Chapter 32

(**Sebastion’s POV**)

I wanted to say more to Irina, but when I looked up at the building, I saw the manager waving at me from the doorway. With a heavy sigh, I open my door. It is time to do what we came here to accomplish. Our personal drama will have to wait until later. Grabbing my briefcase from the back seat, I wait for Irina to get out of the car before I lock it up.

As we approach the building, I feel more eyes on us than just the manager. I look around the parking lot to see who else is watching us. There are a few employees standing around what looks like an outside break area. None of them are looking in our direction. I scan the area again but do not see anyone looking our way, yet I can not shake the feeling of being watched.

“Are you sure Vicktor has no more trackers following you?”

“There were none other than Eric, Issac, and myself. I feel it too, that we are being watched.”

Before I could add anything more to her comment, the manager rushed forward. Her face is flushed, her heart rate is elevated, and her pupils were dilated. She is aroused. I can smell it on her like a thick cloying perfume. I wanted to wrinkle my nose in distaste, but I keep a blank expression. She was human.

She wasn’t unattractive by any means. Thick chestnut hair cascades down to her shoulders in waves. Her eyes are a rich brown that makes me think of chocolate. Her lips are plump and any man would find them kissable. She is a curvy woman who knows how to dress to flatter her figure.

Unfortunately for her, I am not available to her or any other woman. I have my mate next to me and she is the only woman I will ever desire.

“I am so happy that the big boss man himself came down here to help us. My name is Cathy Gibbson, the plant manager.” Her voice is too breathy, and I have a feeling she is hoping for more out of this meeting today.

I greet her calmly and refuse to shake the hand she stretches out for me to shake. “Have you called everyone to the meeting room?”

“Yes, they are waiting for us now.” Her face falls slightly at my straight to business attitude. Then her gaze finally lands on Irina. Her heart rate spikes and irritation flashes briefly through her eyes.

Strike one against her.

“Then lead the way so that my assistant and I can get this meeting started. I want to tour the factory afterwards to see where the problems are.”

“Right away, but your assistant can’t tour the factory with us in those shoes.”

“Leave that to me when the time comes. Where is David?” David Hughes, the plant’s director of operations.

“He is in a meeting with a sales rep, but will join us shortly.”

I gestured for her to lead the way, placed my hand on the small of Irina’s back to have her walk ahead of me. If the hostility I sense from Cathy continues to be directed towards Irina, I will ask David to give us the tour. A jealous woman is a dangerous woman. I know Irina can handle herself, but Cathy’s jealousy is uncalled for.

The meeting went as I expected. The employees calmly told us of their issues while Irina took notes. None of the problems were hard to fix, and it surprises me they hadn’t been addressed until now. I watch Cathy’s face as each employee mentions their issues. From the lack of reaction from her, I realize she is well aware of them all. I now see the problem. The management is the issue.

David came in at the end of the meeting. I sent all the employees back to their work areas. When the room was clear, David motioned for us to walk with him. I followed him out into the hallway, then to his office. When Cathy tried to join us, he dismissed her.

“You can go back to your office, Cathy. I need to speak to Mr. Drakos alone.”

“I thought you would need my help with the list of grievances.”

“I can handle that on my own. Now please go do your job.”

Cathy stood at the door, I could tell there was more she wanted to say, but she didn’t. Instead, she glances at Irina with a very hateful look before she stomped away. David opened the door to his office and lead us inside. He walked to his desk and sighed heavily as he sat down.

“I can see you picked up on Cathy’s attitude.”

“I picked up on more than just her hostility.” I motioned for Irina to sit in one chair in front of David’s desk as I sat in the other.

“Who is this?” David motioned a hand to her.

“My new assistant, Irina Belova.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” From the flaring of his nostrils, I knew he picked up my scent all over her. Wisely, he kept silent. David is a werewolf, so he knows what my scent on her means.

“So, what do you want to do about the management staff here? Why didn’t you tell me before now that there was a problem?”

“I was hoping it would work itself out. I regret hiring her, but there wasn’t anything I could do to fire her. She does her job well.”

“From the look on her face, she has known about all the problems here but has done nothing about them. Has she not been giving reports daily?”

“Fake ones, it seems. I am at fault here just as much as she is.”

We spend the next hour going over all the complaints and how to fix them. David sets up a plan to have repairs started and we both decide it is time to hire a new plant manager. I gave him the honors of letting Cathy know she was no longer employed. The tour went smoothly, and I made mental notes of improvements to discuss with David later.

When we finished the tour, I shake David’s hand and tell him I will be in touch later in the week. I guide Irina out of the building and to the car. The feeling of being watched was stronger this time. I scan the area as we walk to the car, but just like earlier, I see nothing that sticks out.

“How about we go get some lunch? There is a restaurant near here that serves fairly decent steaks.”

“That sounds like a good plan. Then we can take a walk around the area.”

With that settled, I unlock the car and we get in. I drive to the restaurant, but the sense of being watched doesn’t fade. It seems to follow us as I drive. A sense of dread forms in the pit of my stomach. I dislike the idea of being followed at all. I was hoping to have a little peace before we head to Bodega Bay in two weeks.

Is that too much to ask for?

“There is a black car two cars behind us. It has been following us since we left the factory.” Irina’s voice was quiet as her eyes flicked to the review mirror.

I noticed looked at the car she pointed out. Its windows are tinted dark and I can’t see inside. That alarms me. Who ever is driving wants to stay hidden for some reason. “Could Vicktor have another tracker that you were not informed of? Like a hidden agent or something?”

“Possibly, but I highly doubt it. He is arrogant and brags often of his conquests. He has only ever mentioned Eric and Issac to me.”

“Well, we shall see if they follow us to the restaurant. Then if they do, we will confront whoever it is there.”

“No, if they follow there we should change direction. Head out of the city. Let them follow us away from prying eyes and humans. Then we can find a place for them to stop us.”

“That is a good plan. You are clever, Irina.”

**Our mate is smarter than you give her credit for.**

*I figured that out.*

As expected, the car follows us to the restaurant. I pull into the parking lot, circle the building to make it look like I am searching for a place to park, then I exit back onto the street. The black car soon follows. I glance into the review mirror once more, then I nod to Irina. It is time to head away from the city.

I merge into traffic to head towards the highway that will lead us out of Portland. My curiosity is piqued now. If this isn’t one of Vicktor’s trackers, then who is following us? Knowing that it is probably not one of Vicktor’s people, the feeling of dread in my stomach loosens.

**If whoever is in that car tries to hurt our mate, we need to kill them.**

*Slow down there, Aries, we will talk first. We will only fight if they attack us.*

Aries growls at me then goes quiet. As much as I agree with him, I want answers first.