Chapter 7: SECOND STRIDE
I took the meat, placed it in a bowl, and washed it by the kitchen sink. Years in the military came in handy, as cooking became a norm. When I turned around, Conri was gone. I place the meat in the pan and put away the canned beans and rice in the cabinets. The fridge was filled with fresh vegetables and I guessed that he grew them in a garden nearby. After preparing the vegetables, the rice was simmering slowly in the cooker. As the meat simmered over the pan, I took out my phone, took a photo, and sent it to Zeeb's phone.
"Fuck me! You found the cabin!!" He texted back.
"Of course. Your doubts were misplaced," I texted back.
"What about Conri?" He texted.
"Work in progress," I texted back.
I placed the phone on the kitchen counter and continued to cook. It was almost nine o'clock when I finished cooking and set the dinner on the small table that was in the living room. I placed cutlery and plates on the table before taking the trekking bag with me, I walked into his room to take a shower without a care in the world. Twenty minutes later, I was done, and I walked out of the bedroom to find Conri looking awkwardly at me.
"What is it?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Do you understand the word' boundaries?" He demanded.
"I just took a shower. Don't worry, I had all my toiletries necessary. I just used your water." I responded.
Sidestepping, he walked to sit at the small table and I followed suit. Dinner was quiet as Conri ignored me and ate his meal in silence. Once he was done, he stood up, cleared the table, and said, "Hurry up and finish eating."
His brutal manners were just a cover. I knew it, but it still annoyed me as I complied to his words. He washed all the dishes, and I walked through the glass back door and pushed the door open that led into the patio. It has one chair and a small table. The view was spectacular. The night sky was clear, and the ambiance gave a feeling of peace and tranquility while I sat down, closed my eyes in bliss.
"Don't you dare sleep out here," Conri's deep voice made Freki stir. Would I ever get used to it?
I opened my eyes and turned to him, noting that he stood at the far end of the patio.
"For a man your size, you seem to be afraid of being near me." I chuckled.
"You said you wanted to talk." There was so much impatience in his voice that it irked me.
"Elder Zaya recommended you for a job. I wonder if you will take it," I announced.
"No."
"She is not taking no for an answer," I insisted.
"Little cub, you seem to be oblivious to the golden pack rules," he spoke up.
"Aren't you curious to know how I got to this cabin? I trekked here using the back of the Freki land. We own almost every area of this mountain. I had this idea of building a resort. Elder Zaya said you were the best architect in town. And she was right. You built this cabin, right?" I ignored the direction of his words.
I watched as his hands slipped into his pockets and he widened his feet to stand firm.
"I need an architect that will be in charge of the resort project. And the work involved in the project will not be breaking any dam rule of the golden pack."
He chuckled and then asked, "I am curious. Why is there bad blood between you and Alpha Lob?"
"Submitting to a sleazy Alpha is something that my ego can't take," I boasted arrogantly.
"How are you part of the pack if you don't submit to him?"
"Money and, of course, my heritage." I did not want to explain further about the Freki family.
He raised his eyebrows at me. He must have detected that I held back the information.
"Everyone had their secrets," I snapped and looked away.
"I am not interested in your life," he announced.
I stood up from the chair and walked over to him. "Come work for me."
"No."
"You are skilled, Conri."
"Do you think you can control me?" Conri uttered.
I smirked at him. "Control? That is a word that we both detest."
"So you want to sleep with me?" He scoffed off.
"Yes. I will not deny it. But I would rather you come to work for me," I admitted.
"So you want to use me to stir up trouble in the pack," he alleged.
"You wish. I don't need to use you to stir up trouble. The Golden Pack already views me as trouble. I grew up outside the pack. I don't follow the pack rules well and rarely interact with the pack activities. It would surprise you that it was my first time attending the Golden Pack annual dinner. I am glad I did."
"I wondered how we had never met. "He nodded.
"I had to adjust after Pa died. Took over the Due Corporation and worked to make it what it is now." I explained.
"At a young age, it surprised me that you are the CEO. Does Alpha Lobo have shares in your company?" Conri asked.
"No. That sleazy Alpha has been trying to get into Due Corporation." I ranted. "It's crazy how he runs the Shifter Golden Pack. Greed and bullying at the helm, but he will never get my company as long as I am alive."
Conri was silent for a while, deep in thoughts before he responded, "Yes."
"What?" exclaimed and took a step back.
"You heard me. No need to repeat myself. I will pick up the plans after a week at the foot of the mountain. There is a small old bar owned by old man Benjamin, who sits on the KODA council." He then walked back into the house, straight to his bedroom, and locked the door.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone