by Ruby Forrest
It wasn’t a question. Fang had saved her and so he was not going to be excluded. Besides that, she had just had two attempts on her life. She was in no mood for a third. If a third did happen, she wanted to be properly prepared and having Fang there was a good way of making sure that she was safe and out of harm’s way. She wasn’t going to take any chances.
Janet stepped into the office and had a seat, “Thank you for seeing me.”
Fang declined a seat, stepping back and keeping watch instead. Janet felt confident knowing that he had her back like this. She wasn’t great when her life was threatened, but she was great in business and she was about to prove it.
The man directly across from her, with dark grey hair, nodded slowly, “I understand that you have a proposal for us?”
He skipped the formalities entirely and, right now, Janet couldn’t have been happier about that. She just wanted to move on and make sure that she finished this in one piece. She was driven, determined but still exhausted after the hell of a day that she had been put through.
“Yes, yes, I do.” She leaned forward against the table, pressing her palms against the wood, “I think you’ll like what I have to say.”
Chapter 13
The meeting had gone well. It hadn’t taken long to convince the company to come on board with her plan and to sign the contract. Janet was feeling the blissful swell of success and she was enjoying every moment of it, enjoying the sensation of success and everything that came along with it. Janet felt the happiness bubble up inside of her, threatening to overwhelm her.
She had done it! Not only had she just struck up a fantastic deal with the company which would secure the success and future of her own business, but she had changed a few things too.
One of the things that had stuck with her when repeated attempts had been made on her life, was how desperate those people must have been. People didn’t often kill just for the sake of it. This was an organized group of desperate people, hoping for a change and Janet was determined to fix things.
She would not give into their demands and she wouldn’t keep putting her life on the line either. So she had come up with a whole new plan. She was determined to move away from the use of blood diamonds or any diamonds mined unethically, in any way. She was driven to make sure that she and the company were not associated with exploitation. Any mines owed would be turned into fair trade mines, and they would be moving in a new direction too.
She was determined to overhaul her part in this system. There would be a focus on lab grown diamonds and other ethical stones, and a shift towards the manufacturing side of things aiming to give back and improve sustainability.
Janet refused to shut down her company. She refused to lay down and die, but she was determined to right the wrongs of the past and make sure that anyone working for this company, in any way, shape or form, would be treated well and ethically.
She had sprinkled talk of this through her speech and the board of directors had seemed to like the social aspect and the publicity that this would bring. That wasn’t her core aim, but Janet was happy to go along with it.
It wasn’t until she was home, that the elation started to give way to exhaustion. Fang helped her into the hotel room and she sank onto the couch. She was still absolutely buzzing with success, but it was blanketed by her tiredness, which seemed to seep into her very bones. She was exhausted and there was no way around that.
Fang slid onto the couch beside of her and Janet smiled, feeling grateful for his presence. She knew that she needed to address the elephant in the room, or, at least, the dragon. She glanced at Fang, still marveling at the change that she had witnessed in him.
She tentatively took his hand. He seemed to be anticipating this talk and he squeezed her hand, “You want to talk now, or later?” There was quiet concern in his voice, “You must be exhausted.”
“I want to talk now.” Janet sounded sure, because she was. She knew what she wanted out of this conversation and she was holding out hope for a little bit more on top of that. She took a deep, settling breath.
Fang nodded slowly, “So, what do you want to know?” He was smiling, a quiet smile, that was confident and sure and worried, all at the same time. Janet found it endearing.
“Just…how?” She laughed, a small sound, unsure of herself, “I just want to know your story, I suppose.”
Fang smiled, and nodded slowly, “Honestly, it’s complicated…” He sighed and rubbed his face, “I’m not the only dragon out there. There’s quite a few of us, but we all keep it hidden, obviously…” He gave a wry smile.
Janet nodded in understanding and Fang continued, “I grew up in America. I love it there, but I exposed myself as a dragon while I was travelling through the West coast.” He winced, “Look, I probably wasn’t in any major danger- no one would have believed them anyway…but…” He shrugged, “I suppose I got spooked. I had only gotten the job at the security company and I didn’t want to blow it. The first assignment that came up as out-of-country, I grabbed it.”
He leaned back a little against the couch, “That was years ago, of course. I’ve stayed here ever since, trying to keep my head down. I don’t change into a dragon very often, but I didn’t see another option when you went missing.”
Janet felt awe and warmth burning in her chest. He had done this for her? He had risked everything just to keep her safe, when he certainly didn’t have to. She felt affection for him rise inside of her. He really did care about her. That much was obvious.
She smiled and nodded slowly, “Thank you, Fang. I mean…you saved my life. More than once.”
Fang shrugged, but there was a warmth in his eyes, “Of course I did.” He frowned, “You don’t seem worried by this.”
Janet shook her head, “No, no I’m not.” She sighed, and smiled, “Honestly, I think that you are my knight in shining armor…if you’ll pardon the analogy.”
