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“Where are we with the updated contract draft?” I demand.
“We have the–” a human starts to explain.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” I don’t even look his way.
“I just gave them the instructions you called in this morning.” Eagle reminds me that while I may have called him at six this morning, it’s barely past eight still.
I frown at all of them. “Questions? Problems?”
Nobody dares to speak. “I want this done by the end of the day. We’ll have lunch brought in. No one leaves this room until I have a completed draft. Understood?”
“What can we do to help?” Nickel asks. He and Billy are standing in the doorway. Billy usually relishes my tirades, but his brows are down today.
He’s about to become the subject of my fury.
“Nothing. Why are you here? Go back to your offices until I call for you.”
“You did call for–”
“Leave it,” Nickel mutters, putting a hand on Billy’s shoulder to turn him around. The two of them exit.
He’s right. I did tell Madison I wanted to see them. I just changed my mind the moment seeing them pissed me off again.
I sweep the room with a challenging gaze, which no one dares to meet. Every employee has their head down over their laptop. Too bad. I was in the mood to fire someone.
I stalk back out, and my cell phone rings. I check the screen. Seeing it’s Ruby, I answer on my way back to my office.
“Brick. I’m just checking in about the Adalwulf Associates board meeting.”
Fuck. Like I didn’t have enough of my mother with Thanksgiving.
“I’m not going,” I say curtly, shutting the door behind me.
Ruby draws a breath. “Really? You’re going to tuck your tail and cower in front of our pack rivals?”
She knows exactly how to goad me. A snarl issues from my throat, loud enough that I worry Madison heard it.
Ruby’s right, of course. As our mother’s heirs, she, Scarlett, and I have seats on the board of Adalwulf and Associates. It was a negotiated part of our parents’ mating agreement. Of course, we’ll never have a real say in anything discussed there, since we don’t hold a majority. So, really, there’s no point at all in attending. But Ruby’s right. Staying away would make me seem weak.
Ruby continues as if I agreed to go. “I was hoping we could go over together. You, me, and Eagle. I can swing by to pick you two up on the way.”
“Fine–but only if we’re finished with the Benson deal. When is it?”
“A week from Friday. It’s already on your calendar–I checked with Madi yesterday.”
I grunt in reply and end the call.
Now I’m really grouchy. There’s no way I’m going to be able to work without taking the edge off.
I stare at the wall between my office and Madison as if I could see through it.
I’ve been calling her into my office for a myriad of inane reasons just to keep her scent here. I can’t be certain if it riles me up or takes the edge off. Either way, it’s like a drug that I need a constant hit from.
“Madison.” I hit the intercom.
She doesn’t answer.
I slam my finger down again. “Madison.”
