Fire In Their Hearts

by Lilly Wilder

  “Bye!” She cut me off with a wave.

  And the last I saw of her was that cute little ass swaying from side to side.

  Chapter 4: Ari

  A few days later.

  I crashed on the couch, about to turn on an afternoon sitcom when my phone started to buzz. I snatched it up from the coffee table and saw System Safe on the caller ID.

  My heart quickened. Could it be that Vern had actually landed me a job?

  The phone continued to ring.

  In my daze, I nearly forgot to answer it. Thankfully, I caught it at the last second. “Hello?” My voice was ragged and I silently reprimanded myself for not being able to keep myself under control.

  “Is this Miss Ari Greene?”

  “Y-Yes.” Again, my voice wavered.

  “I would like to inform you that Mr. Stokes has decided to bring you in for an interview. He has requested to see you tomorrow morning at nine. Are you available during this time?”

  “Yes!” I jumped off the couch with excitement. “I’ll be there.”

  “Good. I would just like to remind you to bring a copy of your resume and on behalf of the System Safe team, we wish you the best of luck.”

  “Thank you.” This time, I spoke with a whisper.

  The call ended and I was greeted with the dial tone. A wave of disbelief washed over me. After almost a year of little to no luck, I finally had the opportunity I needed. Perhaps I did not have the experience they were looking for but I would make damn sure that they understood I was the best woman for the job. I would work my ass off if I needed to.

  When the elation faded away, a thought dawned on me: What was I going to wear? I rushed to my closet and pulled back the doors. At first glance, everything looked horrible drab. I shifted the hangers from one side to the other, searching for anything that might deem business professional. After all, I wanted these people to like me especially since Vern had recommended me. I didn’t want to make him look bad.

  I groaned. There was nothing – nothing.

  After glancing out my window, I groaned even louder. It was raining cats and dogs out there, but I didn’t have much of a choice. If I didn’t get an outfit today, then I would be showing up to my interview in a pair of ripped skinny jeans. They would probably end up kicking me out at the front door.

  So, I dawned my raincoat and hopped on the bus. Once I reached Main St. I made a bee-line for my favorite thrift store. At one point in my life, I would have been embarrassed to shop at such a place but right now, I couldn’t complain. The boutiques that had once been my stomping grounds were out of the question.

  A clap of thunder echoed through the clouds. The rain thickened. To avoid the downpour, I raced across the street. I’ll admit, I didn’t quite look both ways but this red car was definitely speeding.

  The tires screeched against the asphalt as the car came to an abrupt halt.

  My heart leaped to my throat as I saw my life flash before my eyes. To brace myself, I rested a hand against the hood. It was warm – much warmer than the rain that kept crashing down all around me.

  I looked up, expecting to see a driver but the windows were so tinted that I couldn’t see a thing. Still, a shiver crept through my spine. Whoever was behind that steering wheel seemed to stare a hole into my soul. Intimidated by the invisible stare, I stepped aside.

  As soon as the road was clear, the car peeled away. I had just enough time to glance at the license plate number. I considered calling it in for reckless driving but in all honesty, what good would that do? Someone with that much money probably had a few friends in the force.

  “Ma’am, are you okay?” asked a concerned bystander.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I answered despite the fact that I had nearly been killed.

  I didn’t wait for further questions. It was getting cold and I didn’t want to stand in the rain any longer. So, without further delay, I stowed into the thrift shop.

  It was surprisingly warm. The musty smell of old books and vintage items seemed to grow stronger with the heat. I breathed it in.

  “Ari!” came a familiar voice.

  I turned and saw my best friend standing at the cash register. “Hey, Becky.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over?”

  “Kind of a spur of the moment thing,” I said. “I finally got a job interview and now I’m in desperate need of something to wear.”

  “I’ve got you covered,” Becky said with a grin. “We just got some new stuff and I think some of it is actually in your size.”

  I followed her to the back where she circled around a specific rack looking like a hawk about to swoop down on its helpless prey.

  “Ah! Here it is!” She said as she grabbed a blazer and held it against my body. “I think that would do quite nicely. Don’t you agree?”

  “I can’t quite see it. Let me try some of this stuff on and then I’ll tell you what I think.”

  She nodded and unlocked one of the fitting rooms for me.

  I walked inside and hung up the clothes she had picked out for me. When I turned around to close the door, there she was again with another bundle. “I thought you might like these as well. They’re on markdown but they’re still pretty good.”

  “Jeez, Becky, I didn’t come here to try out the entire store.”

  She laughed. “Sorry, I just got a little carried away. I’ll leave you alone. If you need anything, I’ll be in the front.”

  “Thank you.” I waited for her to walk away before finally locking the door.

  I leaned against it and studied the pile of clothing. Many of the pieces had a funny smell to them and others were horribly discolored.

  How had my life gotten this low so quickly? I was well on my way to becoming an executive manager when wham, I was laid off. I never saw it coming. I thought I was an essential part of the staff but the higher-ups clearly didn’t think the same.

  With a sigh, I pushed away these depressing thoughts from my mind and dawned some of the cleanest looking clothing. The first sweater was much too itchy for me to stand and the blouse I tried on after that was pretty much see through.

