bc

Zookeeper's Claim

book_age0+
406
FOLLOW
1.9K
READ
billionaire
possessive
shifter
arrogant
badboy
CEO
boss
Multi-professional Billionaire Writing Contest
like
intro-logo
Blurb

Beth is investigating complaints about The Menagerie, a local zoo owned by the rich, hunky, and mysterious Niaz. As she follows the clues, she’s thrown into a world of shifters, crime, and a possessive zookeeper who isn’t who he says he is. . .

chap-preview
Free preview
One
    Every time I walked into the Association of Zoos and Aquariums headquarters, my heart fluttered and I smiled. My heels clacked against the marble floor, echoing in the building’s modern lobby. The white marble and the polished silver accents were tied together with sleek furniture in the center of the lobby. The morning sun warmed my back as it shone through the wall of windows behind me.     I took in a deep breath and held it as I balanced the cardboard tray of coffees on my forearm and moved the bag of bagels under my arm so that I could press the elevator call button. Even though this internship was a box to check off on my application to veterinary school, I did my best to enjoy every moment. Soon, I would be buried deep in textbooks and laboratory work. Here, I felt as if I could make a difference, right now, just as I am.     The elevator doors opened and I stepped in. I hit the button for my floor and mentally ran through my tasks for the day.     “Hold it!” a man yelled.     I stuck my foot in the door to keep it from closing and the man stumbled, panting, into the elevator. He smiled.     “Thanks, Beth,” he said.     I smiled back. “Good morning, Nick. Having a bad morning?”     Nick huffed and nodded. “You could say that.”     He eyed the coffee tray balancing in my hand and the brown paper bag threatening to fall from my grasp. “Let me take that.”     “Thanks.” I let him take the bag and smiled. Nick was easily in his early fifties and just a bit taller than me. I just couldn’t help but like him. I would forever be grateful to him for giving me this internship.     We walked to the office together and he held the door for me.     Once inside, I was greeted with the now familiar banter of the staff. I passed out the coffees and left the bagels on the table.     No sooner had I powered on my computer than the phone rang.     “AZA Headquarters, how can I help you?” I asked in my most professional voice.     The voice on the other end belonged to a sweet older woman.     “Beth, good morning. It’s Lurlene in reception. I have a gentleman on the line with a complaint.”     “Oh, hang on one sec.”     I covered the mouthpiece with my hand.     “Uh, guys, I have a complaint on the line. Who wants it?”     Nick smiled. “You go ahead. You can take the details and call back info. Just follow the form. They’re on a pad in the drawer.” He turned his back and resumed chatting with the others.     My heart thumped faster in my chest. How exciting! I’d never taken a complaint before. I dug through   the desk drawer for the complaint questionnaire.     “I’ll take it. Thanks, Lurlene. Have a great day.”     She transferred the call to me.     “Can I help you?”     My hands shook a little.     “I have a complaint about The Menagerie. Are you the correct person?”     Even though the man on the other end of the phone spoke barely above a whisper, his deep voice resonated clearly.     “Yes, I can take that information from you. I have some questions to run through and you can give me additional details after, okay?”     My voice came out much higher than normal. I’ve got to get my nerves under control.     “Okay.”     He sounded hesitant.     “First: what’s your name?”     There was a long pause. I checked the phone to see if we were still connected. Still connected.     “Hello?” I asked.     “Ah, I’d really rather be anonymous. Please skip those questions.”     “Well, we can’t follow up with you if I don’t get your contact information.”     “That’s fine. I don’t want to be associated with this. It’s too dangerous.”     “Dangerous?” I asked. I tried to get Nick’s attention by waving my hand and raising my voice a bit but I couldn’t grab his attention.     “Look miss, I’m running out of time, can we get this over with?”     I cleared my throat and read down the form. “Okay, skipping all of the personal details, does your complaint pertain to the health and or safety of any animals at the facility? You said it was The Menagerie, right?”     “Yes. That’s right. The Menagerie. I have serious concerns about the safety of the animals there.”     Now what? I moved my eyes to the next section and saw follow up questions.     “Okay, does this complaint have to do with a specific animal or habitat?”     He sighed and must have put the receiver right against his mouth. I could hear puffs of air as he spoke.     “I can’t deal with this bureaucratic BS. I thought you people cared about the animals?” My heart beat faster.     “That’s why we’re here. We care.”     “Then will you please just let me tell you my concern? Fill out your f*****g paper after.”     “Uh-okay, yeah. Go ahead.”     I still couldn’t get Nick’s attention. I was on my own.     “Look, there’s rumor that some of the animals there have been fighting and winding up seriously hurt. Or worse.”     “Fighting?”     “I don’t know the specifics.”     “Where did you hear the rumor? Have you seen animals with injuries?”     Click     The line went dead.     He hung up.

editor-pick
Dreame-Editor's pick

bc

The Lone Alpha

read
11.1K
bc

The Billionaire's Wife

read
46.6K
bc

Just Got Lucky

read
140.2K
bc

The Vampire King's Human Mate

read
90.7K
bc

The Luna he rejected

read
20.9K
bc

My Crush Is My Best Friend's Dad

read
7.4K
bc

Sold to the Ruthless Alpha

read
3.4K

Scan code to download app

download_iosApp Store
google icon
Google Play
Facebook