Chapter 3

Bridgett

My phone vibrated against the polished surface of my new desk like a time bomb.

I glanced at the screen. Mrs. Higgins.

Panic spiked in my chest. I looked toward the frosted glass doors of Jordan’s office. He was in there. I could feel him. His heavy, wood-smoke scent seeped through the cracks, wrapping around me, keeping me tethered to my chair.

I picked up the phone, ducking beneath the desk. "Hello?"

"Bridgett! You need to come now!" Mrs. Higgins’ voice was shrill. "A pipe burst in the ceiling. The basement is flooding. I’m putting the children on the sidewalk!"

"What? You can't just leave them on the street!" I hissed, my hand shaking.

"I have six inches of water in here! Come get them, or I’m calling Child Services!"

The line went dead.

The blood drained from my face. I looked at the time. 2:00 PM. Jordan had meetings until 5:00.

I couldn't leave. He had practically locked me in the building. But I couldn't leave my babies on a street corner in downtown Chicago.

I had to be insane. I had to be absolutely out of my mind.

But I was a mother first.

I grabbed my purse and sprinted to the service elevator at the back of the hallway. It was used for catering and janitorial staff. If I was fast—if I was lucky—I could smuggle them in through the loading dock.

(***)

Twenty minutes later, my heart was bruising my ribs.

I ushered three small figures into the deserted "Employee Wellness Room" on the 39th floor—one floor below Jordan’s office. It was filled with bean bag chairs and a ping-pong table that no one ever used.

"Okay, listen to me," I whispered, kneeling in front of them. My hands were trembling as I smoothed Theo’s hair. "You have to be quiet. Super quiet. Like ninjas."

"Are we hiding from the bad guys?" Theo asked, his dark eyes scanning the room. He stood in front of his sisters, his small chest puffed out.

"Yes, baby. We’re on a secret mission," I lied.

"I have to pee," Abby announced loudly.

"Shh!" I pressed a finger to my lips. "There’s a bathroom right there. Belle, watch your sister. Theo, guard the door but *do not open it* for anyone. Not even if they have candy. Understand?"

Belle nodded solemnly, pulling out her sketchbook. Abby zipped her lips with an imaginary zipper. Theo saluted.

"I’ll be back as soon as I can," I promised.

I kissed their foreheads and ran.

(***)

I made it back to my desk exactly thirty seconds before Jordan’s door opened.

I dropped into my chair, pretending to type, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

"Coffee," Jordan’s voice rumbled from the doorway.

I jumped. He was leaning against the doorframe, his jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms corded with veins. He looked lethal. And he was looking right at me.

"Black, two sugars," he added, his eyes narrowing. "Why are you sweating, Bridgett?"

"The... the heating is high," I stammered.

He walked toward me. Every step he took sent a warning signal to my brain.

«Predator. Run»

He stopped at the edge of my desk. He leaned down, inhaling sharply.

"Your scent has changed," he murmured. "You smell like... anxiety"

My heart stopped.

“I'll get your coffee, Mr. Hayes" I stand up.

I tried to squeeze past him to get to the breakroom, but the space was too narrow. My hip brushed against his thigh.

The contact was electric.

Sparks danced across my skin. Jordan stiffened, his hand shooting out to grip my arm. His fingers were hot, branding me through my cheap blouse.

"Careful," he growled, his voice dropping an octave. His pupils blew wide, swallowing the blue, leaving only a rim of gold. "My wolf doesn't like it when you run from me."

"I'm just getting coffee," I whispered, unable to look away from his mouth.

For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. Or bite me. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

He released me slowly, his fingers trailing down my arm. "Go. Bring it to my office."

I fled to the breakroom, my hands shaking so badly I almost dropped the mug.

«Just three more hours» I told myself. «Just keep them quiet for three hours, get your paycheck advance, and disappear»

I walked back into his massive office, carrying the steaming mug. Jordan was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the city.

I placed the cup on his desk. Next to it was the high-tech intercom system that connected to the entire building.

"Your coffee, sir."

He turned around. "Thank you. Now, sit. We need to discuss your schedule for the weekend."

"Weekend?" I blinked. "I don't work weekends."

"You do now," he said smoothly.

I opened my mouth to argue, but suddenly, the intercom panel on his desk lit up red. A burst of static cut through the silent room.

I froze.

I had forgotten. The Wellness Room had a direct line to the CEO’s office for "emergency announcements."

And then, a small, sweet voice echoed from the speaker, amplified to fill the entire room.

"Mami?"

It was Abby.

Jordan went still. Stone still.

"Theo!" Abby’s voice chirped again, clear as a bell. “Theo, look! That man in the big picture on the wall... he has the same weird eyes as you!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Jordan’s coffee mug slipped from his hand. It shattered against the hardwood floor, dark liquid splashing everywhere.

He didn't blink. He didn't breathe.

Slowly, terrifyingly, his gaze snapped from the intercom to me. The gold in his eyes was no longer a flicker. It was a raging fire.

"Who," he whispered, his voice a low, vibrating snarl that shook the glass walls, "is Theo?”