Chapter Two

CONNOR POV

iPhone ringtone

I groan trying to reach the annoying sound ripping me away from my sleep.

Incoming call

Rebecca Stone

I blindly swipe the button

"Connor?" I hear softly on the other end. My hair standing up

"Rebecca? what's wrong?" I rasp out my voice husky from sleep

"oh....im so sorry...nothing oh shit you were sleeping...shit shit shit I'm sorry for waking you"

I sighed at the sound of sadness in her voice.

IDIOT WAKE UP! Fenris rumbles in my head almost taking control

"no no no don't be sorry I'm awake "

"you sure?" say asks hesitation in her voice

"yeah its fine I promise" unintentionally I go to push some of my aura threw the phone to soothe her.

She's human idiot it wont work Fenris grumbled

"want to go get some breakfast with me? I feel like I haven't eaten in days"

food now?, I don't even know what time it is

5:22 am damn I over slept, guess it is time for breakfast

"sure where to?" I said trying to sound more awake as I sat up in bed to see the skyline a light blue/black color the sun just starting to rise up in the sky.

"well there's a Starbucks here in Kent by the bank can you meet me there?"

Kent? rubbing my eyes I realizes she's asking me to drive over an hour away. wait why is she not at home?

"something is wrong " Fenris presses

"yeah sure uh why aren't you home? something happen?" masking my concern

"oh yeah I'm fine I just didn't sleep well and well honestly this is the area Dorian and I were looking into, well you know I'm sure he told you all about it....I just like it here...anyways can you make it? if not I understand it's early and you have mee-"

"its okay Rebecca I'm on my way don't go anywhere I'll be there I promise"

Kris never disappoints I guess, she made sure to bring me up to Rebecca and I'm sure gloat no doubt. Unfortunately for her she has no idea that Rebecca and I have formed a type of relationship over the past 10 years, it may be small but there is one.

"yeah yeah okay see you soon"

"see you soon"

Click

why is she over an hour away from home in the place

Hmm something is wrong I'm telling you, I know women he chuckles

yeah well I'm sure you can read Rebecca like a book then huh?

Fenris grumbles at my comment stalking back into the dark part of my mind lurking like always

as I get up to get dressed my phone rings again

Incoming Call

Natalie Vega

"yes?"

"Good Morning Mr. O'Neill I was just calling to see when you'll be in the office today Martin was emailing me late last night saying he was going to Uppsala and wont be back for a few days while he is handling the Andersson Account"

"yes I remember did he say weather or not he was able to book the flight for the correct days or are we going to have to negotiate more on the terms so they don't back out?

"no he didn't say if the days changed I believe he said he was able to get it a day before the 7th so we should be right on track to closing "

"perfect make sure that he keeps us informed if he needs anything and also have him call me later so I can discuss some other matters with him"

"Okay and yes sir I will be sure to tell him right away. Also Mr. Romero's assistant has not returned my call to confirm his 10'oclock appointment with you, what will you have me do?

"I will get ahold of him shortly"

"Understood I will leave that to you, Is there anything else I can help with this morning?"

"That should be all for now, Thank you Natalie"

"Of course!"

click

I managed to get dressed partially while on the phone except for my tie which I decided to go without leaving the top few buttons undone showing a small amount of my talisman chain around my neck.

I head to leave my bedroom and bounce down the stairs, I can feel Fenris is excited about meeting up with Rebecca.

I can smell Leo outside the door, I wonder if he ever leaves

"Good morning Alpha "

"Morning Leo ill be back at around at some point today I'm heading to meet with Mrs. Stone"

"Ah I see, ill keep in touch"

"Thank you Leo"

I head to the elevator press the button and it dings immediately and I am hit with all the smells of everyone that's ever walked into this metal trap. I step in and that's when I decide I want my own elevator, after all I cant be buried with all this money. I write a quick email to Natalie about the elevator situation and another to Romero asking where his sly ass is today and if he will make it to our meeting this late morning or if it needs moved. He is good with real estate and knows how to get his hands on some of the best properties is a big reason why I keep him around, that and he is funny as hell and makes meetings less dull when he's around.

The final ding to the garage and I walk out and click the button for my Aston and hear it chirp as I walk over to it, I open the door climb in as I make the engine roar to life.

