Page 121 of Unclaimed Bonds
I switch on the light, it flickers twice before it remains lit. The large Mahogony desk in the center of the room is cluttered with piles of untouched documents. The crumbling shelves that hold books are covered in dust and spider webs. I let out a sigh. When I use to come here frequently, I would clean for her and ensure her home was tidy. I haven’t been here for three years. It’s obvious no one else was available to handle the upkeep and cleaning. I locate a trash can and start clearing up the desk.
Several hours later, pages and numbers blur. A knock at the door startles me. It slowly opens, and Sixes winces. “It’s seven am! Don’t tell me you were up all night working on pack business.”
I glance back down at the papers in front of me. “Then, I won’t.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Are you going over the financials?”
“Yeah. I honestly thought I was walking into a stable but moderately low financial situation. But…” She comes around the desk to peek at my numbers, which I transferred to a software program that Justin designed.
She whistles. “I did not see that coming.”
“Me, either.”
She cocks her head to the side and taps her thumb against her leg. I can see the wheels turning in her head. “Have you broken down the numbers—what you can use for housing, repairs, pack allowances, the school?” I click a button and show it to her. She laughs. “Damn.”
“What do you think?” I ask.
She puffs out a breath. “I think we should upgrade the place. There is more than enough money for it. I think the pack will appreciate it. Build new homes for the existing pack members with larger families, and fix the current ones for the new singlemembers. Build a training facility for the guards. Maybe even upgrade the tea plantation, work on marketing. With that kind of money, the opportunities are endless.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I also have the entire seventh territory. We can expand into that area, even look at other business opportunities for the pack.”
She bobs her head, as if listening to a beat only she can hear.
“It’s like a blank canvas. I even put money aside for investments, and I…” I almost say I will talk to Justin to start a stock market portfolio, but then I remember I’m not supposed to talk to him anymore. “I also have my own money that I can use to expand into other business ventures, if I need.”
Sixes studies me. “Yeah. We can sit down and work on a plan. I think we should start with upgrading the place and finding you a mate.”
I don’t want to fight about the mate thing anymore so I hum in noncommittal agreement.
“Oh, shoot! I forgot. The reason I came in here was to let you know you have a guest. He’s waiting in the dining room.”
“He?”
“Yeah, so go get ready. Please wear something presentable.”
“Seriously? This is my home.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, but you are an Alpha now. You know what? Forget it. I’m going to lay out some clothes for you to wear. I planned to send your things down so they should arrive today.” She’s out the door before I can respond.
When I finally make my way to the dining room, freshly showered and dressed like an Alpha according to Sixes in a lavender long sleeved silk blouse and high waisted dark wash jeans complete with high heeled ankle boots. Gary, my parents’ public relations guy, sits at the table. He’s maybe my parents age, if I had to guess. His dark blonde hair is slicked back with some greasy hair product. He’s dressed in navy slacks, a lightblue, short sleeved, collared button-down shirt, no jacket, the knot of his tie sits high against his throat. I envision myself tightening his tie, and choking him with it until his eyes bulge out. I had to get dressed up for him. Really? He frowns into his cup.
“Good morning, Gary. Is there something wrong with your coffee?”
He doesn’t even bother to look up at me and grumbles. “I’m just sitting here, wondering why I’m drinking coffee out of a teacup.”
I sigh and plop down in a chair opposite him. “I just got here, Gary. The previous Alpha didn’t drink coffee.”
“She could have at least had a cup for the coffee drinkers who stopped by.”
“Except she never offered it. Why are you here, Gary?”
“I’m here at the request of your parents. I was told to meet them here. I guess I arrived early. You should try it sometime.” Begrudgingly, he sips his coffee.
“Gary, if you continue to talk down to me like I’m some prepubescent, lazy-ass teenager, I will hand you a paper cup with your coffee in it and shove?—”
“Sweetheart!” My mother’s voice rings through the dining room. “How was your first night in your territory?”
I narrow my eyes at Gary and stand to greet my mother. She draws me in for a hug. “Good. Everything has gone well. I didn’t expect to see you,” I admit.
