Navy Wolf

Chapter 39

The howl of the wolf is a philosophy that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary.

☾

"Oh, thank you."

It had been two weeks since I accepted the job offer by Martha.

Now I was being guided by her around the department and she showed me my office and my desk which was directly at the window with a PC and a spacious work surface. Everything was modern and minimalistic and the view topped it all off. The sparkling bay was visible with the ferries docking every twenty minutes while the passengers walked on and off of it - tooting every single time to announce its arrival and departure.

"If you need anything, let me know. I'll introduce you to our manager and the other new joiners when he comes to the office."
She left leaving me to my thoughts. 

The past week has been kind of crazy.

Before Kaven returned back to work himself he insisted on driving me to my work place today - my first day at my job.

Anakin had visited us once more during the longer weekend just to check on us and have a proper conversation with Kaven. It had not escaped my attention that he had widened his eyes for a split second when we had opened the front door before he had forced a pokerface on himself, trying to cover his slight flinch backward.

After that he had had an inane smile on his face as if he was a happy puppy looking up to his brother.
I didn't ask what that was all about.

They were wolf things for sure.

I sensed that they needed alone time so I didn't insist on staying and they didn't ask me to so I kept my distance to allow them to exchange in peace before Anakin returned to university by the end of the weekend.

I couldn't help but wish that Anakin would stay.

His presence had an immense effect on his older brother.

Like a battery recharge or food for his soul. I noticed that Kaven would smile more often and have this peaceful expression on his face when Anakin was around.

Not that he made an unhappy impression when we were alone - no. It was just different.

He obviously missed his family. Mainly because he'd probably never lived alone before.

During the week I had tried to convince Kaven to let me run some errands.

You know, something like grocery shopping or pumping gas or just simply going out for a walk. But he wouldn't even let me go to the in-house store of the building in the ground floor.

Like what was supposed to happen in a store only his neighbors were able to enter?

He was certainly exaggerating this whole protective safety precaution thing.

I had almost managed to go downstairs with Anakin by my side, just to escape this tower but unfortunately to no veil. Kaven had sent Anakin to get what I wanted.

Which wouldn't have been so embarrassing if I hadn't needed any feminine toiletries.

Even though I understood what was going through Kaven's mind and was grateful for him being so concerned about me and caring toward me - I couldn't help but feel a little trapped.

Since the incident at Nanaimo he acted like I was a feather that could fly away at any given moment by the slightest blow of wind. Which made the entire experience extremely constricting.

I was happy and excited but also there was an elephant on my chest that wouldn't step off.
Subconsciously I brushed the dust off my creme-colored pants which where matching with my white blouse and blazer.
I had hoped I wasn't too overdressed which turned out to be an unnecessary worry. Everybody in this office was dressed chic. Martha had mentioned a couple of projects there were and I grew eager to be a part of them as I remembered our conversations during her introductory tour to the office.

I took a seat at my desk and I opened the slim folders with the pages and floor plans. One with a four bedroom apartment and a rooftop terrace and the other was a simple three floor house and a garden. Both to be built in Vancouver. I caught myself smiling as I flipped the pages.

"River."

I lifted my head from the pages in front of me looking at the door where Martha was standing holding the handle of the glass door.
"The new joiners have arrived, I'd like to introduce you to them, if you've got time."
"Sure, of course," I replied getting up and closing the folders casually.
As I passed the threshold Martha smiled and turned to me saying: "They're going to be your new colleagues with the two projects on your desk." Then she closed the door behind us.
"I can't wait to meet them."
We walked through the open office hall with the parquet floors through the next glass door past the other architects and engineers to the upper story where my future work colleagues were supposedly at.
"One of them is a civil engineer and the others are environmental engineers and interior designers. They're also assigned to the projects on your desk," she commented as we stepped into the elevator. "This project is a luxurious one so I wanted to make sure, each and every single one of you loves what they do."

The elevator door chimed before sliding open and a group of young professionals stood around a coffee table with low designed couches around it in an u-shape.
We stepped closer and got introduced to each other when Martha laid her hand on my shoulder and I heard her cheer to someone. "Oh, there you are," she giggled before I turned around and faced the person she was talking to.  

A young man in dirty-creme-colored elegant pants with a white shirt and rolled up sleeves held his hand out to me while smiling with perfectly straight teeth.

"River, I'd like you to meet our civil engineer," she said slightly blushing as I still processed what was going on. Her hand directing at his chest as she blinked at me.
"This is one of your project partners," she said proudly. „Caleb Young."

*****

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