Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Paula

“Your name is Paula Ellis, correct?”

I nod dumbly, still shocked that I’m stuck in the elevator with the goddamn CEO of this company. “Yes, that’s

me.”

Henrik smiles before fishing up his phone, his fingers scrolling rapidly before stopping. “Well, according to my earlier notes, you’re one of our top candidates for the position.”

That can’t be right. I have zero experience and was ready to beg for this position. Did Henrik mix me up with someone else? I’m about to ask him about it, but the second our eyes meet, I’m hit with that strange pull yet again.

“Fucking hell…“I mutter under my breath, but Henrik catches my words. A mischievous glint appears in his purple eyes, which must be contact lenses. What normal human man has purple eyes?

“Is the mate bond bothering you?”

My eyes flash to his. “The mate, what now?!”

A frown forms on his lips. “Surely you must know what a mate bond is.”

“Uh…” Is he joking with me? I’ve read supernatural books about werewolves who have fated mates, but this is reality–what the heck is this guy on about? Is it a test?

“Come to think of it…you smell weird,” Henrik gives me a curious look. “What kind of dragon are you?”

“Dragon?!” I exclaim. A wiser woman would show respect to whatever fantasy her future boss is living in, but I’m too shocked to think straight. “I’m a human!”

“A human?” Henrik repeats.

“Yes!”

“But that’s impossible,” his expression turns unhappy. “How am I supposed to bathe a human in my flames for a

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successful mating? You would die…”

“E–excuse me? Bathe in your flames?” I ask in disbelief, wondering if there is a way to escape from this elevator.

I might die if I stay here. This man is crazier than I thought. Is he really the CEO of this company?! And why does he keep talking to me like I’m his mate? I’m just a normal human woman, and I don’t want to play this roleplaying game with him even if he is hot!

“That’s how dragons mate. Bathing you in my flames would put my mark on your skin, and then you would do the same for me, but…if you’re a human, you won’t survive,” he says, his words strung together with an air of melancholy.

I stare at him for a moment, just a moment. “Look, I came here for a job interview,” I say, my tone defensive. “Not some sort of…fairytale fantasy.”

“But this isn’t a fairytale fantasy. You’re my fated mate, Paula,” a sad laugh leaves his lips when I stare at him like he is crazy. “Look, I’m sure you can feel it, too. The mate bond is practically sizzling between us.”

“You’re crazy,” I say coldly. “And I think it’s time I moved to the other side of the elevator.”

He before I can move or even attempt to leave. His grip js firm but not painful.

arab my wrist lightl

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“Please, don’t,” he whispers, his eyes pleading. “I know this must sound utterly insane to you, but I swear on the very flames in my veins that I speak the truth.”

I’m stunned by his raw sincerity. It doesn’t make what he’s saying any less crazy, but it does make me pause.

The reality of the situation starts to dawn on me slowly – Henrik isn’t playing a game. He genuinely believes that he’s a dragon…and so help me, God, I can actually feel a strange, pulsating connection between us that makes

no sense.

My heart throbs in my chest, and my mouth suddenly feels dry as I swallow hard. If Henrik is right–no, he can’t be right–but what if he is? This would change everything.

“You’re… You’re serious?” I splutter, not daring to believe it.

“As serious as death and rebirth,” he replies solemnly. His grip on my wrist relaxes progressively, but he doesn’t let go. “Paula,” he says my name softly like it’s a prayer from his lips to the heavens above. “I never thought… I never imagined that my mate could be a human.”

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No!

“Well, let me make this easier for you: I have a boyfriend, so…yeah, I’m taken already.”

I feel silly telling him that I have a boyfriend. Timothy and I have only been dating each other for a few months. We aren’t that serious, and Henrik? He makes Timothy seem like a child in comparison.

Timothy doesn’t have a job or a goal in his life–he is a stoner–but Henrik? He has his own company. He is older, and there is this sexy air of confidence around him. I bet he could easily fuck me into submission, and…fuck, I need to stop visualizing him naked!

“You’re seeing someone?”

“Yes, his name is Timothy.”

Amusement crosses Henrik’s handsome features. “It won’t last.”

The audacity!

“And how do you know that?” I snap.

“Because you’re meant to have my babies.”

“Babies?!” I squeak, too flabbergasted to even come up with a better response. The worst part is that Henrik doesn’t look like he is messing with me.

“Yes, Paula, babies. Dragon babies,” he replies nonchalantly as if he’s discussing the weather and not claiming that I, a very human woman, am destined to carry his dragon children.

“That’s… that’s not possible,” I stammer, my mind whirling with disbelief and confusion. A part of me thinks this is all a sick joke, but the look in Henrik’s eyes is earnest and full of conviction.

It frightens me.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. This isn’t how I wanted our first meeting to be, either. But you can’t deny the pull of the mate bond,” he continues softly as if trying to soothe my panic.

There it is again…mate bond. I don’t want to believe him, but a strange tug in my chest resounds with his words.

“Let’s say I believe you – which I don’t- but for argument’s sake. What happens now?” I ask slowly, still trying to

process this insanity.

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– Chapter 50

“We take it slow,” he answers promptly, “You will need time to adjust and understand what all of this means. And I will respect your space in the meantime.”

“And my boyfriend?” I press on.

“Like I said earlier…” there’s a smug note in his voice now, “…It won’t Inst.”

Once again, the audacity!

“You can’t just decide my relationship status.”

He chuckles at my protest but doesn’t take back his statement. Instead, his grip loosens around my wrist until

our skin barely touches.

“I don’t have to decide anything. It’s already written in our fates,” he says cryptically.

With that, the elevator doors finally slide open revealing a long empty corridor. There is a door at the end of it.

Could it be Henrik’s office?

“Your interview is waiting,” Henrik says. “Since you may not feel at ease with me conducting the interview, I reached out to Jessie. She will serve as your interviewer.”

I suck my lips into my mouth. “For my sanity’s sake, let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

As I’m about to step out of the elevator, Henrik’s voice rings behind me.

“Oh Paula, we are far from done. Whether you like it or not, our fates are intertwined.”

Despite myself, I feel a shiver run down my spine at his words. What have I gotten myself into?