Chapter 14 – The Offer

When Riye saw two familiar people coming out of the elevator, she released the breath she was holding and relaxed her shoulders. Her boss looked pleased, with the previous frown in his face already smooth, while the woman looked tense and darted her eyes all over the place.

When they neared, Riye formally bowed in greeting the guest, with her hands clasped together. She’s genuinely pleased with her boss finally bringing a decent woman into his office, or a woman in general. He’s never brought any woman here, for the women come to him. But now, he brought a special one, and she looks unaware of it.

From the way he looks at her, Riye already knows she’s very important to him. That’s why when the guard from the entrance called and described the woman’s appearance, she immediately knew her boss wasn’t gonna be happy to know they had no plans of letting her in in the first place. But he doesn’t need to know that.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” Riye formally greeted Leal.

Leal awkwardly smiled at her and entered the door Axel opened for her. The inside was just the same as when she first entered, back when she was naive and reckless. But wait, isn’t that still her now?

Sighing to herself, Leal sat down on one of the single-seater sofas in his simple sofa set while he occupied a longer seat. He casually leaned back on the sofa, placing his one arm on the sofa’s backrest and even unbuttoning his suit. He looked so relaxed, while she had cold sweat cascading down her neck in nervousness.

“Have you eaten?” He repeated what he had asked earlier, breaking the deafening silence.

She chose to ignore what he asked because she finally gathered the courage. So, instead, she asked, “Are you crazy? Or am I crazy?”

He furrowed his brows at first, but he later on chuckled as amusement was written all over his face.

“What are you saying?” He asks, still laughing.

“W-What I saw last night, are those real? They’re not paid actors in wolf costumes?”

This time, he really cracked up. His baritone laugh sends shivers down her spine, but she wasn’t asking to amuse him.

Leal blankly looked at him, who was still laughing. “It’s a genuine question. I don’t accept a laugh as an answer.”

“No, they’re not paid actors in wolf costumes,” he replied when he stopped laughing. A small smile settled on his lips.

She doesn’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

“Have you eaten?” For the third time, he asked. Irritatedly, she glared at him and huffed out a response.

“No. Please focus.”

“Alright.” He nodded, fishing out his phone from his pocket and typing. Her lips parted. Didn’t she just tell him to focus?! Ugh, this man!

“Can you please—?”

“I’m listening. Ask away.”

“Whatever,” Leal rolled her eyes. She doesn’t want to waste too much time on her day off. “I’ve read from fictional books that werewolf packs are led by one Alpha. And, I heard some of your employees call you Alpha. Are you, perhaps...?”

“Hmmm. Are you gonna hate me again and walk out if I say yes?” He finally stuffed his phone back in his pocket.

She bit her lower lip, remembering that time. “Just answer.”

He scrutinized her reaction first, before slowly muttering a response.

“Yes...?”

Again, she didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. She’s so baffled right now that she managed to lower her pride and come to his building. Now that she has the answers, what now?

“I can explain more things to you,” he offered, to which she almost instantly nodded but held herself back. He’s cunning. She has to be careful.

“And what do I give you in exchange?”

He smirked. “Just be my assistant.”

“But, you already have one.” She was stalling him. She didn’t want to be his secretary. If it were somebody else who’s gonna be her boss, then sure! But Axel? Never.

“Riye is my company secretary. What I need is a personal assistant. I can’t really take care of myself that much due to my busy schedules,” he lazily drawled, a ghost of a smile faintly seen on his lips.

Leal leaned back in her seat, acting as if considering his offer.

“You’ll get thrice your salary in that fast-food restaurant, probably even more than that. Plus, additional exclusive bonuses,” he continued, thinking of more things to entice her to accept the offer. He just wants her to be by his side always. He didn’t really need a personal assistant. He can take care of himself very well.

“Additional exclusive bonuses? Like what?”

“Let’s see.” He placed a fist under his chin. “A new car, tons of new clothes, new shoes, bags, a mansion or two, a private jet, a yacht or two, maybe? You might also get a chance to be welcomed to a pack.”

She knows she said she’s never accepting the offer, but her eyes widened and she choked on her saliva when she heard the bonuses. Is he that loaded that he’d give all those to his personal assistant?! Good thing she’s not materialistic, but she is, however, realistic. And she knows that all those are fake, because they’re too good to be true.

