“Hello. I’m Ember. I understand you work for Lion Security?” I greeted the first gentleman warmly, hand out to shake.
The obvious alpha of their group, a tall black man with a bald shiny head, early thirties, almost seven feet tall, and built like a WWF star, glanced down at me. He had on a grey suit that had to have cost a fortune to have specially made for his hulk size and shiny black shoes and a diamond earring in one ear. His deep brown eyes moved up and down my person in a deliberate examination of distaste. He didn’t shake my hand. I wasn’t surprised. That’s why I had picked him to say hello to first. I can be ornery, too.
The retro punk man in his mid-twenties reacted a smidge different. He wore a suit of sorts, too, but more along my style—black tight jacket, white striped button up with an extra thin, black tie, black dress pants, and shiny black dress shoes withred flames of the tips. He had black hair that was streaked with red lying on one eye and a tiny black stud in his nose. His eyes widened behind his black, horn-rimmed glasses at my arrival, his survey something else entirely.
He moved in front of the rude alpha and shook my hand with a firm grip. A lot more firm than I would have expected for his frame. But, up close he was taller than I had first assumed – or it might have been because he had been standing next to the giant moments ago.
His voice was deep, but had a soft tone to it that was pleasant to listen to when he stated, “Yes, we work for Lion Security. Zane said there would be someone here to meet us, but…” He trailed off giving me another looking over. “I’m Bastian, or Bas. Whatever you prefer.” He gestured at rude alpha. “This is Peter.” He glanced around the lobby. “Chloe’s around here somewhere.”
He didn’t seem to realize he was still holding my hand, so I gently extracted it as a blond ponytailed woman elbowed her way from behind Peter. I had lost track of her, too, back there and got my first up close look. She was sexilicious and tough rolled in an, apparently, maddened ball. I vaguely wondered which of the crew had hired her.
She was probably my age and her straight hair hung short from her hairband, so it was most likely just past her shoulders. She was only a few inches taller than me, but her body was toned to perfection and her chest was at least double mines size – all natural. She had green, catlike eyes, button nose, and stained red lips that were so plump it looked like she had been kissed long and hard. She wore tan dress slacks and a sleeveless white blouse that draped down the front, accentuating her lush curves and showing off her two-hour-a-day workout body to best effect. Her heels were low and sensible. I wasn’t positive she waspleased to be dressed as she was, but she rocked the comfortable business wear.
She huffed in irritation as she heaved her bulky bag higher on her shoulder, finally looking up after fighting with the strap. Her eyes opened so wide I was pretty sure I could see all of the white. Shock was evident.
But, I’ll give her this much. She cleared her throat, and schooled her features a lot faster than most, grumbling, “They keep losing me behind the runt.” She rolled her eyes. “It does make eavesdropping easier, though.” She grinned and we shook hands. “I’m Chloe. Did you say your name’s Ember?” I nodded. “Awesome name. How about we go upstairs? I can’t wait to get rid of this bag.”
“Oh, of course,” I babbled and jumped at my rudeness. “Sorry. That looks heavy. Do you need any help?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “This bag weighs more than you do, toots. But, thanks for the offer.”
I held the door of the elevator while they loaded everything inside. And there was plenty. I briefly wondered if we were going to exceed the weight limit. Blessedly, it only bounced a bit before moving into motion. And it didn’t stall between floors. Yippie!
“So who are you? And what are you doing with our bosses? There was supposed to be two of you. Where’s the other one?” Peter asked rapidly as the elevator lifted.
Okay. So I think it was going slower than normal, but it kept on climbing. Oh, wait. Did rude alpha actually deign to talk to me? Or, more like, interrogate me?
I glanced at Chloe and Bas. Chloe shrugged, but Bas looked just as interested in my answer, even if he mouthed “Sorry” for Peter’s impoliteness. These people were nosy.
I sighed. What the hell was I supposed to tell them? That I was just along for the ride since I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life? That Ally had followed me to get somedisturbing answers? That I’d had sex with two of their bosses, both of which had slept in my bed last night? That my family had cost their new client millions in backhanded business practices?
I glanced at myself in the elevators mirror. I had on my ballet skirt, as I liked to call it. It was black and super short and made in layers of mesh that laid softly – underwear were a must, unfortunately. I had paired it with sheer black thigh-high, striped pantyhose. Garters that hardly showed. Black fuzzy leg warmers and my black converse. My top was black with silver skeleton hands that were position over each breast as if the dead were copping a feel from behind me. I had a black hoodie I was planning on wearing with it if I got cold.
Again. I didn’t really mesh with these people other than Bas.
I decided to go with the lie that Brent had formed. “I’m an employee of Lion Security. I’m an…analyst, I guess you could say. And there are two of us. Ally’s up in the penthouse.”
The elevator doors opened and we carted everything out. Chloe hadn’t been lying. There crap was heavy! I ignored the look of distrust that Peter wore the entire time. The rest of his questions could wait until we had everything inside. I, also, ignored Bas’ gaze. His weren’t exactly distrustful with where his brain had so obviously drifted to.
Ally was introduced to the three new arrivals. Peter seemed to approve of her. But, I guess he would. She was dressed much like Chloe. I’ve never understood why everyone would want to dress just like each other. Flavor! Give me flavor!
Once Peter seemed sufficiently at ease that both of us weren’t just like me, he asked me bluntly, “You said you work for Lion Security?”
I nodded. Luckily, Ally didn’t argue. She’s great at going with the flow. She nodded, too, even though she hadn’t been asked. Good.
“I haven’t heard of you and I’m in charge of new hires.”
“It was kinda last minute.” I shrugged and sat on a dining room chair.
“Uh-huh. And you’re an analyst?”
“Yes.”
“What of?” he continued, his dislike never disappearing.
I didn’t bat an eye. “People.”
“People?” Suspicion was writtenallover him.
