"Good morning, Miss Camden. How are you today?" The handsome, polite young man at the main desk near V's office doors greeted her as if he were sincerely glad to see her. However, her mind was so clouded that she could only respond with a smile and a half-hearted greeting.

"Good morning to you too… uh… Myron, correct?" "Yes! It's nice of you to remember," he said with a smile.

Well, he seems genuinely pleased to see me. Maybe because he's overworked like me, and he needs the extra help. But V doesn't seem to be that kind of boss. Or is he?

"Uhm… listen, I need to see Mr. Riegel before I check on my job description. He said I'd need to talk with you about it, but I don't know if you mind me taking a few minutes before we start," she shyly told Myron.

"Oh, I don't mind, and it won't be a problem. He informed me that you might be a little late so I am quite surprised that you're this early. He also came in really early today, so please just go ahead since he has no appointments yet," he said with that smile that Siel could still not figure out.

"T… Thank you," she said and knocked on the heavy office double door.

"Come in," he said, like the day before.

She opened the door, closed it behind her, and walked into the office. One look at him, and she found herself floundering…

All serious and focused at work behind the desk… Slightly frowning at his laptop screen, his lips softly moved, whispering what he was intently reading… How magnificent he looked even without his formal jacket, seeing how his muscled arms stretched the material of his white long-sleeved shirt…

How was it possible that he could be so captivating to me even when I'm upset with him?

She took a deep breath to get a hold of herself. After all, it wouldn't do for her to be distracted by his looks when she intended to be stern about her stand.

Vince looked up as soon as her unique entrancing scent reached him. His eyes met hers, and he smiled as he saw her lightly blushing at his intense stare and inviting smile.

Once again, he couldn't avoid taking note of everything that's wonderful about her. He was very eager for some closeness and intimacy but he kept himself in check. Vince knew very well that he had to build on what they had since his mate was human. Last night was the prologue…

This morning's presents were the first act.

"Oh, hello! I'm so glad to see you. It is still early though, I was expecting you to wake up a little later because of our date," he said, blushing a little at the memories of last night.

The woman, who was putting in extra effort to look severe, walked over to his desk and stood in front of it. "Can we set aside that topic for a while? We need to talk about something else, and it's very important to me."

Damn it, here it comes… Roth growled, feeling their mate's negative vibes. He was so ready to start scolding V at this point…

Roth, back the eff down! Let her talk…

"Mr. Riegel, may I know why there was a large number of items delivered to my door this morning? And please explain why you sent me a limo driver with a really expensive car as well?"

Mr. Riegel, huh… wonder what happened to V? the voice in V's head hissed.

Siel's tone hit Vince like a ton of bricks, "Oh… I was hoping you'd like it; I mean…"

She interrupted him while putting both her hands on his desk, "Like it? God, you can't just go buy half a store and then send it to my house! Even if my babies deserve the whole world, I can't give those kinds of gifts to them. Not with my salary! If you keep doing that, they might expect those kinds of luxuries all the time, and I can't have them disappointed with me because I can't compete with you!"

"Well, you'll actually make about five times more with your new position," V lamely counters, now thoroughly weakened by his mate's outburst.

Bad move, it just added to her fuel…

"And now there's my pay too? Is it really supposed to be that big? I feel like you're trying to buy me, and my kids, V! And we're Not. For. Sale!"

There, she finally said it.

And it was with a lot of effort. It was really hard to argue with him too and to harshly tell him how unhappy she is while his beautiful blue eyes were searching hers intently…

"No. No, no, no, no. I think you misunderstood. I'm sorry, nothing of that was my intention… Please forgive me if I offended you, I just tried to… make you happy… I know I got a little overboard buying presents for the kids, but it was an honest move with no ulterior motives of trying to buy you or anyone else's affections, please…"

What was happening to her? She knew she should stay mad at him, but the only thing that was going through her mind as he apologized in that repentant and concerned tone was to hug him with all her might. And if she was going to be very honest with herself, there was a part of her that wanted more than just simple, sweet closeness…

More like I-want-him-to-kiss-me-and-more kind of sweetness!

Oh god, why am I like this? I should be sticking with the topic… and the mood… and the… damn it! Why do I feel like crying now…

Meanwhile, V was having a hard time trying to contain his reactions, along with Roth's…

And he was fighting a losing battle.

I hate to tell you I told you so, Vince, but yes, I told you so! How are we going to get close to our mate if we keep messing it up like this?! V, seriously I don't think I can even trust you with something as important as this!

Roth kept going, and now V was trying to deal with an angry wolf in his head and an upset mate standing right in front of him.

And when he looked at her again that's when he noticed the tears that were starting to roll down her cheeks.

Oh, Goddess, what have I done? But don't women usually get happy when I give them presents?

V, may I remind you that she's not just any woman. She's our mate, made just for us and given by the Moon Goddess. And since we are both crazy about her, you need to find a way to treat her as someone very special, and she should feel that. Don't you dare give up on this one!

"So, why are you doing this?" Siel was saying now, pulling away from the table and wiping her tears. "Really, why? If you're not trying to buy us? Because I'm not used to being cared for like this, V!"

