Chapter Five
Erik sat in his office, trying to push all thoughts of the pretty blonde out of his head. He’d been lucky there wasn’t time for Leif to question him about the encounter, but he knew that his luck wouldn’t last. Eventually the meeting would be over, and he would have nowhere to hide from the interrogation.
He couldn’t really explain what had come over him. He’d growled when she licked her lips, and if Leif hadn’t shown when he did, Erik wasn’t so certain that he wouldn’t have taken things to the next level.
That was the last thing he needed. Sex at the office never went well. Women wanted more than a good time, and that was about all he was willing to give.
More than a few women he’d had fun with through the years had been angry to find out differently. They likely hoped to nab a successful husband at the office.
Erik stifled a snort. It wasn’t like he could only run the business with werewolves, which meant none of those women even understood the true problem. If they knew just what and who they would be marrying, he seriously doubted they would have lasted five seconds into a conversation about dating. He’d shift one time, and they’d head for the hills, screaming their heads off.
Not that Erik wanted a wife. This life he led, the life that all his fellow werewolves led, wasn’t one he wanted to subject a woman to, not with what happened to his own mother.
Erik shook his head. For now he just needed to focus on what was in front of him and on the things he had control over. It was the only way he could make sense out of their world.
"I can’t believe I’m staring at her after all these years," the old woman said, and smiled at him from the other side of his desk.
He knew the tastes of his clients well, but the look on her face told him this wasn’t just a painting to her. It meant something far more personal. She caressed the outline of the woman’s face on the painting, almost as if meeting an old friend.
Erik nodded to himself, satisfied. This acquisition was different than the other items she’d sent them looking for. Simpler.
With most clients, he could pick out a style or feel they were going for. With Ms. Decoux, there was always something very mysterious about the pieces she collected, some small detail that he felt like he wasn’t seeing.
Some charms, a few paintings, vases, and wooden jewelry boxes long since past their prime. Still, a job was a job, and she was paying.
Plus, he liked her. She was sharp and wasn’t afraid to hide it. And not a vampire. Always a plus.
"So happy we could be of service," Erik said, and smiled at her.
The old woman stared at him for a moment. He wasn't quite sure what she was looking for. Whatever it was, she seemed to find it and gave a small nod.
Ms. Decoux stood carefully with the help of her niece. The shorter woman barely said anything at the meetings and always seemed to predict what the old woman needed, likely from years of helping the elderly woman.
Unlike her aunt, the younger woman always dressed very plainly. No bright colors and certainly no jewelry. The only thing that even tied the two together as being related where their black hair and ice blue eyes. Even still, the niece wore glasses that distracted from her colorful eyes.
"Send in the payment, Sofie," Ms. Decoux said.
Erik watched as the small woman pressed a few numbers on her phone before his own vibrated. He glanced down. His account had been updated with a large sum.
Sofie picked up the painting and slid it into a plastic bubble wrap sheath.
"I think this is the last time I will come visit here," Ms. Decoux said. "Next time you will send someone down to me."
Erik arched a brow, slightly surprised by the abrupt change. The old woman had made it very clear she wanted none of his men coming to her home. Still it was her decision, and he was happy to comply. Given the amount of money she offered, a little home delivery wasn’t a problem.
"Of course," he said. "Whatever would work best for you."
The two women made their way to the door that Leif held open. The older woman stopped and stared at the bearded man in the doorframe. It was like her eyes could see right through him.
"A caged animal cannot fight its nature," she said quietly. "Some paths are not ours to choose. We just follow the path that destiny has laid out and hope for the best."
Erik’s neck and shoulders tensed. Did she know what they were? There was no way. Besides, even if she did, he imagined she wouldn’t be so calm. Or telling them to make home deliveries for that matter.
The day had gone from strange to a whole basket of crazy in about five seconds. Erik half wondered if his grandmother had put her up to this but knew Nan would never reveal the family secret. She would keep it until her last breath.