I'm so glad they didn't stop with the first model car, it was really exciting watching the world pick and prod at the ideas over the years and to end up here. Nobody can truly appreciate how far evolution has climbed

damn I love cars! I put it into gear and tear out of the garage.

The drive is just under an hour when I pull up to the Kent Starbucks, I see Rebecca's Cadillac CTSV parked across the street and I know she's been here awhile by the slight fog on the inside of the window. I park my Aston in the front of the shop, lock it and walk threw the front door. In the small shop its strong with coffee grounds. Rebecca is sitting in a brown chair in the corner of the building the soft light from above hitting her hair making it look like thick fire spilling over her shoulders. My breath catches in my throat the second I see her.

"Get it together" Fenris growls at me

she has earbuds in probably listening to music while waiting for me to show. her grey sweater, black skin tight pants and sneakers makes her look like a college student and my groin throbs in response to where my thoughts go as I'm quickly admiring her in a few short steps. as soon as she sees me she jumps up from her chair

"CONNOR! Thank god your here"

"Hey, traffic was light so it was luck"

"ha if you ever needed luck Connor! seriously just Bec and I'm so glad to see you, I couldn't stand one more damn minute at my house, I should just come crash at your place again seriously" she motions to the chair in front of her handing me a cup with my name on the side. I take a sip before bending and placing my cup on the table against the window between the chairs off to the side and I cant hide my smile over her remembering my exact coffee order. I take my suit jacket off and fold it over the back of the chair and take a seat while rolling up my sleeves to just below my elbows, that's all the further they will roll up my forearms.

I'm tempted to invite her to my place to stay while her mother and sister are in town but then Kris will be pressing to come over with her staying with me and I think it would be weird saying only Kris cant come over, even though I could just keep her locked away with me. I smile bigger at the thought of it. Rebecca notices and gives me a look over her coffee cup.

"DO it pussy" My brows shoot to my hairline at how vulgar Fenris is in her presence, I drop my smile and run my fingers threw my hair letting out a breath and rubbing the same hand into my jaw when I realize Rebecca was still looking at me surely she seen my eyes change because of Fenris. I pull a small smile at her one that tugs the corner of my mouth

"what's so funny hot shot?" she says between two sips of her hot coffee

"HMM? me?" I say cheekily a small smile at the corner of my mouth

who else Idiot

"Nope the tall handsome man over there I've been checking out" she nods her head to the left of her

"she thinks that guy is handsome?!"I can feel Fenris roll his eyes at her while stalking from front to back of my mind

"Oh ha ha ha" I say dryly.

"well what's got you looking as if you know something I don't?"

"oh it was just about a meeting I have today"

she hates when I bring up work, and I make sure to use it to my advantage.

"so..." I say and give her a lets get down to business look. and just then my groin twitches again. knowing they were Fenris's ideas I push them away

Pussy he Grumbles at me

"what's on your mind this morning?" as I'm looking at her I see her eyes go bright, so bright I feared for a second she would set fire to the room we were in

This place sent her right back when we got coffee last and now I know she was living for a moment as if life was normal, that Dorian was still alive, that they were house hunting in Kent and the Winery business they started over 2 years ago was thriving they sunk everything they had into this place to get it and of course as Dorians best friend I had a hand in making sure their endeavor didn't end in a giant dumpster fire. Sure they had high operating costs for the first 8 months while they renovated and brought it up to code but they added rooms for an Air B&B that they would fill almost every day of the week honestly that move changed it all for them, I watched from the sidelines like I always did in Dorians life. 4 weeks prior the three of us met up for coffee and conversation and they excitedly told me everything while Rebecca sat next to him he watched her adoringly holding her hand while she confided in me all of their trial and errors over the past year since I made my self scares and hardly reachable. Most phone calls and texts I ignored until he would snap and command to be let into the penthouse a command Leo could never fight. weeks ago Dorian was alive, living his best life with Rebecca.

