Chapter 3

Cassie POV

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes I could swear I heard voices outside my apartment and expected Vasilios to kick my door in at any second. It didn't happen, but my paranoia seemed to be on steroids.

It was almost noon when I gave up trying to catch some sleep and dragged myself out of bed, fixing myself a bowl of cornflakes and an extra strong cup of coffee.

My phone vibrated and I picked it up as I saw Greg's name flash across the screen.

“Good morning sunshine,” I greeted cheerfully, knowing that Greg was probably the furthest thing away from being a morning person.

“Yeah,” he grumbled in response. “The Boss said to call everyone in early to meet the new owner. Looks like he's signed the paperwork and is taking over from today.”

I groaned, having completely forgotten about the new owner… Jessie's sex-god.

“Yeah. He wants us there by five. Want me to pick you up?”

“Nah, I'll meet you there. I've got some stuff to do first and I don't know how long it will take,” I replied cheerfully.

“Ah huh, see you then,” came the response before he put the phone down.

I chuckled to myself and finished my rather bland breakfast before I got dressed in a pair of high waisted skinny jeans and a black v-neck shirt, zipping my favourite knee high boots up before I did my hair and makeup.

Glancing at myself in the mirror one last time, I locked my apartment and went down the two flights of stairs to knock on my landlord's door, smiling to myself when I saw the shadow under the door as I approached it. There was no doubt that someone was already peering through the peephole.

I knocked and waited far too long for the door to open, revealing Mrs. Petrov in her stained dressing gown, curlers in her greying hair and tatty slippers on her feet - nevermind the fact that it was way after midday when the average person would be dressed in clothing other than sleepwear.

“Yes?” came her abrasive greeting as she raised a drawn-on eyebrow in question.

“Good morning, Mrs. Petrov,” I smiled brightly, not waiting for a similar response. “I just wanted to let you know that I may have a visitor over the next few days.”

Mr. Petrov shouted something in Russian from another room, probably listening to every word I was saying.

Mrs. Petrov grumbled something in her native Russian before she pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “You have to pay extra for your visitor,” she rasped. “This is not a charity house. Our agreement says you stay in the apartment alone, and no funny business. I know your type…”

“Yes, of course,” I replied, cutting off her tirade as I stepped back slightly to avoid the cloud of smoke which the older woman seemed to disappear into. “I will let you know when my visitor arrives, and then you can give me the bill.”

She nodded, coughing loudly before she slammed the door in my face without so much as a goodbye. Shaking my head slightly, I pulled my backpack onto my back and left the building. At least I would know the moment Vasilios or one of his cronies entered my apartment building - there would be a bill slipped under the door the moment someone unknown stepped through the front door.

I climbed onto my bike and revved once, pulling out into the street and taking the back roads to the nightclub. I had just parked my bike in the staff parking when a black BMW with tinted windows pulled up beside me. I could almost feel the eyes of the occupants on me as I swung off my bike. I ignored the feeling as I pulled my helmet off and put it on my seat, running my fingers through my hair to make sure it was somewhat presentable.

A man dressed in a black suit climbed out of the driver’s seat and moved to open the back door, but I didn’t hang around to see who was getting out - even though I am pretty darned sure it was the new boss. I did hear a low whistle behind me as I practically ran toward the front doors, but I couldn’t say if it was the driver or the man in the back seat who had whistled.

Jessie grabbed my hand the moment I entered the nightclub, giggling and bouncing up and down slightly - any higher and her gigantic breasts would probably knock her out.

“Cassie! Did you see him in the parking lot? He’s so dreamy, I swear I’m going to be dreaming about him every night when I climb into bed,” she gushed, waving her hand as if it were a fan.

“I didn’t see him,” I said blandly and her big blue eyes widened even more.

“Well I guess you have enough time to ogle him with me, since he is headed this way,” she giggled, pulling me toward the centre of the dancefloor where the rest of the staff was waiting patiently.

“Ah, there you are!” I heard Boss call out as we snuck into the back of the group of staff. “Everyone, I would like you all to meet Mr. Damian Costa.”

My eyes fell on the man who was our new boss and instantly felt as if a bolt of lightning ran through my body. Jessie wasn’t lying when she said he was gorgeous! He was tall with golden hair which brushed against his collar. Those piercing eyes were a shade of green which reminded me of the ivy which had grown outside my bedroom window as a child, and his lips were beckoning. He was clean shaven and his jaw was perfectly chiselled, with a cleft in his chin which probably had the entire female population swooning. As for his body, well, he certainly worked out.

But his appearance wasn’t what shocked me the most. No, what shocked me the most was that this man was almost undeniably a werewolf.

And by the way he looked at me, he knew what I was too.