Another step further

ONE YEAR LATER

*Stephanie*

Scott and I got closer over the year. With his rank in the mac Tyson insurance company, getting me a job wasn't an issue. A year in mac Tyson insurance company had gotten me a lot of recognition from friends and foes due to my outstanding performance.

Scott had given the rudiments and I built on it. Meeting Gabs was also highly advantageous. Gabs seemed to be the only excited staff to have me on my first day at work. She stared and beamed with smiles at me while others grumbled and murmured.

"how could they employ when we are desperately hoping not to lose our job" "can a company retrench and employ at the same time?"

"why is he employing when the company is on the edge" they whispered and looked at me scornfully while Scott introduced me.

After the brief introduction, Gabs approached me beaming like a newly born pup.

"Are those lenses in your eyes or your natural eye color?" she inquired.

"Common, your eyes are more beautiful" I replied.

We both laughed while covering our mouth with one of our hands. She took me by my ankle briskly, "I am Gabriela Davis, I'm part of the marketing team and I will be glad to show around".

Gabs is good when it comes to introduction and public speaking, she introduced me to other colleagues and specialists, she took me through the organogram, the ethics, rules and regulation and strategic ways of winning influential customers. Also, she told me about little Hannah whom they tagged the bitter soul of the company. According to her, it would be an offence to oneself not to know their way around her.

Gab was the most self-less werewolf I ever met. Despite she was a high ranked werewolf, she was humble to the core. And always there for me. Our relationship got stronger day by day till we became best of friends.

The annual week, I was the rising star of the company, so a lot of meet and greets before the actual ceremony. I sat at a corner towards the end of the hall trying to relieve myself of the stress. Then. I saw Gabs running towards me.

"Stephanie come in here, the GM is about to give his speech"

"Gabs I can hear him from here" I replied, but she wouldn't listen. She held my hand and pulled me to the main hail. We stood there waiting for the GM to render his speech.

" hmm hmm hmm"

he tested the microphone, and proceeded:

"good day ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to this wonderful occasion, as you all know, our company was on the verge of bankruptcy about one year ago, but due to the hard labor of our diligent workers, we were able to stand again. So today, we want to appreciate them" he announced. The hall roared and the people jammed their hands together. He called names of certain people to the stage and when he was done, he presented them their awards. I waited to see Gabs collect hers and cheered her up. Then I turned my back to go have my sit but was stopped by the loud scream of the people accompanied by the sound of the microphone.

"The final awards goes the worker of the year and also the most diligent and hardworking marketer, she recently joined the company but has left a mark and set a path to be followed. This award goes to STEPHANIE SMITH!! With a sum of fifty thousand dollars!!"

For a moment I was numb, I had never made such amount in my entire existence. I stood there watching the audience cheer for me. Most of the audience nodded their heads while they clap their hands to the announcement. My team members chorused my name while they hit the table before them, well except for Hannah. Soon the whole room chorused, Stephanie! Stephanie! Stephanie!

Deeply lost in my thought, I stood there, like I was fixed to ground.

Why couldn't Scott let me in or hint me?

I looked at him on the stage and he winked at me.

"he's such a poser", I thought. Gabriella rushed down the stage to pull me up there. I accepted the award and gave a brief speech,

"thank you, thank you every one, firstly, I would like to appreciate the organizers of this event, thank you all. Secondly, I will like to appreciate my friend who is also my colleague, Gabriella Davis for all her effort, lastly I would like to appreciate my team members for working hand in hand with me. This award is for you all."

I dropped the mic and came off the stage. Gabs met me with a big hug while Hannah met me with a scornful look.

"Congrats Steph", she said wearing an all obvious fake smile.

"you must think you're on top of the world"

" Thanks Hannah, I appreciate your love" I replied, purposely ignoring her last statements.

The celebration lasted long into the nights, different well-wishers came bearing their heartwarming greeting. I located Scott among the crowd and told him it was time to go home.

"I'd join you soon" he responded.

Soon, he joined me in the car and we headed to castle rock. All through the journey, I noticed Scott didn't say a word till we came down, he was about opening the door when I questioned him

"Is everything okay Scott?"

It was after this question that he blurted out, "I noticed you were happy about your award that you couldn't stop giggling and staring at the G.M., You must be really fascinated he gave you an award in just a year of work. I heard he's been asking you out, do you like him that much? you are about to get distracted uhn? You didn't even appreciate me, I nominated you Steph! Well Hannah had once hinted me you got your eyes on the GM"

I deduced his wolf was getting charged as he grits his teeth and sharpened his claws. I wonder about his change of attitude.

"Calm it Scott, calm down" I blurted. He came closer, held my hand and was about to say something when Maggi interrupted.

Maggi was shocked when she met us at the door, she welcome us, then went ahead to dispose the trash in her hand. "How was it today Scott" she inquired.

Scott ignored and went straight to his room. She immediately turned to me with her hands raised towards his direction, I got the message and shrug my shoulder in response. Before she could ask, I started with everything that happened at the office, especially the award and the cash price.

"Congrats Steph! I'm sure Olivia would be proud of you".

The utterance caused a brief but sharp sting in my heart. She went into the kitchen and fixed us a fast meal.

"Go get Scott, Steph"

I went towards his door and kept repeating in my head "why me?"

"Hey Scott, dinner is ready" I said briefly and left almost immediately.

On getting to the dinning, Maggi had the table already, we sat down and started eating, few minutes later, Scott joined us at the table.

We were almost done eating when Maggi raised the topic of fixing me a date, not this again.

"Maggi it is unnecessary, not of the previous dates work, I will just wait for my mate Maggi".

I heard Scott give a scornful chuckle, "You cannot meet your mate again, he probably has chosen a mate already, and your blind date won't work because you're inexperienced to see what's right before you, plus you're ugly to be chosen by anyone".

I wondered what has gotten him, and why his attitude is erratic. I turned back at Maggi, tried to convince her to cancel because it's really not necessary.

"There's no going back Steph, the date is fixed, he would pick you up tomorrow evening, make sure you make yourself available", she said.

She stood up and was about to head to the kitchen when Scott rushed up and blurted, "I would drop her off mom, we can't entirely trust a stranger". I was seated there staring at them both bargaining about my date like I was invisible.

As usual, Maggie went to the mini bar, poured herself few glasses of whiskey and headed straight to her room. After she had gone, I turned to Scott, gave him a large smile and he on the other hand looked at me with confusion written all over his face. Scott often time dropped me at every rendezvous of my date, his rudeness and harsh tone had freed me from the blood sucking Alphas and Betas. I went to my room, had a warm bath and went straight to my bed. I reminisced the activities of the day till it got to the last drama at the door. I hate to agree he was hot, why does he suddenly seem hot, his wolf was so active. Damn it, he was about to say something, what could it be, I turned on my side fantasizing while I caressed my lips with my wet tongues.