Chapter 13 Poker Face
Owen's POV
I never expected to see Quinn again after we broke up a year ago. It was me who made the breakup.
As I passed by the elite neighborhood in the city center, I accidentally smelled Quinn's scent, which is similar to vanilla, sweet and addictive. And because of my initiative followed that smell, I finally could make her sit in the passenger seat.
I'd almost giving up because for a year now, I'd been looking for Quinn, but never found her. People used to say that no matter if we're in the same city, if our time with that person is over, then we'll never see them again even if we want to.
I thought that would happen to me and Quinn, but it turns out we met again. Which means, I'm sure our story isn't over yet. Especially since we'll work at the same place.
But somehow I smell something off between Quinn and Grayson. I mean, this is the first time a therapist doesn't work for a team but an individual. Well although that's totally possible, why does it has to be Quinn?
Besides, as a fellow Alpha, I roughly knew what other Alphas like Grayson were like.
"So why are you working personally for Grayson and not for his team?" I asked curiously.
Quinn shrugged her shoulders. "I needed the money."
"How much is he paying you?"
"I can't say. That's confidential stuff that can't be mentioned to anyone else."
Ah, that must be fantastic.
However, I knew Quinn was very realistic. If she accepted Grayson's offer, it meant that her salary was more than from the team salary, which is also a lot.
"Besides, no one wants to work with him for long. Maybe even me," Quinn continued.
"Why is that?"
Honestly, although Grayson's family and my family are quite close because Grayson's family's company needs my family's law firm, personally, we've never met. So I thought that if I knew more about him, I could have an idea of what my rival was like.
Why do I consider Grayson a rival? Because I think he's also interested in Quinn. I don't know, my gut feeling says that.
"He's quite temperamental. Well as you know on the rink. He's like that." After that Quinn adjusted the neck of her jacket. And that's when I accidentally noticed some kissmarks there.
I guessed right! There's no way their relationship is just coworkers. It had to be more than that.
Just the thought of Grayson hiring a female massage therapist explains everything. Supported by the rumors that he always denied whenever he was rumored to be close to a woman.
Oh shit! I lost my start with Grayson.
"Thank you," Quinn said. She immediately got out of the car without waiting for me to reply.
I caught up with her and lined up my steps with hers.
When we entered the arena, everyone's eyes were on us. Because it turned out that the players had just come out of the breakroom and headed down to the rink.
And of all the players, there was Grayson among them.
Grayson looked over to my side, where Quinn stood frozen. Then a second later, he saw me. His gaze turned sharp. Even Roan, my wolf, became alert and smelled danger.
No doubt he was pissed that I was with Quinn.
But that didn't mean I was afraid. I was just curious to know more about the man who was so calm at family gatherings but ferocious at the rink.
That's why I hugged Quinn from the side. While not taking my eyes off Grayson, I spoke to Quinn, "will you help show me where the management room is?"
Quinn nodded. "Follow me."
I followed Quinn. She led me to a room with transparent glass walls. Then she stopped and turned around.
"You can meet all the staff here except the coach because he's at the rink most of the time," she explained quickly. After that she was about to leave but I held her hand back.
"It seems Grayson doesn't like his therapist being around other men." I tried to express my opinion to see her reaction.
Quinn sighed. "He just doesn't like strangers coming in when his team is practicing."
"But I'm not a stranger. He knows me."
"Grayson knows you? How... oh is it because you've worked together before?"
"Our families rather," I corrected.
"Ah, I see. I guess you guys don't know each other so maybe that's why Grayson seems unfriendly."
For some reason based on Quinn's answer, I felt like she was trying to hide something.
While there are two possibilities that I can conclude, either Quinn is Grayson's fated mate or because Quinn would trade herself for money.
But there's no way Quinn is Grayson's fated mate. Because Grayson did not make a public announcement.
So it makes more sense for Quinn to sell herself. Especially since she's dating me, she's been working very hard for her brother's expenses. Maybe she was stuck in debt or was tired of working at several places at once. So she took a shortcut which was to become Grayson's personal therapist.
Now it all made sense. Because that's the only way Quinn can earn a lot of money quickly.
But I still don't understand why it has to be Quinn out of all the women I think Grayson can buy.
With his current position, Grayson could point at any woman with his fingertips and they would line up for him. As for Quinn, I knew damn well she wasn't one of those women in line.
"Our family companies need each other," I replied with a faint smile. "By the way, are you free tonight? I'd like to take you out for dinner. Think of it as my gratitude because you showed me this room."
"I have to-"
"I won't force you to forgive me. We can start things over slowly," I added before Quinn refused.
"I can't."
I furrowed my brows. "Do you still work at that bar?"
"Quinn works for me."
Quinn and I immediately turned to the source of the voice. While Roan snarled when he smelled the Grayson wolf whose name we didn't know yet.
"She works for you at night?" I asked to confirm.
Abruptly Grayson is next to Quinn and hugs her shoulders from the side just like I did earlier. "I think my answer is obvious, Mr. Drew."
"Yes, but why?"
"Because she's my therapist."
"I know. But why did you ask her to work at night? How many hours are you working her? Are you exploiting Quinn?"
I waited almost a minute for Grayson to answer. And I thought I'd get the answer I wanted. But instead he fueled the fire.
"Unfortunately our contract is confidential. Third parties have no right to know." Grayson then looked at Quinn who looked very tense. Then a lopsided smile appeared on his face.
Ace. His wolf finally spoke to Roan.
That was Grayson's wolf name. He introduced himself as Ace. Cold and untouchable.