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“Says the niece of the Vanderwood director.”

My fist clenched.

Why did he have to be right so often?! And why did he smell so damn good?!

I held my breath. The tingling grew more intense, spreading through my stomach which felt like a garden of flowers producing intoxicating essential oils. Or was it the gentle almond scent with a masculine note?

No, Emely. Miles doesn't smell good. His perfume smells good.

“I'm impressed that you ventured here,” Miles distracted me, and now I had to look at him. A mistake, because his close side profile contributed to the stupid butterflies in my stomach migrating further up into my chest. “Who will protect you from the evil vampires?”

He peered at me as we entered the open double doors of the law firm. Our eyes locked, robbing me of any ability to think clearly.

We stopped. And he stepped closer.

“I would love to play bodyguard for you, but unfortunately, I am one of your enemies.”

I couldn't hold my breath any longer. The moment his masculine scent washed over me, my knees began to tremble.

What the hell was wrong with me?

“I don't need a bodyguard,” I managed to force out, my voice firm and determined.

A spark flashed in Miles’s eyes.

“Even the strongest among us need someone to watch their back.”

What he said was true for the leaders of our families, but not for someone as secondary as me. In situations like this, far away from the pack, I was on my own and still had the duty to fight for the interests of the pack. I protected.

“Mr. DeLoughrey, Miss Copeland.” Miles and I turned around at the same time. “I'm glad you're both here!” Mrs. Hudgington smiled in our direction and waved us over. “Please follow me.”

I looked at Miles one last time, and he gestured with his hand to indicate that he was letting me go first.

Everything about losing sight of him and knowing that he had an unobstructed view of me bothered me.

Nevertheless, I continued to move, not without giving him one last withering glance, and followed Mrs. Hudgington through the grand entrance hall, adorned with fine paintings of downtown locations.

Instinctively, I checked the corners of the paintings and discovered, on almost every one, a V above an R.

Suits Theme

Christopher Tyng

“Miss Westcode is already here,” Mrs. Hudgington informed us as she held open a door leading to a spacious conference room with a large table.

My enthusiasm sank to rock bottom when I spotted the blonde girl in the white business suit.

Vivienna took an inaudible but visibly theatrical breath, rolled her eyes, and gave me a disapproving look.

I decided that I wouldn't let this girl ruin my day and sat down at the other end of the table. Unfortunately, Miles followed me, only to take a seat diagonally across from me.

“I'm sorry, Joana,” a soft voice said, and I looked up, alarmed, toward the door, where a slim young woman – perhaps in her late twenties – wearing black sunglasses, was entering the room.

She was dressed in a black tailored three-piece suit with a vest and white shirt – just like Miles – paired with a felt coat and fedora hat in the same color, black pumps, and a briefcase.

With her hand covered by a black glove, she removed her fedora hat, fully revealing her black hair, which fell in soft waves to her shoulders. The dark, deep red lipstick stood in stark contrast to her pale skin.

She took off her sunglasses, revealing her turquoise-green eyes.