Dorian was an asshole who kept a lot of shit from his wife, more than he ever should have. but ultimately he made her happy and in her blinded happiness she never knew his secrets and he never knew that it would all come to a quick halt in a short time. I looked at her a little more and seen that she was pulling herself together as fast as I was watching her fall apart.

she looked at me our eyes flickered as if Fenris was taunting her to let him in. She doesn't look away and I almost ask her if she knew what she just seen. She clears her throat and takes a sip of her coffee, I do as well and that's when I faintly hear her:

"pull yourself together Bec and just tell him".

Again I felt a smile touch my lips but quickly I smacked it down not wanting to insult Rebecca while she was trying to show strength. Waiting for her to tell me whatever it is she was nervous about.

"Connor the loan you gave us for the Winery I want to pay you back when it sells and also I would be most grateful if you took the check I wrote with interest and keep it until I sell The Tangled" she let out a breath that she was holding using it to push her words out. I could smell her fear.

She wants to pay me back? I was not expecting this, I had assumed she knew I invested in their company since that's what I do mainly, having a hand in every business in the city makes it hard for anyone to do anything without my say so. And we like it that way.

"Oh" I said genuinely surprised. NOT a business proposition but a demand to take my money back. Does she know that my investment was a 33% stake in the company? she has no idea she cant just sell the Tangle without the buyout of my shares. I don't like to assume because it makes an ASS out of people but I'm going to assume she doesn't remember that in the event Dorian did pass on he put in his Will (one she had pushed for I might add) that his shares would be split between Rebecca and I. I know she was beside herself with grief but she was present sitting threw his will reading nodding after being told she got everything except the shares, which I was totally fine with. Besides the entire time I had been helping Dorian in all the business aspects while she did her thing to make fruity great selling wine. I sat there for a moment really contemplating how to explain that I now own 49.5% of The tangled and to not upset her by insinuating anything negative against her, when she spoke again with some information is when we changed our mind I need her to know we are not to be fucked with. ever.

" Also I have had my lawyer draw up an agreement for you also I'll need you to review this agreement pretty quickly because I have two offers from interested parties pressing for a quick sale so I can let the tangled go to more capable hands and I am sure you want you money back"

oooh bad move baby. never ever ever disclose outside interest while your trying to negotiate a deal. that's like rookie move 101 of what not to do. ALSO make sure your not negotiating with the other owner ALSO, this also word I'm going to use to my advantage with her right now.

She has no idea what we are capable of he snickers and I cant help but embrace his rumble in my chest at her challenge and my eyes narrow on her, No she has no idea what we are capable of..

as I continue to look at her she can clearly see I am thinking about her "offer". I flick my eyes away and take a sip of my coffee but when I return my gaze to her this time I know looking back at her Fenris is now forward and I can feel my eyes have changed to reflect his presence. My face is set like stone and her face pales. I sit back in the chair and let my legs stretch out a little longer my knees almost touching her in her chair closing the space between us without ever moving from my chair, I put both arms relaxed straight on each arm rest my forearm muscles twitching ever so slightly as I stare at her. before I speak I remind Fenris to let my voice be forward and not his gravel filled deep spine chilling one I know would send her flying threw the shop doors.

"Rebecca I am pleased your trying to negotiate terms with me, and honestly I'm a bit impressed at the work you have put into this to get a result in your favor. BUT I am afraid your efforts have been in vain because I assure you I wont be taking any money back from you as Dorian had made it a condition in his Last Will and Testament that in the event of his death his shares would be divided between us for The tangled Winery since you were present for the Will reading I'm sure you remember that now. So with that we have both been made equal shareholders. Also I've done a Company Valuation and the shares are worth $6.3 Million which I do not plan on selling. ALSO as I'm sure your now aware you will not be able to make a deal with anyone else but me since I own half of the company BUT I am prepared to buy your 49.5% half of the company for $6.3 Million since your wanting to sell and I have no interest in letting it go anytime soon.

my eyes narrow as I square my shoulders I can feel heat radiating off of her as her scent fills my nose I also smell something else

Your turn red Fenris whispers

if I've ever learned anything in my life it was business. I know how to get the results I want and if that doesn't work we just take it anyways. I have a bachelors degree in Business Science I mean I am built for deals like this.

as fast as bending a book so its pages whoosh closed I see Rebecca's past present and future but I'm unable to absorb any of the images that flashed, this is not possible with a human not without making physical connection with them anyways...

I wasn't even touching her.