Fang laughed, an honestly amused sound. His eyes were sparkling as he lowered his head to look at her, “Janet, you’re really something else. You know that?”
Janet smiled, amusement burning in her eyes, matching his, “I know that I’m happy you’re here.”
She reached out and grabbed his hands, “Don’t go again.”
Fang softened, “I won’t.” He took a deep breath, “I just wanted you to be safe, from me, from the guys who are after you, from everything….”
Janet smiled, “I can take care of myself, especially if you have my back.”
“I think that I’m starting to figure that out for myself.” Fang was smiling and Janet felt warm all over, like she had just stepped into a lovely, soothing bath.
She smiled and leaned over, pressing her lips against his. Fang pulled her near, pressing her against his chest. She kissed him deeply, feeling the pressure of his tongue, tasting the sweet, smoky taste of him, feeling his hands carding through her hair. He was here and he wasn’t going anywhere.
She felt complete, felt like he had her back and like he was not going anywhere. It was everything that she could have wanted and didn’t even know that she had been looking for. He felt so good pressed against her, comforting and strong all at once.
When she finally broke the kiss, she was breathless and flushed and she could see the smirk playing on Fang’s lips.
“What?” She smiled.
He chuckled and shook his head, a spark in his eyes as he pulled her close, “I guess I’m not just dating the boss’s daughter, now, huh?”
“Oh no, you’re dating the boss.” Janet purred back, the words rolling off her tongue, confident and sure.
She was the boss, but she knew that they would make a great team together. She needed him and he was the expert in so many things that she was new to. He was so confident and strong and Janet admired him. He inspired her and she liked to think that he did the same for her.
“Lucky me.” Fang purred in return, voice silky and soft as he pressed a kiss to her neck.
And Janet knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was right where she needed to be.
Epilogue
Everything had gone through perfectly, just as Janet had hoped. It was perfect. Fang and her were back in America and she was staring out at the beautiful city below them, enjoying the view from their penthouse suit. Fang and her had moved in together a few months ago and Janet was enjoying the benefits as her company grew from strength to strength. She was proud of all that she had achieved, proud of everything that she had managed to do.
She was proud of her relationship with Fang, and proud of everything they had overcome. Everything seemed to be on the right track and Janet couldn’t be happier. She thought of that first day, standing in her father’s office. Everything had changed so drastically since then. Everything had changed completely and Janet smiled- it had changed for the better, at least, in her opinion.
Janet smiled again, thumbing through the well-worn copy of her father’s book. She scanned the last few pages of the book, smiling as she did so. She remembered the last time that she had read this, flying to a new country, with no clue about what awaited her, no clue what she was facing.
This, as well, occurred as the fox said; they carted away the fowl, the princess mounted once more, and they rode on to an incredible wood. At that point the fox came, and stated, 'Ask execute me, and remove my head and my feet.' But the young fellow declined to do it: so the fox stated, 'I will at any rate give you great guidance: be careful with two things; deliver nobody from the scaffold, and take a seat by the side of no stream.' Then away he went. 'Well,' thought the young fellow, 'it is no hard issue to keep that guidance.' He rode on with the princess, till finally he went to the town where he had left his two siblings. What's more, there he heard an extraordinary commotion and mayhem; and when he asked what the issue was, the general population stated, 'Two men will be hanged.'
As he came closer, he saw that the two men were his siblings, who had turned criminals; so he stated, 'Would they be able to in any capacity be spared?' But the general population said 'No,' unless he would give all his cash to the miscreants and purchase their freedom. At that point he didn't remain to consider the issue, however paid what was asked.
What's more, as they went to the wood where the fox initially met them, it was so cool and lovely that the two siblings stated, 'Let us take a seat by the side of the stream, and rest a while, to eat and drink.' So he stated, 'Yes,' and overlooked the fox's advice, and sat down in favor of the waterway; and keeping in mind that he didn't speculate anything, they came behind, and tossed him down the bank, and took the princess, the steed, and the winged animal, and went home to the ruler their lord, and said. 'This have we won by our work.' Then there was incredible celebrating made; yet the steed would not eat, the winged animal would not sing, and the princess sobbed.
The most youthful child tumbled to the base of the waterway's bed: fortunately it was about dry, yet his bones were relatively broken, and the bank was steep to the point that he could discover no real way to get out. At that point the old fox came yet again, and chastened him for not following his recommendation; generally no insidiousness would have come to pass for him: 'Yet,' said he, 'I can't abandon you here, so lay hold of my tail and hold quick.' Then he hauled him out of the waterway, and said to him, as he got upon the bank, 'Your siblings have set watch to slaughter you, on the off chance that they discover you in the kingdom.' So he dressed himself as a poor man, and came furtively to the lord's court, and was hardly inside the entryways when the stallion started to eat, and the winged animal to sing, and princess left off sobbing.
