Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 193

New years eve

Carter

We were in New York City, the home of my mate’s won pack. Henchmen had picked us up from the airport and delivered us to a penthouse. It had been Creedon's, however, Latrisha had it redecorated and every ounce of masculine bones of the apartment were layered with soft feminine accents. Briar trailed her fingers over the marble top of the island taking it all in. Her eyes paused on the orchids, her fingers delicately breezing over the branch. She shrugged.

“It’s not home but I must say I like what she has done to the place.”

We both felt out of place here. She walked across the living space to the bedroom. There was a card placed on the pillows. She picked it up and chuckled as she read it, before handing it to me.

‘I challenge you alpha, to christen every inch of this place that you can as yours whenever you are here, with spite. ‘

It was signed ‘Trish’

“I must say I like the way she thinks,” I let my mate know. She laughed.

“At least she didn’t send us to the house. I’d want to burn that place down,” she said, cringing and wandering into the closet. I followed her to find the his and hers spaces fully stocked. Her hands trailed over the finery.

“At least I don’t have to go shopping,” she said, pausing on a glittering silver gown. She grinned.

“He always made me wear gold, I hated it.” she confessed.

“It’s suiting,” I told her.

“I suppose, but now you need to pick,”she said,pointing to my side and walking out to freshen up. Latrisha had made it easy, too many of her chosen suits were made precisely to match Briar’s gowns. Tonight was a big deal, we had to give the press a story, a fabricated one, we also had to ring in the New Year with Briar as the head of her pack. I heard the shower running and kicked out of my shoes as I rushed to join her. Nobody had to tell me twice, I’d fuck Brair on every surface of the damn place I could over the three days we would spend here. Starting with the shower.

Briar

The limo pulled up to the hotel owned by the pack, the press was here in full force, I knew how this would work. The barrage of questions, the flash of cameras, the absurd finery and the judgement of the elite. Carter on the other hand had no clue besides what I had told him, doing my best to prepare him for this. 

“Remember, let me lead here and handle the catty talk on my own, no dominant male bullshit unless it’s absolutely warranted. I need to hold my own here. They will try to get under both of our skins to get a reaction,” I repeated what I had told him countless times.

“I got it Briar, cool as a cucumber,” he said, giving me a grin. 

“Watch what you call me,” I hissed as we pulled up next in line for the valet to let us out at the entrance.

“I’m gonna keep it to pet names as much as possible, less chance of fucking shit up,” Carter muttered.

That was probably for the best. “We aren’t engaging with the press, they will ask a lot of questions, probably rude ones. Face forward and try to forget they are even there. Once we are inside we don’t have to worry about it, we stick to the story, someone from the pack will leak my speech so they will only have the answers I want them to have.” I tried to give him one last schooling before the limo moved forward and the valet opened the door for us to exit.

Carter exited, holding his hand out to me. I took it gathering the lengths of the glittering silver gown and stepped out carefully in my stilettos. Latrisha had outfitted us with head to toe designer brands. Every dress in my closet had a corresponding suit for Carter. Whomever the personal shopper was, I approved and would be tipping them handsomely. Lights flashed and voices called out my name but as I stood I saw only my mate’s handsome face. It forced me to smile back as I took his arm. He bent his head to kiss my cheek and I looked up at him questioningly.

“The only place I’m worried about my eyes being is on you,” he said huskily.

I blushed, my features softening as I paused meeting his eyes, which gave the press a reason to flash cameras and shouts of ‘Miss Anderson who is your date?’ Wouldn’t they like to know. I grinned at Carter as he led me down the path and up the steps of the hotel. Shouts of ‘Miss Anderson where is Creedon McAlister?’ ‘Miss Anderson, what happened to you over the last six months?’ The questions faded into the background as we entered the hotel and Latrisha waltzed up to me in a royal blue gown with silver accents. A show of unity.

“Adelaide! Stunning as always and Sheriff Carter,” she said, pausing to eye him up and down, “You clean up well, you’re lucky my alpha is your mate or I’d eat you right up.” she teased. I ignored that, she was being typical Latrisha as she leaned in to kiss my cheeks.

“So what’s the rundown,” I asked like I was about to enter a warroom, and I supposed it could be seen as exactly that.

“The big news is that all the business partners that pulled out over the social media scandal are here, even the Lords and Sons. They are all interested in the direction you are going to take the company, both shifters and humans alike. They want to hear what you have to say, know what the explanation is for everything else. Some I can’t read, like are they here just for the tea? I had prepared what I wanted to say but I took into consideration the audience that I needed to win back over. As we moved towards the ballroom I calculated what changes needed to be made and instead of plastering a fake smile on my face I looked at my mate.

“I’m sorry but I’m probably going to have to rip that dress off you tonight.” he confessed, causing me to laugh and Latrisha to snort.

“I see he’s taking my challenge seriously,” Latrisha joked. That made me realize I had never seen her so at ease, so able to drop her guard and enjoy a candid moment. It looked good on her, I had to admit.

“So speak first or mingle?” I asked.

“You tell me and I’ll make the adjustments,” she said pointing to the earbud in her ear.

“Let’s get the speech out of the way,” I looked at Carter as he squeezed my hand. Latrisha paused and pressed the earpiece in her ear and spoke.

Change of plans, Alpha is speaking upon entry, have the Orchestra pause after the next song and prep the champagne stat. She listened to whoever was on the other end. “I don’t give a fuck Kyle just make happen,” she said in annoyance. She turned to us. “We have about ten minutes until we go in. How was your flight?”

I side eyed Carter who smirked. I hadn’t wanted the private jet but it was the only way to keep my name off the public radar, and we had taken full advantage of the estate room on the flight over; all 5 hours of it.

My name had been publicly placed as CEO of the company. The wolves knew why, but the humans present hadn’t a clue what was going on.

Latrisha cleared her throat. “Well, it seems you are no longer miss prim and proper,” she said, with a soft laugh. Carter growled and I gave her a think about what you just said, look.