Chapter 11

Cole's POV

The next morning I woke up feeling even more restless than I was last night. Rhys' passing remark last night still worried me. I'd hate to be put in that spot if Giselle really called me to ask what I was thinking. Nevertheless I got to the resort quite earlier than we'd planned to meet. I sat in anticipation at the bar of the quiet restaurant.

I had decided to sit in a secluded area at the corner of the bar so I could watch the movement of everyone coming in and going out of the bar. It was a defense mechanism brought on by years of having to be on the lookout Incase of an attack. Tiffany still hadn't made any move yet but he wouldn't put it past her to attack him when he least expect it. Besides that he wanted to have a view of Giselle entering the bar.

The bar was quite luxuriously decorated albeit quiet. Minutes later I watched as Giselle lithe figure made her way over to my table. She was wearing a simple black skirt over a crisp white shirt and jacket looking very professional. Her hair was tied Ina loose bun on her head and tendrils of it were slipping out of the bun and flying on the wind. I wanted to touch it so bad. She wore her usual light makeup but it just only made her look more beautiful.

I noticed she looked slimmer and more exhausted since the last time I'd seen her. I mentally berated myself for not calling to check on her and see if she was okay especially since she's with child. She reached the table where I was sitting and pasted a crooked tired smile on her face.

Now that she was closer I noticed tired eye bags under her eyes and a stab of guilt overcame me. She sat down on the chair opposite mine instead of beside me and it made me feel bad. I wanted to hold her and touch her but I didn't do any of that. Instead I stayed glued to my spot and feigned disinterest. It was getting more and more harder to deny the pull of attraction I was beginning to feel for Giselle. I decided I would end this meeting as soon as I can. Being so close to her wasn't good for my mental health.

For a moment she didn't say anything and just took a sip of the water I had ordered earlier for her before saying, "thanks for agreeing to meet me on such short notice," she began but I held up my hands to cut her off.

"I know what you're about to ask me already. I made it very clear on the day that I agreed to marry you that I would have nothing to do with your family, especially your father. You probably already noticed but your father and I are not on good terms and I refuse to help someone like him," I said impatiently, already getting ready to leave.

She held up her hands to stop me. " Please hold on. You must be mistaken. I didn't come here to ask for your help in paying off the debt. That is not why I called you here"

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "You didn't. Then why did you call me?"

She removed a large document from her bag and handed it over to me. "I'm not here as your fiancé but instead I'm here to discuss business with you"

"Business. What are you talking about?. What do you know about the financial aspect in running a pack?," I questioned suspiciously.

"I know more about business than most Alpha's. Who do you think helps to run the silver moon pack with my father? Definitely not my irresponsible brother," she said, her chin raising up an inch in the way it always is when she's annoyed at something.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound condescending. I'm just not used to knowing any Luna's or royal daughters being interested in anything about the financial aspect of a pack," I apologized immediately, seeing as I had upset her.

"It's fine. You're definitely not the first or will be the last man that has underestimated my capabilities but enough about that. I'm here on business. I know you have been losing money because of a recent investment that the royal family made to the blue moon pack. Am I correct?"

"Yes. The blue moon pack has been falling short of money and not like the way they used to be but what does this have to with why you're here," I asked impatiently.

"What if I tell you the silver Moon Pack can double your investment"

I watched we renewed interest as Giselle talked. It was nice to see how animated she was as she talked about her proposal. She gave me a copy of the layout of her proposal and the benefit I would earn in returns if I invested in the silver moon pack. The proposal was so detailed showing both the profit and losses that would ensue not not leaving out any details. I had to give it to her. The proposal was very good and I now looked at her with admiration.

"Your proposal is really good, it's almost too hard to refuse," I complimented her.

"Thanks. I put a lot of work and effort into it"

"I would go over it again and consult with my team then I will let you know what happens tomorrow"

Giselle stood up and shook my hands, a smile of relief on her face. I held on to her hands just a few seconds longer, not wanting to let go. I wanted to tell to stay but I couldn't and I released her hands and watched her walk away. I sighed to myself and walked over to my car where Rhys had parked it and was patiently waiting for me to come out. He had insisted on coming with me but decided to wait at the car for me instead. I got in and mused over my next words before asking my question.

"Did you know that Giselle knows how to run a pack?"

Rhys smirked. "Of course. It was a silent knowledge that Giselle had her hands in the running of the pack. She's quite intelligent and smart and has been able to single handedly stop the pack businesses from going bankrupt. Her father would never agree to it but she basically helped him keep the business afloat not with her older brother being very untrustworthy"

"Now I see why so many nobles were still interested in marrying her when Jared canceled their wedding"

"Now you're beginning to understand but why did you suddenly ask this question? What did she say?"

"She proposed a business plan"

"A business plan. Wow. I guess I really underestimated her. So instead of asking you to give her the money to pay for her father's debt she wants you to invest into the silver moon pack. That's really smart"

"I know right and the worst part is her proposal is really good and would definitely benefit us but I also don't want to help her father in any way," I uttered feeling frustrated.

"Well judging from my vantage point, I think if the proposal is good you should go for it. You can have your revenge on her father later," Rhys suggested.

"I will go over the proposal once more and then I'll tell her my decision tomorrow but for now let's go. I still need the team to go over the plan and get their feedback."

Rhys started the car and sped off back to the royal house meanwhile my thoughts were still of a charming blue eyed minx. I was beginning to see Giselle in a new and different light today.