Twenty Two.

Dylan

Special, about me? Is that really the only reason why he brought me all the way here?

 Even though we're in this really fancy office, who did he think that he is? Why would just anyone be bale to just demand my presence just to f*ck with me for some reason?

 The gears were turning in my head and while I was trying to comprehend what was really going on here, I could feel Rae trying to figure things out as well.

 Roane sat there still staring at me with an arrogant smile plastered on his face, but his eyes looked so intense that they looked like the ocean at twilight.

 I had to remember that I need this job and stay calm. Having no social skills really sucked because there was no point of reference for me to reflect on.

 Books have been my only source of information on how to handle "real life" situations. Too bad the only books I read are damn fantasy romance books where none of that shit actually happens in someone's real life.

 "I have no idea what to do here," I groaned internally to Rae. Shockingly she seemed about as lost as I was right now.

 With both of us floundering and unable to figure out how to maneuver, I ended up just fidgeting in my seat a bit.

 The clothes seemed to be too much, too tight, not me, and they were making me even more uncomfortable.

 Slowly, he leaned forward and placed both his elbows on the top of the desk. "So Ms. Solamier, please enlighten me, or are you just as confused as I am."

 Okay, now I was definitely sure that he was making fun of me. As much as I hated to let other's words or actions affect me, I felt my eyes begin to water.

 I had been agonizing over this "meeting" for days, and now that I am finally here, this jerk is just going to treat me like this.

 Quickly looking away to the far windows, I blinked rapidly to keep the moisture in my eyes where it belonged.

 To say that I was no good at being discreet was obvious and the moment I looked back in his direction, I knew he saw it because for a moment the grin on his face slipped.

 "As you can see, there is nothing special about me, so if that is the only reason I was summoned I guess this meeting is over."

 Where that sudden spike of courage, adrenaline, or stupidity came from I wasn't sure, but I knew that Rae was beyond proud. I could feel the smugness radiating through my mind.

 I grasped the arms of the chair and was about to stand when his large hand flashed out as if he was going to try to grab me, but I was faster than him. The only reason I let Alpha Rogan touch me was because I had no choice, but no others had that privilege. 

"Ms. Solamier, I apologize, I was only joking. Please give me a moment to rectify this situation."

 Still sitting there with his arm outstretched, I watched the expressions morph from chagrin, to embarrassment, to subtle remorse. I knew I still needed to tread lightly because my job could still be on the line, but I didn't really know what to do.

 Noel was outside waiting, but I had no idea when Alpha Rogan's meeting would be over and what would happen if I just walked out right now. How would he react to what happened here? Taking a few deep breaths, I pulled my chair a bit further away from his desk, and sat back down.

 The moment he was sure that I would stay, he sat up and adjusted his tie and collar. Even though I felt awful, I tried to hide it behind good posture and fake confidence, and apparently so did he. We both sat there for a moment just looking at the other until he cleared his throat.

"Let's start over shall we."

 Before I could reply he reached out his hand and spoke, "I'd like to welcome you and thank you for agreeing to today's meeting."

 He left his hand outstretched and then nodded as if saying, "this is where you greet me in return."

 Feeling foolish for not realizing what he wanted from me, I lurched forward and grasped his hand. I was instantly horrified when I realized my hand was too warm and moist against his, but he didn't say anything about it.

 Roane squeezed firmly, but not roughly and shook our joined hands swiftly before he quickly released it. "I would like to start this meeting off by thanking you for coming all this way to meet with me."

 Nodding at him in acknowledgment, I silently thought that this guy was out of his mind, but it must have been enough for him to continue.

 "It has come to my attention that you have worked with us for almost three years and that you have one of the most impeccable work records."

 While I knew how long I have worked for them, the record thing seemed good so I smiled, but still asked, "that's a good thing right?"

 For once the smile that appeared on his face looked genuine and real and it somehow made me smile in response. 

 "Yes, it is a really good thing. As a matter of fact, at our last board meeting your name was brought up as one of the contenders for a new position that we are developing."

 The smile immediately left my face. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I was almost positive that I did not put in any type of request to change my position. I actually really liked what I do, it's easy.

 "Well before you get upset again. I would like the opportunity to explain what I'm talking about. Will you hear me out?"

 Again, I really don't have too many options at this point so what real choice did I have but to sit here and listen to him. "Okay, please continue."

 "Yes, well. Our company has been looking at branching out into different markets of communication and this means that we have to either redistribute teams or create new ones."

Nodding at him to let him know that I was still following along, he continued.

 "Our development team has been working on ways to get this accomplished and it was determined that we will need one additional team to work on this project."

