Chapter 161
Elle’s POV
For the past two days at the Blair estate, he barely left my side, working from his laptop while I recovered
from the whole Ivy situation.
“Ready to go back?” Brad asked as we finished breakfast on the third morning.
“Yeah, I think so.” I was actually eager to return to work! The Blair estate felt too quiet after everything
that had happened.
The drive to Rayne Group felt different this time. Brad’s hand rested on my thigh as he drove, casual and possessive in a way that made my stomach flutter. When we pulled into the executive parking garage, I noticed something immediately.
“The atmosphere feels… lighter,” I said as we entered the building.
Brad’s mouth quirked up in a satisfied smile. “That’s because Mira’s gone. I sent her to Silverpeak City yesterday morning for ‘corporate restructuring meetings. She’ll be there for the foreseeable future.”
“You mean permanently?”
“Let’s just say the main office has plenty to keep her busy.” His amber eyes flashed with something predatory. “And if she has any thoughts about returning early, she’ll find her access cards mysteriously
deactivated.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s ruthless.”
“I told you I’d choose you. I meant it.”
In Brad’s office, I settled into the chair across from his desk to sign some documents he’d mentioned. Most were routine – insurance updates, emergency contact changes, that sort of thing. But as I worked through the stack, one file caught my attention.
“The Moonvale Town project,” I read aloud, frowning at the status report. “This hasn’t moved at all in three
weeks.”
Brad looked up from his own paperwork. “That’s the one outside Moon Lake City, right?”
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Chapter 161
“Yeah, but look at this.” I flipped through the pages. “No progress meetings, no site visits, no vendor
agreements. It’s like it’s completely stalled.”
A knock on the door interrupted us. “Come in,” Brad called.
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James Morrison, the project manager, entered looking harried. “Mr. Rayne, I’m sorry to bother you, but Ms.
West asked about the Moonvale situation yesterday…”
“I was just looking at the file,” I said. “What’s the holdup?”
James shifted uncomfortably. “It’s… complicated. The area has six different small packs, and they all have overlapping territory claims. Every time we try to start negotiations with one group, another pack leader shows up claiming we’re trespassing on their land.”
“Territory disputes, Brad mused. “That would explain the delays.”
“It gets worse,” James continued. “These packs have feuds going back generations.”
I studied the map in the file. “What about local intermediaries? Someone who knows all the pack
dynamics?”
“Well, James hesitated, “the Carter family has been doing business in that area for years. They seem to understand the local politics better than anyone else.”
Before we could discuss it further, another knock echoed through the office. This time it was Sophia, and
she looked stressed.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, then focused on me with desperate eyes. “Elle, I need a huge favor.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My Alpha’s coming here!” Sophia’s voice was just barely controlled panic. “Lester called this morning and said he’s driving down from the border today. When he gets here looking for me, you have to tell him I’m with you, okay? Please?”
Brad raised an eyebrow. “Why would you need an alibi?
Sophia shot him a look. “Because I have a date. With someone I met online. And if Lester finds out I’m meeting some random werewolf without his approval, he’ll lose his shit.”
“A date?” I couldn’t help but smile. “Sophia, that’s great! Where are you meeting him?”
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Chapter 161
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“That’s… well, that’s why I need the cover story.” She looked embarrassed. “He wants to meet in Moonvale
Town. He thought it would be nice to show me around the traditional pack lifestyle.”
My head snapped up. “Moonvale Town?”
“Yeah, why?”
I looked at the stalled project file, then at Sophia’s nervous face, then at Brad’s intrigued expression. An
idea was forming.
“Sophia,” I said slowly, “what if I told you we could all go?”
She blinked. “What?”
“Think about it. If we make it a work trip, you won’t be sneaking off to meet a stranger.‘ You’ll be accompanying the company on a business scouting expedition.”
Brad leaned back in his chair, looking amused. “A business scouting expedition?”
“Why not? We need to understand the local pack dynamics for the project anyway.” I was getting excited about the idea. “We could make it a weekend trip. Part work, part, part… group bonding.”
Sophia’s face lit up. “That’s… actually brilliant.”
Brad’s hand found mine. “You want to organize a weekend trip to a bunch of feuding werewolf territories?”
“I want to solve a business problem while helping a friend. And yes, I think a group trip could work.”
Brad squeezed my hand. “What kind of group were you thinking?”
“Company leadership, obviously. Maybe Alex, some of the department heads. Raymond and Abigail definitely they know the area. Sophia, of course.” I said.
–
By the time I finished making calls, we had fourteen people committed to the trip, not counting security and support staff. The response had been overwhelmingly positive – apparently the idea of a weekend away from Moon Lake City appealed to them.
Sophia hugged me enthusiastically when I confirmed the final headcount. “You’re amazing! This is perfect!”
“Just promise me something,” I said, pulling back to look at her seriously. “You and your mystery man don’t do anything crazy, okay? Get to know him first, see how you feel.”
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Chapter 161
Tpromise. She grinned
By late afternoon we were hading into a convey of vehicles Bat and Baymond had but ingin ther
Jury SUV, followed by several additional off at whics fr the security team and bege. The der
of our little caravan was pretty impressive
I found myself in Brad’s SUV along with shigall, while Sophia nude with Raymund ti dam in the vehicle behind us. Brad had insimed on driving, which mean I gut to at in the passenger seat and wat the landscape change as we headed toward the Mummalle Jovan onsite Your Lake City,
“This is really thoughtful of you, Abigail said from the back seat, wiene site was setting up a travel des set on the fold–down table. I never thought you’d in Raymund and me to something like the
I glanced back at her with a smile. Everyone’s been working hand lately. A weekend avay seemed like a
good idea.”
“And it has nothing to do with Sophia’s romantic situation Abigall’s eyes twined with machiel
“Maybe a little, I admitted, then locked at Sophia’s SD in the side minor. She’s been good to me. I wan
to return the favor.”
“You’re very loyal to people who are kind to you, Abigal observed, moving a chess piece. Your move, by
the way!
Sophia suddenly joined Abigail and me at the chess board. “Your move, Elle.”
I was contemplating my next move when Sophia suddenly reached over and moved one of my pieces
without asking.
“Hey!” Abigail protested. “Observers don’t play.”
I laughed as Abigail huffed in mock indignatio
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
