Chapter 213: Chapter 213 The Freeze
Author
The front door slammed open so hard the frame shook.
Orion stormed in like a tiny hurricane, backpack thumping against his spine. "DAD. Dad. DAD."
Yardley did not look up from his laptop. "I heard you the first time."
"Did you know Nancy came to my school today?" Orion’s voice was pitched high with excitement.
Yardley’s fingers paused over the keyboard. Just for a second. "I figured."
"I figured?" Orion planted his hands on his hips. His little chest puffed out. "Dad. She came to see ME. Not you. ME."
Yardley finally looked up. One dark eyebrow lifted. "And?"
"And you should be jealous." Orion grinned, showing his tiny fangs. "She likes me better."
A low sound rumbled in Yardley’s chest. Not quite a laugh. "She stayed for five minutes, patted your head, and left before snack time."
Orion’s grin disappeared. "How do you know that?"
"Because I know everything."
Orion’s face scrunched up. "That is not fair."
"Life is not fair." Yardley leaned back in his chair. "Now go do your homework."
Orion stomped off, muttering under his breath. "No wonder she does not like you. You are mean."
Yardley watched him go. The corner of his mouth twitched.
She is remembering.
He picked up his phone and called the driver.
"Tell me everything."
The driver arrived two minutes later. He was nervous. He kept shifting his weight.
But under Yardley’s silence, he cracked within seconds.
The driver told him everything.
How Nancy walked up to Orion and just hugged him out of nowhere. Like she could not help it.
She held onto him for a long time, her hand resting on his head, running through his hair.
And her eyes went soft at first. Then confused. Then just... lost. Like she did not even know why she was doing it.
Yardley listened. His face stayed calm. But inside, something cracked open.
She met him, and she felt it.
He dismissed the driver and sat alone in his office for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
Orion peeked around the corner and saw it. His eyes went wide.
"Dad? Are you okay?"
Yardley’s smile did not fade. "I am fine."
"You are smiling. That is weird."
"Go finish your homework, pup."
Orion stared at him for another second, then ran off.
"Grandfather was right," he whispered to himself. "Adults are so weird."
---
Alpha Dominic was scrolling through Christmas getaways on his phone, trying to figure out where to take Elara for the holidays, when his assistant knocked.
"Mr. Wolfe, there is a Dr. Reed here to see you."
Alpha Dominic frowned. "Dr. Reed?"
He walked to the conference room and pushed the door open. Quinn was sitting there, legs crossed, looking like she belonged in a magazine.
"Sorry to just show up," she said, flashing a smile. "I was in the area and thought I would say hi. Hope that is okay."
Alpha Dominic stayed standing. "What do you need, Quinn?"
Her smile held. "It is not about me. It is about your wife."
His eyes went flat. "What about her?"
"She has been trying to close a deal with Taylor Capital. But she keeps hitting walls." Quinn tilted her head. "I told her she should ask you to step in. She did not seem into the idea. So I figured I would mention it."
Alpha Dominic’s jaw tightened. Elara had been coming home late every night. He had seen the spreadsheets on her desk. The phone calls. The stress.
Someone was messing with his mate.
"Got it," he said. "I owe you one."
Quinn waited for him to say more. Maybe ask her to lunch. Maybe coffee. But the invitation never came.
"Sure," she said lightly. "Bring Elara next time."
"I will."
After she left, Alpha Dominic hit his intercom.
"Do we have anything active with Taylor Capital?"
"Yes, Alpha. We have a contract up for renewal."
"Freeze it."
The assistant paused. "For how long?"
Alpha Dominic’s eyes flickered gold. "Until I unfreeze it."
--
Shane figured it out before anyone else.
"Vanessa. Did you close that hotel deal yet?"
Vanessa’s mouth pressed into a line. "I have been busy. I have not gotten to it."
"I told you to make that a priority." Shane’s voice was sharp. "What is the hold-up?"
Vanessa waved a hand. "It is not that important, is it?"
"Not important?" Shane’s eyes narrowed. "Wolfe Enterprises just pulled their contract with us. You want to tell me again how this is not important?"
Vanessa went pale.
Shane walked past her and pulled her secretary aside. When he found out that Elara had been left waiting at a restaurant for two hours, his face went dark.
"Vanessa, you have never acted like this before. What the hell is going on?"
She hesitated. Then it spilled out. "I do not like her, alright? I do not like how she used to be Zack’s side piece and now she walks around like she owns the city."
Shane stared at her. Then he let out a long breath.
"So this is really about Zack."
"Look," he said, his voice cold. "I do not care what she used to be. Right now she is married to Dominic Wolfe. That means she has more power than you do. And if you cannot respect that, you better learn to act like you do."
He stepped closer. "And those stories you heard about her? About Zack keeping her? That is just gossip from people who have nothing better to do. Do not believe everything you hear."
His voice dropped. "I do not care if you have to get down on your knees and beg. That deal gets done today. Understood?"
Vanessa’s jaw was tight. "Understood."
