The Billionaire's Wolf Shifter Assistant

Chapter 3: The Penthouse

Helina had never been in a car before. She traveled by foot or paw and Duncan's Woods where she'd lived.

Now Chase's scent surrounded her and she had the urge to rub up against him. It was the oddest feeling. She'd just met this man, but his scent was familiar to her. As if she had found her mate. She shook her head as she climbed into the large vehicle. That couldn't be. She'd never heard of a wolf shifter mated to a human. There must be something wrong with her nose. Maybe the smells of the city had done something to her.

She settled on a seat that embraced her like an old friend. She'd never felt such comfort and she wasn't sure she liked it at first. Her tiny house didn't have many creature comforts, but she didn't need them. She could sleep on the forest floor if necessary.

She couldn't help staring out at the tall buildings as they passed her by.

“Is this your first time in the city?" Chase asked.

He was on a seat across from her. His nose had been buried in some papers, but now he'd closed the file he'd been looking at, his gaze on her. She looked away because his stare seemed to go to her soul. Would he realize what she was?

She'd always been warned that if she revealed what she was to a human there would be consequences. She didn't know what those consequences would be, but she'd been scared anyway. Her reaction had been to never enter the human world. If she hadn't seen Kurt kill that human, she never would have left Duncan's Woods.

“Yes."

“Where did you come from? I'd assumed that you worked for the agency for a while."

That was right. She had this job because of someone else's memories. “I've lived in the country most of my life, so I've never stopped being amazed at the tall buildings in the city."

He nodded and she hoped that meant she'd covered her mistake.

“What are you working on there?"

He glanced down at the file on his lap. “It's a new company I might buy."

“What do they do?"

“They manufacture plastic bottles. Mostly for water companies, but for other drink companies. They have a process for catching the excess plastic and using it again. It's an interesting system. If I bought them, I'd have the patent, too."

She needed to start making notes of things she would have to research. A patent would be the first thing. This human world was complicated. In her world, they had exactly what they needed and there was little innovation. Nature provided the wolf shifters with whatever they needed for survival.

She nodded her head as he went on. She studied him. His eyes lit up as he talked about buying the company. Chase loved what he did. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him.

His chest filled out his dress shirt. His shoulders did the same with his suit jacket. His outfit had been made for him and he wore it well.

What was she going to do for clothing? She'd left everything behind. She should end this charade now. He would figure out soon enough that she wasn't some high-powered assistant. Helina had always been able to wing it, but would she in this situation?

She bit her lip.

“Is something wrong? You look worried," Chase said.

“Uh, no, sorry. I might have left the oven on."

“Do we need to swing by your place?"

Her place? She didn't have a place? At least not in the city. “Uh, no. It'll be fine."

The limousine pulled into a parking garage and then stopped. At least she'd be out of this enclosed space for a few minutes. His scent was making her dizzy and her body buzz. She'd never experienced anything like this. She'd been mildly attracted to some of the single wolves in her pack, but nothing like this.

She shook her head as she climbed out of the car. This wasn't going to work if she didn't get her hormones in check.

“Are you okay Miss Welsh?"

“Yes. Call me Helina."

“I was hoping you'd say that. I'm not very formal unless I'm negotiating a contract."

He led her to an elevator. She'd learned about the human world in school, but experiencing them firsthand was different. The elevator doors closed behind them and his scent overwhelmed her. She thought she was going to faint.

“Are you okay, Helina?"

She took deep breaths through her mouth while nodding. He put his hand on her arm to steady her and a tingle went through her body. Was she having some allergic reaction to something? This wasn't normal.

Finally, the doors opened and she was able to step out. She regained her equilibrium.

“You sure you're okay?" Chase asked.

“Yes. I'm fine now."

She squared her shoulders. He studied her then shrugged. “Your apartment is that door."

He pointed to a door to her right.

“There's a key to the elevator on the kitchen counter," he said unlocking the door.

He handed her the silver key he'd used and then opened the door. He stepped aside to let her in.

“It's fully furnished unless you want to bring your items here."

“Uh, no."

She held her breath as she passed him, not wanting a repeat of what happened in the elevator. She entered a space that had plush carpeting and floor-to-ceiling windows. She had a view of the city that was breathtaking. She'd seen pictures like this, and this far into the sky she could pretend that there weren't so many people here. Would she get used to the buildings right next to each other?

Or maybe this job would only be temporary until she could figure something else out.

Chase gave her a tour. “Do you want to get your things now?"

She didn't have any things. “No, I'll get them later."

How was she going to tell him that she wasn't the person he thought she was and that she had nothing with her? Her human form longed for a shower, but her wolf formed longed for a romp in a stream. The shower would have to do.

“We have a shared kitchen, but you can lock the door that is on your side. I won't ever come in there without your invitation," Chase said.

He led her to the bedroom that had a closet larger than her house. She held in a gasp. “Okay, thanks."

“I'll leave you to get settled. You can call my driver when you want to go home for the evening or if you want to pack and stay here. I won't need him again today."

Chase left her to explore the giant space. She flopped onto the bed. What had she gotten herself into?