Chapter 14 14
Cameron's POV
“Boss, you've got to see this.” Jacob intoned as he walked into my office, holding an iPad in his hand
I leaned against my chair and grunted. “What is it this time?”
He handed over the iPad to me and my expression turned grim. It was a display of malicious comments against Sheila, her picture was posted with a disheartening and infuriating caption.
Sheila Trent, a nobody who's spotted with the most powerful men on earth, years ago was rejected by her mate for infidelity and disowned by her own family but now resurfaces, living a luxurious lifestyle without any confirmed legal source of income, is she really who we think she is or some vixen parading the society hunting for innocent lives?
There were thousands of negative comments on the post, some containing claims that Sheila had been caught sleeping with their mates. Another mentioned that she knew Sheila from high school and apparently, Sheila always passed because she slept with the teachers.
I banged my fists loudly on the table, trembling with anger.
“Who did this?”
“Our men traced it back to a struggling blogger who lives in the basement of his mother's house. Luna Athena hired him.” Jacob revealed.
I grit my teeth in anger, my mood has been spoiled. I had begun the day with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart because I had a romantic dinner with Sheila over the weekend, and a happy breakfast with her this morning before kissing her and leaving for work.
“Does Sheila know about this yet?” I asked, suddenly worried she'd be discouraged by the backlash.
Though she is strong -spirited, things like this will only remind her of the ugly past and scandal is tantamount to trouble for anyone who had just begun to climb the ladder of leadership in the business world.
“I have no idea, I've tried reaching out to Delilah to see what she knows but she isn't picking my calls, she isn't replying my text either, one of our men informed me that apparently, she's in a meeting with some investors and wouldn't be done for another two to three hours.”
I clenched my fists and pushed away the Ipad, slamming it loudly on the table. “Have our men take it all down and let's pay a little visit to our little friend in the basement shall we? Keep tabs on Sheila, it's best if she doesn't know about it. How long has this been posted?”
“It was posted around midnight, I guess the bastard waited knowing fully well that today being a Monday, it will generate a lot of buzz.” Jacob replied, clenching his jaw.
“What's the social media implications? Don't answer that, turn down every interview or paparazzi concerning this.” I told him, dismissively.
“Okay boss, I'll get going now.”
He turned around swiftly and began to leave, I called out his name, causing him to pause halfway.
“That bastard who posted this, get the car ready in twenty minutes, I want to see him and I expect that this would no longer exist on the internet.” I demanded, suggestively.
He nodded in agreement. “Of course, alpha.”
I watched him walk away and I sprung to my feet, I snatched my phone from the table and dialed Sheila's number.
You have reached the voicemail of Sheila, please leave a message-
I hung up and grunted, frustrated. Her line was redirecting me to voicemail. It gave me some comfort that she wasn't reachable, it meant she hadn't seen the comments.
‘That little wench!’ I cursed as I remembered that Athena was the culprit behind it all.
Jacob walked in.
“Boss, the car is ready.”
“Good, let's go show this loser why no one messes with me.” I snarled, menacingly.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at a homely house and if it wasn't for the fact that Sheila was my mate and I don't joke with family, I would turn around and forgive the scheming bastard because his poor old mother was sitting at the porch, knitting a sweater.
Jacob went ahead and asked for her son and she welcomed us with a warm smile, she called for her son and he yelled back at her. I motioned to Jacob and he nodded, understanding the assignment. He went inside for a minute and came out with the unfortunate bastard who had a horrific smile plastered on his face.
“Mom, I'll be back in a minute, okay? I've got to talk with these men.’ He informed his mother and she gave her consent.
I sat in the car and Jacob led him to the car as well. We drove off and alighted at a warehouse, all through he was shaking uncontrollably and sweating profusely.
“Get down!” I growled.
He got out of the car and I did the same. I didn't ask him any questions before I landed a blow on his face.
“That's for lying against my mate!”
His nose broke and it began to bleed. He fell on his knees and began to beg for mercy but I slapped him so hard, he was flung against the steel walls of the container.
I motioned for Jacob and he carried the boy, tied him up, upside down and dangled him over burning coals. He screamed in pain, feeling the heat.
“Please I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your mate, Luna Athena promised to pay me a huge sum if I posted it. Please have mercy on me, I'm all my mother has left.” He cried.
“You should have thought about your mother before ruining someone else's reputation.” I spat, angrily. “Now you'll learn the hard way.”
I turned around and began to walk away, ignoring his screams and cries.
“Don’t hurt him too much, just peel off his fingernails and get him home safely, also, take good care of his mother, put her in a nursing home if need be. I'm going to see Sheila, just to make sure she's alright.” I instructed Jacob, using the mind-link.
“Yes boss.” His sharp response came.
I got into the car and the driver drove away.
“We're going to my mate's company but first, make a quick stop at a floral shop, I need to buy her some flowers.” I instructed in a firm tone.
