\[Rosco’s POV\]
“Is there something important you’re waiting for?”
Frowning, I examine Charlie as he smirks at me. What the fuck was he doing, giving me that creepy face? Doesn’t he know he looks like a damn creeper?
“Don’t look at me like that,” he chuckles when I grimace, not bothering to hide my disgust. “You’ve checked your watch at least a dozen times since lunch. You must have a hot date with your wife later, don’t you?”
“Something like that.”
Even though I didn’t have a date per se, we did have plans. Before leaving for work, I offered to take her out to dinner since she seemed a bit off due to her piece of shit-ex calling. To my surprise, she declined my offer and insisted on cooking for me instead so that we could just stay in and be together. Of course, I didn’t decline since I was curious about just how good of a cook my wife truly was.
“You’re whipped, dude,” Charlie chuckles. “Someone just needs to mention your wife, and you become a fool.”
“You’re just jealous,” I counter, giving a stretch. “Now gather those files and follow me. We have a meeting, remember?”
According to my father, this client was important, and I wasn’t allowed to fuck things up. It wasn’t like that would happen, but he never missed an opportunity to show his distrust of me.
Shaking off my annoyance, I stand and motion for Charlie to follow me out of the office and toward the meeting rooms where our mystery partner will be waiting.
When we arrive, I put on my friendliest face and step inside, but immediately stop in my tracks as I take in Nadia, who is sitting at the table with an expectant look on her face.
“Why is it you?” I snap, suddenly feeling like I was set up. “Is this some sort of trick?”
“No trick,” Nadia counters. “I’ve recently started opening a new bed and breakfast,” she continues. “Your father was more than happy to work with me.”
“Then shouldn’t he be here having this meeting instead of me?”
What the fuck was that man thinking? First, he forced me to marry, and now he was pushing Nadia and me together, did he expect me to have multiple women surrounding me?
“It hurts me to see you so upset over my presence,” Nadia pouts when I don’t move. “Can’t we move on from that time?"
“Charlie,” I hiss, ignoring her entirely. “You can handle this, correct?”
“Of course,” Charlie responds. “But what will your old man think?”
“I’ll know soon enough.”
Not waiting for a response, I turn on my heel and make my way toward my father’s office, then barge in. To my surprise, he is giving me an expectant look, and I know he is aware of what has happened and is waiting for me to show.
“Why?” I demand, storming forward and slamming my hands on his desk. “Why the fuck did you assign me to handle the cooperation with Nadia?”
My father was well aware of what Nadia had done in the past. Hell, he even helped clean up the mess when word was leaked, but now he was actually expecting me to work with her.
“This is your own doing,” he chuckles, leaning back in his seat. “You were the one that got yourself photographed with her in Italy,” he points out. “So what better way to fix the problem than to announce a cooperation?”
I prepare to argue with his reasoning, but in the end, I know that it is actually a good reason. Especially when Denali’s reputation was on the line.
Fuck, this was frustrating. Denali and I were getting along very well, and when the new moon ball come in a time, it would either be confirmed or denied that we mates. I want any strain between us or any doubt on Denali’s part.
“How long?” I ask slowly.
“Pardon?” My father says, raising a brow.
“How long is she here for?” I push. “And where will she be staying?”
In the past, when Nadia and Harold visited, they would always stay with us, but would that be appropriate given the current situation?
“They’ll be here until after the new moon ball,” my father responds. “And of course they’ll be staying with us.”
“Of course.”
I was beginning to truly wonder if my father wanted to ruin my marriage before it even got a chance to get anywhere. After all, that was the thing he was best at, ruining any fucking thing that may bring me the slightest bit of happiness.
“I’ll be staying at the beach house with Denali until they leave,” I announce, straightening myself out.
“Rosco,” my father hisses, but I simply turn and head out, where I find Nadia and Charlie standing.
“Did you enjoy eavesdropping?” I ask, not bothering to beat around the bush. “I don’t know what you’re planning,” I continue, fixing my gaze on Nadia. “But you can go ahead and forget it. If you so much as appear in front of Denali, I will ruin you and your pack, understand?”
“Rosco,” Nadia gasps, her eyes growing wide. “How could you possibly..."
“I don’t have time for your act,” I snap. “You can discuss any details with Charlie; he will be the one overseeing this cooperation. I’ve got other things to worry about.”
Done speaking, I turn and head out for the day while disappointment flares up in me. I truly looked forward to what Denali would prepare for the evening, but all of that would have to wait. I wanted to get her and myself out of the mansion before Nadia made her appearance.
When I reach my car, I pull out my phone and quickly dial Denali, then wait until she picks up, and a wave of relief rushes through me just from her presence on the line.
“Hello? Rosco? Is something wrong?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I let the sound of her voice roll over me. Goddess, how was it possible that just hearing her would bring me so much ease?
‘Mate,’ Fabian rumbles, beginning to stir.
Mate… By this point, I was sure that he was right, but I couldn’t possibly mention such a thing to Denali. I would have to wait for the new moon ball for all to be revealed, and until then, I needed to make sure that Nadia didn’t fuck shit up.
“Pack your things,” I finally say, snapping out of my bubble of calm. “I’m going to take you somewhere special for a week.”
“Special?” She repeats, the curiosity clear in her voice. “Where?”
‘You’ll see.”