Chapter 258 Flowers and Tension
<b>Leslie’s </b>POV
<b>81 </b>
Finished
A knock sounded at the office door before Adler walked in. His Alpha pheromones were ancient andmanding, like sandalwood incense, filling the room with a solemn weight.
“Leslie, n, I’m not interrupting, am I?”
I smiled. “You’re wee…”
But my words trailed off the instant my eyes fell on the bouquet in his hand— chrysanthemums.
My face froze with an odd, conflicted stiffness. n looked faintly surprised as well.
Adler carried an aura of maturity, steadiness, and mystery. The noble reserve in every movement of his hands seemed utterly ipatible with that tragic, funereal bundle of chrysanthemums.
What was he doing? First the son, now the father–were they taking turns sending chrysanthemums? Were they nning to send me off together?
<i>Maybe </i>it’s <i>a </i><i>Gold </i><i>Empire </i><i>custom </i><i>to </i><i>send </i><i>chrysanthemums</i>, my wolf Asphodel chuckled in my amused.
I didn’t ask. Courtesy kept me silent.
mind,
Adler, keen as ever, caught the flicker of my reaction. He gave a smooth smile, then tossed the bouquet onto the side table like it burned his hand.
“Eren asked me to bring it. He said you’d like it. But personally, I don’t think so.”
And just like that, he reached out to shake n’s hand, chatting politely as if nothing at all had happened.
Relief swept through me. Of course–it was from Eren.
I realized then that I actually missed him after these few days apart.
My mood lightened, and after a few more pleasantries, n answered a call. Two quick wordster, he hung up.
“Let’s go. Everyone’s here.”
When we entered the conference room, I stopped short.
9:20 Thu, Sep 18 G.
…
Chapter 258 Flowers and Tension
Kirby was there–personally.
<b>81 </b>
Finished
He sat in his wheelchair, but the raw power of a top Alpha radiated from him undiminished. His bearing was regal, unshaken, the kind of presence that ruled any room he entered.
I didn’tment on his presence. Calmly, I took a seat beside Adler.
The meeting went smoothly, just a brief face–to–face, over quickly.
Adler wanted to discuss further details with me, so the two of us left first, returning to the temporary office n had arranged.
As I turned to go, I could feel Kirby’s burning gaze following me–hot, possessive, and unrelenting on my back.
Kirby’s POV
I watched as Leslie and Adler walked side by side from the room, my eyes narrowing.
n smirked as he came up beside me. “Jealous already?”
I cut him a sharp look, my gaze cold enough to slice. “Where’s the new assistant?”
Adler was no threat. He had a son, and the entire werewolf world knew his devotion to histe wife. He’de to the northern continent only for duty, not personal entanglements.
But that new assistant clinging to Leslie’s side–that unsettled me.
n slipped his hands into his pockets, leaningzily against the table with a grin. “Well, well. The mighty Alpha of Crimson Moon Pack actually feels threatened?”
He beckoned, and soon enough the young Omega appeared–Cameron.
The moment he entered, he stiffened, overwhelmed by the sh of two Alpha pheromones flooding the room. He folded his hands before him, his posture bent slightly in submission.
“Alpha, Mr. n, did you need me for something?”
I remained seated, silent and cold, but my Alpha pressure pressed down like an invisible.
I lowered my gaze to the notes before me, then let it lift just enough to nce at the boy’s nervous, lost face. My voice was low, icy.
“Name?”
“I’m Cameron, Alpha.”
<b>9:20 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 <b>G</b>…
Chapter 258 Flowers and Tension
“Mm.”
I said nothing else, simply watching him.
The silence dragged, heavy and suffocating.
<b>81 </b>
Finished
On his fresh, youthful face, every twitch of nerves showed inly. His eyes darted, bewildered.
Atst, I spoke again. “Just started working? Liam didn’te with Leslie this time?”
He startled, then nodded quickly. “Yes. Liam’s on another project. I just startedst month.”
He stumbled over the words, utterly devoid ofposure under my pressure.
I studied him for several moments, then narrowed my eyes.
<i>This </i><i>one’s </i><i>harmless</i>. <i>You’re </i><i>overthinking</i><i>, </i><i>Kirby</i><i>, </i>Lance scoffed inside me.
I ignored him and gestured for Cameron to leave.
“This project is critical. Don’t let Leslie down. Go.”
“Yes.”
Relief shed across his face as he quickly retreated from the room.
n tapped the table, disappointed. “That’s it?”
His tone carried the regret of a man denied entertainment.
I shot him an irritated look.
“Leslie has standards. She doesn’t eat just anything.”
Had Cameron shown even a sliver ofposure or ambition, I wouldn’t have let him off so easily.
To treat someone like him as a rival for Leslie? That would be an insult to her.
Send <b>Gifts </b>
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