Page 4 of Accidentally Joining His Cult (Chicago Awakenings #1)

CHAPTER FOUR

Cody

T oday was amazing. I absolutely love to teach entry-level programs like that. Watching people discover the benefits of Kyla’s courses is such a privilege, and I hope to see some of them again in future classes.

I also love spending time with someone one-on-one after trying to split my attention between such a large crowd all day. I’m so glad that Beck suggested we hang out. He seems great.

His driver was waiting for us outside the hotel and took us straight to this awesome Italian restaurant. It’s fancier than anywhere I’d choose for myself, and it's cool that Beck thought to show me something I’d never do on my own.

The restaurant is cozy, with red velvet-backed chairs and lots of leafy plants around, giving each table a private feel. The instrumental music floating throughout the space is so pure it makes me wonder if it’s live, and soft lighting adds to the intimate vibe.

Beck is really polite, opening doors for me, asking which chair I’d prefer, and pulling it out for me when we arrived at the table.

“Do you want to split a bottle of wine?” he asks.

“I don’t know much about wine, but I’m up for anything,” I reply with a shrug and a smile.

“I don’t usually drink wine either, I’m more of a beer or whiskey kind of guy. But I thought maybe the occasion calls for it.” He gives me a shy smile, and I nod.

“Yeah, it does fit the vibe,” I agree.

Our waiter makes a big show of bringing the wine out and pouring some for Beck to sip and approve before he pours fuller glasses for each of us. Now we’re both pretending to know anything about it other than the color.

“Only the finest reds have this… oaky aftertaste,” Beck deadpans, swirling his glass.

If he hadn’t already admitted to his lack of knowledge, I might have believed him. Instead, I crack up laughing at his serious expression and take a sip of my drink.

“Is a drink supposed to make you more thirsty?” I ask him skeptically. “I swear that my mouth grows drier with each sip.” His poker face finally breaks as he joins in on my laughter.

“That’s how they get you to buy more, I guess.” He shrugs and smirks at me. “This is fun. I’m glad you agreed to go out with me tonight.”

I smile back at him. “Me too.”

“So, you got to hear my trauma dump today,” he prompts, and I chuckle at his description of the workshop. “Tell me more about you.”

“Well, I’m originally from California, but now I live in Montana when I’m not traveling for work.”

“Why Montana, were you sick of being around other people? Was it too convenient to go to any store you could imagine?” he questions with a furrowed brow, and I chuckle.

“Why does everyone hate on Montana so much?” I tease. “It's gorgeous.”

“It always sounded like the middle of nowhere to me. I’ve never been, so I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“Or you could visit.” I’d love to show him around my city, or do some hiking around the mountains.

“Maybe I’ll have a reason to now,” he replies, and I smile at the idea of him visiting me.

“It’s also where Kyla’s headquarters are,” I continue. “I went to school back in Cali, and I lived there for a bit after I graduated when I started as a local coach. Then I was promoted, so I got to move to Montana,” I explain.

“So, what’s your job title now?”

“I’m technically the VP of Recruitment and Retention for the company.” His eyes widen a bit, so I rush to reassure him. “But it sounds fancier than it is, apparently, I have the highest recruiting numbers, like I get the most new people signed up for our programs.” I think I’m rambling now, but I can’t stop.

“I also have the highest retention rates for the coaches I train remaining with the company. I don’t feel like I do anything special compared to the other amazing coaches. I just live my life and tell people how great the programs are, they’re usually interested in the idea of improving their lives. It’s not a difficult concept,” I explain.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to look so surprised. We haven’t even gotten our food yet, and I’ve already offended you.” His cheeks darken, and it’s fascinating to see this confident man look embarrassed.

I laugh. “You didn’t offend me, I promise. Even though my title puts me in the executive management team, my favorite days will always be the ones like today—running workshops and meeting new people. I do spend some time at our headquarters, but I also spend a good amount of time traveling to host the programs.” I try to give him a genuine smile to show that I’m having a great time. His gaze drops to my mouth and lingers there.