"I will, um, keep that in mind I guess,” Leif said.
He glanced over to Erik who offered him a shrug in response.
Sofie gave a slight nod to both men before helping her grandmother into the hall. She carried the large painting tucked under her arm.
"I'd be happy to help you to your car," Leif said.
The old woman batted his hand away. "I'm not feeble, I'm just cranky," she huffed loudly.
Leif stared at her for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. Erik could see he was trying hard not to break into a laugh.
"Well, have a good day then, ma’am," Leif said.
They watched as Ms. Decoux and her niece made their way toward the elevator and climbed on. Without even thinking, Erik let his eyes slide over to where the pretty blonde from before was sitting, her desk being on the way to the elevator. She twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers as she nervously tapped away at the computer.
Instantly he felt the pull on his lower half, a powerful need that he couldn’t seem to avoid when she was near. He only barely bit back a growl.
Erik pulled his eyes back to the elevator door and found the old woman staring exactly where he had been. A strange, eerie feeling replaced the lust. It settled in the pit of his stomach as he watched the old woman.
Their eyes met across the room, and it was as if Ms. Decoux knew just what he had been thinking. Erik opened his mouth to say something but stopped as the door slid closed between them.
He slumped down into his seat, willing his eyes not to find the pretty woman once again. Something about her made him feel so strange. Whatever it was, he didn't want to think about it at the moment.
Leif stepped into the room and sat in the chair across from his desk. "Well, that was interesting.”
Erik ran a hand through his hair. Interesting pretty much summed up the whole family. Over the years, he'd done research on the strange Creole family going by the Decoux name. On the outside they seemed to have a long-running history of good standing in the community, but every so often there was mention of some oddities within the family. Nothing that set his radar on full alert, but enough that he knew they had to be more than what they came off as, and in a world where vampires and werewolves roamed in the shadows, that could have some serious implications.
"Wonder what she meant by all that?" Leif said.
Erik shrugged. Whatever his gut said, her actual words seemed like a lot of nonsense that he'd heard mumbled by one old person or another. There was no reason to spin up Leif or himself with concerns about Ms. Decoux unless they knew for certain she was something more than just an old art lover.
"Maybe it's dementia," Erik said, and shrugged. “Or she read it on a fortune cookie. Who knows?”
Leif raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "That old lady has more going on upstairs than most people combined. I seriously doubt she’s losing it."
They both sat quietly thinking over what she had said. It was both on point and perplexing.
Once again, Erik’s gaze slid over to his newest employee’s desk. This time it was empty. He’d need to close the door to concentrate soon.
"Seems Ms. Hot Cocoa has caught your attention,” Leif said.
Erik frowned at the other man. "I ran into her in the hallway," he said. “Twice.” He shrugged.
Leif nodded. The smug smile on his face was only pissing Erik off.
"Seems to be happening a lot today.” Leif shrugged.
Erik sighed loudly and shook his head. "She’s a menace," he said. "First time she ruined my shirt, and the second time she threw papers at me. There's nothing hot about that."
He jumped when a small voice came from the door.
“I, um…”
Erik looked up to find the exact woman they'd been talking about standing there, file in hand, her face red.
Shit. More perfect timing.
"Margaret asked me to bring this to you," she said quietly.
The small woman made her way into the room and placed the file carefully on his desk. Her hand trembled as she did. A deep shade of red covered her cheeks.
Guilt washed through him. He'd been an asshole for no reason, and she'd heard him. It was easier to blow off his own lust at her expense.
"Sorry," she whispered softly.
The woman rushed out of the room and back over to her desk. She sat with her back to him rigid.
Leif eyed Erik, and he shrugged.
“Close the door, damn it,” Erik said.
Leif rose and did so. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“Yeah, sure.”
The embarrassed look on the woman’s face and her rigid posture stuck in his thoughts. He decided he’d do his best to not leave his office for a bit. There was no question in hiss mind, he was an asshole.