We had just arrived at my office and my guys nearly tore Derek apart when he pulled me for a dance. Maybe I should have told them more about my co-workers but honestly, I didn't expect us all to be here right now. I thought that just Vincent would come with me and I could handle him. I'm glad Katie was here, if not there could have been needless carnage.
Kia claps, “Well, now we don't have to worry about losing the magazine. So boss lady you've been missing since right before that gala you got invited to. Any certain reasons?” she asks as a sly smile crosses her face.
Derek, who can always sniff out a story says, “We read the article, but based on your present company and the fact they looked like they wanted to drain me dry while we danced, there's more to it.”
“Guys, let her enjoy her life as we all know that she’s earned it. She can enjoy a getaway when she wishes. She sends in her work without me having to remind her of deadlines,” Rick said in an effort to deflect their suspicions.
Brandon smirks as he looks at me, “Well, beauty with brains is hard to find.”
Sam looks at me with adoration, “Not if you know where to look.”
I blush and giggle. I would love to kiss him right now as his gaze begs me to do just that. But I can't, however, I do know that I can show him that I appreciate another way, “I did get some great shots of the lake at your place. I think I'll use it for my next story on water nymphs.”
He chuckled, “Surprised you aren't doing one of fairy tales like Snow White existing.”
I grin at Sam, “Give me time.”
“So boyfriend?” Kia asks. I know that she won't let up so I have to explain a bit.
“Just kinda happened,” I say.
“Wait!” she exclaims as she pulls up an article…my article. “Memorizing eyes pulling you in as you are lulled into a
euphoric state by a velvety voice coming from a ravishingly handsome yet arrogant man. She wrote about you Vincent didn't she?” she asks.
He laughs as he wraps his arms around my waist, “That she did.”
“Girl! Next party, bring me too!” Kia says as she fans herself.
Eric lets a sly smile show briefly, “We will see what we can do.”
“You were the host?” Derek asks him and Eric replies, “Yes.”
Rick looks at Eric and my group, “Well, I'm thankful you all met and that Eva convinced you to help.”
“My dear can be quite convincing,” Vincent says as he kisses the top of my head.
I need to distract myself from the growing pull and urge that I have to Vincent, “Although the package of skin
and bones looks convincing, it's only a mask, an illusion, disguising our true self which has no limitations. -Deepak Chopra”
Sam shakes his head, “You without limitations….”
“Dangerous,” Vincent adds.
I grin, “So don't cross me.”
Derek suddenly looks on with concern, “You mentioned Victor?”
“He didn't…” Brandon interjects.
I sigh, “God no. He didn't have a chance to lay a hand on me. These guys saw to that. He did make a fetal attempt to appeal to me, though.”
“Which you handled well,” Vincent adds.
I shrug, “Well, pretty easy when I have
such good allies and he had a slut with him.”
“He brought a chick when he came to ask you back? I knew he was a poser and scum,” Brandon said as he shook his head.
“Oh he didn't know I was there. He and Sam don't get along and he came to start a fight with him,” I said.
Sam grins, “I loved the look on his face when we walked in together too.”
I beam, “Priceless!”
Kia raises an eyebrow, “Oh really, and what were you both doing?”
I scoff, “We came back from a walk, geez Kia!”
“Oh her walks are quite interesting,” Katie says.
I know that she's comfortable with my co-workers, but I'm not ready to reveal to them. “Katie!” I warn.
Then I say, “You both need men so you will butt out of my love life!”
“You just got one and I don't intend to butt out anytime soon,” Katie says.
I facepalm.
“Don't look at me, she's your friend,” Vincent tells me.
I can't resist challenging him, “I'll make you and Eric babysit again!”
Eric smiles, “I quite enjoyed it.”
Vincent glares at him, “Man, don't encourage her!”
Rick laughs, “Now you see why I made her my partner, not only is she a talented writer but she has a way of getting people together and getting what she wants!”
As she looks at Steven, Kia says, “The young one's been quiet. What's your story?”
