Chapter 146
Chapter 146
Landon--
The lack of mechanical security is almost more intimidating than if there were eye scanners and vault doors everywhere. It somehow feels more like confidence than arrogance– like James knows his pack is so good that they could turn a cardboard box into a fort. I’m glad that Cora isn’t nitpicking with me anymore, but this wordless nervousness is almost worse. I don’t mind talking things out with her– when she’s nicer about it, anyway– but I would much rather be on good terms while we’re on outings like this.
I haven’t ever been to James’ office before, but it’s not too bad so far. I’ve known him for years, of course, and I know that no one here has anything against me besides whatever our pack is requiring from theirs. James can be scary, but he’s a good guy under that. He’s just weird. If you can get past the lack of small talk or patience for anyone’s bullshit, he’s always there when you need him. He did take a spur-of-the-moment road trip with Logan just because my brother was concerned about me, after all. There aren’t many friends that would do that for someone.
Cora is relaxing bit by bit as she hears my thoughts about James– I’m sure she appreciates the reassurance– plus, nothing actually bad is happening to us. We’re fine. She’ll be fine. This is really just visiting a friend at his work to help with a side project. No big deal. She shoots me a grateful look as the elevator doors finally fucking open, into an alcove with a stressed- looking guy behind it. When I catch his scent, I’m unsurprised to find that he’s a shifter as well. I don’t think I’ve scented a single human besides Cora here.
He looks up, then rolls his eyes. “Ah, Cora and Landon. You two are personally responsible for how fucked up my job has been lately. My name is Corey Edwards. I’ll let Alpha know you’re here.”
I just grin back at him as he jabs a button on his keyboard irritably. Cora is standing like a statue, determined not to let him get to her. Normally, I’d like to have a good connection with everyone’s staff, but I can see that it won’t happen in this case.
While I understand her not wanting to make it worse by trying to be nice to someone determined to hate her, I can’t agree. Watch and learn, kitten. I ignore her mental huff at me and turn my smile up another notch at the secretary. He hasn’t stopped button mashing, which I can appreciate. “That’s my bad, man. Was it just scheduling issues? I know anytime Logan went off script for his mate, Anna– Anna Carmichael, his assistant– would be up my ass to get him to buckle down. Didn’t work much, but I appreciate her trying everything.”
The guy pales right before my eyes. If I didn’t have a good nose, I would think he somehow bled out under his desk. He hisses his reply to me, like James might be on the other side of the door listening to our conversation. “Never say that name here, you trampling idiot. Are you crazy?”
I can’t help a reflexive look at my own feet, where I can’t see anything but tiles on the floor. Trampling…? I think he means to call up the image of a bull in a china shop. I guess bumbling wasn’t good enough. I appreciate the creativity. My mate– the love of my life and unending well of support.
Before I can think up a reply or defense for myself, the secretary shoots up from his seat and hustles over to James’ office door. “He’s expecting you. Remember what I said.”
Cora and I glance at each other, confused, but walk through the door together. We’ll have to talk about that later. Maybe Anna offended James somehow? My best guess is that Logan or Deek had her prank James at some point. It sounds like Deek behavior, but the guys swore off pranks long ago when Ollie’s mother called him crying about something Deek lied to a news outlet about. As the only one of us left with any living parents, he called a stop to all of it on grounds of being unable to get proper revenge. I can respect the decision.
James’ office looks like anyone else’s office, I guess. He has more monitors on his desk than most people, but it’s still just a computer on a wood desk. It’s almost L shaped, so he can have his battle station, as well as something he can lean over across from two leather chairs for guests. No Alpha office is complete without the intimidation factor, apparently. I’m not scared of him, though. “Hey James, what’s up?”
He’s not amused, but he never is anyway. “I have nothing for you today, Landon. Your presence wasn’t required for this meeting.”
I can’t stop my growl, and Cora rolls her eyes. “I tried. What questions did you have? We’ll go over those and I’ll get him out of here.” She talks a good game, but I can feel her urge to laugh underneath. My smile back at her is automatic, and I can see James actually roll his eyes in my peripheral vision.
“Clearly Landon is going to be a distraction. Please leave. Tell Edwards I said to grab you some refreshment.” Ugh. Forget everything I thought about James being a nice guy. The faster you head out, the faster I can get done with this meeting. Cora reminds me, and that’s what works.
I walk back to James’ door, open it, and decide to lean in. “Corey, my guy. Where’s the good stuff around here? Surely even James has whisky? Maybe Jameson?” I get scoffs from both sides of the door before I get it closed behind me and I feel my smile widen. I get my fun in when I can.