The Alpha's Long Awaited Mate

Chapter 6: I'll Be Professional

Alani stared at Kade in disbelief. He did not say that he would be staying with her. Did he? “Perfect then Alpha. Here is the prescription for the pain medication and topical ointments for her scrapes. I’ll just wrap her ribs so they may heal.” Alani whipped her head to the doctor as she gave Kade her prescriptions and left to get a nurse to help wrap her ribs. “Mr. James.” “It’s Kade Alani. I’d rather you call me Kade especially since we’ll be working so close together. I prefer not to converse with you in formalities.” Alani huffed at that. “Fine. Kade. I don’t think it’s necessary for you to take care of me for the next 2 weeks. You don’t even know me!” Alani was getting hysterical. “Alani, call me a jerk, but we have matters that were put into motion this weekend that can’t wait. Or did you forget the 32 plus contracts that were sent out today?” Alani did forget, and she knew that work couldn’t wait on her. “It’s mercenary of me, but it’s the most efficient for me to work out of your home while you are convalescence. I can have you do the work you need to do and have a courier in and out to send what needs to be sent. By next week you should be able to walk with at least a crutch and we can visit the places we have on the itinerary I sent you last week. With more hours to dedicate to our work, we can set a pace that will give you at least 2 days’ worth of rest before the travel begins.”

                Alani eyed him. She had to admit that it did sound like the most efficient way to complete the intense schedule they had already planned. She realized that the grueling pace was going to be ramped up over the next 5 days. “Kade, it makes sense, but-“ “But nothing, Alani. I told you when you arrived that we needed to hit the ground running. Since you are unable to run, we modify how we work.” Alani nodded. She was grateful that he wanted her working for him even when she could have potentially set him back. Before she could respond, Sheila and a female nurse entered the room. “Okay Ms. Mitchell. Time to wrap those ribs.” Alani nodded then watched how the nurse eyed Kade. She saw desire flame in the woman’s eyes as she took him in from head to toe. Alani felt the pinch of jealousy run through her, but shook it away. She had no right to Kade. He was her boss, their conversation cementing in her mind what her place in Kade James’ life. She was his employee. Nothing more. “Do you mind asking him to leave?” Alani whispered to Sheila, feeling unbearably sad. Sheila furrowed her brows at her, confused. She thought this woman was with her Alpha. Alani had her head bowed her posture closing herself off to Sheila and Kade. “Mr. James, please step out as we wrap her ribs. Once I speak with Ms. Mitchell, I will call you back.” Kade growled in annoyance at that and was going to object when he saw Sheila shake her head and flick her eyes to Alani. Alani had huddled with her knees to her chest, her back now to him. He could smell her sadness and was not sure what the matter was. He stalked out leaving her with Sheila and the nurse.

                Once they were done wrapping her ribs, Sheila dismissed the nurse who scurried out of the room. No doubt in search of Kade, Alani thought. She sighed and leaned back. “Are you feeling a little better Alani?” Sheila asked as she wrapped Alani’s ankle. Alani smiled at her sadly, “Yes. I’m fine. I think I will call my mother once I’m out of here. It’s my first real time away from my family and I just want their comfort.” “Would you like a phone to call her?” Alani nodded yes and Sheila pulled her phone out. Before she gave it to her she eyed Alani. “Are you and Alpha ok?” Alani looked startled for a moment as she took the phone. “Of course. Mr. James just let me know that I’ll still be working for him. I’m grateful he hasn’t terminated my employment due to this inconvenience.” Sheila’s eyebrows raised. She was sure that there was more to their relationship than employer and employee, but maybe she was mistaken. She listened as Alani made her call to her mother. The young woman kept her voice strong as she relayed all the information to her mother. She was very factual and precise, giving the impression that everything was fine, and she was able to manage by herself. At the end of the phone call, if Sheila hadn’t been the one to treat her wounds, she would have thought that she simply took a minor tumble and was slightly inconvenienced. Alani told no lies, but she downplayed the truth.

                “I’m impressed.” She told her when Alani handed her the phone. Alani giggled and laid back. Sheila watched as she squeezed her eyes closed and took a deep breath. When she opened them back, Sheila could see the resolve in her eyes and the steel in her spine as she sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed. “Woah there.” “Is that my crutch thing there?” she asked pointing to the knee crutch that was brought in for her. “It is. You will be able to walk without a traditional crutch, but maybe with a cane for assistance otherwise.” Sheila helped Alani put on the crutch and get accustomed to its feel. Alani took a turn around her room. Once she felt comfortable with it and the cane, she made her way to the door. “I will grab Alpha for-“ “No need Dr. Sheila. I am capable as you can see. No need to call my employer. He’s done enough. Please send the bill to my residence.” Sheila was impressed with her strength but was still very concerned. “Please take it very easy Alani. You don’t want to upset your injuries.”

