Chapter 48: Twist Of Fate

ASTRID’S POV

"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

Of course I wanted to use every weapon in my arsenal to get to the top. My eyes had always been fixed on that prize, and now I was staring at a clear opportunity. Damn ... I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers.

"I want a job in the government of the territory," I said.

"You want a job in the parliament?" he asked, brows lifting slightly.

I confirmed.

"Consider it done. Send me your CV, Astrid. You deserve more." He teased me by pressing my breasts before he turned and left. He walked straight to his office, and two hours later I received a call to come and collect my job offer.

A freshly divorced wolf was helping me secure a government position. The best of the best, at that. Damn, I was so lucky.

I took a cab, and somewhere along the road, the news caught my eye on a screen we passed. Of course it was about Selene. It was always Selene. That girl was a drama queen who lived for the attention being on herself, I thought privately.

How did she lose the child? A baby she had already done a shower for, with jubilation everywhere. Apparently there had been a fire that nearly cost her her life. The conspiracies in Winterwood ran deep. Not that things would have been any different if she were in Bloodmoon ... I would have made sure of that myself.

We arrived at the parliament building and I walked in like I owned the place.

The workers stared at me like I was a rare artifact on display. I loved every second of the energy I was putting out.

"I’m here to see Mr. Allen, room 144, please," I said to the chief secretary seated across the entrance.

"Take your left and walk six steps down to the elevator," she replied.

I walked, feeling eyes trailing behind me, which made me put a little more into my stride as I stepped into the elevator. Let them look.

I got to room 144 and Mr. Allen met me there, then led me to another office. For once he was behaving himself ... probably because we were in public. Any other time he would have tried to grope my ass or pull something equally ridiculous.

Office of the Minister of Finance, the door read.

We went in. Ethan exchanged a quiet sign with the man behind the desk, and I was told to sit. Ethan left without a word.

"I’m Liam Nightmere," the man said as we completed our introductions.

Liam looked like he was in his mid-thirties ... far too young-looking to be a minister of finance, but clearly a man of calibre. The parliament was full of men like him.

"I’m Astrid Ironheart," I replied.

"Yes, I know. Ethan spoke about you."

He pulled out my papers and skimmed through them with the calm efficiency of someone who did this all the time.

"Your strength is in administration, from what I see here?" he asked.

"Yes, exactly, sir," I said.

"There’s only one position available for you right now ... personal secretary. My last one is gone and I need someone to fill the role immediately," he said.

"I can do it, sir," I said without hesitation.

"I’ve heard you speak before and I trust you can deliver. I’ll give you a day’s grace to prepare. You begin first thing tomorrow morning ... 7:30 a.m. sharp. Don’t be late," he said, already returning his attention to the papers in front of him.

"Thank you very much, sir," I said.

I walked out of that office feeling like I was standing on top of the whole damn world. I had landed the biggest job ... all because my sugar daddy werewolf happened to be a government official. Why wouldn’t I love him?

I rushed home to share the news with my parents. People I hadn’t seen properly in a while.

I had been staying at Ethan’s place for most of the time since his divorce came through.

My dad wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me, but my mom didn’t give a damn about any of that.

"Hey Dad. Hey Mom." I went in and hugged them both in the living room where they were seated.

"I have news."

"Okay, we’re listening," my mom said, leaning forward with interest. My dad sat there like the television had his full and undivided attention.

"I got a job as secretary to the Minister of Finance at the parliament."

"What?" My dad turned to look at me, genuinely shocked.

"How did you pull that off?"

"Ethan helped me land it," I said.

"Oh. Your boyfriend." The way my dad said it stung. No smile. No congratulations. Nothing.

"I’m happy for you, Astrid. I’ve always known you were built for the top," my mom said, kissing my cheek warmly.

"When do you start?" my dad asked.

"Tomorrow."

"I wish you the very best, daughter."

Daughter. He called me daughter. Not love. Not sweetheart ... the names he’d always used for me. He was angry with me and his whole energy was starting to seriously piss me off.

"Dad, why are you acting like this? You’re being cold to me," I said. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

He didn’t respond. Just kept his eyes on the TV.

"Is it because of my relationship with Mr. Allen? You should be happy for me," I pressed.

Still nothing.

"No, Astrid, we love you. Your dad is just being himself right now," my mom said softly, stepping in to smooth it over.

"Anyway, I came to pick up some of my things," I announced loudly enough for both of them to hear.

I ran upstairs, packed what I needed, and headed back down.

My mom held me close as I was leaving, rubbing my back and squeezing me tight like she always did.

"Stay safe, Astrid," my dad said as he closed the door behind me.

That side of my father was something I had never expected to see. I didn’t know what to do with it.

I took a cab back to Ethan’s place.

He was there when I arrived and helped me carry my things upstairs.

"Do you like the job?" he asked.

"I love it, Ethan. Thank you," I said. And this time I wanted to show him my appreciation properly.

Once we were in his room, I kissed him on the lips.

"Thank you." I kissed him again. The word kept coming out of me between every press of my lips against his, over and over. Then I kissed him deeper and let him do what he liked.

"Astrid, I have something for you," he said after a moment, taking me by the hand and leading me back downstairs.

He walked me outside and pointed across the driveway. "You see that sports car over there?"

"Yes ... God, it’s beautiful," I breathed.

"That beauty is yours."

"What?" I jumped on him like a child who’d just been handed candy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I ran straight to the car. He handed me the keys, I climbed in, and I took it for a test run around the block. I was in love. The sound of that engine alone was enough to make a woman lose her mind.

"Thank you," I said to him again when I got back, and this time I kissed him like I meant every single word of it.

"Enough with the thanks," he said, smiling against my mouth. "Use it to pull up to work tomorrow in style."

That was exactly what I planned to do.

I was on top of the world. Genuinely. I hadn’t felt this kind of happiness in a long time.

I had always admired sports cars ... always watched them from a distance and imagined. And now Ethan had gone and gotten me one of the finest ones that existed. I loved him from that moment.