 Things seemed okay to this point so I just kept nodding. I'm sure I probably looked like a freaking bobble head doll.

 "The board wanted this new team to be made up of both current and new employees. Among the small list of candidates, your name was at the very top of that list."

 I was still following along, but this nod came a little slower. Hopefully this was letting him know that I was starting to get a little confused.

 Before he continued he got up from behind his desk and walked over to the little fridge, "would you like something to drink Ms. Solamier?"

"Uh, yes, water would be great, thank you." 

Roane, or maybe I should be calling him Mr. Winters, even if it's only in my head. 

 As he walked back over to the desk and handed me the cool water bottle, I was surprised that instead of walking back around to his side of the desk, he sat in the other seat next to me.

 I tried not to stare at him in a weird way, but I couldn't help but notice how easily he moved for such a big man. 

 No, what am I thinking right now. "Brain, please work normally," I kept repeating over and over in my head.

 Rae's husky laughter in my mind annoyed me, but helped me to focus, even if it was focusing on her.

 As Mr. Winters adjusted himself in the seat, I took the time to drink some of the water and that also helped me focus a bit more, too bad his next words threw all that work out the window.

 "We decided that we would bring you in to talk to you about the new position and work on negotiating a new contract so that we can get you set up as soon as possible."

 Okay, things were not fully making sense, he brought me here to talk to me about a new position, and not to fire me. Well, this is good I think.

"So this meeting was to talk to me about doing another job, not firing me after all?"

A look of surprise crossed his face, "why would you think that we were going to fire you?"

 Yes, why did I think that? Oh, I don't know, because I have no real experience on how to deal with people, and I freaked out about losing the life I was trying to create for myself.

 But of course, I didn't share all of that with him. "After the last call that we had, you seemed upset and apparently my mind ran away with itself."

There, that sounded like a plausible explanation for my insane delusions apparently.

 "Wow, well I wish I would have known that before, then I wouldn't have given you so much sh*t when you first arrived."

 "There is no way that we would let such a valuable employee go, especially when she hasn't even seen her true potential."

 I didn't want to let his words make me feel or think things that may or may not happen, so I decided to just sit still and listen.

 "This new position comes with a bigger salary, additional perks and benefits that the company can offer, and the possibility to move up once the project is completed.

 Damn, this was starting to sound a little too good to be true, but I was trying really hard to seem composed.

 He continued talking, "So the only thing that we need to finalize is when we can move you out here to be able to start working with the team."

 And there it was, the reason why I knew that I shouldn't have let myself get too excited about this.

Before he could say anything else, "I can't accept the offer. I'm sorry."

 This time I couldn't stop the tears from falling, or hide them from him. He was on his feet within seconds of me, and since he took the seat closest to the door there was gonna be no way to get around him and out of this room easily.

"Ms. Solamier, what is going on? Why are you responding this way to such a great opportunity?"

 What could I say to him. No one is supposed to know about me, my struggles, my pain. Who would even understand when I didn't even know myself? No wolf would understand, and there is no way that this human could.

 My anger was building along with my despair and I didn't mean to get so loud, but it was hard to keep my emotions in check.

 "Look, I don't want your job, I don't want to move, I like things the way that they are right now. God's why don't I ever get the opportunity to make f*cking choices for myself!"

 I guess I had gotten a little louder than I thought because the moment the last words came out of my mouth, Noel barged into the room and was at my side.

 With the door wide open now, our unintentionally loud conversation was being broadcast to the rest of the people on the floor.

 Somehow I had forgotten that the one person I didn't want to know about any of this was just a door away from me.

 Mr. Winters seemed genuinely confused by my sudden outburst, and confused about why I had such an awful reaction to such a great opportunity.

 If only I could explain everything to him, to anyone really. I couldn't even be fully honest with Lecia in fear of what Alpha Rogan might do to her.

 Noel was trying to get me out of the room, and when he grabbed my elbow to try to guide me around Roane I flinched so hard that both of them immediately stopped.

 "Why are you so afraid Ms. Solamier! Dylan, what is going on here," Roane growled and his gaze honed in on Noel.

I couldn't take it, I couldn't take this. I had to get out of here before I made things much worse. 

 "Noel, can we please just leave," I asked him as we tried to walk to the door, but Roane stepped in front of me.

"No one is going anywhere until I find out what the f*ck is going on here."

 The look on Roane's face startled me a bit, but something in me really wanted to just break down and tell him everything, and I probably might have if he hadn't shown up just then.

 "Would someone like to tell me what is going on in here," Alpha Rogan purred from the still open doorway.