“T-That’s...” she trailed off, still speechless.

“Still not enough? I can also give you a black card if—”

A knock on the door cut him off. When he stood up to open it, that was when Leal managed to breathe properly. His offers were insane! She couldn’t grasp it. She heard Axel mutter a faint thanks before shutting the door. When he returned, he was holding plastic bags with a famous restaurant’s logo in the middle.

“I ordered lunch. Here, let’s eat.” He placed the plastic bags on the glass coffee table. Was that why he kept asking her if she ate? And was that also the one he was texting? His secretary, who ordered, perhaps?

“I wasn’t really sure of what you liked, so I ordered all of them,” he said as soon as they opened every food container. Leal’s eyes widened as she saw a meal too big for just the two of them.

“Well, we can’t eat all of this!” The food containers almost couldn’t fit on the table!

“Don’t worry, some staff downstairs probably haven’t eaten yet. We can give this to them.”

She looked at him as he plainly assured her. He didn’t notice her stare and continued arranging the food containers. Somehow, Leal’s heart warmed at what he said. It may be small and petty, but it’s the little things that matter to her. She’s so pleased to know that he cares for everyone under his wing. Biting her lip from saying a compliment, she silently picked out her favorite foods and ate.

The lunch with the man she hates most actually did go well. They didn’t say much to each other and respected the meal, only staying focused on the meal. When they finished, Leal volunteered to take the leftover take-outs, with some untouched, to the janitors on the basement where their lockers are.

“After giving the leftovers to the staff, I’ll leave,” she informed him while they were on the elevator to the basement. When she saw him about to protest, she preempted, “I’ve also thought about your offer. Despite how great it sounds, I’m afraid I’ll be declining.”

Before Axel could say anything else, the elevator opened and she stepped out first. Unfortunately, Axel had the plastic bags, so she had to wait for him. He didn’t say much after giving out the plastic bags to the staff. Now, they’re back on the elevator with only the two of them inside, and she is itching to get out of the awkward air.

Leal cleared her throat and discreetly glanced at Axel’s blank face from the elevator’s reflection. She couldn’t decipher what he’s feeling right now, but he might’ve been p*ss*d. She should be glad she p*ss*d him off, right? Like, who wouldn’t after you just offered someone an employee’s greatest desire? But she isn’t. She feels bad. Just a tiny bit bad.

“Thank you for the offer, really. But I just can’t accept it.”

“Why?”

“W-What?” She didn’t really expect him to answer. She thought he’d just stay silent the entire time. “Oh. Uhm. I-I just really can’t... work with you...”

There was a slight change on his face. As if on cue, the door opened, and she walked fast away from the elevator, aiming for the building’s door.

Later that day, she paid a visit to Izzy’s warehouse, where she spends most of her time. Her friend’s extra busy these days because of the incoming new season, where she’ll hold another fashion show to showcase her winter collection.

“I’m so proud of you!” Leal hugged Izzy when she saw the line-up of her collection. Izzy’s style is so unique that people are yearning more from her because of it.

“You like it?”

“Definitely!” The two girls giggled and spent the night in their condo, raising wine glasses in celebration of a finished winter collection. For the past decade, they’ve been celebrating every achievement of each other, may it be small or big, with just the two of them.

They’ve gone through hell and back, solving each other’s problems together and doing all necessary to lift each other together despite the great difference in their chosen life paths. Being independent alone is a hard time, but being independent with each other makes adulthood a lot easier and fun to go through.

Despite that, though, there are still things that don’t need to be shared with each other. Just like Leal’s visit to Axel’s company earlier, and her being offered the best job there might ever be, but declining. There are things she prefers to keep to herself and bury deep down. Though she wants to know more about that supernatural experience and the unconfirmed world of wolves, if it’s Axel who’s gonna tell her about it, she’d rather investigate it alone than risk her experiencing the same heartbreak she had back in college.

She knows that more time spent with Axel risks her brittle feelings to fall for her more. He’s undeniably attractive and has it all, except chivalry. And that’s what she hates the most. If she were to compare, she’d prefer Dion over Axel.

But she might change her mind soon.

Or her hate for him will only intensify.