Page 17 of Knot Now Knot Ever

“None of that matters. She’s not on the board. I should know as I am,” the man snapped. “I can tell you right now no one will believe your outrageous allegations. It’s your word against mine, and I know none of the other members will vote against me when the accusation is coming from a nobody.”

“I see, then it’s a good thing I’m not a nobody,” Eli countered.

About ready to blow his top, the man squared up and crossed his arms, trying to make himself look as big as possible. “All right then, who are you, Mr. Somebody?”

Eli reached into his suit pocket and produced a business card. “I’m the man who owns this entire building. Now you have two choices… apologize to Lyra for your rude and unnecessary comment or be served with an eviction notice by the end of business today. I will not allow my Omega to live in the same building as a man who would treat a complete stranger with such disrespect.”

The man’s eyes went wide as he looked from the card back to Eli, then over to me. “I-I’m so sorry. Sometimes my mouth gets away from me. It was wrong of me to comment when I hadn’t even met you.”

“It’s okay. We shouldn’t have been acting like that in the hall,” I assured the man, worried Eli might actually kick the man out of his home.

“Consider this a warning, sir. There won’t be a second chance,” Eli stated, staring the man down.

When he was satisfied his point was well taken, Eli slid an arm around my shoulders and guided me to the elevators. I was still a little shocked at the whole interaction, being a person who tried to avoid conflict whenever possible, making my hands shake slightly. Eli rescued the drinks from my grasp and pulled me into a one-armed hug.

“I’m sorry, my petal. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Eli murmured, kissing the top of my head. “One thing I cannot stand is people disrespecting those I cherish.”

Hearing his sincerity, I believed him, and for the first time since my fathers died, I felt protected.

We left the building and entered a waiting black town car without further incident. I’d been a little surprised when Eli joined me in the back seat, but I quickly noiced there was a driver dressed in a simple black suit. It made me realize that when Eli said he’d never make me feel uncomfortable in the car again, he meant it. No one would think twice about me being in the back seat if I were using a car service.

“I didn’t know if you were a coffee person, so I ordered a chai, hot chocolate, latte, and just plain drip coffee,” Eli said, drawing my attention to the drinks he was still holding on to.

My jaw nearly fell into my lap at the sweet, thoughtful gesture. “I would drink any of that, so if there’s one you don’t like, I’ll take it.”

Eli studied me for a moment before speaking. “Lyra, if you were going to order a drink from a coffee shop, what would your choice be?”

“Is it morning?” I asked. “I’m not trying to be difficult, but it truly factors into my decision.”

“Morning, before you get to work,” Eli specified.

“Then I would order a coffee, probably a latte of some kind, unless they have a micro roaster they work with. I have to limit my caffeine intake, so I prefer to indulge in something worth savoring,” I answered.

Eli removed a cup from the tray and handed it to me with a contemplative look. “I’ve never heard of a micro roaster before, but what you’re describing makes me think of how people talk about craft beer.”

Cradling the cup in both hands, I enjoyed the warmth radiating from it. “Oh, that’s a rather good comparison. Micro roasters make small batches of artisan coffee, experimenting with all kinds of things to create something unique.”

I took a tentative sip, not wanting to burn my tongue, and discovered he’d given me the latte. It was rich and creamy with a wonderful bold espresso.

“I have sugar if you like,” Eli shared, watching me test out my drink.

“No, this is perfect,” I assured him. “Thank you for doing this. I forgot to set the timer on my coffee machine, so this is a welcome surprise, especially when I’m your assistant and should be doing things like this for you.”

Eli removed another cup and set the tray with the remaining drinks on the floor before settling his full attention on me again. “I know you’ve been training while I was gone and were brought up to speed on things. One matter I would like to make crystal clear is you are my Omega first and foremost. This means that no matter what, you will be treated differently than anyone else in my life. It’s obvious to me that for you, working is important, and I don’t plan on fighting you on that matter. Selfishly having you as my executive assistant means I get to keep you with me all the time, and that is an Alpha’s dream. My office door is always open for you, and there are no secrets between us. All passwords, keys, and biometric access to locks will be given to you, no questions asked.”

He paused for a moment to let that sink in, and I felt my head nodding in acceptance, though I didn’t fully grasp what that meant. After taking a long pull on his drink, he continued, “Even if you weren’t my Omega, Lyra, you’d never be asked to fetch me coffee. My executive assistant is my right hand, the person who stands next to me when dealing with matters, not behind me. Your time is far too valuable to be wasted on running silly errands. Emily is in charge of three employees who deal with any tasks Declan’s or my team might need taken care of. Any questions so far?”

“Not that I can think of,” I murmured, feeling a little overwhelmed. My mind raced as I came to terms with the collision of my personal and work life.

Would everyone hate me when they found out I was his scent match? What if they assumed that’s why I got the job and feel as if I stole it from someone else?

Eli’s hand cupped my cheek, and I flinched, not realizing he’d reached out. “Take a deep breath, my petal. Everything is going to be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

It wasn’t until he pointed it out that I noticed I was starting to hyperventilate. Closing my eyes, I breathed in slowly and was soon lost in Eli’s scent. I let it carry me away from my fear and panic as if it were a lifeboat. Arms wrapped around me as my nose brushed against his skin, causing me to open my eyes and find I was nuzzling his neck. Mortified, I tried to pull away, worried what the driver must think of me.

“Don’t move, Lyra. Stay right where you are,” Eli ordered, a slight growl in his tone that made me go limp against him. “You have every right to seek comfort from your Alpha whenever you need it. I don’t give a damn what’s going on, where we are, or who we’re with, I will never turn you away.”

My hand clutched his suit jacket as the need to weep in relief rolled over me. How long had I been waiting to hear someone tell me that? Not only say it, but mean it, and have me believe every word of that promise deep in my bones. For the first time, I felt the spark of hope ignite within me, showing proof there was a reason to keep fighting for happiness.