Page 5 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

“You want me to spend my summer fetching coffee for Bennett?” I asked in disbelief.

“Of course not. You’re not his secretary; you’re his assistant. It’s a much higher-paid position.”

While I liked the idea of more money, I knew better than to fall for her trap.

“Mmm-hmm. Why am I really here, Mom?”

“Because he needs your help.”

“And I’m betting there are at least a dozen more qualified people to help him. Why me?”

“First, because you’ve already proven you’re qualified. We saw the analysis reports you finished, Wrenly. It would have taken someone else twice as long. You’re smarter than you realize.”

She sounded like Bennett.

“And second?” I asked.

She sighed. “Bennett’s been struggling lately. I think you can bring a smile to his face.”

“I think the last time he smiled was when he had gas as a baby.”

Mom’s startled laugh was cut off when Dad took the phone. Though he tried to muffle it, I heard him say, “You're only encouraging her to misbehave.”

When Mom came back on the phone, only a hint of humor lingered in her voice.

“I don’t want to hide anything from you,” she said. “Bennett’s been through five assistants in the last four months.”

“Sounds like the problem is Bennett, not the assistants.”

"You're right. Females keep throwing themselves at him, and his patience is…well, it’s thin.”

"So find him a male assistant.”

"We tried. It didn’t stop the attention he doesn’t want.”

“And you think having me here will stop it?”

Mom chuckled. “Bennett isn’t the only prickly member in this family.”

“Ouch, Mom,” I said without really meaning it. I knew I hadn’t been the nicest to them in the past and that they didn’t understand why. But that was my problem, not hers.

“Fine. I’ll try, but don’t blame me if I’m fired on the first day.”

“He won't fire you.”

“Right…”

“You have a good day, Sweetie. We’ll see you tonight.”

I hung up after saying goodbye and wondered what she had planned for tonight. Probably nothing I’d like.

Rather than sit and do nothing, I got up and knocked on Bennett’s door. I didn’t hear anything from inside and was going to go back to my desk when the door suddenly opened.

Bennett had taken his jacket off and loosened his tie. He looked a little wild in the eyes, too.

Huh. Maybe Mom hadn’t been lying.

“Good morning, Mr. Wulf. Is there anything that I, your lowly assistant, can help you with?”

His pupils pulsed in time with his heartbeat.

“You’re going to give yourself a stroke if you can't calm down,” I said. “Seriously, what do you need me to do so you don't start beheading people at the office?”

He studied me for a moment, and I thought he was going to say something not so nice to match his mood. But he didn’t.

“Keep going through the subsidiaries, and if my door’s closed, I'm not seeing anyone. You’re the exception. If you need something, knock and then come in. If I’m on the phone, give me a moment.”

“You got it. What time do you take a lunch break?”

“I don’t. We can order something in.”

“Okay. I’ll order something for twelve-thirty then.”

He nodded and, after a brief pause, closed the door in my face.

Mentally shrugging off his moodiness, I returned to my desk and resumed reviewing the expenses. It soon became apparent why Bennett’s patience was thin.

“Is Mr. Wulf in?” a woman asked.

I tore my focus from the numbers in front of me and looked up at a petite blonde who was holding a contract folder.

“He’s in but unavailable,” I said.

“Really? I checked his schedule, and he didn't have any meetings or calls.”

I shrugged. “He said he was unavailable if the door is closed.” I gestured to the door. “As we can both see, it’s closed.”

“But I need this contract signed right away.”

I held out my hand. She looked at my hand, then met my gaze.

“Let him know Andri has a contract that needs his attention.”

“Will do," I said.

She stared at me, and I stared back.

“Aren’t you going to call him?” she asked impatiently.

“No. Either hand me the contract so I can pass it to him, or try calling him yourself to set up a time to hand it off in person.”

Her eye twitched. “I’ve tried. He doesn’t pick up.”

Rather than continue to debate with her, I dismissively looked at my screen. She got the hint and went away. Another woman showed up thirty minutes later. Then another…and another.

It kept the morning entertaining when it would have been otherwise mind-numbing.

When the receptionist from the main entry arrived just after twelve-thirty with the food order, I was more than ready for a break.

“Is Mr. Wulf inside?” she asked.

“I'll take that for him,” I said. “Thanks for bringing it back.”

She didn’t argue but did give his office door, which had remained firmly closed all morning, a sad look before leaving.

