Jealousy

Noreen felt truly uncomfortable.

The woman called Ava was so beautiful and sexy, like a model from a men's magazine come to life.

Look, the size of her breasts and butt, wow, I feel like a teenager just entering puberty in front of her, Noreen said to herself as she met the woman's sharp gaze.

"You've never brought any of your staff or employees here," Ava said, addressing Thiery. "Who is she?"

"Noreen is a special staff member who helped me with the Class A renovation project my father entrusted me with before he... left," Thiery said. "Why are you here, Ava? Is something important?"

Ava glanced at Noreen with an unfriendly look. "Can we talk privately? I feel like outsiders shouldn't hear what I'm about to tell you."

Thiery didn't answer. He turned to Noreen.  "Noreen, please wait for me in the car and also make some notes about some changes of the second floor of Mr. Roman's mansion, as we discussed earlier. We'll need to email it, but we'll need to make several copies because he's forgetful and might ask for hard copies."

"Yes, sir, I'll do it right away," Noreen said obediently. She nodded to Ava and continued walking out.

Noreen turned around as she reached the car and saw Ava snuggling up to Thiery, her breasts pressed against his arm.

Noreen felt a little annoyed. Maybe Ava was Thiery's girlfriend, so she was acting so suspicious, and clearly, she didn't like Noreen.

Noreen picked up the phone and typed quickly.

"Lis, he has a girlfriend!"

Noreen's phone rang a minute after the message was sent.

"What do you mean he has a girlfriend?" Lisbeth asked bluntly as soon as her call to Noreen connected. "Did he say that?"

"Shh," Noreen replied in a barely audible whisper.  "Right now I'm in the car, outside his palace. He's still inside, with a woman, having a serious conversation, clinging to each other."

"Don't joke around, Noreen," Lisbeth said, annoyed. "I'm getting ready now, my flight to your place in two hours, so don't keep me guessing on the plane!"

"Oh, really?" Noreen said happily. "You didn't say anything yesterday!"

"I can't say for sure when I can leave," Lisbeth said. "Gosh, you're changing the subject. You said he's in the palace? What does that mean?"

"He calls his house a mansion, but to me it's a palace, or at least ten mansions rolled into one," Noreen said.

"Uh, I can't imagine that," Lisbeth said. "And why are you going to his house? It's still office hours there, right?"

"He brought me here for lunch, and as I was about to leave, this woman came in. Her name was Ava, very beautiful and sexy, with big tits and a big ass. She glared at me like I was her boyfriend's mistress, who needed to be laser-shot until I melted!" Noreen said, shuddering.

"Are you sure that woman is his girlfriend? If he has one, why is he kissing you again?" Lisbeth said angrily. "Your boss must be a jerk. He's probably just playing with you because of what happened in the past. Or he's curious, or maybe he's just a narcissist who wants your approval."

Noreen bit the inside of her cheek, hearing what Lisbeth said ring true.

If Thiery did have a girlfriend, why did he keep kissing her again and again and act as if what happened to them all those years ago had a profound impact on his life?

What did he say? After sleeping with Noreen, he became impotent?  Was it logical, or was it just a ploy to get Noreen to give in to him so he could repeat the incident now? Was it simply curiosity? Or was it an outlet for his resentment over Noreen's sudden departure?

"Be careful, Noreen, don't fall for his seduction," Lisbeth said. "And most importantly, don't let him find out about baby Jo. I'm worried, especially about his girlfriend. If she finds out baby Jo is Thiery's, she might have evil intentions."

Noreen shuddered at Lisbeth's words. "I guess you're right. I have to be more careful. His girlfriend looks really fierce. If her eyes had lasers, I would have melted a long time ago."

"You said that before. I'll be right there. You have to stay—"

"Who are you calling?"

Noreen hung up the phone in surprise, cutting Lisbeth off, taken aback by Thiery's sudden rebuke.

Thiery got into the car, staring at Noreen with furrowed brows. "Why did you hang up? You didn't want me to overhear you?"

"It's okay," Noreen shook her head. "Can we go back to the office now?"

Thiery didn't answer. He started the car and drove out the mansion's large gates.

Noreen looked back and saw Ava standing in front of the mansion, staring at Noreen's car.

"Is she mad?" Noreen asked cautiously, after the car turned at the end of the road onto the main hillside road.

Thiery turned. "Who? Ava?"

Noreen nodded, still looking straight ahead. She wanted to turn to see Thiery's expression, but didn't dare.

"No," Thiery replied. "Why do you think she should be mad?"