  I didn’t fare much better in the pants department. Some were baggy while others didn’t fit around the waist.

  Maybe it wasn’t the clothes. Maybe it was me.

  I stood in front of the mirror and frowned. I always thought myself weirdly shaped. My hips were much too big and my chest not big enough. For this reason, clothes never quite hugged my body the same way they did with other girls. Becky had once told me that I didn’t know how to properly dress for my body type but I think that was just her being nice.

  Tears welled up in my eyes but I didn’t dare shed them. Sure, my life might be in the hole but I wasn’t going to get anywhere with self-pity. So, I held up my head and rummaged through the various outfits until I found something I liked.

  It wasn’t the greatest but it would have to do.

  As I picked them up, I had a little moment of remembrance for all the pantsuits I had once owned. They were one of the first things I sold in hopes of making end’s meet. Now I seriously regretted getting rid of them all. But hey, a girl has got to eat.

  “All set?” Becky asked with a smile.

  “I think so,” I said as I pulled out my wallet.

  She scanned the few articles of clothing. I held my breath as I saw the number on the screen getting higher and higher. I feared I wouldn’t have enough to cover it.

  “Alright, that’ll be…” she paused and pressed a button that dinged rather loudly. Abruptly, the amount was slashed by nearly eighty percent.

  I released the breath I had been holding.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” I handed over the cash.

  “Good luck with the interview! I hope you get the job.” She offered one of her bright smiles as I grabbed my bag.

  “Thanks, Becky. I’ll keep you updated.”

 
“Please do!”

  With that, I braved the rain once more. This time, I was spared the red Ferrari.

  Chapter 5: Lyle

  The following day. 8:30 A.M.

  My coffee was yet to work its magic. It was warm within my system but that was the extent of it. This was what happened whenever I allowed my current secretary to handle my caffeine. She had a penchant for forgetting about my double shot of espresso.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration before pouring it out in favor of a new one. As the coffee machine grinded up the beans, the thick aroma wafted into the air and coated my office with its richness. That smell was one of the few things that could bring a smile to my face.

  As I waited, I walked over to my desk and checked my itinerary for the day.

  Ah, that’s right. I had an interview with a Miss Greene this morning. Despite her lack of qualifications, Vern had insisted I give her a chance. If I didn’t know any better, I would have guessed he was smitten with her. Which means –

  My thoughts were interrupted by a knock. “Come in,” I called.

  Susan stepped inside. “Miss Greene has arrived. Would you like me to send her in or have her wait until nine?”

  “Send her in,” I said.

  Susan hastened out of the room.

  As the door came to a close, the coffee machine started up. I waited impatiently for my mug to fill. It seemed to take an eternity but when it was done and I was finally able to have a sip, I was glad for the wait. This was leaps and bounds better than the dirty water I was drinking before.

  I closed my eyes and savored the taste.

  Just then, there came another knock. This time, I forfeited my coffee to the countertop and walked over to answer the door myself. I grabbed the handle and turned it.

  I can tell you that I was not expecting the woman I saw before me. “Ari?” I blurted, losing sight of myself.

  Her eyes widened. No doubt she recognized who I was. “Lyle…” She whispered with an air of disbelief. “Y-You’re the CEO of this place?” She stammered and shifted from foot to foot.

  I ran my fingers through my hair to keep from growing. Why hadn’t Vern warned her? Then again, how would he have known? He was off in Europe at the time. “Please, come inside and we can start our interview.”

  She lingered by the doorway. “You know, I don’t think this is such a good idea. I appreciate the offer, I really do –”

  “Sit.” My voice held an edge to it that I hadn’t intended.

  She gulped but nonetheless, followed my command by walking over to one of the couches. When she went to sit down, she sunk into the cushions. The unexpectedness of it threw her off balance and her struggle to right herself nearly resulted in her flashing me. Quickly, she tugged on the hem of her skirt and pulled it down the length of her skirt.

  My blood boiled with desire. It seemed she had the same effect on me now as she did back then. But what did it matter? Ari Greene was off limits. Years ago, my dream of being with her had been crushed by the clan elder when he told that she had been claimed by the Aetos – our sworn enemies.

  To have anything romantic with her would mean starting an all-out war and I just couldn’t jeopardize the safety of my people that way. But there was nothing against hiring her as an employee.

  As subtly as I could, I scanned her over for any markings. From what I could tell, she hadn’t mated yet. What were they waiting for?

  “Uh…” Ari spoke up.

  “Right.” I cleared my throat and cleared my mind of any unnecessary thoughts. Right now, I was here to talk about business. “Vern told me you were looking for a job.”

  She nodded and a strand of her hair came loose from the bun that sat atop her head. She pinned it behind her ear, drawing attention to her exposed neck. Oh, how I wanted to sink my teeth into her sensitive skin and hear her moan my name.

  “Yes.” She paused to wet her lips.

  At this point, I was convinced she was doing this on purpose. That Aetos had sent her here to tempt me. Well, I wasn’t going to fall for it. “What has been your experience since our time working together?”

