“Oh…are you um…?”
Rachel burst out laughing when I failed to complete my question. “You think I’m like Ivan and Johnathan. No. I’m not. We share the same blood, but both my parents are human.”
“This is all so new to me.”
“You’ll get used to it. Just don’t go around asking everyone that question,” she warned.
“I won’t.”
The elevator door opened and out walked the most extravagantly dressed woman I’d seen in a long time. She looked like a celebrity straight off the set of a movie set.
The woman smiled smugly, her gaze trailing between the both of us.
“Hello ladies,” she said, sweetly. The diamonds on her watch gleamed as she rested her hands on the receptionist’s counter.
“Gina,” Rachel greeted with a sour expression on her face.
“Rachel, I had no idea you were still working here. I thought after that little incident last month that they let you go.”
Rachel cleared her throat and frowned. “What can we do for you, Gina? Do you need another notary public seal or something?” Rachel held up a seal with an unamused look on her face.
Gina waved her hand. “No. Someone else handles that for me now. I need to see Ivan.”
“Do you have an appointment?” Rachel asked.
“No,” she huffed. “But I tried calling his direct line, and I kept going straight to voicemail. Something must be up with the phone lines here or maybe you’re just not routing the calls correctly.”
“I no longer route Ivan’s calls, Gina.”
“Well, who does? Whoever it is has been doing a lousy job,” Gina exclaimed.
I nearly chocked on my own breath at the insult.
“Gina, you’re looking right at her. Jada is Ivan’s new personal assistant.”
Gina’s gaze shot to me. “Personal assistant?” she exclaimed as if she had a bad taste in her mouth.
I decided to maintain a professional composure even though I’d just been insulted by the woman.
“Ivan’s in a meeting, so he can’t be disturbed right now. Leave a name and number on this paper and I’ll get it to him,” I told her, sliding a pad and pen onto the counter in front of her.
Gina looked down at it like I was handing her yesterday’s rotten trash.
“I’d like to see him now,” she said.
“I’m not sure you got my message the first time around. Ivan is in a meeting. He’s not taking any more calls today. You don’t have an appointment. If you have a message for him, use the notepad, and I’ll get it to him.”
Gina scowled once more. “Since when does Ivan have humans assisting him?”
I smiled back. “Since I applied for the job and he called me back to work for him.”
Gina rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m not leaving here until I hear from Ivan. I’ll wait until his conference is over.”
Seeing where this was headed, I told Rachel that I was going back to my office. I had officially cleaned my hands of the matter. The woman seemed adamant about speaking to Ivan. It was clear that she was something other than some random person or client. I most certainly wasn’t the jealous type, and I definitely wasn’t going to start today.
Less than thirty minutes later, Ivan re-opened his office door which meant that he had finished his conference call. Gina must have convinced Rachel to alert Ivan that she was hear because I heard him speaking in an aggressive tone on the phone line.
Rachel showed up at my desk not too long after that with a note in her hand.
“She’s finally gone,” she said.
“Who was that?” I asked.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Ivan’s ex-girlfriend.”
“Oh.”
“She’s a hot mess. Her daddy used to run the company with Ivan’s dad, but somehow she still thinks she’s entitled to come in here any time she wants.”
“What did she want?”
Rachel pointed to the note. I glanced down at it to see something about a loan for a new start-up company.
“He didn’t want to talk to her or see her, but nothing’s new about that. Give the note to Ivan when he’s not busy.”
Rachel raced back to the phone lines after leaving me with the note.
So, Ivan Vetrov had ex-girlfriend drama. That didn’t surprise me. The man was irresistible. The appearance of an ex-girlfriend also told me that he had something his ex-girlfriend couldn’t bear to let go of.
Was it his money or something else?
I waited until almost close of business to take the note to Ivan. Like before, he had mounds of paperwork strewn across his desk.
I placed the note in his tray. “Wow,” I exclaimed. “Do you need me to stay overtime to help you with any of this?”
Ivan smiled. “Nah. You take the day off. Just enjoy your weekend.”
“Are you sure?” It wasn’t like I had anything better to do.
“I’m very sure. We just signed a new client this afternoon, so I thought I’d go over some things before handing out assignments,” he said.
I nodded. “Okay.”
Ivan studied me, his eyes lingering on my body before his attention dropped to my bags. The day had been eventful, and I was ready to go home to the seclusion of my apartment. Between us making up, the kiss, and the snotty ex-girlfriend, I’d had enough.
“You impressed me this week,” he said.
“I’m glad. Maybe you can put in a good word for me at my employment agency. I know this isn’t permanent and all and I’m going to need a good reference or two.”
“Sure. About earlier…?”
“Your ex-girlfriend? No need to explain. I’ve seen it all,” I said, reminiscing on all the types of situations I’d been in at my previous employers. Envious colleagues. Jealous wives and girlfriends. Raging mad customers. You name it. I’d seen it.
“Gina’s just an ex,” he said.
