Page 215 of His White Moonlight
One of the office women standing close by heard and snorted.
Walt smiled, misunderstanding the sound for humor, as if I’d been joking.
“Maybe you should take some self-defense classes.It could help with coordination, too,” he said.
I laughed.“Yeah, maybe.”
We got on the same elevator and continued to chat until he got off on his floor.Then it was just Bennett, me, and a bunch of female Wulf pack shifters.I could see the glare of several in the reflection of the steel in front of us.
“How many people would be laid off if headquarters moved to another city?”I asked, looking up at Bennett.
His gaze swept over my face, and the corner of his mouth lifted.The partial smile wasn’t filled with humor but anger.
“Two hundred and three.Unless Miranda decides to relocate with us.Then two hundred and two.”
“Moving headquarters would be expensive,” I said.“I bet we’d need to sell a few subsidiaries to help fund it.”
“More than a few,” he said, catching on.“It doesn’t make sense to own companies in a city we no longer support.”
The doors opened, and he and I got off the elevator, leaving a silent group of women behind.I felt like I was walking through a gauntlet ready to spring when I passed the desks.However, that feeling vanished when we entered the office suite.
A huge chocolate cupcake with an unholy amount of frosting sat on the desk in my spot.Miranda looked up from her place beside my chair and steepled her hands under her chin.
“Please tell me you’re not mad.”
I grinned at her.“I’m not mad, but you might be.I’m going shopping with Mom and Grandma today, and you’re stuck guarding Bennett.”
She pouted.“Can’t I go shopping too?”
“You can take Wrenly out tomorrow if she’s feeling up to it,” Bennett said.
Her expression lit up.“Deal.Go have fun, my little cublet.And if you can’t find anything to buy for yourself, feel free to shop for me.”
I shook my head at her and turned to Bennett.
“No yelling and no making people I like cry.”
“What about the people you don’t like?”Miranda asked behind me.
Bennett’s smile was there and gone as he focused on me.
“Don’t come back with a new injury,” he said softly.
“I make no promises.Life is rough.”
With a wave to both of them, I made my way back to Mom’s office.
The women from the elevator were already spreading word about what we’d said, and the hostility was more subdued as they realized the enormity of what was at stake.If the Wulfs pulled their support, a lot of families would be hurting.Was their biased hate worth it?The majority would look at their quality of life and decide it wasn’t.A few families who decided it was might leave the pack on their own.
I wondered how many females would still try to challenge Miranda in the hopes of getting rid of me.
Mom’s office door was open, and Grandma was sitting in her chair, talking to her.Both looked pretty serious until they saw me.
“How did you sleep last night, my little Wren?”Grandma asked, standing to give me a brief hug.
“Pretty well, actually.My interactive body pillow kept my arm elevated all night.”
Grandma laughed and allowed Mom to steal me for a hug.She breathed in deeply and pulled back to look at me, confusion and hesitation in her expression.
