CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara got up from her place and decided to go back to Nate's office. After talking with Samantha, she felt that leaving her alone was the best thing to do.

«I'll spend a lot of time in the company in the following days,» she said before leaving. «I can come here again when you have time to chat. I don't even know what to do for hours...»

«It's fine,» Samantha said. «You can come whenever you want.»

Then, she remembered something.

«Oh, not on Thursday.»

«Okay.»

«I'll go to the Tech Fair. We're presenting a new product, so Nate sent me to hunt some new clients and promote the company.»

«Okay, then. I'll find something else to do on Thursday. Are you going alone?»

«No, I'll bring one of the agents with me. If we do find new clients, it's better if there's two of us.»

«I see. I'll let you work now. Nate said we're going home early today.»

«Ah, yes. He'll work from home. Being a CEO has its perks.»

«It must be because he doesn't want me to wander around for too long.»

«He doesn't want you to feel bored. There are no secrets you're supposed not to know, don't worry.»

They split ways, and Lara found herself jobless again. Having so much free time was annoying. What could she do during the following half of an hour? Then, they would go home. But before that...

Instead of wandering again, she returned to Nate's office and continued staring at him shamelessly.

He was rather attractive while reading documents at his desk. He would skim through the pages and follow her notes. Then, he would either sign the contract or throw it away.

«I'm almost done,» he said without raising his head. «Just another two.»

«Yes,» she replied.

He could take all the time he wanted as long as he continued being handsome. It was a feast for her eyes.

She observed how he carefully read her notes, and then he placed all of them in a folder. He would throw out the contracts he didn't sign, but not the notes. Even in those cases, he would put them away.

«Why are you keeping the notes?» Lara asked. It was stronger than her: she was curious about his motives.

She had even drawn a little heart on the last note. It was her way to tell Nate he did a good job. But if her notes were to be saved... Oh, how embarrassing! What use could he have of them, by the way?

«Oh, these...» he muttered, suddenly embarrassed. He moved the folder on the side as if to protect it from Lara's eyes. «It... Uhm...»

His response didn't come, so Lara aimlessly blinked and waited, her mind considering all the options. Also, she could write the last note again without hearts. It was better, especially if the notes were saved for someone else to read.

Just as she considered how to tell Nate she drew a heart, her own stopped when his eyes landed on the last document.

«Oh,» he muttered.

He beamed as if the words were just what he wanted to read. Was the contract so promising? She didn't remember which one was the last...

Nate was smiling like an idiot, and he couldn't read Lara's thoughts at that moment. He hadn't even read the words yet. He wanted to keep that note somewhere safe because the little heart in the bottom part was invaluable.

«Nate,» Lara said, almost in a whisper.

She had walked to the desk and was holding the edge. Just like Scarlet when she needed something.

Nate's eyes flew up to her face, all his focus on her request. She was going to ask him for something? Really?

It was a first!

«I can write it again,» she said.

«Hmm?»

«The note. I can write it again if you want.»

Another heart? Oh, that would be awesome... But it somehow lacked any sense.

He realised what she was trying to say a second before nodding convincedly. She would write the words and leave the heart out. He had no use of another note like that!

«No need, this is fine,» he said.

Maybe, it was better not to reveal too much about the emotions in his heart. There was the chance she would draw more hearts, true, but what if she was freaked out? In the end, for human standards, what he was doing was pretty cringy.

«Ehm... No one apart from me will see this, by the way,» he added, lest she decided to avoid any familiarity in the future.

She sighed, relieved. Yet, the question she had asked popped up again.

«Why are you keeping them?»

He swallowed, cornered by her curious stare. How could he not answer that face?

But he couldn't just say he was stacking up mementoes of her. If she decided to leave him one day, at least he could have something for his solitary nights. Memories to keep him company and objects to prove she hadn't been just a foolish dream.

«We don't have pictures together,» he then realised. «We don't have anything linking us. Nothing to keep for the future.»

«Oh, that's true.»

It was not in a wolf's nature to look for that kind of thing. Pictures were useless for those staying their whole lives together. But he had no such guarantee.

He would have fought for that right, but he could not be sure.

«This is all I have from you,» he explained, his eyes turning sad.

Lara was taken back, but she pretended not to be in pain as much as him. Was it human empathy, or was it the link?

She sighed, offering her hand.

«We can take a lot of pictures. You, me, and the twins. It will be fun.»

«For both of us?» he asked.

«Yes,» she chuckled. «Two copies of each.»

His mood improved, and he brought her hand to his lips for a peck.

«And I won't leave like the first time, Nate. I promise.»

Even if he couldn't allow himself to believe it just yet, he smiled at her and got up.. The last document was forgotten on the desk as they walked out.