Page 3 of Arrivals & Assets

I had just enough time to answer some questions from the teams I oversaw when we returned, then it was time to head to the meeting.

“Good luck,” Taal said as I stood.

“Thanks.”

My first stop was the men’s room. I did that weird sort of smile that let me check if there was anything stuck in my teeth, then I ran a hand through my black hair—smoothing it from where the breeze had ruffled it during our walk back from lunch.

I stood straight and tugged my polo shirt so that it lay flat against my slender frame. It wasn’t a suit and tie, but it wasn’t as if I’d known about the meeting when I got dressed that morning.

I stood there for a minute to settle my nerves, then I nodded to myself and strode to the elevator.

I couldn’t explain why I was nervous. I was high enough on the ladder that I already reported directly to the chief operating officer. Plus, I’d met with the executive team multiple times over the past several months for interviews about the new location.

“Hey, Micah,” I said as I exited the elevator.

I glanced over at the dark office where the executive assistant—Ryan—usually was. But he was still at home with his new baby—who’d been fathered by one of the executive team.

Nobody was sure who exactly the father was. But it had been an open secret that the four company founders were a thing, and that they’d added their assistant at some point. It was the kind of thing that everybody knew, but nobody wanted to think about.

Michah nodded at me. “Hey Dylan, they’re ready in the back meeting room. Let me call down; then I’ll be there.”

I swallowed and nodded. “Thanks.”

He grinned at me. “No prob.”

I walked past his circular desk area and noticed an assortment of sparkly pens scattered across the top—along with what looked like baby magazines.

I paused. “Looking for something for Ryan?” I asked, motioning at the glossy covers.

Micah turned a slight shade of pink under his blond hair. “I… am probably pregnant.”

“Probably?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I went into heat the day after Ryan had his baby. My mates took very good care of me.”

“Mates?”

The pink tint to his cheeks darkened. “I have four alphas…”

“Not…” I trailed off and motioned to the executive offices.

He shook his head and held up his hands. “Oh… no, no, no. Not them. But Ryan’s cousin, Owen, is one of my mates.”

I blinked several times. “Small world… I guess.”

He chuckled. “Head on back. I’ll be right there.”

“Ok.”

I strode past the large executive offices toward the small meeting room that they liked to use at the back of the building. The ones at the front of the floor—near the elevator—were for clients. The one at the back was for them.

“Knock, knock,” I said, poking my head through the open door, despite their likely seeing me walk up through the smart glass.

“Dylan!” Linden, the chief operating officer, declared, “Come on in!”

My muscles relaxed slightly. It wasn’t the tone of voice somebody used when they were mad—which meant that I hadn’t fucked up.

“Take a seat,” said the chief executive officer, Brendan.