The troubled CEO immediately got up and rushed to her, leading her to one of the guest chairs beside her as he took the other one opposite her. He held her hands in his and felt the sparks rushing through his body once again, as he tried to get her to look at him. She did, and he held her gaze with his own, putting in a lot of effort to make his voice smooth and soothing.

"Because I care, Elena. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to give you the wrong signals. I thought you would like the gesture. Please, don't cry." His voice was soft, sweet and his warmth was making her feel how genuine his words were. "I just believe that you deserve a real merry Christmas, after all those years you suffered working for a boss like Roderick. It didn't help too that we weren't aware, and as the Silvercrest' s CEO, that's on me."

Siel almost sobbed aloud because of how tender and gentle he was with both his hands and speech. This is something very new to her, so she had initially reacted with suspicion, and she should have realized this. But she had also received almost no apologies from her ex in the past over things much worse than what's happening now.

And yet this man, who she just met roughly two weeks ago, was now telling her that he's genuinely interested in her and her happiness.

"So, you just sincerely care about me? Those gifts, they aren't a trade-off or x-deal of some sort? Because I can't promise you that so early on, V. I'm not sure if I can handle a relationship this fast with my recent divorce and…"

"Elena, I can assure you that if you don't want it, you don't have to be with me. It's true that I like you, but I also admire you. The way you work, the things you've done for the company, and how much emotional and mental abuse you were able to handle before we noticed what Wright was doing. Also, the way you take care of your family…" crooned V soothingly while still massaging her hands.

Speaking of family…

V's eyes suddenly lit up as he remembered that he had something with him that his mate might want to see. He let go of her for a moment to fish out his wallet, unaware that Siel jumped a little when the contact, the warmth, and the soft tingles that she felt every time he touched her had suddenly ended.

As he took out his wallet, he felt her suddenly inhale sharply, and V knew she was thinking he was about to offer her money.

Not that he blamed her, after all the mistakes he just made…

"Just wait, Elena. It's not what you think," he assured her softly as he took out a few folded pieces of paper with the familiar crayon drawings on them.

She gasped again, but not because of suspicion, "Oh my… Where did you get those?"

I threw them out the window more than a week ago… how did it end up with him? What are the odds of this happening?

Siel looked up and saw her employer's eyes studying hers intently. As if he could read her mind, he answered her silent questions at once…

"I picked them up from the basement parking, right after you threw them out of your car. I just happened to be there at that time. I also chose to make these my Christmas angels this year. So, no matter what you decide regarding us, I'm still taking care of MY KIDS for this holiday season. That means they'll be expecting more presents from me and that's because of these angels," he explained with his sweet, charming smile in full force.

And once again, she melted…

His kids… she repeated in her mind, feeling herself go all warm and fuzzy.

V continued, unaware of his listener's hidden thoughts and feelings. "You are a very strong woman. One I would like to have by my side, both in the professional field and personal aspects. But my concern for you and your family is not connected to what I've done or will do. Not my job offer, the check, your new salary, or even the tree or the presents. And I will not ask for anything in exchange from you. That's a promise."

The last few tears flowed from her eyes as she smiled, still skeptical at the possibility that things are happening as they are. Despite that, she felt a bit more hopeful and very much relieved.

Meanwhile, Vince moved forward, cupped her face with both hands, and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Again, she jumped a little at the jolt of his touch. He didn't seem to notice it though…

"Trust me a little, ok?" he said in his low, comforting voice while still smiling tenderly. "I'll always respect your choices, and I will never push you into doing something you're not at ease with."

"I… alright… thank you…" she said, shyly returning his smile.

"It's my pleasure," he replied, in a deep soothing tone.

After a few moments of blissful, slightly tingling silence, she realized that her lips and his were now only a few inches apart, and his hands have not left her face…

And his eyes were now blazing with a deep fire that she found mesmerizing… overpowering… Irresistible…

* * *

"Hello? Anybody here?"

Aaron stepped into the SCIT department area and found no one. However, judging from what he was smelling, he knew there was someone nearby.

What the hell is that intoxicating scent? Damn, it just smells so heavenly and enchanting and…

Suddenly, a lovely woman showed up at the door of the only inner office in that corner of the floor. He immediately recognized her as the one he's supposed to meet, but, as he took a deep breath, he instantly forgot why he's supposed to meet her in the first place.

It didn't help Aaron that his wolf was now rampaging inside of him, but not out of hostility…

It's her! Dude, I can't believe it! We finally found her! And for all that exists, I hope she doesn't mind the hell of a mess your life has been, Onyx whined happily.

But Aaron was now so lost in his senses that he couldn't even hear his own wolf.

Di looked up at the approaching male and gasped, her senses being assaulted by his presence.

"A-Aaron? Oh my God… it can't be… I…"

"Yes, Di. It is me… Goddess… It's you… I… "time moved like a blur from that point on.

She didn't even remember when and how she was able to pull him inside the room and in what manner she managed to lock the door so quickly…

He didn't even remember in what way he ended up in her arms, kissing her hungrily, almost savagely…

All they knew was that they were quite thankful that the floor was still empty, the room was soundproof, and that the executive desk within it was large and sturdy.

Or so they thought…