Had she not growled directly at him, he would likely remain unaware of her true nature.
If, as Sadie asserted, she had reacted to him as a Mate, he increasingly concurred with his younger sister’s assessment. They could not comprehend why her wolf would growl at him and Aiden if they were her Mate.
A hand obstructed his view, and fingers were being snapped directly at him; it appeared he had permitted his thoughts to drift excessively for an extended period. “As I mentioned, Brianna is not present.” “You are disrupting business.” Stella’s tone was terse, and she appeared quite irritated with him for either not believing her initially or for having tuned her out. He was uncertain.
“Where is she located?” What if it is not present?He remarked, endeavouring to eliminate any trace of irritation from his tone.
“Departed for the extended weekend.” “For your information,” she remarked with a hint of sarcasm, “she will not be working from this store for several weeks.” She gazed at him pointedly, indicating that she had concluded the conversation and would divulge no further information, almost suggesting he should leave.
Ryder gazed directly at her. She did not instill fear in him; no human ever could. He could easily envision that expression and her demeanour would deter many humans, but not him. Enquired about scheduling an appointment to meet with her upon her return, rather than departing.
To which Stella promptly declined him. This caused him to frown. The woman failed to consult a diary or the computer for Brianna’s schedule to ascertain her next availability.
“I will wait and identify a suitable time in her schedule,” he proposed, although he sensed his patience beginning to diminish due to her demeanour.
She pursed her lips and crossed her arms, remaining silent for a full minute before stating, “I can’t do that.” Brianna is fully booked for the next six months and is not accepting new clients at present.
“Right,” he asserted; he did not believe her whatsoever. Brianna Layla was evidently evading him and had directed her Assistant Manager to obstruct his efforts to meet her. He disapproved of it.
If she was, as Sadie stated, his mate. She was now deliberately evading him, directing his gaze towards the woman’s office in the loft and subsequently her studio. Both doors were shut and the lights were extinguished. However, this did not imply that she was not present, and he was clearly unable to detect her scent if she continued to conceal it, which appeared to be her consistent practice.
“She is not present.” Stella’s tone had become icy and disrespectful.
“I wish to observe personally.” Ryder directed his gaze towards the woman. He was resolute in his refusal to accept a negative response. She appeared to comprehend the message.
“Very well, proceed to verify for yourself,” she replied with a shrug, gesturing towards the stairs.
Ryder accomplished precisely that. She opened her office door, which was unlocked, but refrained from entering. He sensed that Stella was observing him from downstairs, akin to a hawk poised to alert the authorities should he venture out of view, potentially accusing him of theft or vandalism in Brianna’s office. He perceived her as a formidable bouncer.
Brianna’s office was expansive, featuring a substantial glass and steel desk on the left side, accompanied by a white leather chair positioned behind it. Framed prints of models donning her designs were displayed on the wall behind her desk, he surmised.
He recognised a glass sliding door that opened onto a balcony, which he recalled from the previous day featured a table and chair set, presumably for consuming coffee, as evidenced by the coffee cup on her desk.
On the right side of the room, awards were displayed on shelves above a plush white leather lounge that complemented her office chair, accompanied by a glass and steel coffee table similar to her desk.
A modest stack of magazines was fanned on the table, and beneath it, he observed several children’s books for reading and colouring, accompanied by a selection of high-quality markers and pencils—an unusual assortment for an office, he mused absently. Secured the door and proceeded to her studio.
The Studio was also unlocked; if she was absent, shouldn’t both be secured? It is possible that Stella had access to both for some reason. A design desk was positioned to the right, adorned with numerous pencils and tools stored in containers along its rear. A stool featuring a black seat mounted on roller wheels, multiple design pads positioned on a shelf, alongside a bin and a shredder located to the left of the desk.
A tall wingback chair in a soft pink hue was positioned adjacent to the mannequin displaying the dress she had been working on the previous day during his visit. Surrounding the room were extensive collections of fabric: silk, satin, lace, in diverse hues ranging from white to ivory, silver to black, and soft pinks.
The left-hand wall featured shelves brimming with transparent containers of buttons, ribbons, zippers, beads, and various other items. He retreated from the doorway and shut the door.
It appeared she had not been present, not that he could ascertain, but even Stella’s scent was absent from both rooms, indicating she had not visited today. It was probable that Stella had been truthful; Brianna was not present and had not been present. I may indeed be absent for the weekend.
Ryder considered leaving her a note, including his contact information at the pack, to request that she call him. He could provide his direct number for his Alpha office or even his mobile. However, after a brief reflection on her response to him and her assistant manager’s demeanour, he doubted she would utilise it.
As Ryder descended the stairs, he pondered the she-wolf’s actions; he could not comprehend why she, the girl who had abandoned his pack, had expressed her rejection without his prior awareness, nor the rationale behind her initial decision.
