Rena's PoV
I had nothing against Alpha Rhys. In fact, despite the rumors, I found him quite impressive. From being a rogue to uniting the Eastern region and growing it to be the second-largest region in our country.
Aside from being impressive, he was also a delicious eye candy. The man could have easily relied on his looks to make a living like some shifters did in the human cities.
It was just that the air around him always seemed as if it wanted to knock me out of my breath. I wondered if he always had his Alpha command on.
Even right now, as I followed behind him, I could feel my heart racing a hundred miles per second.
Would I even be able to explain the reason why I came here?
Alpha Rhys stopped in front of the door at the end of the hallway and then swiped his thumb against the door.
The door opened easily, and to my surprise, he stepped aside and pointed for me to go in.
Who said the man was a roguish man?
I stepped inside his office, and I'm surprised by how refreshing it is.
The office had a large ceiling-to-floor window that was currently open, allowing a lot of light to come in.
Aside from the work desk and chair. There was a sofa arrangement right in front of it with a round table, and just beside the bookshelf, there was a rocking chair and a small stool.
I stopped looking around when I heard the sound of the door closing and simply followed Alpha Rhys as he made his way to one of the couches.
He sat down and then motioned for me to take my seat too. I sat down and took a deep breath. I held it in for four seconds like my therapist advised before breathing out.
Alpha Rhys stayed silent and simply fixed his gaze on me while I tried to find the right words to start my proposal.
After about a minute, Rhys broke the silence. "Green looks good on you."
Oh shit.
It was just four words, but my heart, which I had barely calmed, acted like it wanted to jump out of my heart.
I was never this nervous around Jason's father. Was it because my wolf was hibernating that made me feel this affected?
Or maybe it's the way he always looked at me. Like he wanted to figure out my every thought.
"Thank you," I managed to respond with a forced smile.
I sat forward and continued. "The reason why I'm here is that I would like to take up your offer from yesterday."
Alpha Rhys' gaze met with mine. He doesn't look surprised, but there's a small smile dancing at the corner of his right lip.
"What changed so quickly, Miss Mirel?"
I waved my hand. "Nothing changed. I just thought it over all through the night and realized that working with you would be better."
"As you said, I'm a rogue, after all."
He chuckled, and the sound filled the entire office. It's smooth, deep, and has a rich feel that almost made me relax.
"I see," he started, then looked around the office like he was trying to find the right words.
"But you should know that working at Carter Pharmaceuticals requires a very high level of transparency. Do you think that's something you are capable of?"
After his words landed, there was a weird silence in the office, and I felt very uncomfortable.
It wasn't as if the words were exactly bad or rude, but there was something about the tone and that probing gaze that made me feel completely insulted.
I shouldn't have come here.
But when I thought of Daisy, I squared my shoulders and met his gaze again.
"You have seen my work, gone through the data, and done your research. If there are any concerns you have, then you can let me know."
What I really wanted to say was, if he had any concerns, then why did he offer me the damned job in the first place?
But I can't get too proud right now. I had very few options. Either work with Rhys Carter or be on the run for the next year or so.
"I do have some concerns. However, I'm willing to take it as the fault of the management you were working with in the first place. Over here, we expect researchers to present real and accurate results of their test data."
"Alpha Rhys, you seem to have some concerns about my work. Why did you invite me to work with you yesterday?"
It was almost starting to feel like he had just been toying with me.
Rhys met my gaze and shrugged. "Let's take it as a momentary lapse in my judgment."
Oh, this bastard! I couldn't believe that I had found him impressive.
But there was nothing I could do, so I swallowed hard to stop myself from saying something that I would completely regret.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
"Miss Mirel, is this the patience you use for your research?"
I shook my head, about to give him an earful, but his next words stopped me.
"Also, since we are on the page of honesty, why don't you tell me exactly why you want to work here?"
To tell him that I just found out I wasn't married after four years and that I was looking for my daughter and hoping that I could use his resources?
"I'm here because I have realized that I don't align with the values of the Iron Ridge Pack anymore. Also, I have heard rumors about how working with you feels freeing and rewarding." I paused, trying to choose my words carefully.
"Glad to know that rumors can't be trusted, Alpha Rhys."
He chuckled, filling the room with that rich baritone that had my heart doing cartwheels again, and then he leaned forward so that his elbows were resting on his thick thighs.
"Miss Mirel, Carter Pharmaceuticals would love to have you join us."
Wait, what? Just like that?
"We would offer you triple of whatever you were getting paid by Iron Ridge, and if the research goes well, you would have some percentage in the profits."
I could feel my jaw slackening.
This man sure changed faster than the weather, but I could feel the relief rushing through my veins very quickly.
I really wish Lily were here with me.
"Thank you, Alpha Rhys. I look forward to working with you, too."
I stood up and gave him a small head bow.
"Thank you for the opportunity. I guess I should discuss everything else with Beta Jamie?"
Alpha Rhys raised a finger. "Oh, not so quickly."
"You still have to agree to my two conditions."
Two conditions? Did this man have a career as a movie director in the past? How could he have such horrible arrangements and timing?
"What are the two conditions?" I finally forced myself to ask through gritted teeth.