“Miranda.” Ah. That explained the icy reception then. “What’re you doing at work? I was told you wouldn’t be in for some time.”
“Change of plans,” I replied in a bright tone I did not feel. “Now, did you wish to speak with one of the Lockwoods?”
“No need,” she snapped. “Tell Tobias I’m on my way up.”
I placed the phone back in the cradle, then turned around to the men watching me oh so intently, their eyes as silver as the moon.
“Miranda from HR is coming up to see you, Tobias.”
“This is the way you’re going to play things?” Lucien rumbled, taking a step forward, and somehow, that hit me completely differently. My eyes seemed to take in every little bit of suppressed power in his frame, the swing of his arms, the way his thighs flexed in his jeans. When my eyes slid up to meet his eyes, he was smirking at the increased attention.
“Thank you for allowing me to stay in the apartment. It’s lovely and I had a good night’s sleep, but when I woke up, I realised nothing had changed. I still need to work, to earn money, to complete this project.” My focus slid to Max, whose eyes lit up in response to my words. “After that’s done, I’ll go on my merry way, as I’d always intended.”
“You won’t—” Lucien started to say.
“Shut up, Lucien,” Tobias snapped. “This is what you want?” I nodded. “Then we’ll do our level best to work with you on this, Ms Davies, won’t we?”
His voice was the perfect mix of authority and threat as he glanced at his brothers.
“Having our omega in our office every day?” Beau’s eyebrow curved upwards again, his smile spreading. “I think you’ll find there’s a marked improvement in my punctuality and attendance at work.”
“But what about—” Max started to say, but Tobias cut him off.
“We talked last night, about this possibility and many others. Max spoke very highly about the direction you want to take the project in. We would be more than happy to have you on board.”
His words were all cool and collected, but his tone? Something leeched out from under Tobias’ contained exterior, something raspy voiced and hungry.
“But we will require you to meet with Riley Talor and her pack if you wish to finish out your contract. Being around us will create changes in you. You must be aware of all of them before you make a firm decision.”
“Book it in,” I replied. I’d intended to talk further with the researcher, as she was the only one who seemed to have clear answers right now. “Also, Max, would it be too difficult to put together a presentation for your brothers on your software within the hour?”
“What?”
I ignored the others, focussing only on Max—this Max, not the feral one, not the growly one, but the man who looked somewhat flushed at that idea before nodding.
“I need to see what Joey’s schedule is like, but yeah, we should be able to do that,” he replied.
“Good. Don’t worry about putting any slides together explaining the process.” I looked the other three over slowly. “I should be able to sort that side of things. We just need your brothers’ undivided attention for an hour as we showcase your work.”
“You’ll get my fucking attention,” Beau muttered, as much to his brothers as himself. “Can’t seem to focus on anything else.”
“What the hell is going on?”
Miranda’s heels clicked across the marble floor as soon as she emerged from the elevator, looking like someone shoved a beehive up her vagina. A small, tight little furrow formed between her eyebrows, her jaw muscles flexing.
“Right now, I have my HR manager speaking to me in a completely impertinent manner, asking questions that are well above her pay grade.”
I’d give it to Miranda—she stood tall, even in the face of Tobias’ very evident displeasure.
“Just because your father is a member of the board, that doesn’t give you the right to storm into my office and demand answers.”
Ohh shit, so that was the story.
“Anyone else who made personal comments like that to a prospective employee would be fired on the spot. You do remember the legal part of your human resources training, don’t you, Miranda? The part dealing with the anti-discrimination act?”
She stared at him mulishly, her leanly muscled arms crossing her chest.
“Of course.”