 Alani nodded and made her way to the waiting room. In the hall, she spied the nurse speaking with Kade. She was close to him running, her hand up his arm. Alani felt a pang of jealously but pushed it aside. She had no claim on the man. Sheila watched Alani assess the situation and straighten her back and keep moving. She smiled at the woman’s grit. Alani breezed past Kade on her crutch and with her cane. When he realized it was her, he straightened and moved to help her, but Alani politely asked him to leave her be and kept walking. She made it to the waiting room where Annalee and Simon were waiting. Seeing her they jumped up and asking if she was okay and if she needed anything. “Just a ride back home if you please. Maybe a stop by the pharmacy for my medications?” “No need.” Kade said from behind her. His face in a severe glower that had his parents concerned. They took in Alani’s body language and looked between her and Kade in confusion. “I grabbed your prescriptions while the Dr. was finishing your care.” “Well thank you then Kade. In that case, you all can just drop me home. The meds have kicked in and I would like to make myself a medication schedule and set my alarms before I pass out.” She said with a self-deprecating chuckle. Behind her, Kade was fuming. How dare she just ignore him. He was just trying to help. Just trying to be closer to her. “Alani, I’d be happy to stay with you tonight.” Annalee offered. “No thank you, Annalee. I’ve imposed enough on my employer and his nice family.” Alani smiled at her. “I think I just need to get home and sleep it off. I do have to work early in the morning.” “Alani.” Sheila started.  “No worries Dr. Sheila. Mr. James assured me that I shouldn’t have to come to the office to work. My computer and quite a bit of work are home already on my side table. I’m sure once I get a few decent hours of sleep, I will be ready to at least work from bed!”

“As long as you don’t over do it Alani. That is all that I ask.” Sheila persisted. Alani nodded her head in agreement and made her way to checkout. Once discharged, Annalee, Simon, herself, and Kade made their way to the car and set off to her home. The knee crutch was proving a great help, but Alani was still very sore and tired. She was determined not to depend too much on Kade. He may not have meant to make her feel inferior, but he did, and it confused the hell out of her. One moment he’s barging in and watching her while she is half-naked, arousing her and the next he’s letting her know that her injuries are just an inconvenience that he had no intention of letting set him back. Alani appreciated that he let her keep her job, that he saved her, but she also wanted- she wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. And that was her problem. Alani realized that her feelings toward Kade stemmed from her interest in him. She appreciated him as an employer, but he also interested her on a man to woman level. Alani had never had to deal with her desires and love life infringing on her work. This was new territory for her. As she laid back in the seat of the SUV, she pondered what to do. Kade made it very clear to her what her role in his life was. Assistant. Employee. Even his mother hammered that point several times during the evening. Alani decided that those feelings she felt, while they may not have been one-sided, Kade had no intention of acting on them. She took a deep breath and made the decision to keep her feelings of interest to herself and continue to be the professional he expected her to be. In her free time, she would finally branch out and create a life for herself outside of work. She needed to date. Maybe that would fix these feelings she had for her boss. Even as she pondered all of this, sleep was pulling at her. Soon she was fast asleep.

 Kade watched Alani from his side of the SUV. It was dark, so he knew she couldn’t see him. Even if she could, she was so engrossed into whatever she was thinking that she wouldn’t have noticed anyway. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and every so often, she would mumble something to herself. Several times his father met his eyes, concerned, but Kade could offer nothing of reassurance. He didn’t know what happened, but it was like a switch went off in Alani. The heat he experienced with her was banked so low, he could barely feel the bond between them. Something was bothering her. Kade thought that maybe she was jealous of the fact that the nurse was flirting with him. He smiled, hoping she was jealous, but thinking back, her behavior changed when the doctor came to bind her fractured ribs. As they parked in her driveway, Kade looked to Alani. She was fast asleep, her medications finally kicking in full force. He gave her knee crutch and cane to his mother and then scooped her out of the vehicle. As his father opened the door, Kade carried her up the stairs and to her bed. Laurie had taken care of putting her things away and turning down the bed. He laid her gently and pried off the one shoe she had on. Getting a bottle of water, he set it on her nightstand and took her medications out so they would be ready for her come the morning.

