HIS SECOND MATE

Chapter 4

Third Person

The pair of unlikely mates were lost in their own thought, feelings of confusion filling the air all around them. What would become of them?

None of them even realized that since that meeting they had spent every wake of every moment thinking about each other. The dynamics of their 'situationship' had changed.

Marcus and Gregory had always been known to be the biggest of rivals in the industry, know could tell exactly how that started nor who started it. All the people knew was that they did not get along and Gregory would always use underhanded means to win over Marcus.

The business world was invested in the rivals, always watching to pick a side for future investments. No one loved the other to stay at the top for too long, therefore when the meeting had been organized news of it had leaked and everyone was ready to watch the show.

Bets had been put in place, who was going to win? 

Who would they seek out for profits next.

To the business world Marcus and Gregory were like race horses, everyone was paying close attention to their pick but also watching the opponent's camp.

Imagine living somewhere boring that an business meeting was considered battle of the decade!

"Marcus Harvey, CEO of  Campanile Holdings, runs from meeting with tail tucked between his legs'

"Campanile Holdings shaking"

"Gregory Walters on top"

This time, pictures of Marcus were finally included for public viewing 

Billionaire Marcus Harvey, a handsome man but a coward. Why was such a beautiful face wasted on a coward?

Marcus, more like runner. Spineless

A rich, gorgeous coward, that combination hurts my soul.

Marcus could not stop the growl that escaped him, he had finally settled down, managed to control himself a little so as per routine he logged online to check on what was happening in business, how campanile was doing against other businesses in the market only to see his face plastered everywhere.

How humiliating, netizens bashing him, branding him a coward. There were already meme with his face on them. Everyone was having a field day at his expense.

Had his employees seen them? How was he going to face them on Monday? He had a reputation built up and one meeting had sent everything tumbling down.

That dream about showing up in class with no pants? It felt like that to Marcus! he had been stripped in public and aired for the viewing of everyone..

Marcus

"He must have done it on purpose!" I was a hundred percent sure Gregory had done it. No one else I knew would love to see me humiliate myself as much as him besides our meeting was supposed to be a secret.

How had the media gotten a hold of the information. I had not told anyone about it so who else could have done.

That stupid man! I should introduce him to my fist the next time we meet. "Ouch!" in my anger I had forgotten that the stupid i***t was my new mate and I could not have murderous thoughts about him.

Well I could but the moon goddess would punish me for it. True Mates were had enough to find in this day and age so even the thought of rejection had not crossed my mind.

Before, every wolf was born with a mate created specifically for them. Find one's mate was not seen as a big deal big back then therefore a lot of cases of rejection rose up. Wolves preferred to take in choice mates instead of those made for them.

The moon goddess out of anger, decide to punish wolves.

Choice mates, could not bear the mating mark neither could they bear pups hence the discontinuation of lineages. It got so bad the werewolves were on the verge of extinction therefore alphas came together and decided on death penalties for any wolf that rejected their mate.

I was used to be an alpha for crying out loud, if anything I was to lead by example and in as much as I wanted to gut Gregory, "Ooow!" pain. I could not do it. I could not reject my second chance who not only was male but also was biggest rival.

I had to find a time I was calm enough to go talk to the little piece of s**t! That did not look like anytime soon though. Right now I could not promise that I would turn into a masochist, enjoy pain inflicted on me by the moon goddess just so I could re-arrange Gregory's face!

"Ouch! Slow down Selene. I was not going to do it just thinking it!" Damn! She was also doing this on purpose.

Gregory and the moon goddess had definitely tag teamed to ruin my once peaceful life.

*******

Monday! It was freaking Monday again. I spent my whole Sunday avoiding reality, my tablet was not working from being thrown against the wall when I had first seen the netizens comments. My phone switched off to prevent outside contact.

For a while I just wanted to stay in my little cocoon and act like everything was normal, I had even avoided seeing my son. I was not ready to see the judgmental look in his face. I had trained him myself, taught him about how an alpha should not cower in front of others.

What had I done though? Taken the easy way, I had run. I had a good reason for doing that but no one would understand. Maybe Gregory would.

Work! This was a new feeling, hating Mondays. Hating work, dreading to show up at the office! I was feeling all sorts of confused.

I am a workaholic, was. Before Gregory had made the country's laughing stock, now I dreaded the first day of the week. 

My employees would not respect me anymore, would they? The news articles had painted me as some spineless coward that ran away from a meeting with a man a younger than me. I don't I would live that down. 

Chin up, confident walk! 

I was giving myself a pep talk before getting in to my own company. How shameful!

Even before the elevators doors opened I could already hear them

Mr. Harvey is always acting tough when in front of us but he ran away from Mr. Walter said one employee.

Did you know that Jessica called me the other day to rub it in that our CEO was a coward? I have never been this shamed in my life added another one.

I was fuming at this point. I will show you cowardly, the mouthy ladies had not even noticed the elevator doors open. I was supposedly more interesting to talk about than the work at the office.

"You and you, hand in your resignation letters before 9am." I said when I passed by them earning the most comical look I had seen in a while.

"Sir! Sir! We are sorry. We will not do again, please do no fire us." one begged, almost falling on her knees. I was killing the chicken to warn the monkey. No one was allowed to talk about me behind my back. I knew this was going to be the reaction. Campanile offered the best salaries in the industry no one would easily want to lose that.

But my pride was hurt and I could not take that lying down.

"Weren't you embarrassed to worked for a coward? You can leave now, find someone courageous to work for. This coward does not deserve your apologies." sarcasm, my best weapon. The door get slammed on their faces barely missing their noses.

I was back! A show of power was just the boost I needed! I was not going to let people that worked for me ridicule me.

'To call or not to call?' I ask myself playing with the business card in my hands.

GREGORY WALTERS written on it with golden print. An over the top card for an over the top man!

Deep breath in! I reach out for the phone on my desk

"Hello...."