  “You mean since Sim’s Ice Cream Shop?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I became a bank teller and worked my way up the ranks until I became a manager.” As she spoke, she pulled out a clean sheet of paper from a folder I hadn’t noticed. “This is my resume if you want to take a look.”

  “Don’t bother,” I said. “I’ve already taken a look and as far as I’m concerned, you aren’t qualified for this job.” I reached over and grabbed a thick stack of applications from my desk. “There are dozens of people looking to snag this job. Why should I give it to you?” I dropped the applications on the table.

  Slam!

  Ari flinched and recoiled back.

  “And if your work ethic is anything like it used to be then, I would only be wasting my time hiring you.”

  Abruptly, Ari rose to her feet. By her sides, her hands had tightened into fists and they were shaking like she wanted to punch something. “I see that you’re as much of a jerk as you used to be when we were teenagers! I never understood why you hated me so much but I guess that doesn’t matter. I won’t be getting this job. You’ve made that clear. So, I’m not going to sit here and let you toy with me as you used to all those years ago.” Her anger caused her chest to rise and fall in an erratic manner.

  Over the years, she had filled out her form quite nicely. I yearned to push her against the wall and have my way with her. Even her damned scent was intoxicating. My nostrils flared with the need to breathe it in.

  “I’m done here.” She snapped before turning on her heels. She managed a few steps before the tip of her shoe scuffed the floor. She stumbled and accidentally crashed into a glass table. The diorama I had on display there was pushed off the edge where it shattered into a million pieces.

  Ari braced herself against the glass table looking like a deer caught in headlights.

  In any other situation, I would have been fuming but the sight of her bent over like that…

  I crossed the room and grabbed her by the arm, whipping her around. “Are you alright?” My voice came out as a rough whisper. Her body was impossibly close to mine and it took every inch of my willpower to keep my raging hormones in check. I wanted to pounce on her right then and there but to do so would be horribly selfish of me. I couldn’t do that to my clan. As one of the alphas, it was my duty to protect them. There would be other girls.

  “Y-Yes,” she answered. “I think so.” She looked down at the mess she had created. “I am horribly sorry about that. Is there any way I can remedy it? Glue maybe…”

  “Don’t bother wasting your time.” I sighed. “I’ve already closed the deal for that project anyway.” I narrowed my eyes to study hers. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should sit down and have something to drink in case you’re feeling dizzy.”

  She shook her head. “No, no. I’m not dizzy at all. I only tripped.” She released herself from my hold and bent down to gather up some of the debris.

  I was forced to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my thoughts from wandering. The fabric of her skirt was tight against her ass and I could barely stand it. Then, she dropped to her hands and knees. She was practically begging me to do something.

  To get her to stop, I cleared my throat. “I’ll have my janitor handle it. I believe he’s better equipped.”

  Ari blushed. “Right.” She dusted off her knees and avoided looking me in the eye.

  “Well, I believe we are done here. Let me walk you to the door.” I took her hand and held it in a firm grip. A surge of energy made its way along my arm. The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on edge and I swear my eyes shifted as my dragon side became desperate for freedom.

  I had no doubt in my mind that this woman was meant to be my mate and yet, she was out of my grasp.

  “You’ll hear from us in a few days,” I
said.

  “Thank you.”

  Maybe I couldn’t have her as a mate but I wasn’t going to let her out of my sights again. Even if she ended up being the worse personal assistant on the planet, at least she would be mine.

  Chapter 6: Ari

  The following day.

  Becky’s house always smelled like freshly baked cookies. My stomach growled just thinking of the gooey treats and the delicious chocolate chips she packed into every batch.

  “You came just in time,” Becky said with a smile as she reached into her oven and pulled out a tray.

  “At this rate, you should consider opening up your own bakery. People would pay good money for these things.” As I reached forward to grab one, she slapped my hand away. “Ouch!”

  “They’re hot!” She chided. “I don’t want you burning yourself.”

  I groaned, “Does that mean I have to wait for them to cool?”

  Becky clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Patience is a virtue.”

  “Yeah, well, after yesterday I’m not in the best of moods.” I slumped into a nearby chair and fiddles with the salt n’ pepper shakers.

  “I was hoping you would tell me about that.” She took off her apron and hung it up on a peg. Becky was one of those super organized types. Every single thing in her home had its place. “So, it didn’t go well, then?”

  “Not at all.” I huffed. “You won’t even believe who the CEO happens to be.”

  “Who?”

  “Lyle. Fucking Lyle.” His name was enough to bring the taste of disgust to my mouth. “I thought I was done with him when I quit the ice cream parlor.” Unable to contain the pent-up frustration welling up inside of me, I got up and paced the length of her kitchen. “And he’s just as a much of a jerk as he was back then.”

  “He didn’t do anything to you, did he?” Becky asked with a frown. “I mean, did he say anything nasty?”

  “He didn’t cuss me out or anything but he wasn’t exactly pleasant to talk to.” I stopped and opened up her back door. A refreshing breeze rolled in, cooling some of the heat from my cheats. “Why does he have to be such an arrogant asshole? He acts like he owns the entire world but last time I checked, no one crowned him king.”