Steven turns to her, “I’m Sam's nephew. Eva helped keep a small group of bullies away from me.”
“Eva when was this?” Kia asks.
“Like a week before the masquerade,” I say.
She's trying to piece it together as she does our articles, “Then Sam tracked you down at the masquerade.”
“Just coincidence that we met that night,” Sam tells her.
“I don't believe in coincidence,” Derek informs us.
“True,” Rick agrees.
I have to redirect them, “Occasionally unrelated things happen. Well, I have to go finish research for my next story.”
“What on?” Derek asks.
This is my chance to hint towards what Eric wanted me to help with until I uncovered Victor, “Well I sent a draft of the one about the killings. I want to delve a bit farther. I just hinted at vampires but I'm going to expose a few truths about vampires. I'm naming the serial killer as a vampire.”
Kia says, “Well I can hold off on editing
your draft and wait for this extended part.”
“Or it could be released in two parts,” Derek suggests.
Rick grins, “I like that idea. Leave readers in suspense.”
Before I respond, I look at Eric and he nods, “Two parts it is!”
We say our goodbyes and then get into the car.
Vincent is quick to speak, “I really don't like Brandon.”
I touch his cheek, “My love, nothing has ever happened with him nor will. I don't mix work with pleasure.”
“He's hot, an ass but hot. If you didn't work with him?” Katie asks.
I know the answer, “No I'd rather choose Derek, but that would be a hot mess. He's way too much like me and I see him more like a brother.” I don't want my guys to feel threatened in any way.
“So if I'd ask him out?” Katie asks.
I joke, “Girl, you're single and I'm apparently an old married lady.”
I get glares accompanied by growls.
“Um, Eva?” Katie says nervously.
I look at each of my guys, “Guys, I know we are stuck together, but it feels like home now. I'm only joking about being single and old stuff.”
Steven says, “Good, because you already are married to my uncle. We all had the cake.”
I look at Sam as he speaks, “You knew exactly what it was, Eva.”
But I didn't, not fully, “I thought it was just a unity cake, not a wedding cake.”
He reaches over and squeezes my hand as he smiles, “It changes nothing really.”
“So it just matters to wolves?” I ask.
He nods, “Yes. If it were a normal relationship then it would matter to everyone but, you don't just have one mate. We can have a human ceremony if you ever wish to.”
“And I'm not a full wolf or even could be,” I tell him.
He squeezes my hand again, “That too.”
“This is so confusing,” Katie says.
I sigh, “I know.” Because I am living this convoluted puzzle.
Eric says to me, “Your coworkers are very odd.”
“How so?” I ask.
He gives me a look, “Very perceptive.”
Does he think that I should come out to them? “I still don't know how'd they react if they learned that most of my stories are steeped in truth,” I say.
He smiles as if to reassure me, “We will hold off telling them as long as we can.”
Eric is more sympathetic to me than I realized. I'm thankful for him, I truly am.
“So when are we breaking into the bank?” I ask.
“I doubt we will need to. They aren't too good with cyber crimes it seems. But if we do, it will be late tomorrow night,” Vincent tells me.
I laugh, “Okay, Batman!”
He shakes his head, “Don't tempt me, Catwoman!”
Sam throws his hands up, “I swear!”
I grin, “Oh, I can get you too!”
It's starting to get dark when we arrive at Vincent's to get ready. I don't know what to expect at this trial, so I will just prepare for the impossible.
——-Gran’s/Adele Fall’s POV—-
I am hesitant to reveal what I think Eva is. Yes, she looks like the White Wolf with those beautiful eyes and snow-white fur but it's not her. My family helped back then. Sam is part of that more than the others.He carries that gene.
So, am I surprised he brought home such a rare being for his mate? No, I'm not surprised, but her having multiple mates is what's surprising.
The White Wolf fated my family lineage to never die. Why we have always persevered. Why Sam survived what killed his parents and my mate. Simon was with me that night so I don't know if he got that gene or not.
I know that there's more to it, but I can't remember no matter how hard I try. It's as if someone is preventing me from it, but who?