Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: Nyriad:

The meeting wrapped up shortly after that. Several times, I caught Mr. Oisín staring at me. As if I had room to talk, I was sneaking glances here and there as well. It was strange, it almost felt like I knew him in a way. Or, at the very least, I was meant to know him.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Mrs. Warren, Mr. Oisín." Jenks nodded at the pair of us and dismissed himself from the conference room.

Awkward.

"Mrs.?" Mr. Oisín raised an eyebrow at me as he packed up his briefcase.

"Yes, Mrs." I went to raise my left hand, but remembered I had angrily ripped my ring set off after getting in the car.

"I don't see a ring." He laughed, almost uncomfortably.

"I like to keep my private life just that -- private." Who did he actually think he was?

"Does the lucky man work here?" His amber eyes, now hardened behind a mask of indifference, eyed me from across the expansive table.

"He doesn't." I finished packing up my notes and made my way to the conference room door.

"You know, when someone says they want to keep their private life private, you should respect that." With that parting response, I quietly left Mr. Oisín to ponder my words.

DEACON:

MARRIED?

She had to be in her extremely early twenties and she was...married?

I felt a sharp pang in my chest, this was punishment for disregarding the idea of having a mate. She had a point though, I had no business snooping into private affairs.

Or...did I? In every sense of fate, she belonged to me. This perfect creature was designed to be my other half.

Whipping out my cell, I made an emergency call to my Beta, Eros.

"I need your help with something.." Talking quietly and attempting to make a brisk exit, I noticed Nyriad standing by the windows that overlooked the main portion of the city. I wrapped up my phone call before approaching her, only asking Eros to gather what information was available on Nyriad and her husband.

NYRIAD:

"Penny for your thoughts?" I heard him, before he had even approached. My heart was already reacting to his presence while I stared out the window.

"I'm not sure I want to go home." Saying it was harder than thinking it. Things had gotten so tense that I couldn't imagine returning home for at least a few hours.

"Come with me." Mr. Oisín shrugged his shoulders and watched me, eyes hopeful.

"I couldn't do that. I'm sure you have much more pressing matters to attend to." I took a break from staring at the cityscape to smile at him. I didn't need his pity but I appreciated the gesture.

"Actually, I cleared my schedule for the day. I'm all yours." My eyes widened briefly at that small remark. What meant nothing to him certainly sounded enticing to me. I thought for a moment, what's the harm?

"Okay, what are we going to do?" I followed him to the elevator, my 4 steps only equaling to one of his strides.

"We can get coffee? I know a hole-in-the-wall café right down the street. They have an amazing bakery section." I smiled at that, a nice café atmosphere sounded amazing right about now.

"That sounds great!" I kept pace with him, well as much as I could, until we reached the entry of the building.

"You're done already?!" I heard a slightly shrill voice call out. Without turning my head, I knew it was Rebecca.

"Yes, we were just going to get coffee." I smiled at her, blatantly ignoring the look of jealousy that crossed her face. Without another word, Mr. Oisín pulled me along.

"We can take my car." He kept hold of my hand, delicious tingles blossomed from my very fingertips and rode up my arm.

"I can't just leave my car here!" I went to pull away from him but felt his grip tighten slightly.

"Really, it's fine. I can bring you back here after our coffee." He smiled at me, his eyes holding the truth. I was unsure about going somewhere with a man I literally just met, but the undeniable attraction was clouding my mind.

I definitely should not be thinking like this. How many cases have I taken where this very mistake was made?

"I would love to, but really, I should take my car." I pulled my hand from his grasp and walked over to my car. It was hard to watch the hurt flash in his eyes. I had to hold my ground though, not only because of potential danger, but because a small part of me felt guilt.

'It's just coffee with your boss, Nyriad. Nothing to feel guilty about.' Was it the act of having coffee with someone I felt bad about, or was it the fact that my hormones wanted me to fling myself into the arms of this beautiful man?

Probably that.

I shook my head and gestured out the windshield that I would follow him. Before I could even sort myself and start my car, he was taking off. Impatient much?

I followed soon after, not too far down the street sat "Cup of Joy," and it was everything he described. From the window, I could see an expansive selection of sweets and the smell emanating reminded me of home.

"What'd I tell ya?" He walked over to my car, opening the door and offering me his hand. Not wanting to come off rude, I took his hand and let him guide me into the little café.

"It smells amazing in here." I smiled widely, it was all that is cozy wrapped up in one little place. Mr. Oisín guided me to the counter, telling me to order whatever I wanted. I watched him for a minute, getting ready to argue back but he raised his hand as if to tell me 'don't bother.'

"Really, it's on me. You sounded like you were having a tough day so it's my treat." He gestured to the menu board, I ordered a hot chocolate and a scone. He ordered the same and led me over to a booth in the corner of the shop.

"So, do you want to talk about what's going on?" I was afraid he would ask. It's one thing to vent to my friends or my family, but it's another to vent to the managing partner of my law firm. I shifted in my seat, slightly uncomfortable with the idea. Maybe I could be vague? I didn't want to send the wrong message or cut our time short.

"Well.."