Kade covered her and left the room, making his way down the stairs to see his parents out. “What happened Kade. Alani was so closed off. What did you do?” “What makes you think I am responsible for it at all?” Kade snapped. “Don’t take that tone with me boy. Remember who your Luna is!” Kade sighed out in frustration. Angry at himself for taking his hurt and confusion out on his mother. He didn’t know what was happening with Alani. One moment he felt that she was open, giving him shy heated looks, reciprocating his interest and then she was closed off to him, not willing to be touched by him, putting up a wall of professionalism. “I’m sorry mom. I- I just don’t know what happened.” “Think back, son.” His father said. “What happened when she returned from her scans?” “Sheila told her that she would need care and was unable to work. She was upset about it, but I assured her that I would be there to help her.” “And how did she take that?” His father asked. “At first she didn’t want to. I felt that maybe she didn’t want to put me out or inconvenience me. I explained to her that I would be staying and we’d both be working from her home, that we had a jammed packed schedule that couldn’t be delayed.” Simon nodded his head as if it was a good idea and Annalee groaned. “And no doubt you were very precise and to the point explaining that to her.” Annalee sneered a bit. When he just furrowed his brows, she continued. “For sure you told her in that arrogant voice that you had a busy schedule and it couldn’t wait for her recovery. And then you probably reminded her of all the work you’ve already started and neatly reminded her that it all needed to be finished in the timeline you scheduled.” “Mom. Please, just get to the point. I don’t see how any of that would make Alani respond the way she is.” When Simon nodded in confused agreement she scoffed. “No doubt in that little pea brain of yours, you thought that your explanation was the most logical and efficient way of ingratiating yourself in her home thus efficiently moving you closer to her physically. But from my standpoint, and no doubt from Alani’s, you made it very clear that she was just an employee whose inconvenient injury wouldn’t deter you from your precious work schedule. I’m sure she is grateful that you let her keep her job and made things easier for her logistically, but if she was interested in you as a man, that little spiel would have let her know that you only value her as an employee and her work. You don’t care that she’s hurt, as long she can keep up with your little schedule, that’s all she’s of worth to you.”

Kade was speechless. What women’s logic was this? He wanted to make things easier for her, but of course, he cared. Did Alani think he didn’t? “I think she’s decided to keep things professional between the two of you. She may have thought that you were interested in her, but if I were in her shoes, I’d be fully convinced that you have no intention of acting on it.” Annalee finished. “We’re going to go. Try to be a little softer Kade. This is the woman you have been waiting for since you turned 18. You’ve finally found her. Don’ t let her slip away.” With that parting comment, Annalee and Simon left. Kade had much to think about. If Alani thought he didn’t care anything for her except her work, he was in trouble. And if she made up her mind about that, the flirting nurse would not have helped matters. She might feel like her interest was one-sided and she had no claim to him when in fact, she already owned his soul. How could he convince her of that though? If what his mother said was true, he may have set himself back farther than he anticipated. She may be close to him physically, but mentally and emotionally she would be closed off.

 Kade locked up and made his way to the guest room trying to think of a solution. Michael put his duffel on the bed and placed the files and laptop on the desk. Alani decorated the room beautifully. A king-sized black metal bed was decorated with a white sheet set, a beige duvet, and a cream throw. She also had tons of pillows. The room had a large closet for storage, so other than 2 side tables, the room was free from the clutter of heavy furniture. There was more than enough room for her to set up a small office space. Seeing the WIFI password posted on her cute guest welcome board, he decided to set up the wireless security routers that would keep their work private. By the time he was complete, Kade was ready to wind down. He made his way to the guest bath and took a shower then got ready for bed. He checked in on Alani once more before he laid in her guest bed and let sleep claim him.

When Alani woke at 6:00 am the next morning, she immediately groaned. She was sore all over. She opened her eyes to see her foot propped up on a pillow and her medicine on her nightstand. Must have been Kade before he left. She took her pills then grabbed her cane and hobbled to the restroom to relieve herself. She brushed her teeth and splashed water on her face. She felt better after that. She went back to her bed and propped her foot back up. She laid back and stared at the ceiling, rehashing yesterday's events. In all, she felt really dumb for being so clumsy, but also a little sad about what could have been between herself and her hot boss. She closed her eyes, picturing him, lusting after him. She felt heat engulf her body and shook her head. She had to snap out of it. He wasn’t for her. She opened her eyes only to startle. As if she conjured him up, Kade stood at her bedside, a mug of coffee and a plate in his hand. Alani gaped at him. “Good morning Alani. I made you breakfast.”