CHAPTER 27: 27-WHY SO JEALOUS?

Iris:

"So, these are just some pictures we’ll share with our creative directors, scriptwriters, and others, just to show what kind of look we’re going for. That way, they can also plan the outfits for the initial launch of the brand," I explained to Lara and Keith, who were now standing in the front yard with me.

Business worked differently for the werewolves. They had to go through different stages to promote and authenticate their brands and products.

It was a beautiful view, and we had decided to use the most natural scenery to express the scent of these perfumes instead of using a green screen and artificial sets.

However, I was the only one talking at the moment. Kash had been in such a bad mood that he just stood with his arms crossed in the corner, glaring at everyone.

Ever since Keith arrived, I’d noticed Kash acting terribly. I thought he was afraid Keith might flirt with his fiancée. That had to be the reason. But why was he so insecure? I didn’t understand.

"By the way, I hope you two have met already," I laughed, introducing Lara and Keith to each other.

"Oh, I’ve seen you in ads," Lara remarked, giving the same response I had before.

"Yeah, I do ads," he replied coldly.

However, his tone was a little different than it had been with me. He was much friendlier with me.

"Anyway, should we start with the pictures?" I asked, stepping back as the photographer moved forward to take their photos together.

We worked a bit differently. After the first launch, we usually invited a few members of the pack at an event to let them try the scent. They were mostly older people, just to show how powerful the scent was to their wolves as well.

During special occasions like training or transitions, we’d let them use it, too. I was genuinely hopeful and excited for it.

If this business worked, I could take over or start mini brands and live independently once I cut ties with my mother and probably somehow with Kash too.

I stepped back enthusiastically, watching them take the pictures together. Keith was wearing a black leather jacket over a brown shirt and black pants, looking sharp. Lara wore a black dress with minimal makeup and a wet-hair look, and she looked great too.

As I stood there admiring my models, I noticed someone finally appear behind me.

"This dude looks so mismatched with our brand," Kash muttered, making me glance sideways at him before looking ahead again.

"But of course, you won’t agree. Seems like he’s your celebrity crush," he added in a sharp, taunting tone.

Once again, I ignored him.

"So, by the way, did you guys decide on the name of the brand?" Keith asked as the photographer took a short break.

He walked toward me while my assistant handed him coffee and refreshments.

"Not yet. We’re thinking of something really cool," I replied, since Kash barely showed him any respect, which I didn’t like.

"Huh. Maybe something like Keesh," Keith joked, playing with the words.

I raised an eyebrow and stepped back slightly, giving him a playful, judgmental glance from head to toe.

"Why Keesh?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Because it sounds like a mix of two names. It has Keith and Iris’s letters in it," he said, clearly flirting in front of everyone.

"No, that’s cheap," Kash finally snapped.

And this was exactly what I was afraid of. But why? Keith was keeping his distance from Lara, probably because he knew she was the Alpha King’s girlfriend.

"Um, don’t mind him," I quickly intervened before Kash could say anything more and offend the model. "He’s just a little old-fashioned, so he prefers old-fashioned names."

Anyway, I thought I should ask Keith to walk with me so we could finally get away from Kash’s prying eyes after he’d reacted so rudely to him.

"Um, I’ll let you decide which clothes you want to pick in the end. You’ll have a few outfits ready, and you’ll also have a say in it," I told Keith as we started walking away.

"Yeah, sure, I’ll be really happy to. Wow, I feel really positive about this campaign," he commented in his usual flirtatious tone.

Once we were a little farther from Kash and his people, we stopped under a tree where a photographer came over to show us the pictures he’d just taken.

Keith and I started going through them, and I realized he was really easy to get along with, a genuinely nice guy. We talked a little here and there, mostly about the costumes, before we began walking back so they could continue taking the photos.

However, as the photographer started again and I was standing behind the small crowd, Kash approached me, his manner was harsh and aggressive.

He grabbed my arm and began pulling me along with him.

"Kash, what the fuck are you doing?" I grunted, protesting a little but not too visibly because I didn’t want to draw attention to us.

I had to walk as fast as I could to avoid tripping and to keep up with his pace while being taken back inside the company building.

Once we were in the elevator, he finally let go and began pacing anxiously inside the small space while I stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you going to explain your behavior or not?" I hissed.

The moment he heard my voice, he stopped pacing, turned around, and faced me with his hands on his waist. The way his eyes narrowed at me, anyone would think I had done something seriously wrong.

"What was that? I’m old-fashioned, huh? I’m old-fashioned, and he’s the cool guy who loves to flirt around, and you enjoy his fake persona?" Kash barked, pointing toward the elevator door as he mentioned Keith.

"I said what I felt. He’s a model, he knows these things. And he was coming up with a cute sense of humor. What is wrong with you?" I tried to keep my tone low and professional, but he was making it really hard by not letting me step out of the elevator and pressing all the buttons before facing me again.

This time, the look on his face was different.

"Huh, so you want something cool and stylish?" he asked, his voice deep as he took a step toward me.

My hands slowly loosened from my chest as I realized he was getting too close–so close that my back met the elevator wall.

I lifted my head and noticed the way he placed his hands on the wall, caging me in.

He leaned down until his face was level with mine, his gaze locking on me.

"Then let’s keep the name Karis. It’s a Welsh word–Carys–which means love," he whispered before his eyes lowered to my lips.

And I swear, I couldn’t hide the gulp that struggled to move down my throat.