a steak to her? The ambiguity was deliberate, a psychological hook.
"That's… reassuring," I said, trying to push the conversation back to business. "If there are any specific lore elements you'd like me to focus on first, perhaps the nature of the Shadow Queen's final Essence accumulation—"
"Enough about Essence accumulation," she snapped, though her tone remained playful. She stood, coming around the side of the desk, moving with the fluid, powerful grace of a true predator. She stopped right beside my chair. The heat radiating off her was palpable, and her floral-musk scent intensified, washing over me like a wave.
She placed both hands on the back of my chair, effectively caging me. "Tell me about your extra wish, Chase. The one the goddess granted you before she tossed you into my world."
The breath caught in my throat. This was no casual office chat. She knew. She had to know everything.
How did he know about that? I bet this has to do with that dam goddess.
"I'm afraid that's a highly personal matter," I said, looking straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the warmth of her chest inches from my head.
She leaned down, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper right next to my ear. Her breath was warm, laced with a faint, exotic spice. "Nonsense. Everything about you is my business now. You work for me. You belong to OmniCorp."
She grazed the back of my neck with her lips—a move so intimate, so aggressive, it was breathtaking. I could feel the sharp edge of her canine resting against my skin. "The body she gave you… it's flawless, isn't it? Young, strong, untouched by millennia of conflict. It's the perfect vessel for that sweet, raw power you hold. It was a perfect gift."
She pulled back just enough so I could see her face, framed by my chair. Her red eyes were glowing faintly. "Did you wish to be beautiful, Chase? To be desirable? Because she certainly delivered."
Did she just call me pretty and threaten to eat me in the same breath?
"I wished for a simple life, Lilith," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.
Her dark eyebrows arched in amusement. "A simple life in an office full of beings who want to consume your very soul? Chase, you have a strange definition of simple. But don't worry. I won't let anyone touch what's mine."
She trailed one long, gloved finger down my shoulder, lingering on my arm. "You are my resource. And like any good CEO, I intend to protect and maximize my investments. I want you to feel utterly secure here. Protected. I want you to focus all that magnificent energy on your work. And perhaps," she stepped back, her smile returning to that unsettling, charming flash of teeth, "on working very closely with me."
She walked back around her desk and settled into her chair, the Alpha CEO once more. The air shifted instantly, the predatory tension receding slightly, replaced by professional command.
"Now, about those historical inconsistencies," she said, picking up the documents I'd placed on the table. "I need a detailed report on my desk by 9:00 AM tomorrow. I want to see how deep your brilliance goes, Chase. Don't disappoint me."
I rose, my heart still hammering a furious rhythm against my ribs. I had just survived a full-frontal assault of corporate intimidation blended perfectly with primal, sexual flirting. I still had no idea if she genuinely wanted to mentor me or mount me.
"It will be done, Lilith," I replied, my voice now steady.
As I reached the door, she added, "And Chase? Don't wear that tie tomorrow. It clashes with your eyes. I prefer you in something that… accentuates your assets."
I managed a curt nod and quickly exited, pulling the mahogany door shut behind me. Leaning against the cool wood, I took a deep, shaky breath, the fluorescent lights of the corridor feeling like a welcome sanctuary.
She knew about the wish. She knew everything. This wasn't a game. It was a calculated hunt, and I was the trophy.
I straightened my jacket and walked back to my cubicle, the image of her predatory eyes and the feel of her breath on my neck utterly imprinted in my mind. The peace I craved was not here. But the fight? The fight felt undeniably, exhilaratingly close.