Chapter 209: Chapter 209 Aftermath and Unexpected Package
Caroline’s POV
I woke up disoriented, sprawled across the leather couch in Draven’s office. His suit jacket covered my legs like a makeshift blanket. My body felt wonderfully sore from our intense lovemaking session, and memories of how I’d fallen asleep right after flooded back.
Across the room, Draven sat at his desk, already back in full Alpha business mode. He looked devastatingly handsome focusing on some document, one finger thoughtfully pressed against his temple. His white shirt and lead gray vest hugged his muscular frame perfectly. I admired him silently, taking in how quickly he’d transformed from passionate lover to commanding CEO.
"He looks even sexier when he’s in work mode," Rory purred in my mind.
Draven glanced up, catching me watching him. A smile spread across his face that made my heart flutter. Setting his pen down, he rose and walked toward me.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" His voice was deliciously husky.
"Absolutely fantastic," I replied, stretching my limbs.
"Is that so?" He chuckled, eyes twinkling. "And what’s got you feeling so good?"
"Just had mind-blowing sex with my Alpha boss," I replied casually, as if discussing the weather.
"Sounds like a lucky man," Draven’s smile widened.
"Oh, he is. Gorgeous, well-endowed, and skilled at everything he does."
"Now I’m jealous of this boss of yours." He laughed, the sound warming me from within.
"Seriously though," I said, placing my hand on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. "What I feel for you sometimes seems too good to be real."
Draven leaned down, capturing my lips in a tender kiss. "Feel that?" I nodded. "It’s real. I love you, Luna."
His desk phone rang, interrupting our moment. Draven groaned, reluctantly returning to answer it. I took the opportunity to slip into his private bathroom. When I emerged, Ryan stood in the center of the office, looking uncomfortably between the desk chairs and the couch.
"I won’t ask why Alpha Draven vanished during the Chinese investors call," Ryan said, eyeing me suspiciously. "But I do need somewhere safe to sit."
"Anywhere’s fine, Ryan," I smiled innocently.
Ryan cautiously approached one of the chairs facing the desk. Draven smirked mysteriously. Ryan immediately abandoned that choice and leaned against the desk instead. Draven cleared his throat pointedly. Poor Ryan then walked toward the couch where I sat, but Draven shook his head firmly.
"Good lord," Ryan exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Is there any surface in this office you two haven’t christened?"
"The window," Draven answered with a wicked grin. "Haven’t tried that yet."
Ryan’s jaw dropped. "Jesus, I’m going to my office."
"Don’t be dramatic," Draven laughed. "The right chair is still clean, I promise."
"You two are worse than teenagers," Ryan muttered, cautiously lowering himself into the indicated chair. "I thought marriage would calm you down, not turn you into sex-crazed wolves."
"Being mated to my Luna only intensifies everything," Draven winked at me, causing heat to bloom in my cheeks.
"Can we please focus on business before you two start round two?" Ryan groaned, pulling out his tablet. "The Chinese investors need our decision on the joint venture by tomorrow."
Just like that, Draven’s demeanor shifted. His playful expression vanished, replaced by the calculating gaze of Storm Valley’s Alpha and CEO. It was fascinating watching him switch modes so completely.
"Show me the quarterly numbers," Draven said firmly. "Caroline, I want to hear what you think about this, especially about the manufacturing timeline issues."
I sat up straighter, surprised that he was asking me. Even though I was Luna, Draven didn’t usually include me in big business decisions. This felt different—like he was showing everyone that I was his equal partner in everything.
"The supply problems in Guangdong worry me," I said, looking at the papers Ryan had shared. "Their timeline looks too good to be true, especially with all the shipping delays we’re seeing."
Ryan looked impressed. "She’s right. Their factory looks great on paper, but when it comes to actually getting things done..."
"We need backup plans," Draven agreed. "Let’s suggest doing this in stages, with penalties if they’re late."
The meeting went on for another thirty minutes. We talked about how to enter new markets and how to split the profits. Draven led the discussion, but he often asked for my opinion. Every time we looked at each other, I felt that familiar spark between us. We tried to act professional, but it was hard to forget what had happened between us just moments before.
"I’ll revise the contract with these adjustments," Ryan concluded, standing up. "And I’ll sanitize this chair later," he added under his breath.
"I heard that," Draven smirked.
"You were meant to," Ryan retorted. "Next time, try keeping it in your pants during international business calls."
"No promises," Draven replied, winking at me again.
After Ryan left, I rose from the couch. "I should get back to my office. Those quarterly reports won’t review themselves."
Draven pulled me close, nuzzling my neck where his mating mark lay. "Tonight, we try that window," he whispered against my ear.
"Insatiable," I laughed, playfully pushing him away.
"Only for you, Luna."
Back in my office, I first needed to fix my appearance. My panties were still stuffed in my purse from earlier, and I quickly slipped them back on. I was smoothing down my skirt when Nina knocked and entered with a large, unmarked package.
"Caroline, this just arrived for you," she said, looking troubled. "Something’s off about it. No sender information, and when I asked reception how it was received, nobody could tell me. They said they never process packages without sender details."
A prickle of unease ran down my spine. "That is strange. Maybe it’s from Draven?"
Nina shook her head. "I don’t think so. I’m going to call Alpha Draven. Don’t open it, please. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this."
"You’re overreacting," I said, though Rory growled warningly in my mind. "It’s just a package."
"Something smells wrong about it," Rory cautioned. "Listen to Nina."
I ignored them both, taking the box and placing it on my desk. It was approximately shoebox-sized but heavier, wrapped in plain brown paper with just my name printed on top. No stamps, no courier markings, nothing to indicate how it had gotten past our tight security.
"Let me just check what it is," I insisted, running my fingers along the edge to break the tape.
"Caroline, wait—" Nina started.
The lid came off, and what lay inside made my blood freeze. A horrified scream tore from my throat as I stared at the contents, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Nina rushed forward, seeing my face drain of color.
"What is it? What’s in there?" she asked, alarmed.
But I couldn’t speak, couldn’t tear my eyes away from the nightmarish threat.
Someone knew exactly how to hurt me most.