Fated is overrated
Chapter 87

Lola POV

"Morning everyone" my boss, Keanu, greets everyone. "Morning" we all chorus back. Keanu begins to assign teams and, of course, I am with him today.

"Vanessa and Ricardo, you and I will be having a meeting with a very big prospective client, it's important we reel them in as they have a great number of wealthy businesses.

This could by far be the biggest client we have ever had if we pull it off. We will go over the details after this meeting" he states, before dividing up the other clients.

Oh yeah, I go by the name Vanessa now. I didn't want to risk anyone replaceing me, so of course, I couldn't use my real name. We mostly have small, yet rich, customers, so having a possibly big client is exciting, and I am looking forward to the meeting. Unfortunately, my boss usually uses me as an observer (and although he will never admit to it - as a distraction for the male participants) for such meetings.

The amount of clients that have said indecent things to me is ridiculous. And, totally against my nature, I have to play nice and mostly just smile in response.

Although I don't need my job financially anymore, I like my job and the knowledge I am obtaining here. My bank is fully loaded though, I wouldn't have to work for the money.

I pitched in just in time for the Gamestop short squeeze, where a group of common investors rigged the system together, and gave a big fat f*ck you to the banks and large corporations.

I made a huge profit off of it. "Dumb money" they call it, but I don't mind being called dumb all day every day, if it provides me with the bank account I have now.

I have also - for as far as possible in the human world - been trying to educate myself on white wolves, dragons and hybrids in general. But 99% was obvious gibberish, and the remaining 1% skiddish to say the least.

So, I haven't really gotten far. Any real answers would have to be found in the royal (Lycan and dragon) Kingdoms probably, but neither of them is a viable option of course.

Although I haven't told Nick I am a dragon-wolf hybrid yet, I think he can smell I have a different smell to me than normal wolves. He has never pried though, being the gentle guy he is. I planned on biting the bullet on these trust issues I have going on and telling him one day, but with each passing day it gets harder and harder to drop the "hey guess what? I'm a dragon!" bomb.

Honestly, I've been terrified that he will abandon me like everyone else always has. Because, once again, I am the weird one out. I like to lie to myself and say I don't need to rely on anyone and all, but deep down I know it's not true. Everybody needs somebody in their life at least.

Each time I get betrayed, I tell myself it's the last time I have trusted someone, and yet I can't help but do it again. I have my girls, but that's different as they are stuck with me regardless.

As the planning meeting - to which I had zoned out completely - comes to a close, my boss tells me we have 1 hour before our meeting with the new prospective client and hands Ricardo and me manilla folders. In them there will be some public information on the client's businesses, for us to prepare ourselves. I head back to my office and put in my air pods to listen to some music whilst I work through the file.

Green day - holiday is the first on the playlist and I happily start my work. Music always has a way of enhancing my mood. It either makes me happy or riles me up, depending on the song. As I go through the very thick folder I soon realize I'll have to skip through, if I am going to make it within the hour. The man (or woman) does have a lot of businesses indeed.

This would be a great income stream if we could reel this one in. As the list of businesses and industries goes on and on, I have already decided my first question is going to be how they ensure they are in control of all of them. If they have auditors already and if the recommendations from prior years have been followed.

My second will then be if all the businesses or even industries have their own KPI's to meet and how they are being planned and monitored right now.

As I plow through the folder and write down all my attention points and questions I have for the client, my music shifts to Linkin Park - somewhere I belong. This song always makes me halt my tracks in whatever I am doing, as the lyrics hit home a little too hard for

me.

"I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real

I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long

I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real

I wanna replace something I've wanted all along

Somewhere I belong"

As I am still stuck in my own head, my boss steps in. When I glance at the clock I am shocked the hour had passed already, and it's time for the meeting.

We head towards the meeting room and Ricardo and I are left to set up refreshments and the TV screen for our boss' presentation, while the boss leaves to welcome the client. I am struggling with the TV literally every damn time I have to set it up.

This thing is impossible! Ricardo gives me a knowing look and grabs the remote from my hand, clicking a few buttons, and the TV immediately comes to life. I let out an indignant huff while saying "showoff" with a smile, as I swat his upper arm. This is becoming embarrassing.

The amount of times I couldn't get the damn thing to work, and Ricardo launches the thing within a few clicks. As Ricardo is letting out a full belly laugh, I can't help but laugh along with him.

We are still laughing when the door opens and our boss walks in with the prospective client. We reign in our laughter, but are still smiling fondly.

When I turn to look towards the door, my smile drops from my face instantly. If Ricardo or my boss had been wolves, they would have easily heard my pounding heart that is almost racing out of my chest right now.