“Is that all she is?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Yep, that’s all. My working relationship ended with her dad right around the time I split off from her. I was supposed to marry her, but she wasn’t what I thought she was. I could’ve married her for the good of our pack to join two prominent family names, but I decided I didn’t want to live a make-believe fantasy.”
“Does she still like you?” I already knew the answer to that question.
“She still likes my money, yes,” Ivan replied, plucking the note from the Inbox on his desk and skimming it. “Just as I thought. She wants my company to supply one of her start-ups with another loan. Her dad believed in investing and she still thinks she’s entitled the funds for anything.”
“I’m sure you’ll make the right decision about that,” I said.
He crumbled up the note and threw it in the waste basket. “I’ve already made it.”
“Well…” I started to back out. “I hope you have a great weekend.”
“Jada?”
I stopped mid-stride and turned to face him again. “Yes, Ivan?”
“About earlier…I wasn’t talking about Gina. What I was actually talking about was when we kissed.”
“Oh…” I blushed and diverted my attention to the floor.
“That wasn’t a mistake.”
“No,” I said, quietly. “I knew it was intentional.”
“Yes, I intended to kiss you. You kissed me back.”
“I did,” I replied.
“We can’t have both, you know? You working for me while I want you the way I do.”
“I know. I’m just not sure about all of this. You have so much going on.”
“You don’t have to worry about Gina. That’s over,” he said.
“I wasn’t worried about her. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not the jealous type. That’s a waste of energy.”
Ivan smiled. “You’re perfect, Jada. You know that, right?”
“To you, maybe.”
“Yes, you are perfect for me.”
“What do you
want most, Ivan? A personal assistant, a maid, or…me?”
“You.”
“Let’s see what happens next week. You might change your mind.”
“I promised to be straightforward with you. I’m not an indecisive man. I know what I want once I see it. And I’ve wanted you from day one.”
“Everyone wants something, Ivan. Doesn’t mean we have to have it. See you on Monday, Ivan.”
He didn’t reply, but he made his intentions known when he cast me an ambitious glare.
With that, I backed out of the room and closed the door behind me. I grinned, ear to ear, all the way to my car.
Chapter Eleven
Jada
Monday morning took forever and a day to roll around. I was just that anxious to get back to work to see Ivan. I arrived early and spent most of that time organizing my desk. I lined up Ivan’s agenda for Monday and the rest of the week and placed it on his desk. At five minutes until nine, I made my way over to the break room to make coffee. Someone had already made a fresh pot, and I made a cup for both Ivan and I.
On my way back to the office, I noticed how much the office had come alive. I’d already met two new employees this morning. Another executive and his PA. I took Rachel’s advice and refrained from asking them if they were human or not.
I placed Ivan’s coffee on a wooden coaster and was getting ready to leave the office when I noticed a small portrait hanging on the wall near the coat closet. I moved up to it for a closer look.
Two small boys, an older man, and a young woman stood together in the photograph. The two boys bore a striking resemblance to Ivan and his brother Sebastian. They were all smiling. The perfect happy family. The name Vetrov was engraved in the bottom left-hand side of the portrait. They were like normal people and if I hadn’t been tipped off about what they were, I would have gone on believing that.
“I was only eight years old in that picture.” Ivan’s smooth voice rose behind me.
I jumped, startled by his presence.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, coming inside the office and closing the door.
“I was just bringing in your coffee when I noticed the picture.”
“We were at some town carnival and one of the local photographers took that picture.”
“You were cute,” I said.
“Were?” He chuckled.
I smiled. “Now you’re handsome.”
He grinned and placed his briefcase on the console table near the wall. “I thought about you all weekend.”
“You did?”
“I wanted to call you, but I didn’t want to bother you on your days off,” he said.
“You’re not a bother. You can call me if you like. I spent the weekend by the pool. Mostly reading and drinking cocktails.”
“Well after such a great week, you deserved it.” He removed his coat, hung it on the coat rack, and then loosened his tie.
“I guess I better go so you can get to work.”
“Stay…please,” he said.
“Okay…”
He grabbed his laptop out of his suitcase and began setting up his workstation. “Tell me about where you grew up.”
“Rockside. Small country town in Tennessee. I had never been outside the state until I moved her to help my uncle with his real estate business.”
“I saw that you graduated high school at sixteen. That’s quite an accomplishment,” he said.
“I went to a private school, so the program was super-accelerated. With me being so young, my parents agreed that I’d take a year off before entering college, except I never enrolled. Unlike most my age back then, I had a full-time career by the time I turned eighteen. I could have gone either way—either real estate or personal assistant work, but I chose the PA work.” I sighed. “I don’t know. I could get back into real estate. The way the job market is, everything related to my field is just about taken.”
“I know plenty of agents. I can get you networked with them if you wanted,” he said.
I smiled. “That’s nice of you. I’m going to think about that.”
“I hope you do. You’d be a great asset to any team.”
“Does that mean you’re not going to keep me?” I teased.
He dropped his folders on the desk and switched his full attention to me. Even before he started walking toward me, I felt the magnetic pull between us.
