Chapter 0079
Judy’s POV
“Sorry, what were you saying, Darling?” I asked, my voice cutting through the tension.
Irene’s frown deepened.
“I’m going inside with Matt,” she snapped, her eyes dark with anger. She turned and stormed away, Matt following closely behind.
Ethan’s face paled as he realized his mistake.
“I think you should go after her, lover boy,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.
He didn’t humor me with a response but quickly jogged after her, attempting to explain himself. I shook my head at their retreating backs, wondering how this drama was going to unfold.
“Why do I get the feeling there’s history between the two of you?” Walter asked, drawing my attention.
I glanced at him, caught off guard. If Gavin saw us talking alone, it would not end well. I thought Walter had gone back inside while Ethan and I were having our little stare-down, but to my surprise, he was still standing there with me.
Despite having just met him, there was a part of me that trusted Walter. But I wasn’t sure I should be so open about my situation with Ethan, especially considering how close Walter seemed to be with Irene. From what I saw earlier in the parlor—their shared laughs, the casual hugs—it was obvious they had a close relationship.
“There’s not,” I lied, brushing off the question. “He’s just Irene’s fiancé. I don’t really talk to him.”
Walter cocked his head, studying me, almost as though he were trying to read my thoughts. After a long moment, he simply nodded and didn’t push for more details.
“I’m sorry if I made things weird between you and your boss,” he said, kicking the dirt beneath his shoe, looking almost sheepish. “He can be intense.”
“That’s an understatement,” I teased, rolling my eyes. “You don’t need to apologize, Walter. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He shrugged nonchalantly, then lifted his gaze to meet mine.
“I hope I didn’t scare you off, though,” he said softly, his voice tinged with an uncertainty I hadn’t expected.
I raised my brows, unsure where he was going with this.
“Wasn’t it you that he threatened?” I asked, a touch of disbelief in my voice.
Walter’s lips twitched, but he didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he muttered, almost to himself, “He can take away whatever he wants.” Then, his voice grew more serious. “I never wanted to be an Alpha. It’s what my father wanted for me. I just want to run my business, expand it, keep growing. The money I have, I’ve earned it myself. I’m wealthy because of my own successes, not the Landry fortune. Uncle Gavin can’t take that away from me.”
I stared at him, frowning as I considered his words.
“I’d like to see him try,” Walter murmured, folding his arms across his chest, clearly not intimidated by Gavin’s power.
But I knew better. “I’m afraid that’s not true, Walter. He’s the Lycan Chairman, and you know the Lycans rule over the werewolf population. Your uncle has all the power in the world.”
Walter’s lips curled into a half-smile. “We’ll see.”
I frowned again but didn’t respond, my mind swirling with the complexities of this situation.
I reached for my bag, pulling out my phone to check my messages, trying to ignore the weight of Walter’s gaze on me. Just as I was about to slide my phone back into my bag, his voice stopped me.
“Can I give you my number?” he asked.
I froze, glancing up at him.
“Is that wise?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Walter shrugged, a sly grin playing on his lips. “Probably not,” he said, clearly enjoying this more than I was, “but maybe we could do more training. Or something else…”
My cheeks instantly flushed, the implication not lost on me.
“Something else?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He stepped closer, and I felt the heat of his hand on my arm. It was a nice touch, but it didn’t ignite anything inside me. Not like I had felt with Gavin. Still, I couldn’t deny the magnetism of his presence. I glanced up at him through my lashes, waiting for him to continue.
“I’d like to take you to dinner sometime,” he said softly, his tone sincere. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Judy. You’re beautiful, smart, strong… and quick on your feet. Let me take you out tonight.”
I stared at him, a mix of disbelief and surprise washing over me. Was he seriously asking me out after his uncle had just threatened him, almost choking him to death?
I glanced around, half-expecting Gavin to appear out of nowhere. But there was nothing. Just me and Walter.
Walter’s fingers gently cupped my chin, lifting my face so that I was looking directly into his eyes. His gaze was soft, his expression intense but earnest.
“Say yes,” he whispered, his voice low and coaxing. “Let me show you how a man treats a woman. Let me take you out tonight.”
The air between us seemed to thicken, and for a moment, I could hear nothing but the pounding of my own heart. His face was so close, I could feel his breath ghosting over my lips.
After what felt like an eternity, I whispered, “Okay… yes.”
