Chapter 10

Claire's POV "To your new job!" Jennifer clinked her glass against mine, her smile wide and genuine. "And to telling Adrian to go screw himself—indirectly, at least." I laughed despite myself, taking a sip of the rich red wine. We'd chosen a quiet bistro downtown for our celebration, far enough from both VM Group and the usual werewolf hotspots to minimize the chance of running into anyone I knew. After the week I'd had, anonymity felt like luxury. "I still can't believe you got the job," Jennifer continued, cutting into her salmon. "And at VM Group, no less. That place is practically werewolf royalty." My emotions were more mixed than Jennifer's enthusiastic toast suggested. Yes, I had a job—a very well-paying one that would cover my father's medical expenses with some left over. But the circumstances... I couldn't stop replaying that scene in Theo's office. "You should have seen Adrian's face," I said, swirling the wine in my glass. "It was the first time I've ever seen him not get his way." In our three years together, Adrian had been accustomed to the world bending to his will—restaurants finding tables despite being fully booked, exclusive clubs welcoming him without reservation, professors extending deadlines without question. The perks of being the heir to the Crescent Moon Pack's Alpha. I had mistaken this special treatment for confidence, charm... even love. How naive I'd been. "I really thought I was going to get fired on the spot," I admitted. "When Adrian demanded it, I was sure that would be it." "But Daddy dearest didn't give in," Jennifer grinned. "I wish I could have seen it." Theo hadn't just refused to fire me—he'd dismissed Adrian's tantrum completely. "He told Adrian that if he wanted to start making decisions about VM Group personnel, he'd need to demonstrate his capabilities first, not just rely on his last name and that he'd deal with everything.." The memory of Adrian's face—shock followed by outrage—brought a small, vindictive smile to my lips. He'd stormed out, practically vibrating with fury, while Theo remained impassive, unmoved by his son's display. "That's a beautiful thing," Jennifer sighed contentedly. "Finally, someone put that entitled jerk in his place. And from his own father, no less." I nodded, but anxiety still churned beneath my temporary satisfaction. "But I'm still not sure where I stand. Theo's so... difficult to read." "Theo, huh?" Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Not Mr. Valmont?" Heat rose to my cheeks. "Mr. Valmont at work, obviously. But it feels weird to call him that when discussing... you know." "The fact that you propositioned him before discovering he was your ex's dad?" Jennifer supplied helpfully, taking another sip of wine. "Thank you for that reminder," I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. "As if the situation wasn't mortifying enough." "So what's he like as a boss?" Jennifer asked, mercifully changing the subject. "Is he still as hot in a business suit as he was in that club?" "Jennifer!" I hissed, glancing around though no one was paying us any attention. "What? I'm just asking the important questions here." I sighed, unable to prevent the image of Theo in his tailored suits from rising in my mind. "He's... professional. Completely professional." Almost too professional. Since that first day, Theo had maintained a careful distance. In meetings, his gaze never lingered on me longer than necessary. When we passed in hallways, he acknowledged me with the same polite nod he gave every employee. The man who had been gentle with me at the club, who had kissed me with such intensity in his penthouse, seemed to have vanished—replaced by a detached, impersonal boss. "His first directive to me was about VM Group's strict policy against office romances," I added, trying to sound casual. "Apparently, it's grounds for immediate termination." Jennifer's eyes gleamed with interest. "Now why would he feel the need to emphasize that right off the bat? Unless..." "Unless nothing," I cut her off. "It's a perfectly reasonable policy, especially given our... history." "Hmm," Jennifer hummed, unconvinced. "And how do you feel about working directly for Adrian's hot dad whom you've already made out with?" I took a larger sip of wine than intended. How did I feel? Confused. Grateful. Anxious. And something else I was reluctant to examine too closely. "It doesn't matter how I feel," I replied finally. "He's my boss, he's way older than me, and he's Adrian's father. There are enough reasons." "Age is just a number, especially for werewolves, and being Adrian's father actually seems like a plus at this point," Jennifer countered. "As for the boss thing..." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "You could always seduce him." "What? No!" I spluttered, nearly choking on my wine. "Did you miss the part about the strict no-romance policy?" "Policies are made to be broken," Jennifer shrugged. "And from what you've told me, there was definite chemistry between you two before all this workplace complication." I shook my head with a wry smile. "You have no idea how distant he's been. The Theo I met at the club, the one who was kind to me at his penthouse... he's gone. Replaced by Mr. Valmont, CEO, who looks through me rather than at me." This change saddened me more than I cared to admit. After just those few brief encounters, I had developed a genuine attraction to Theo—not just physical, though that was undeniable, but to his unexpected gentleness, his quiet strength. The way he had helped me when he had no obligation to do so. "He's already done so much," I said softly. "He gave me a job when no one else would. My father's medical bills are covered now. I can't ask for more." "Claire," Jennifer's voice turned serious. "The man clearly has feelings for you. It's ok to want something for yourself. Not because of Adrian or your father." "Or maybe he just feels guilty about what Adrian did," I countered. "Maybe this is just his way of making amends for his son's behavior." Jennifer looked like she was about to argue further when a sharp, arrogant voice cut through our conversation. "Move, you bitch! This is my seat."