“You have my new favorite smile,” he says softly.

My cheeks heat, and I look back at my wine. “Thanks,” I mumble.

The smile feels glued to my face, even as I feel my blush growing.

Must be the wine.

Not sure why else I’d suddenly feel so shy around Beck. That was a nice thing to say. He’s a nice guy. No reason for me to be weird about it.

Luckily, our food arrives and interrupts my awkwardness. My grilled chicken and salad are both spectacular. The plating was also super fancy, and my friends all loved the picture I had to send to our group chat.

I’m having a great time, but still, there’s something about Beck that makes me feel self-conscious.

Usually, I have no trouble talking with people I don’t know well. I travel a lot, and I’m used to meeting people and spending time with them without there being this tension.

It’s not a bad tension, though. It’s actually kind of exciting and makes my heart race. I really want his approval, which sounds silly, even to me. It’s almost like I’m the new kid at school again, and I want the popular boy to accept me.

My past doesn’t define my future. If I want to be friends with Beck, I should be his friend. I don’t have to be in my head about it. Besides, he was the one who suggested we hang out in the first place, no need for me to worry about his opinion of me.

As we continue to eat, I try to shake off whatever has me so in my head about him. “So, what do you do for work, Beck?”

He pauses with the fork raised halfway to his mouth, which twists into a grin. “Wait, you don’t know who I am?” He sounds amused, like he doesn’t believe me.

Someone’s cocky.

“Well, I know that your name is Beck. We met at the Caldwell company, and judging by the driver and the fancy car that brought us here, you seem to be pretty loaded. I’m guessing you might be one of them,” I answer honestly. “But I don’t know enough about your family or the company to pretend that I know about your actual job.”

“I’m guessing you’re not a hockey fan then.” He sounds disappointed. “And just when I thought you might be perfect.” Then he winks at me.

My damn blush is back.

I laugh again. No one has made me laugh this much in a long time, and I love it. “I actually used to be really into hockey during college. One of my frat brothers was a big fan, and that got me hooked. But I can’t say I’ve kept up with it recently,” I admit guiltily. “Why, are you a hockey player or something? Why were you at the company headquarters that day then?”

“Not a hockey player,” he replies quickly with a laugh, cutting off my rant. “But I am the current CEO of the Chicago Werewolves Hockey Team.”

“Wow, what an awesome job!” I know that mine is the best job in the world for me, but as far as non-Kyla-related jobs go, that’s gotta be a cool one.

“Yeah, I really do love it,” he replies with a huge smile. “My family has owned the team since my great-grandfather purchased it, and I’m really glad I get to be the one taking over for my generation.”

I ask him about his family and learn that he has four younger siblings, all brothers. His youngest brother is still pursuing his degree, but they all work for the family company in some way.

“That sounds amazing,” I tell him. “Like the idyllic family I used to dream about as a kid. It’s so cool that you’re all so close and get to work together. I love that about my job too. A lot of people in the town I live in work for Kyla since our headquarters are there, so a lot of my work friends are also my neighbors.”

Most of my friends left unfulfilling jobs to work for Kyla after taking our courses. It’s always exciting to see someone pursue a more meaningful career—and it's even better when they’re promoted to headquarters and we become neighbors too.

“What about your family? Are they still in California?” Beck asks.

“Yeah, but we’re not as close as your family sounds,” I admit, running my finger around the edge of the wine glass as I think about how to explain. “My parents are great people, always kind and verbally supportive of me. Everyone who meets them loves them, and kids growing up always told me how lucky I was to have them as my parents. They were very focused on their careers, so even though I’m sure that they would have loved to spend more time with me, it just wasn’t possible,” I explain.

“Mom was in a successful television show in her early twenties when she met my dad, one of the producers. They have great drive and ambition, constantly trying to find their next project. Mom was always off at auditions or memorizing scripts, and Dad was on location or pitching ideas to industry executives,” I go on. While mom has always had to work really hard to earn her next role, my dad is actually one of those huge Hollywood names now. His stellar reputation and lack of scandals have meant everyone wants him involved in their movies. With all of the money he’s earned, he’s even started a charity that helps provide housing for families who can’t afford it on their own.