“I’m going to keep you alright,” he whispered, fingering my curls. “Have you decided?”
“Decided what?” I asked, breathlessly, as his fingers stroked my face.
“Who do you want most? The boss or the man and his wolf.”
I swallowed, closing my eyes briefly as he gripped my neck softly. He bent his head and pressed light kisses into my neck. I gasped the moment I felt his heated tongue against my skin.
“What’s it going to be, Jada?” he asked, kissing me lightly. “You and I both know that the only thing we’re working on together is an explosive union waiting to happen.”
“It’s already happened.”
“Yes, it has. Do you know why a wolf calls his companion a mate?”
I shook my head, his touch already rendering me speechless.
“The wolf is inexplicably drawn to their mate. The one woman who will keep him satisfied, keep him sane, tell him like it is without hesitation. She’ll test his limits and make him the best man he can be. It’s a wolf’s instinct to know when he’s met the one. Just like it’s human nature to fall in love. But the mate bond is deeper than that. When the bond is strong and the pull is unavoidable—like what’s happening between us now—the wolf will commit to mating for life.”
“That’s beautiful and everything, but how could a little ole personal assistant who can’t follow your rules make you happy for life.”
Ivan’s lips left my skin. He locked gazes with mine. “You’re going to be everything but my personal assistant, Jada. You might not believe it now, but one day, you’re going to be my wife.”
My lips fell open in shook and I titled my head to study his expression. He was being sincere. There wasn’t an ounce of amusement on his face. Only blinding need filled his eyes.
I’d already been through this before and promised myself I’d never get caught up in my emotions again but the pull to Ivan was too strong. I wanted him on that deep level he just explained to me. The thought of marrying him made me the happiest woman alive.
I grinned. “Does that mean I’m fired?”
He chuckled. “Depends. You never answered my question. Who do you want most?” He took my hand and threaded his fingers with mine. “The boss? Or the man and his wolf?”
“I want them both. I want all of them.”
Our lips met. His mouth was smooth and warm against mine. He kissed me slowly to start, savoring every moment as we stood in the center of his office, oblivious to the people working down the hall. I shuddered against him and his tongue filled me over and over again, exploring my mouth.
Before I knew it, he had swept me up and carried me across the room where he sat me down on top of his desk. He buried his face against my neck again and kissed my throat. I linked my fingers at the back of his neck and pulled him in until my legs were spread for him and his body was between my thighs.
“Ivan…” I whispered. “We’re…someone might—”
He cut off my protests by taking my mouth again. Something about making out in the office with my boss excited me. Although we’d closed the door behind us, I was still aroused by the fact that anyone could walk in on us and witness as the powerful Ivan Vetrov worshipped me with kisses. I stole a glance behind us at the rising sun and all the sky rise buildings surrounding the Vetrov tower.
“Damn it, Jada. I can smell your arousal. I’ve sensed it from day one. I need you,” he panted.
“I need you too.”
“I meant now. Right now.”
“Then I’m yours. But just this once and then we can’t do this here ever again,” I said.
>
He picked up a small remote control on his desk and pressed a bottom. The shades moved across the floor to ceiling windows, enclosing us in complete privacy.
“Fuck. You look hot in his little black dress, but I bet you look sexy as hell without it,” he said, pushing his hands under my tight skirt.
When he gripped my ass, my entire body went lax and my heels slipped from my feet and fell to the floor. He lifted my bare foot, bringing my toes to his lips. He pressed his lips against the arch of my foot. He did the same with the other feet.
“I like when you look at me like that,” he whispered. “Your pussy must be soaking wet.”
Pushing my dress up over my hips, he found the seat of my panties. His fingers felt amazing against me, even through the fabric. He pressed his thumb down on my clit through the silk fabric. I gasped, trying to hold back the sounds.
“There wasn’t enough time for breakfast this morning, and I’m famished,” he growled, hooking his finger under the elastic band and then sliding the strip of fabric to the side.
“Oh God…” I whispered.
His fingers stroked my dripping wet folds. “Just as I thought. Look at how pretty this wet pussy is. Can I make you come?”
I nodded.
“You’ve had so much to say until now, Jada. Tell me what you want me to do to this pussy. I want to hear it.”
“Make me come. Like that. With your fingers.”
Ivan moved his fingers up and down my slit, deliberately leaving my clit unattended.
“I don’t always play with my food before I eat, but you are exquisite,” he mumbled, lifting my thighs on top of his shoulders.
He played with my pussy until I was writhing on his desk, right on top of the agenda I had just prepared and printed out for him. His touch was electrifying and I forgot where we were. I was close to coming and all it had taken was Ivan’s hands on my pussy.
Dear God, he was playing me like a fiddle.
He settles down in his chair, dragging my ass to the edge of the desk.
“Jada…”
A husky, deep growl escaped his lips, spreading through me like some aphrodisiac. My nipples beaded hard against my bra and I suddenly I wished I were naked.
Breaking the Wolf's Rules: Howls Romance (Wolf Mated Book 1) Page 6