In Between The Alphas
Chapter 29

I couldn't concentrate throughout the day; I was running on fumes because I couldn't sleep all night. I was scared Jake would come into the room and attack me in the middle of the night and my mind was a jungle. It also didn't help my nerves when he pinned me to the car as soon as he came down this morning and gave me a very vivid reminder of what would happen if I did anything to upset him today. "You know I still don't understand why you're wearing a turtleneck in this heat," Diana said from across the room and I subconsciously tugged at my sleeve and neckline before turning to her, "It is like 90 degrees in here and you're over there comfortably wearing a long sleeved turtleneck top like it's a winter wonderland." "I don't feel that hot," I lied.

"Now that's a bloody lie, I can see the sweat dripping down your head," she said in a know-it-all tone.

"I just liked the top and I felt like wearing it," I shrugged, "It's not a big deal."

"It will be when you pass out from a heat stroke later on." She said with an eye roll, "I can't have you passing out on me and leaving me alone with these kids. They seem to like you a lot more than me so imagine the nightmare it would be when you fall sick and leave me here alone."

"I won't fall sick," I assured her, "I'm used to wearing worse things in worse weather." I always had a lot to hide, this isn't my first rodeo.

"Well if you say so," she said finally then turned away from me and I let out a sigh of relief that she had finally dropped the subject. We were working in silence for a few more seconds before she finally spoke up again, "You don't by any chance happen to have some of those your magic brownies do you?"

I let out a small laugh and gestured to my bag, "Knock yourself out."

She muttered something under her breath and took out a tin of said brownies and dug in, "These are heavenly," she said through a mouthful, "You know everyone loved them yesterday and they kept on asking who made them. I wanted to introduce you to a few people but you had already left."

"Yeah, I just needed a breather," I said and she just shrugged.

"Oh yeah, Logan asked to meet with you today." She said and my eyes widened, "Relax, you're not in trouble; it has something to do with your brownies."

I just shook my head because I didn't know what to say. She mistook my expression for being scared of Logan; I'm scared of what Jake will do when he realizes I was alone with Logan.

"Can't you come with me to see him?" I asked and she shot me a bland look.

"And leave the children by themselves?" she asked, "I can't do that and you know that. I promise he's not mad at you or anything; you have nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried about him." I mumbled and I saw the question forming in her eyes so I quickly changed the subject, "Where is his office?"

She blurted out the directions without even looking up and I nodded softly. I can do this. "Do you know where Jake is?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I know he has something to do in town," she said, "So he isn't here if that's what you're asking."

I let out an inaudible sigh of relief. I can do this; all I have to do is quickly go to Logan; hear whatever it is that he has to say and run out before Jake can see me.

I made my way over to the office as quickly as I could; only stopping to mutter a word of greeting to the people I passed on the way. I kept my head down because I don't want any accidental sightings that would end up putting me in trouble. I knocked on Logan's door and he muttered a gruff 'come in' and I all but ran into his office and shut the door behind me.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked and I shrugged, "After the crowd fiasco yesterday."

"Better," I said softly and he nodded.

"I'm busy as well so I won't take up a lot of your time," he said, "How would you feel about supplying brownies to a few bakeries?"

"I'm sorry what?" I asked. This is honestly the last thing I expected him to say to me.

"Everyone loved your brownies yesterday," he said, "In fact, my first thought was for you to get a bakery of your own but then I remembered how you don't do well with crowds so I thought this would be a better alternative."

"I don't know," I began a I fidgeted with my wrists, "I usually just bake as a hobby, I can't imagine having to do it every day."

"You don't have to do it every day," he assured me, "You can work out a specific day where you bake and supply. It could be like a special treat, that way you can be sure it's going to sell out."

"Can I think about it?" I asked finally and he just nodded.

"Of course," he said, "Take as much time as you want." He stopped for a second then continued, "And besides if everything goes out really well then you can quit working at the day care; I've heard from Diana how frustrating it can be." "Actually I love it there," I said softly, "Thank you for giving it to me."

"You should be thanking Jake," he said and I frowned, "He was the one who asked me to give you that job. I had something else in mind for you."

"Jake asked you to give me the job?" I asked and he nodded, "But he told me that he tried to beg you to give me something else and you were adamant on giving me this."

He looked genuinely confused for a second and he shook his head, "That isn't how it happened," he said, "Are you sure that's what he said?"

"Maybe I misunderstood him," I said softly and although he didn't look convinced he nodded, "Yeah, I must have misheard him." I said again, "I have to go."

"Of course," he said, "Have a good day Charlotte."

I quickly left his office with thoughts swirling in my head. Why did Jake lie to me about who wanted to give me the job? I wouldn't have minded if he told me he specifically asked for it for me so why did he have to lie?

I was so out of my thoughts that I didn't notice someone rounding a corner and I bumped straight into him making him drop all his papers.

"I am so sorry," I said immediately as I bent to pick them up, "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's okay, it's my fault as well. I should have been paying more attention." he said as he took the last of the things from me, "Thank you for helping me; I'm Spencer."

I opened my mouth to reply but I was cut off by a loud voice behind me.

"Charlie!" The angry voice yelled and I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. Oh sh!t.