“That sounds kind of lonely,” Beck says. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No, sadly, it was just me. They were only married until I was three, and then their careers led them down different paths. I split my time evenly between them and was always jealous of the kids with one stable home. Or even the kids whose parents weren’t together, but had siblings to navigate life with,” I admit.

I’ve learned that jealousy can really hold you back in life. It festers and can lead to resentment, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. The Kyla programs helped me understand that those negative emotions can be turned into tools—motivation to improve myself and my life.

Instead of focusing on what others have that I don’t, I learned to look at the deeper emotion behind the jealousy. What was I missing? What did I need? Then, I could take positive steps toward achieving those things for myself.

And never in a way that would hurt someone else. I always teach that you don’t need to bring others down to build yourself up.

As a child, I didn’t understand my feelings of loneliness and isolation—I only knew the jealousy.

When I got older, I thought maybe finding the right woman to settle down with would fill the void in my life. But all my relationships fell flat. I didn’t realize then that waiting for someone else to solve my problems was toxic behavior.

It wasn’t until I attended my first Kyla class that everything clicked. That seminar was the turning point. I learned that if I ever want to commit to someone else, I need to be the best version of myself first. A healthy partnership is about supporting each other, not relying on someone else to fix everything.

Now, I’ve put in the work to build meaningful relationships with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even new people I meet. Thanks to Kyla, I’ve created strong bonds and a sense of belonging I never experienced growing up.

Beck asks more about where I live and about the details of my job. He’s such a good listener, and he seems really interested in everything I say. I almost wish that he didn’t like his job so much because I think that he’d make a great coach.

“You should come out to the next retreat we’re hosting!” I sit up straighter in my chair as the idea sparks my excitement. Even if he doesn’t want to join the company officially, I know my boss would love to have a Caldwell there. More importantly, I’d love to hang out with him again.

“You can meet some of the people I work with and learn more about the programs,” I add. The more I think about the idea, the more excited I become, bouncing a little in my seat. “I think we’d have a lot of fun!”

He looks like he’s trying to hold in laughter at my enthusiasm. “You haven’t even spent one night with me, and you’re ready to plan a whole weekend away together?”

It doesn’t seem like he hates the idea, and I can’t stop nodding my head. I really do want him to come. “You should think about it.”

He smirks at me. “Oh, trust me, I am.”

By the time we finish our food and wine, Beck insists on paying for our meals.

I’m still buzzing from our conversation and the possibility of seeing him again. I really feel like we could be great friends. There’s something about him that draws me in, and I decide I’m not ready for the night to end.

“Want to come back to the bar at my hotel?” I ask. I don’t know any other bars around here, and I’m hoping he isn’t done hanging out, either.

“That sounds great.”

* * *

“You did not sneak a dog onto an NHL team’s private flight,” I say, laughing so hard my face hurts. I feel like I haven’t stopped laughing since Beck and I arrived at the bar over an hour ago.

“Well, believe it or not, werewolves aren’t real. And I wasn’t sure where to get an actual wolf when I was only ten years old,” Beck replies cockily.

“But you could get a dog that looked like a wolf?” I still can’t tell if this is a true story, not with how good his poker face can be. “When you were only ten?”

“People will do strange things when you offer them a lot of money, even if you’re still a kid. I was convinced we’d win our next game if we had a more realistic mascot to motivate the team,” he explains, as though this is a totally rational story.

“What happened when they found the dog?”

“I could tell that my dad was amused, and a little impressed, but that he knew he needed to act like a parent and scold me.” Beck looks proud of himself as I continue laughing. “Then the players took turns holding and petting the dog. One of them really bonded with him. He ended up adopting the dog and everything.”

“That’s adorable.”

“It worked, too. They won the next game, so a few of the more superstitious guys insisted that the dog keep coming. My punishment was being in charge of him during the games for the rest of the season.”