At that point he went to the lord, and disclosed to him every one of his siblings' roguery; and they were seized and rebuffed, and he had the princess given to him once more; and after the ruler's demise he was beneficiary to his kingdom. A drawn-out period of time after, he went to walk one day in the wood, and the old fox met him, and besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him, and remove his head and feet. Also, finally he did as such, and in a minute the fox was changed into a man, and ended up being the sibling of the princess, who had been lost a considerable number of numerous years.
***
“What are you reading?” Fang was behind her, his arms sliding around her waist. It didn’t feel like he was wearing a shirt and it made her shiver to imagine his skin pressed against hers.
Janet laughed, a soft, comfortable sound, and shook her head softly, “Just an old fairytale.”
“Oh?” He smirked, amusement playing in his eyes, “Has your fairytale come true?”
Janet laughed and turned into his arms, pressing softly against his chest, “No way.” She leaned up and kissed him, her lips lingering against his, “I think I like dragons a lot more than foxes.”
THE END
BONUS CONTENT
The Alpha Male Collection
SWISH
Blaire
Blaire Hamilton wiped the sweat off his brow and squinted as he spat out the brittle collecting in the corner of his mouth. He hunched over, placed his hands on his hips and took a deep calming breath.
He just had the wind knocked out of him, that was all.
He just needed to get the air back in his lungs, so he waited for the searing pain he felt from within to subside before looking back.
While he waited, he knew he should take advantage of the situation and study the opposing team’s weakness.
They left one of their players open, and Blaire knew that in a few minutes once they let him back in the game, he would be able to take him out easily.
As the pain in his chest subsided, he leaned back and blinked to clear his vision. He had been so focused on the point guard, he didn’t notice the basketball that came flying out of nowhere and collided into him smack dab in the middle of his chest.
He was a bit winded, but he also really needed the time out to regroup and clear his head.
His head dropped forward, and he scanned the crowd, taking in the smell of stale sweat, freshly brewed popcorn, and he could almost taste the tension in the air.
This is why he loved being in the NBA.
The rush, the adrenaline, the lights, and how a hush fell on the crowd as all eyes turned to him. He loved taking stock of how people held their breaths in collective anticipation as he dribbled the ball, stood poised and then let it fly through the air knowing that in most cases, it usually landed with a final swoop causing the crowd to erupt into a frenzy of love and cheers.
Most people would find being center stage intimidating, but Blaire wasn’t like that. He relished it so much, and he had been working towards it for years. Pretty much since he picked up a basketball in high school.
At 27 years old, Blaire was the youngest player on the team, but he was scouted pretty much once he got to college. He just put it off so he could get a degree in History, which had always been a passion of his.
The scout was peeved at his decision, but knowing that players like Blaire only came along once in a blue moon, had agreed to hold off on making a formal offer provided he could still play as well four years later.
As soon as he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History, Blaire had showed up, made a slam dunk and left the scout with his mouth hanging open.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Blaire stood up abruptly and began to stretch his muscles. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes.
Need to get a bloody haircut, he thought to himself as he continued to stretch his muscles. Blaire’s blue eyes scanned the crowd nonchalantly as he idly wondered who he would pick up for the night. The team would probably be having a party afterwards, and he also liked to have female company. As his shirt rode up to reveal a finely taut stomach, he heard some of the women nearby sigh and mutter his name.
He turned around and gave them a quick wink as his eyes roamed over them. Too young, he thought as he dismissed them and eyed another potential group
in the back who were waving and screaming frantically so he could notice them.
He raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement and flashed them a row of pearly white teeth. His eyes immediately landed on a petite blonde in the middle who even from his vantage point had voluptuous curves and a nice rack.
She licked her lips suggestively, and he could immediately feel himself getting turned on just by looking at her. He mouthed the words ‘later’ and turned around before he got a massive boner that would make him unable to focus for the rest of the night.
A flash of chestnut brown hair caught his attention, and Blaire frowned as he saw the brunette walk by. His heart skipped a beat as he wondered for a moment if it was her.
Sienna Hummel.
He hadn’t seen Sienna since he graduated from college, and the thought of her being there had his heart anxiously skipping ten beats, as his palms began to grow sweaty.
He gritted his teeth and told himself to get over it. Sienna wasn’t here. There was no way. He had ended things once he graduated because he knew that Sienna wanted a nice quiet life, and he wanted more.
He had loved her once, but he loved the sounds of girls screaming his name on and off the field even more. It was that thirst and lust for fame and the lifestyle that came along with it that drove him to end it; that, and her deception.
He shook his head to clear away the remnants of the past and turned around to find his team mate and best friend, Mark Berry come running towards him.
Mark ran his hands through his shaggy blonde hair, making it stick up on all ends. His green eyes scanned Blaire carefully, “Are you ready to be back in the game man?”
Blaire gave a swift nod, “More than.”
Mark gave him a grin before he shoved him towards the court, “Alright, I’m out for a few.”