Chapter Twenty-Four
KEAGAN'S POV~
That...That was Jessica's scent!
I blinked repeatedly. Various thoughts raced through my mind, causing it to whir like a machine.
Goosebumps crept along my skin and as she slowly slid her hands away, a strange sense of loss overwhelmed me. My gaze shifted between my hands and her small sarcastic smile.
"It's something...making an acquitance of you, Mr. Hall. I hope for a mutually benefitial relationship," The coldness of her tone contrasted starkly with her friendly words. Was I suppposed to know her? Why did she seem to fucking hate my guts already? And why the fuck am I seeing and hearing Jessica in every of her movement, despite Sylvia being the exact opposite of her in both appearance and attitude. Sylvia was an Alpha, that much i could tell from the thick pheromones of dominance she emitted. And those blue ices. So fucking cold whereas Jessica's held nothing but meek adoration for me. Was i finally losing my mind--smelling Jessica's scent in every woman that wasn't Emma?
Confused, my breath caught in my throat. My wolf emitted an angry growl, eager to take more of her scent again, but I clenched my jaw to prevent any reckless actions.
Hesitantly, I slipped my clenched fists into my pockets and focused my gaze on her. I had no idea if my eyes were deceiving me but there was this taunting glint in those deep green eyes of hers, additional to her scent that was beginning to make my brain turn foggy.
"Shall we begin, Alpha?" Hector asked, to which I gradually nodded.
Sylvia, as she was called, entirely ignored me while my Beta led her to the large table with documents ready to be signed.
"How long will this last?" she inquired, as she sat, crossing her slender olive-toned legs. Even if a gun was held to my head, it couldn't stop me from raking my eyes over her long red polished toe nails that peeked through the triangular cut in her heels. Sylvia reeked of confidence and sexual prowess. She reeked of Alpha, and it was sending my wolf into overdrive, wanting to establish who the hell had the power in the room! Fuck, this was a bad idea.
"Five years and three months, Miss Reynolds, but we can adjust the terms if you're uncomfortable," I heard Hector state, but every cell in my body was attuned to this strange woman who seemed to control the very air in this room with just a flick of her wrist. My wolf hated and loved it. In my psyche, my wolf shook out his fur, howling and growling in a mating posturing. The fuck?
The tips of my ears heated and I tried, but failed to look away from her.
Miss Reynolds agent leaned in to whisper something to her, causing her to pause before glancing at me. My heart momentarily stopped as our eyes met and held. Her expression exuded coldness and ruthlessness. My cock stirred in my pants...after being fucking dormant for eight fucking years!
Leaning away from her agent, she rolled her eyes and addressed Hector. "Three years and seven months. That's better. Other companies want me too," She declared, slowly settling back into the swivel chair, fingers resting lightly on her red-painted lips. Such lush lips.
"15 million dollars—I'll raise it to 20 if you agree to five years, Miss Reynolds." The words pushed through my lips before I could think them through. I tightened my own fingers around the arms of my chair, tension rippling through my shoulders.
The pesty agent gawked, mouth agape, then quickly regained composure upon realizing he had been staring. Sylvia turned to face me.
"Do you think I'm cheap, Mr. Halls? Why accept your exclusive offer for such whimsical income when others pay more?" Her eyes flashed red hot as she tilted her head, provoking my annoyance.
"Fine! 50 million dollars, Miss Reynolds." I snapped. Hector's eyes widened, knowing my thrifty nature. I typically only invested in crucial matters.
Though I could easily hire other models at my original price, something drew me to this woman.
Sylvia's agent discreetly nudged her, believing I wouldn't notice. My keen gaze observed the movement, and I suppressed the urge to react.
"Deal!" Sylvia proclaimed after a brief silence, her agent sighing with relief as my brows rose in response.
Her lips formed a smirk as she slowly grabbed the pen, ready to sign the papers. Suddenly, she stopped, her eyes focusing on the document, intriguing me.
She rolled her eyes, picked up the contract, and started reading through the terms. I looked at Hector, whose face revealed nothing.
"Here and here..." She slid the document towards Hector. Her apparent disregard for me was surprisingly frustrating.
What was wrong with me?
"It states I must leave everything for a photoshoot when called, which is ridiculous," she said, addressing Hector as "honey" and leaning in with a sly smile that made Hector's lips tighten. "I can't do that. I have appointments and plans. How can you assume I'll be free whenever? Who would agree to this nonsense?" she asked.
Before Hector could speak, she raised her palm to stop him. "Real question should be what if I'm on the process of fucking my man? He likes it rough and I think I would be so sore just after the session.”
Hector and Sylvia's agent instantly choked on their spit. They both coughed, hitting their chest to regain their composure while Sylvia gave them confused look as though she had no idea what she had said.
My expression entirely turned dark. I shouldn't care but it was so strange why there was this discomforting sensation spreading in my heart, which made a snarl erupt next.
“First of all, Miss Reynolds, this is an office and whatever deal we have here is entirely professional…” Sylvia turned to me with pursed lips while I intensified my glare. "And you should adhere to the terms as you'll be working with me soon. Despite your net worth, have some fucking manners. Nobody cares what you get into in your after hours."
"You mean fucking?" she shot me a lazy grin. "That's what i do in my aftter hours. A lot of it. You should try it sometimes. You seem wound tight like you've got a stick up your arse."
My fists clenched around the arm chair even tighter and it tingled with the urge to slam into the face of whoever Ms. Reynold fucked in her after time. How could she even talk to me like that? fucking internet celebrities with their unruly and cultureless behavior. From the details my beta had given me, I knew Sylvia Reynolds was the furthest thing from an internet celebrity. She'd walked on almost every runway in the world, but that didn't mean she was curteous!
"Let's have lunch to finalize our agreement, Miss Reynolds," Hector cut in before I could say something I would later regret, as the ever perfect Beta. I shot him a furious look, causing his brows to crease in confusion.
I stood, taking my jacket from the chair and turning to Sylvia, who eyed me as well. "You should join us for lunch, Ms. Reynolds. Where we can actually discuss business, rather than your bodycount." that was utterly unprofessional and fucking stupid. I expected her to lash out, but she merely shrugged, rising with her agent's assistance to carry her handbag.
Sylvia walked ahead as I led them towards the SUV. Hector took the wheel, while the agent claimed the front passenger seat despite Sylvia's insistence on sitting there.
We reached the pre-arranged tables, and my Beta escorted Sylvia's agent to a nearby table, leaving Sylvia and me to share one.
The waiter served Sylvia duck confit with a delectable sauce, while I opted for filet mignon.
I closely observed Sylvia as she hastily indulged in her meal, completely disregarding me as if I didn't exist. Unlike Jessica who was so shy to eat in the public or most times was guarded with the way she behaved in public to protect her image and mine, Sylvia was entirely opposite.
A stabbing sensation struck my chest on recalling my Jessica, prompting me to take a deep breath and look away. I forcefully pierced my fork into the salad.
“Mmh, so delicious." I heard her moan and my eyes snapped back to her. And just when she reached out to grab the red wine in her glass, my expression froze on seeing a mark on her arm.