I got up and knocked on the door before opening it. He wasn’t at his desk or reclining on what looked like a tempting nap-sofa. The other door in the office, presumably the bathroom, was closed. So I left the food on his desk.

Then, I slapped a sticky note on the outside of his closed office door, grabbed my things, and headed out for my lunch.

I received the same side-eye leaving as I had when I’d arrived.

But once I was on the street outside the building, I easily blended into the crowd, happily walking until something to eat caught my eye.

Since I wasn’t sure how long I had for lunch, I got it to-go and even ordered an extra dessert for Bennett.

Maybe something sweet would improve his mood.

My phone rang as I was checking out.

I looked down, saw Bennett’s name on the screen, and debated my approach before answering.

“Hey, Boss. Do you like strawberry or lime better?”

I knew the question threw him off whatever he’d been about to say when he didn't immediately answer.

“If you say nothing, you get nothing,” I said.

“Strawberry,” he finally said.

“Good choice. I’ll be back in ten. I left a note on your door so they leave you alone.”

“I saw the note. 'Knock and Die' seems a little extreme.”

“Has anyone knocked?”

“No.”

“Then, I’d call it effective. I’ll be back in ten.”

I hung up before he could say anything else and happily window-shopped my way back to the office.

Bennett’s door was closed, and the note remained affixed. However, the blinds to his office were open in the section that gave him a direct line of sight to my desk, which meant he knew I’d returned.

I purposely didn’t make eye contact as I set my to-go bag down and took out his strawberry dessert.

A hand reached around me and plucked the bag from my grasp.

“Inside,” Bennett said.

I hadn’t even heard him open the office door. Smoothing out my unhappy expression, I turned around and followed him into his office.

“Close the door,” he said.

Obviously , I thought.

If he were smart, he would install one of those devices that automatically closed the door on its own. Maybe even something that would deliver a mild shock when someone knocked on it.

“Sit.” He pointed at the chair across from his desk and started taking out the food I’d bought. “Why didn’t you order delivery for yourself?”

I accepted my lunch from him and sat.

“Because I wanted a break. The number of women I’ve fielded for you is impressive. They weren’t all bad. The receptionist seems nice.”

He didn’t comment.

“Personally, I’m not a fan of Milena or Andri. By the way, Andri said she had a contract that needed your attention. Not sure how real it was but figured she could email if it was important.”

“It’s not. All contracts that come in are forwarded to me digitally.”

I nodded and watched him sit with his fancy strawberry-laden treat in a cup.

“So what am I going to do once I’m done with the expense evaluation?” I asked. “I doubt it will last me the rest of the day.”

“There are more subsidiaries.”

“Yaaay,” I said flatly.

“I could use your help taking meeting notes this afternoon if you’d rather do that,” he said as he scooped out his first bite.

“Does it include protecting your virtue? Why are they so obsessed with you?”

The scowl he gave me carried a hint of hurt.

“I mean, besides the obvious—wealthy heir to Wulf Enterprises and likely future pack Alpha.”

“Isn't that enough?” he asked.

I shrugged indifferently and started eating my lunch.

“What are the meetings about?” I asked between bites.

“Buying companies. Some will be our people pitching companies to acquire, and some will be with company owners to get to know their businesses more in depth.”

“Sure. I can take notes.”

The meetings saved me from having to answer the question I’d been answering all morning, which was whether “Mr. Wulf” was in his office. I began to learn more about Wulf Enterprises and Bennett, too.

Wulf Enterprises was huge, and Bennett could be personable when he chose to be.

He greeted men with a handshake and introduced me as “the most important person in his life,” his assistant, Wrenly.

Everyone he met was super respectful of him, too.

It was a little weird to see that side of Bennett instead of the serious, strict side I remembered.

I sat next to him and took the best notes I could, which I was sure weren't that great, considering how many times he watched me make them.

After the final meeting wrapped up and Bennett went to walk the guy out, I headed back to his office suite.

Andri was waiting by my desk.

“He’s not in,” I said before she could ask.

“I know. That’s why I’m waiting.”

He rounded the corner, and she was quick to latch onto his arm.

“I don’t have a ride to the reception tonight. Can I ride with you?”

He smoothly detangled himself from her, gave me a hard stare, and continued walking toward his office.

Andri took a step to follow him.

“Wait a second,” I said.

She paused to look at me. It was enough time for him to close his door.

“He’s in, but he doesn’t want to be disturbed," I said.

Her face flushed, and she turned around and walked away.