"How do I know," Noreen replied, slightly irritated. "But she certainly didn't hesitate to show her dislike for me."

Thiery chuckled. "Ava's like that. She's always mean and sometimes rude to people she just met."

"Ah, I see," Noreen muttered. "I think she's jealous."

"Jealous? Of you?"

"Was there another woman there she was looking at besides me, boss?"

"She's not my girlfriend, so there's no way she's jealous. Even if she was, I don't care."

Noreen finally turned her head, staring at Thiery's side profile with a frown. Ava wasn't his girlfriend? Was that true, or was it just to appease Noreen?

Noreen didn't know why Thiery's words made her feel uneasy. If Ava wasn't his girlfriend, why didn't he even try to distance himself when she pressed her breasts against his arm?

Unconsciously, Noreen shifted closer to the door and gripped her seatbelt tightly.

Thiery noticed her behavior, but he didn't say anything, just frowned and pursed his lips.

Arriving at the office, Noreen got out as soon as the car pulled into the parking lot.

"I'll email Mr. Roman immediately and have a hard copy delivered to his address," Noreen said formally. "Any reports of design changes or requested furniture additions will be on your desk before the end of today's workday, sir."

Noreen nodded, then turned and walked toward the lobby, but she turned back before reaching the door.

"Thank you for lunch, sir, and also for the food donation to the orphanage."

Thiery was stunned to see Noreen's backside walking away, into the office building.

"Is she mad at me?" Thiery muttered, confused.

"I think she's upset about Ava," Dash responded quietly. "She was so snappy after Ava arrived."

"She must think there's something going on with Ava and me," Thiery said. "Especially since Ava was being as annoying as usual with Noreen earlier."

"You have to persuade her, or she'll think you're just a Playboy boss playing with her," Dash said seriously. "Human women's brain can be more complex than she-wolves."

Thiery sighed. "Okay, I'll do that later. Now, what do you think about what Ava said earlier?"

"You should think carefully before acting, Alpha. The North Star pack is quite powerful. They're not very large, but many powerful gammas have been born from them," Dash replied firmly. "If Alpha Henry truly wants to rebel, then by him approaching the pack, he's already a third of the way there."

"I know about the North Star pack, but for some reason, I don't believe Alpha Henry is instigating a rebellion. He wouldn't have the courage to go that far. I suspect someone else is exploiting my disagreement with Henry for their own gain."

"You mean, someone's trying to frame Alpha Henry? Whoever it is, could they be trying to get rid of Alpha Henry by using your help?"

"Yes, I suspect that too, and—"

"Sir! Mr. Thiery Bradley, wake up!"

Thiery gasped in surprise when Noreen shook his shoulder. He turned to see Noreen standing by the door, her body halfway inside the car, her face very close to his.

"Noreen?" Thiery muttered, confused.

Noreen pulled herself away from the window and opened the car door. She placed her hand on Thiery's forehead as if checking for a fever.

"Oh my, you had me worried, sir," Noreen said.

"What were you doing?" Thiery asked. "I thought you were already inside?"

"I was waiting for the elevator," Noreen replied. "But that damn elevator took forever, and I saw you sitting in this car, motionless, just staring blankly ahead. I called out to you from the lobby 8door, but you didn't move, so I thought you were having a heart attack!"

Thiery stared at Noreen with an unreadable gaze, then burst out laughing.

"Oh my, Noreen, how could you think that? A heart attack?" Thiery said.

Noreen squealed angrily.  "Don't laugh, sir. If it weren't for the fact that you do it so often, I wouldn't think that either."

"Doing what?" Thiery asked, confused.

"You often suddenly freeze, like you're in a trance!" Noreen snapped. "If it's not a heart attack, you might be possessed by a ghost!"

Thiery didn't know why the woman in front of him was so good at stirring up his emotions.

"It's because I'm talking to Dash!" Thiery said firmly, annoyed. "It has nothing to do with heart attacks or ghosts!"

"Dash?" Noreen asked, confused. She looked around. "Who? Where?"

Thiery pointed to his head. "My inner wolf. Here."

Noreen glared at Thiery, then took out her phone and searched for someone's phone number in her contacts.

"What are you doing?" Thiery asked, getting out of the car.

Noreen ignored Thiery.  "Hello, Mr. Beta Sander? When will you be back? I think the boss needs to see a psychiatrist. He's stressed and has started having imaginary friends. Can I check him into a psychiatric clinic I know?"

Thierry was taken aback. "Noreen, you—"