Chapter 9: New Jane.
*Jane*
My mind kept going back to my late–night phone call with Aaron.
He’d somehow managed to single handedly fix my mood with
just one phone call. For once in the past few months, I felt happy,
really happy.
The smile was still on my face as I pushed through the heavy glass doors of Blackwood Company.
Kate, the receptionist, looked up as I approached. Her fingers froze over her keyboard. She dropped her gaze. “Good morning,
Luna Jane.
“Morning, Kate.“I replied, smiling back.
I saw the surprise in her eyes. Maybe I didn’t usually smile this
much. I know I didn’t smile that much. “Have a nice day,” I said,
finally smiling at her and moving on.
As I rounded the corner toward
Marketing, I felt the shift in the
atmosphere. Conversations paused mid–sentence, people
abandoned their work stations and the whispers quickly began. I‘
d expected the strange looks they were throwing my way. The
last time they saw me, I’d been trying to convince my drunk
Chapter 9: New Jant.
husband to stop flirting with his Beta and go home with me.
Not a very good look.
“Luna Jane” I heard one of the employees murmur. Everyone
called me that here. It was because of that title that they wouldn’t dare voice their ‘opinions‘ boldly.
It was a title I used to love. But now, it dawned on me that for too long I’d been defined as Xander Blackwood’s wife, as the Chief Marketing Officer of his company, but never as myself. I was trying to redefine myself, to get people to see me as just Jane.
I walked past the Marketing team and toward the elevator. The employees waiting there parted like water as I approached.
The doors slid open and as usual, the employees hesitated, giving me space to ride the elevator alone. But I didn’t want that.
I gestured with an open palm, “Join me.”
They all exchanged looks, considering the invitation. I could hear
their racing hearts and smell their confusion, but I decided to
wait for them to decide.
Then, two brave souls stepped forward, giving the three
employees left enough courage to join us. They scurried out the
moment the elevator doors opened up. Still, I counted it as
Chapter 9. New Jane
progress.
I kept moving until I got to the conference room. Everyone went
silent when I walked in. wight heads turned in unison, staring at
me in shock.
I smiled at them, setting my laptop down. “Good morning
everyone.”
There was no response. I let my smile widen despite the cold
reception. No one at the company knew quite what to do when
Luna Jane was happy.
Damn, even I wasn’t used to the lightness in my chest. Their
collective unease made me realize how much of a Debbie
Downer I used to be.
Still, I maintained the smile on my face. “What happened?” I
asked as I settled into my seat at the head of the table. “You’re all
staring like I’ve grown a second head.”
Gianna lifted her eyes from her notes. “The last time we all saw
you, things were… tense.”
I knew she was referring to that birthday party from hell. Particularly how I’d lost my temper so publicly. But that was all in the past.
Chapter 9: New Jane.
“I see. Well, it’s nice to know you all care so much. But for the record, my marriage with Xander is still happy and fulfilling. Does that answer your questions?” It was a lie, but they didn’t
have to know that.
They moved on from me soon enough, and began the
presentation for the new sapphire necklace by Sena. Just as I
began to pay attention, my phone vibrated. I looked down to see a
text from Xander. He’d sent me the address for lunch today.
Good.
I instantly forwarded the address to Aaron. I expected him to
respond later, but my phone lit up immediately. My lips tugged
up into a smile, and even though I knew I shouldn’t, I opened the
message.
Eager to see me, huh?
I bit my lip to suppress a grin. It’s just business, Aaron.
His response was instant. Would you be paying for my time?
Depends on what you charge per hour.
I didn’t know a rich lady could be so cheap. You need to do better,
Jane.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, which earned me startled glances
Chapter 9 New Jane
from around the table. I offered a weak smile and went back to my phone. You own Moonfall, Aaron. You need to do better.
“So, Luna, Jane.” I blinked, looked up from my phone to see everyone staring at me, Sena in particular. “What did you think of the promotional video?”
Well, shit. I hadn’t been listening. Not one bit. The conversation with Aaron had taken my full attention and I could still hear my phone buzzing. It almost felt like I was back in high school.
I wracked my brain, and quickly came up with something. “The cinematography captured the sparkle of the necklace perfectly. But we should incorporate more nighttime scenes. Sapphires
catch moonlight beautifully. Our customers want to imagine
themselves wearing these pieces when they’re out on the hunt…
for attention.”
Sena nodded. The meeting went on smoothly after that. And by
the time it ended and we all dispersed, I did something I’d never
done before.
I slipped away to the restroom to freshen up. And it wasn’t just
me sprinkling water on my face or checking my reflection in the mirror. I actively retouched my powder, reapplied my lipstick and smoothed my hair. I turned around to leave, but changed my mind on a whim and moved back to the mirror.
Chapter 9. New Jane
“Darling, you’re here,” he murmured.
My eyes never left Aaron who was staring at me just as intensely. His gaze dropped briefly to my unbuttoned blouse
before returning to mine.
I noticed how different he looked. The playful rugged man I’d
met at Moonfall had transformed into someone else entirely. His tall frame was now clothed in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit, his curly dark hair slicked back so I could see his face
properly.
Xander finally cleared his throat and stepped between me and Aaron. “Pardon my manners. Alpha Aaron, meet my luna and wife, Jane.” He rested his hand possessively on the small of my back. “Jane, meet Aaron Lorenz. CEO of the Lorenz LZ Group, and our newest partner.”
The air rushed from my lungs.
Holy shit.