The bartender checks if we need anything, and we politely decline. Beck and I are sticking to water since he mentioned not wanting to drink too much, but the bartender’s frequent visits seem excessive, given how little we’re ordering.

“I think the bartender has a crush. He won’t stop looking at you,” I tease.

He’s shorter than Beck, a smaller man with purple dyed hair and a nose ring. I could never pull that off, but he’s rocking the look.

“Punk rock twinks aren’t really my thing.” He laughs. “What about you? What's your usual type?”

I think back to all the girls I’ve dated, considering their similarities. “I guess I tend to go for brunettes with blue eyes.”

Beck seems to like that answer, his blue eyes gleaming as he grins at me. “That is a hot combination.”

My phone startles me, making the special chiming noise that indicates a text message from Viktor.

“I’m so sorry. I try to stay off my phone when I’m with someone, but that’s my boss’s alert tone.”

VIKTOR

Five minute warning: full update on week requested.

Cody

Ready.

I look up to find Beck glancing at me with disappointment. I show him the text as I explain. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t had a chance to update my boss all week. He’s so busy with everything that when he calls, the expectation is that you answer it.”

“I get it. I just wish that we didn’t have to cut our night short,” he admits, standing up from the bar as I do.

“Me too. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun just talking with someone.”

“Does that mean I’ll get to see you again?” he asks as we exit the bar and head into the lobby.

“Let’s exchange numbers and make it happen!” I can’t explain why, but I feel like I need to make sure that this isn’t the last time I see him. Beck tells me his number, and I send him a text so he has mine as well.

“A black cat emoji?” he questions.

“It was the first thing that popped into my head.” I shrug. “You remind me of one, with your tattoos, dark hair, and clothes. Plus, you’re quiet in big groups, like today. But one-on-one, you open up and show your true self. Don’t worry—it’s a compliment. I think black cats are cool,” I add with a smile.

“That’s funny. I keep thinking that your boundless energy and enthusiasm remind me of a golden retriever,” he replies with a grin. “Also a compliment.”

He winks, and I feel my cheeks heat again. Seriously, am I getting a fever or something?

We stop near the hotel exit, and I know that Viktor will call any minute, but the thought of saying goodbye fills me with anxiety.

He steps toward me, and I realize just how little space is left between us. He’s staring at my mouth again, and I wonder if maybe he’s struggling with the same thing I am—figuring out what to say to keep this moment from ending.

He must decide to go in for a goodbye hug instead because he reaches a hand toward my hip just as my phone goes off. We both jump back a little at the noise.

“I’m so sorry. I really do need to take this,” I say quickly, giving Beck an apologetic look. “Thank you for such a great night.”

Then I answer the phone. He looks just as disappointed as I feel as he leaves the hotel and I head back to my room.

At least we exchanged numbers. I’m determined that tonight won’t be the last time I see him.

“So, how was Chicago? Any luck at the Caldwell Corporation?” Viktor asks.

“Yeah, the presentation went really well and our individual seminar was sold out today.” I’ve already emailed him updates on recruitment information from the presentations that I put on during the week, but Viktor always prefers the connection that actual conversations allow.

I really admire that he takes the time to maintain such solid friendships with his employees. Most bosses would probably prefer all email correspondence, but Viktor and I talk at least once a week when I’m traveling, and every day if I’m in Montana. He’s always asking about my day and who I’ve talked to and spent time with. He knows everything about my life, and I know that I’m super lucky to have a boss who cares so much about me.

“Any of the family interested?” he asks.

“Beck and I actually just got dinner after he came to today’s program.”

“That’s great! His example could help inspire a lot of people to improve their lives with my programs.”

“Yeah, he’s awesome. And he seemed interested in joining our next retreat!” I add. I’m really excited about the idea and seeing him again.

“Do you think you can make that happen?”

“I don’t know if he’s free, but I’ll definitely invite him!”

“Keep up the great work, Cody, you’re helping so many people find happiness,” he encourages. Best boss ever.