Around break time at work, I was heading to deliver files to my boss aka Darius when I caught Darius and Audrey. Their hair looked like nests, and the elevator smelled warm and yucky. Darius helped Audrey gather her hair neatly.
"Daphne! Don't you play with Boss Darius? He's irritating me!" Darius was pulling her hair to which she exaggerated a pout. I was dying internally.
"Liar. I only play with you and you're not irritated." I rolled my eyes, placing the heavy files down by my feet. Darius pinched her cheek and was whispering something inappropriate, thinking he was sleek.
"Daphne. You should join us for lunch." I turned to Darius slowly, he refused to meet my eyes. In seven years of working together in the same building, Darius never invited me to sit with him for anything. He always kept me on my toes as Beta.
"Sorry. Got work." I said, walking out of the elevator.
"Your files—" Audrey was about to remind me when the elevator shook vigorously.
"Brother Darius!" Audrey held his shirt, almost ripping it off. I crouched down until the tremors stopped. I caught Darius comforting the 'traumatized princess', while I was the one who suffered from diagnosed claustrophobia.
We spilled out of the elevator. Darius asked me if he could drop me home. But before I could even reply, Audrey conveniently shut her eyes and collapsed.
Panic struck Darius like lightning. He scooped her off the floor, carefully putting her in the backseat and shooting off to a hospital.
Fetching my phone barely functioning from the cracks, I hailed a drive back home with difficulty.
The next day, during recess, Darius mysteriously dropped off a truffle cake at my desk. I was doomscrolling just then when I stumbled upon Audrey's new post.
-Having someone to love you like boss does is a beautiful feeling. Blessed as ever!-
"Really, Darius?"
Audrey's post boasted a broad collection of Swiss delicacies, all bubblegum or vanilla flavored.
"Well, thank you for this. I need to overlook some documents now." Saying, I left the half eaten dessert on the table to Darius. Suddenly, he caught my wrist, "Daphne, you're being too polite. What's wrong?"
I turned to fetch the letter for his signature. But when I turned back around, he was already gone. In my messages, he left a note to meet him after his discussion schedule.
I deleted the text and hurled the dessert box in the trash before going to the HR to submit my resignation. By standard procedure, I'll be allowed to leave after finishing my tasks due up to the week.
I was drinking with other pack members after work when Darius called. A male pack member answered and quickly gave the phone to me.
"Why aren't you home, Daphne?" Darius let out a low growl.
"Hmm...out." I replied, slightly tipsy.
"I know where you are. Im coming to get you." He ended the call abruptly. My happiness vanished into thin air.
I watched the pack members disperse and waited against closed shutters of the shop. Darius never showed up.
I checked our group chat and found a male hand hovering over Audrey's in her new post. I wasn't surprised.
Booking a cab again, I went home for the day to resume looking for apartment spaces online. Then, I took and shower and slept.
Around 2 am, Darius hovered over me, trying to wake me up.
"I'm hungry, Daphne. Wake up and make me some fried rice." His voice was as cold as the snow, but he sounded tired and worn out too. Darius hated anything with MSG. The fried rice I make and he loathes has tons of it. I quickly realized whom he wanted to feed.
Stirring up the dish quickly, I passed the cover to Darius.
"Anything else Audrey likes? Popcorn? Mimosas?" I watched Darius roll his eyes.
"That's it. Thanks." He fished out a few bills and placed it on the TV table. I scoffed at it.
Eight years ago, I encountered a rebellion group which was notorious to demoralize werewolf girls in campus. Had it not been for the Alpha's son to kick their butts, I didn't know what could have happened to me that day at school library. A bowl of fried rice seemed like a pretty reasonable exchange for saving my life ten years ago.
Before he could leave, Darius caught my wrist which made me wince. His gaze fixed on my burn wound, now healing up at an exceptional rate.
"I'm sleepy." I reminded him of the bizarre timing of his food request.
"Yes." Coldly wording out, Darius left quickly. But I didn't miss the softened gaze he was looking with over my burn.
