CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280 - LETTING ME IN THE BUILDING, MISTAKE #1... LETTING ME IN YOUR OFFICE...

Truly, this is the first time either of us has seen each other in a business suit ensemble. The times that Claire has come out of this white tower to visit me have been quite a different look than she has on now. Especially since she is not even wearing her glasses - though I did see that before I went to sleep the other day.

She had texted me that next morning that she had a spare and wore ’contacts’ at work, seeing it in practice is different than hearing about it.

"You’re saying you’ve come to steal my job?"

"No, I do not believe that any of the tasks I am suitable for are within your current scope of duties."

"...If I wasn’t already confident about what you probably intend, then your commitment to this specific roleplay would be confusing."

Chuckling while reaching into my pocket and producing her forgotten pair of glasses, I step over calmly and hand them to her waiting hand. Walking to the side with a slight twirl and pose, I give her just a bit of smolder in my expression.

"How about it, then? I just wanted to look the part if I was going to infiltrate for any sort of private tryst. Think it has done the trick?"

"In her office? She does have a few important people planning to visit this evening."

"...Are you kicking me out, then?"

Shaking her head no, she lets out a sharp breath and laughs. A small device with a single button in her hand is pressed before she waves it at me like it should mean something.

"Fuck no. I mean, if I were doing anything even close I’d be letting you up to her apartment like she requested I sneakily do after turning off the security footage. But this seems far more hilarious, even if I’ll only get second-hand details."

All but skipping in her heels to another door, I get to see a keycard used this time to open it. Inside this room is a tidy desk with a computer monitor screen and keyboard. A few in use bins for receiving and stacking paper documents and file folders.

But she doesn’t stop there, just rushes over to the next door and waves me along as if I need to hurry. Inside this *next* room, is where I apparently was headed all along. Because the moment it opened, Kyrie looked up from where she sat on the edge of a large, opaque white desk.

Her brown eyes widened and scintillated orange as she took in my... unique for today appearance. I’d also applied a slight red lipstick that I’m sure Claire has seen in photos recently, but the sweet wolf before me had not.

Unless the woman beside me has been lying about sharing them.

She was still in her work clothes herself. That silken red blouse and familiar white blazer atop a matching pencil skirt. Long eyelashes fluttering before she spoke...

"Citra? I almost... didn’t recognize you."

"Hm? Just thought I’d look the part, since I wanted to see your office space, is all."

"Right... well, I’m getting out of here before any fur begins to fly. Security is on silent mode. I’ll hold back any visitors long enough to send a warning."

The same door she rushed me through closed behind the assistant with a loud click and whir. Leaving us completely alone in a space that was most definitely the Alpha’s.

Her scent, that clean snow and blood-iron that must exude from her all day long, was being pulled away by the ventilation system. But not quickly enough to prevent the heady feeling of primal power from making my head feel even more... addled.

I could also hear Kyrie’s breathing change, becoming slightly faster as the silence stretched between us. And that definitely was not ’helping’ matters either. But she maintains herself enough to speak

"...This was unexpected."

"Was it?"

Starting a circle around the perimeter instead of calling out how unlikely I felt that was, I get a good look at what little is in the space. A single couch to one side of the room, too far from the desk to be for company she is speaking to. Probably for resting on her own.

The lack of chairs other than hers must be because she didn’t want others to get comfortable in her office. Her computer monitor itself is placed at an interesting angle.

One that she could see the door and anyone that approached easily enough. And also easily ignore anyone that was inside in favor of intentionally staring at her workspace instead.

The little end table by the exterior glass wall is a strange little detail that I’d wondered about in the picture she sent before - and it makes just as little sense in person. My heels click together as I stop and try to find my apartment from way down there.

It’s actually more difficult than envisioned. Maybe with a telescope?

"This space is quite impressive. Very clean, commanding presence for what is essentially a modern business throne room."

"Are you complimenting me or teasing me?"

I’d begun walking right to the center. I can see that her hands are gripping the front of her desk like iron vises as she remained sitting in such a ’casual’ manner. Which is why I know she was lying about not expecting my entry.

She doesn’t really think that I expect her to just sit like that at random times in the day, does she?

My wolf whimpers, not able to defend the actions once I pointed it out that way. Meanwhile, my hand runs along the smooth surface of the shiny white desk. An almost plastic of glass like surface. But clearly hard as stone when I tap my nails on it.

"Well... it can be both. Though I have to say, the desk is particularly nice."

"Thank you. It was custom made."

"Most good things are. And look at all this space underneath..."

I squatted down and most of my body must have disappeared from her view while peering into the substantial kneehole beneath the desk. It was indeed extra spacious while being fully enclosed on three sides.

With plenty of room for hiding and taking a nap... or other various activities.

"Like a nice little cave. I like it."

"Citra, can I ask you what-"

But I ignored whatever she was saying while, getting down on my hands and knees and crawling inside. The confined space felt intimate and relaxing, making me wish I could just curl up in animal form.

No offense, but why couldn’t you have been a smaller creature? It’s big, but not big enough for a wolf!

"What are you doing under there?"

Kyrie’s voice was higher-pitched now and moving around to this side. Confused, clearly. But also cracking with some sort of anticipation that couldn’t be held back now that she wasn’t holding herself still.

When she leaned and saw I’d settled myself comfortably in the space, I reached up to undo the *single* ponytail. My black hair spilled free only long enough for me to gather it into my signature twintails.

Feeling more like myself after that, with my chin in my palms, I looked up at her through the fake glasses and smirked. My voice gained the same notes of provocation I’d used during our phone call.

"Sit down in your normal seat, why don’t you? Ms. Voss. Your underdesk assistant is now properly at her post."