Billionaire Alpha's Human Mate

Tingles

Avery

Avery

My name echoes from the lips of the wolf that had chased me through my dreams. My eyes open seconds before my alarm goes off. “Jayden,” I mutter as “The Macarena” starts playing from my phone. I quickly turn it off and sit up on the bed. My mind is all over the place as I ponder what I was dreaming about.

A giant black wolf was chasing me through a forest. It felt so real. I could feel him nipping at my ankles. I took a deep breath and got out of bed. I went to the bathroom and started my morning routine. As I was brushing my teeth, the twins came in.

“Good morning,” Kaitlyn greets me.

“Morning,” I mutter with the toothbrush in my mouth. I finish and rinse my mouth. Don’t be late for school again,” I say and walk out of the bathroom. I look through my clothes, wondering what I should wear for my first day, and put on a pair of black slacks and a white button-up shirt with a blue jacket. I comb through my medium-length brown hair and put it in a braid.

“Ready for work?” Mom asks as I step into the kitchen to grab some coffee before I leave.

“I hope so,” I smile.

“Well, you can only do your best, Avery,” She smiles.

I pour myself a mug and add my favorite cream and two spoons of sugar. “Thanks,” I tell her. She seems to have softened on the idea of me working for Emerson Industries. I sip my coffee and set it down to make myself some toast.

“You are going to need more than just toast, honey,” Mom says.

“I’ll be fine, Mom,” I say.

“Avery,” She gives me the mom look.

“Fine,” I say, grab a box of cereal, and pour myself a bowl. I sit with cereal and toast. “I promise that I will eat a big lunch.”

“Okay,” Mom shrugs. “I’m making lasagna for dinner.”

“Yummy,” I smile.

“Carol and George are joining us tonight,” she says, referring to my aunt and cousin. George is Cynthia’s brother and has Down syndrome.

“Oh, joy,” I say. “I get to ask George about his baseball game,” I smile.

“Oh, he will love that,” Mom laughs. “You know how much George loves baseball.”

“He can name every player from the last hundred years,” I say, and we laugh. I look at my phone and see messages from Sean, so I reply to him.

“What is Sean up to this morning?” Mom asks while looking over my shoulder.

“Oh, he wants me to go to the bar tonight,” I respond.

“Invite him to dinner,” Mom suggests.

“Okay,” I say as I invite my best friend. I have known Sean since kindergarten when he was a girl. His own parents don’t accept his identity, so my parents took him under their care. “I have to get going,” I say.

“Take the Chevy,” Mom suggests her sedan. “I need the van to go shopping.”

“Okay, Mom,” I say as she hands me the keys to her car. “Love you,” I kiss her cheek.

“Knock them dead,” Mom says as I leave the house.

I get into her green car and crank the music before backing out of the driveway. We live in a modest neighborhood in a big city. It’s fairly safe with good schools. It takes the usual twenty minutes to reach the tower. I can park in the garage with the temporary code that Steve sent me.

“Ah, you made it,” Steve greets me as I enter the lobby. Several other people are gathered around Steve. “Go check in with the receptionist,” he gestures.

“Okay,” I mutter and walk over to the large desk.

“Name?” A small woman with huge red eyeglasses asks me.

“Avery Anderson,” I reply.

The woman nods and then hands me a packet of papers with a pen and a name tag, “Put on the name tag, and then Mr. Carr will take it from there.”

“Thank you,” I say, take the items, and put on the name tag. I walk back over to the group.

Steve looks at his watch. “We are waiting on one more person,” He mutters.

“Hey, I’m Hattie,” A blonde-haired woman greets me.

“Avery,” I say and shake her hand.

“You are new too?” she giggles. “Well, of course you are.”

“Yeah, I am new,” I say with a smile.

“Sorry, I’m a bit nervous,” Hattie laughs.

“It’s alright,” I respond kindly to her.

A man walks up to the group, and Steve gives him the same directions I was given. We wait for the man to return before Steve leads us to the elevators.

“Are you from Pearlmore?” Hattie asks.

“Yeah,” I nod.

“I just moved here,” Hattie tells me. “I used to live in Corner Junction.”

“Oh, okay,” I nod like I know what she is talking about.

“Take a seat, everyone,” Steve says as we enter a meeting room. The chairs are set up in rows facing a rolling chalkboard.

I sit beside Hattie.

