Chapter 6

Logan-

“Logan” James cracks out like a whip to end my spiraling, as well as to keep me from mentioning the wolf secret on an unsecured line. “Clearly you’ve been thinking about this too long today. You know better than to plan steps B-Z before knowing positively what step A and its consequences would be. You know exactly where we need to start. Do you truly want to connect to your mate right now, yes or no? It will change your whole life and just yesterday you were perfectly happy to play the game. Are you ready to settle down as a family man when you’re currently in your prime? Because that’s what she’ll ask of you. That’s what all women want if you give them too much…. Time.” 

“‘Time’ was totally the word you were planning on going with.” Deek says with a roll of his eyes. He looks into the camera to give the illusion of frank eye contact. “I think we already know that you want her and you're ready to go after her. Let's set a plan for operation… What's her name, Logan?”

“Emory. She stopped at the 8th floor so she's in the interior department. I've been struggling to resist researching her all damn day.” I receive three incredulous looks at that. 

“Why…the fuck? Whatever. Just because you decided to hobble yourself, doesn't mean we have to. I'll have Jeffries look into her tonight.” Ollie hates missing information. He says it’s so he can make the best decision possible, but I know it’s because he’s nosy.

“Don't, Ollie! Or… at least don't tell me unless there's something heinous in there. I want to get to know her, not walk up to her with random facts floating in my head so that I have to act surprised any time she starts to tell me about herself. I want to come off as not– stalkerish as my wolf will allow.” This is the one thing I can be sure of after a whole day of shock and then waffling. I'm usually a very decisive person, but this will determine the rest of my life– not to mention Emory’s. Hopefully. 

“Fine, fine. I'll share Jeffries' findings, but we'll leave you out of it unless she's an ax murderer. James, Deek, you good with that?” Ollie says with a flick of his hand to dismiss my concerns.

James rolls his eyes, frustrated with Ollie’s grammar. “Yes, that works for me.” 

“I'm good, too. Hey, if she's in administration there, you could send her my way! That way you can keep her close and stop being her boss at the same time!” Deek might think he's slick, but we all know that was his first thought upon hearing I met someone new today– ‘can Logan's new mate be my assistant?’ Jackass.

“No, Deek. I don't want your luck happening to my mate. Find your own assistant!” I’m already feeling possessive. That’s probably not a good sign.

“Ha! Caught you!” Derek suddenly exclaims. “You want her, and you want her bad. You want her so bad, you're itching to go scoop her up right now! So, since I'm apparently your only friend, I'm going to do what Chuckles and Dumbass are apparently incapable of.” 

“Hey!” James and Oliver accidentally unison their protest at the unexpected jab.

“I'm going to present you with a plan. It's even a simple plan! Just don't tell her your last name. She'll have no reason to ask ‘Logan, do you own the company’” he flutters his eyelashes and raises his voice obnoxiously. No wonder he can't keep an assistant around. “if you just don't tell her you do. Tell her you work in project management or administration. That's the bare bones of what we all do at this point, isn't it? You'll just be Logan the project manager with the hot friend who could be her new boss. Easy.” 

“That seems… dishonest, though.” I have to admit, dishonesty is pretty tempting at the moment. 

James pipes in “Dishonest at the very least, yes. What a perfect foundation for a relationship, lies are!” 

“You don't have to do it forever, and you don't even have to lie to her! You're just not answering questions she doesn't ask– that's not dishonesty! It's just honesty with good timing.” Deek is clearly warming up to his own idea, but I am, too. It makes so much sense, stated that way. 

“I guess I can get behind it, if you put it that way.” Ollie says, reluctantly. “I think that might be the best way to go.” Deek looks incredibly smug in his square, resting his arm on a pile of paper. Even his hair looks smug, falling just so across his forehead so the coppery brown strands emphasize the bright green of his eyes. 

“Obviously, you idiots have convinced each other this is a good idea, but I want it noted that I disagree. Since you have come to a consensus, I have a pack matter to deal with. Keep me updated on this train wreck.” James says, before logging out with a nod to us. That certainly put a damper on things, but it's not like he had any better ideas. The rest of us are slightly more subdued as we sign off.