“Yes boss.”
Half an hour later, I rode in the elevator going to the fifth floor, a bouquet of dandelions, violet roses and orchids in one hand, a box of chocolate in another and a wide smile on my face. I hummed softly to the tune playing in the elevator, tapping my feet to the rhythm. I glanced at my wristwatch, Sheila should be done with her meeting by now.
I had some of my men clear the way before me because I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries so I encountered absolutely no one on my way. The elevator bell dinged and the door opened, I stepped out and headed straight to Sheila's office, I could hear her voice as I approached and it only deepened my smile.
‘Mate!’
My wolf growled as her scent filled out subconsciousness.
‘Not now buddy, soon, we'll mark her but today, let's have lunch with her and bring her flowers.’
“Do I have any other appointments for today?” I heard Sheila ask Delilah who quickly glanced through her tiny notepad.
“Yes ma'am, you're to have lunch with Pandora Accessories CEO's wife to discuss our collaboration with her fashion line in preparation for the grand opening of a new line of diamond accessories her husband's company is launching.” Delilah informed her.
“And when is that?”
“In about twenty minutes, she had insisted on sending her chauffeur to convey you to the restaurant. He should be here any minute.”
“Good, because I'm starving, Delilah-”
“Delilah cancel all her appointments this afternoon because she'll be having lunch with me instead.” I interrupted, staggering into her main office, a grin plastered on my face.
Sheila's eyes instantly lit up, seeing me.
“Alpha Cameron.” Delilah greeted, respectfully.
I majestically walked up to Sheila and she sniggered, letting out a short laughter.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, your majesty?” She announced, faking a bow.
“Just thought of bringing pretty flowers for a pretty girl like you. Chocolate?” I flirted openly, offering her the box of chocolate.
She slapped my shoulders playfully. “Delilah is here!”
“Delilah doesn't care.” I responded then turned to Delilah. “Delilah, do you care?” I asked her.
She shook her head vehemently, stifling a giggle.
“No I don't, as a matter of fact, i was about leaving to cancel the dinner, I'll inform the chef you're around.”
“No need, I already ordered a special lunch for my special woman here, should be here any minute.”
Sheila cocked her hips sideways and shook her head, amused by me. “Who said I agreed to having lunch with you?”
“Are you saying you're planning to reject a pretty boy like me?” I teased and she blushed.
Delilah cleared her throat and made a flimsy excuse to leave.
Sheila walked back to her desk and sat on her chair, offering me the seat just opposite hers. “Did you have to show up with such a cringe gesture?”
I cackled. “You call it cringe but you can't deny that you love it.”
She was about to speak when Deliliah popped in, a two men trailing right behind her.
“Your lunch has arrived.” She announced.
Sheila gasped in bewilderment as she saw the emblem on their custom made dress and the signature on the container of the food. “Sheila's Celeste! You order food from my restaurant?”
“I ordered food from your restaurant, you're welcome.”
They unpacked all the dishes they brought and left right after. Sheila couldn't hold back and began to dig into the food, filling her mouth with a bit of everything.
“Slow down tigress, you'll choke at this point.” I joked.
“You have no idea, how hungry I am. All through the meeting, my mind was fixated on what I'd have for lunch!” She muttered, her mouth filled with food.
I let out a low chuckle and wiped off the stain left by soup smeared across her lips. She offered me a piece of lobster. “Want some? It tastes really good.”
“Go ahead and have your fill, I'm afraid the food won't be sufficient for the both of us.”
“Don't be ridiculous, it's enough to feed an entire pack!” She exclaimed, dipping the lobster in sauce then shoving it in her mouth. She moaned softly at the sweetness and I flicked a finger against her forehead. She pouted and looked at me with teary eyes.
“You’re only allowed to make that sound if I'm inside of you, don't you dare go around in broad daylight seducing me like that.” I cautioned.
She almost choked, hearing my words and I handed her a glass of water.
I happily watched her eat, fed and teased her as well. When she smiled, she smiled with her eyes and it made my wolf go crazy with happiness and desire. She was oblivious of the scandal that I averted for her and I meant to keep it that way, her laughter is a treasure that I intend to protect by all means, for the rest of our lives.
“Arghhhhhh.” She groaned as she belched loudly.
“I'm full!” She yelled, slightly.
“You ate food large enough to feed a pack.” I teased her and she threw a pen at me.
We both laughed at this and I kept on teasing her, I ate little of what's left since I wasn't really hungry. I got a text from Jacob, notifying me that the job was done so I sprung to my feet and made Sheila stand as well.
“You've had a good meal, its time for you to rest, let's go home.” I told her.
She tsked and shook her head. “There's still work to be done and-”
“There's a reason I made you the boss, let's go home.” I interrupted her.
“Camero-”
I cut her off as I swept her off her feet and headed for the door, ignoring her kicks and protests.