“Hi, I’m Carlos,” A nice-looking man sits on my other side.

“I’m Avery,” I reply.

“Hattie,” My new friend says.

“Are you two nervous too?” Carlos asks.

“Yes,” Hattie breathes out.

“I’m okay,” I shrug despite the strange feeling I have had since I walked into the building. “Do you guys smell that?” I ask as I look around. I keep smelling sandalwood. It reminds me of the cologne my father used to wear.

“Smell what?” Hattie asks.

“It smells like sandalwood,” I mention.

“No,” Hattie laughs.

“Okay, everyone,” Steve claps his hands. Welcome to Emerson Industries,” he says. “My name, if you don’t already know, is Steve Carr, and this,” he gestures to a slightly shorter man who looks like him, “is my brother Paul. We are going to conduct today’s orientation. We will be paying for your lunch in the company cafeteria today.”

“It’s a lovely cafeteria,” Steve’s brother Paul adds.

“Let’s get started,” Steve says.

For the next hour or so, Steve and Paul took turns reviewing the company's activities and benefits. I followed along with the paperwork we were given.

“So, much to remember,” Hattie says.

“Tell me about it,” I whisper back. I sniffle and smell sandalwood as Paul pauses his explanation. Everyone turns, and the man I saw staring at me after the interview is standing in the doorway. My heart starts beating faster as he looks at me.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Paul chuckles. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tristan Emerson, the CEO of Emerson Industries.”

Tristan

I watch as the gorgeous hunk of a man moves into the room and makes his way to the front. He has curly red hair and green eyes like sparkling emeralds. The suit he is wearing only seems to enhance how handsome he is. And I swear he keeps his eyes on me the entire time.

“What can I do for you, sir?” Paul asks him.

“Carry on with what you are doing. I am just here to observe,” Tristan says to Paul and steps aside.

Paul seems nervous. “Okay,” he mutters, pausing momentarily before continuing his presentation.

I get lost in what is being said as Tristan stares at me. I sense something strange like something is trying to enter my mind. I shake it off and look at Paul while keenly aware of Tristan’s eyes on me.

“Whoa, he’s hot,” Hattie whispers, and I feel the urge to claim Tristan as mine.

“He is,” I say tersely.

“I wonder if he is single,” She laughs.

I glance at Tristan, and he is looking at Paul as he and Steve trade places.

“Okay, everyone, let’s take a ten-minute break,” Steve says. “There is a break room down the hall and restrooms across from it.”

I immediately stand and push my way out of the room. I find the breakroom, get myself a cup of coffee, and add my usual amount of cream and sugar.

“Ooo, donuts,” I hear Carlos say.

I sip the coffee and smell sandalwood.

“You like sugar,” A smooth voice says behind me, causing me to jump and get coffee on my arm.

“Dammit,” I say as it burns. I turn to see the CEO right behind me.

“I’m sorry,” He frowns. “Pardon me,” He grabs a paper towel and touches my arm with it.

I feel tingles as he touches me, and I pull my arm back, “I-I got it,” I say.

“Avery,” He smiles. “That’s a lovely name.”

“How did you- “I pause when I realize I am wearing a name tag, “Right.”

Tristan flashes the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, “I am Tristan.”

“I-I got that,” I say.

“I’m Hattie,” my new friend interjects.

“Hello, Hattie,” Tristan says with a forced smile. He looks right at me, “Avery.”

My name coming from his mouth makes me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling. I just met this man but feel a strange connection to him.

“I just moved her, and I am so happy to be working for your company,” Hattie continues.

I move away from them and sip my coffee.

“He’s a delicious-looking hunk of man, isn’t he?” Carlos says.

“He is,” I mutter and sip my coffee. I watch Tristan move around the room talking to the other people. I feel jealousy every time one of the women coos at him. I feel like claiming him for myself.

“Okay, everyone,” Steve comes into the breakroom. “Let’s get back to orientation.”

I dump out the rest of my not-so-good coffee and toss the cup. A hand grabs my arm as I try to follow the others.

“Avery,” Tristan says as I feel tingles going up my arm once again.

“Yes?” I say.

“I would love it if you would join me for lunch,” he says with another brilliant smile.

“L-Lunch?” I say.

“Yes, just take the elevator to the top floor, and I’ll be waiting,” He winks and inhales deeply. “So delicious,” He whispers before letting me go and disappearing from the room.