Kate raised an eyebrow. "Why did I do what?"
"This..." Tears threatened to spill, but she knew she wouldn't give Kate, Tania, or any of the others involved the satisfaction of watching her cry. She pointed at the mess on the floor and then to the computer. "Why would you do this?"
Rising from her desk, Kate looked the model of perfection—as always. Her black hair fell past her shoulders, perfectly coifed, never a strand out of place, slick and smooth. Her sculpted eyebrows sat atop her long face, which belonged in a magazine spread not on the top floor of a company of Guardians. Oh yes, Wendy was sure Kate knew how beautiful she was, the amount of power her looks held over both men who wanted her sexually, and women who hoped being in her presence would make them somehow like her.
"I didn't do anything." Putting her hands on her hips, she regarded Wendy's destroyed purse and disrupted computer screen with an air of amusement. "I was with Tania the whole time. I only recently got to my desk. It must have happened while you were in there doing whatever it is you do every morning with Draco."
Whatever she did every morning with Draco? She gritted her teeth and wished she could scream. "You're lying." She pointed a finger at Kate. "If you ever do this again—and tell this to all of your friends too—I'll go to HR and report it."
Kate laughed mirthlessly. "You're going to tattle? I told you, I didn't do this."
The thud of a door closing interrupted Kate's speech. Oh, god. Draco. Wendy had only a second before he appeared. Even knowing how powerful and fast he was, his quick arrival at her desk still startled her.
"What's going on here?"
Kate's eyes widened. If Wendy hadn't been so furious, she might have laughed.
Unless you were used to Draco's intensity, you could be overwhelmed. Kate almost never saw him in person. Most of the time, he spoke to her over the intercom or sent her computer messages.
Wendy covered her eyes with her hand. When hysteria threatened, it helped to shut out all light. Since she couldn't actually flip the light switch, this would have to do. Draco could not see her lose her cool. Handlers did not display emotions in front of their Guardians. It was imperative to remain calm. Guardians lived with a lot of pressure, both by putting their lives on the line and then by having to hide their real identities from the world. Handler rule number one? Make your boss' job easier, not harder by freaking out all the time.
Taking her hand off her eyes, she forced a smile. "It's fine, I think we just had a misunderstanding."
"You're lying to me. I can hear it." Draco turned all his attention on Kate. "I have the ability to compel you to tell the truth. All I have to do is alter my vocal patterns and not only will you tell me what I want to know, but you'll also confess all kinds of things we'd both rather I not hear. If you want to keep your job, tell me the truth, Kate. What happened here?"
"It was just meant to be a practical joke. She's just such...a..."
He narrowed his eyes, and though the force of his blue-eyed stare was not on her, Wendy gulped.
Draco raised an eyebrow, with what could only be described as venom in his gaze. "Such a what?"
"Such a geek, and she gets such preferential treatment here. We wanted to knock her down a peg."
"If Wendy gets preferential treatment, which I don't think is true, it is only because she does her job better than anyone else."
Feeling her cheeks heat again, she wanted to crawl in a hole and hide. It was great to be appreciated by your employer but not like this.
She tried to interrupt. "Look—"
"If anything like this ever happens again to Wendy or to anyone else, the person responsible will be fired immediately. Clean up this mess, Kate, now."
Without another word, Draco turned on his heel and returned to his office. The thud of the wooden door stretched out over the silence in the room. Kate's eyes, still huge from Draco's interrogation, closed for a second. When she opened them, she'd regained the distant composure Wendy was used to seeing.
"I'll get a cloth to clean off your computer."
As Kate walked down the hall, Wendy gave in and collapsed in her chair, letting her knees buckle as she did. She wished, for a moment, she were a member of the crew in Space Adventures; none of them would ever have needed their boss to rescue them from bitchy coworkers. Sighing, she wondered how he had known to do so in the first place.
For the rest of this story, check out Rebecca’s website to find your local retailer.
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A Paranormal Anthology
Ever After
From five bestselling authors comes five brand new novellas sure to heat up the night.
From Carrie Ann Ryan’s Dante’s Circle series, a demon from the fiery depths of hell must make his choice to follow in the footsteps of his father or love the submissive wolf who lays claim to his heart in His Choice.
From Marie Harte’s Beasts of Burden, Eira, a fierce valkyrie, has spent fifty years trying to get a rise out of her goddess’s guardians. But when the battle-cat shifters give her what she wants, can she handle the heat—and the danger—that comes from loving them?
From Rebecca Royce‘s brand new series, the Alphas of each Werewolf Pack are on the brink of war. Travis Michaels will use all in his power to keep innocent Lilliana out of danger and into his arms…away from rival Alpha Cyrus Fennell.
From Lia Davis’s Ashwood Falls series, buried pain, old lies, and dangerous secrets aren’t enough to keep the sparks from flying as Sarah Mathews and rebel leader, Damian Archer, try to survive a new threat against their race.
From Leia Shaw’s Shadows of Destiny series, a war is brewing in the supernatural world. Rebel shifter Dalton’s only passion is protecting the colony, and flirtatious misfit, Eden, is a distraction he can’t afford. But as danger approaches, he learns that underestimating the sexy little wolf is a big mistake.
Did you enjoy this selection?
Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?
From USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Redwood Pack Series
Hidden Destiny
North Jamenson has always held his wolf closer to the surface then others. He’s the quiet one, the one no one really knows about yet he holds the darkest secret. He’s watched his brothers find their mates and start families, and now it was his turn. He knows Lexi could be his and her son could be part of his family, but he doesn’t know if he’s ready to share the darkness that’s entwined with his soul.
Lexi Anderson is a mother, a sister, a latent wolf, and a new member of the Redwood Pack. She’s also holding secrets so close to her heart she’s not even sure she knows the truth anymore. When North takes another step closer to wanting to cement their bond, Lexi must come to grips with her past and what it means for her future. The Centrals’ war isn’t over yet and Lexi’s life is on the line as the paths they’ve chosen takes a drastic turn.
Alpha's Strength (Fallen Alpha) Page 24
