Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Learning my Duties

Ragnar

Nine o'clock sharp, I’m standing right in front of the Wolfe mansion.

I glance down at the expensive-looking watch on my wrist and then back up at the massive thing in front of me.

Right on time.

The mansion isn’t anything close to what I’d been picturing.

I’ve heard plenty about the Wolfe family; they’re powerful, rich, dangerous, take your pick. But none of those words really do the place justice.

It’s more of a fortress than a mansion.

Three stories of dark stone sprawl out in every direction, tall windows stretch almost from floor to ceiling, balconies scatter across the front looking out over the estate. Huge stone pillars frame the entrance, and a wide set of marble steps leads up to two enormous wooden doors.

I walk up to the entrance and one of the guards stops me.

"Name?" His voice echoes in a low growl. Even his face is unwelcoming.

"Ragnar." I reply.

His eyes drop lazily to the tablet in his hand and he types something, studies the screen for a couple seconds, then looks back up.

"You’re expected." He says, his gaze softening on me.

"I figured." I smile back as he steps aside and presses something on the tablet in his hand.

The gates open and I walk through, still in awe of how smoothly everything goes.

The second I step into the mansion, I understand exactly why the Wolfes make people either bow or run.

The foyer is massive.

A crystal chandelier hangs down from the ceiling, throwing pale light across polished marble floors. Dark wood paneling covers parts of the walls, giving the room a warm-but-imposing kind of energy. 

Paintings that probably cost more than most cars hang throughout. Big pieces of furniture are deliberately placed here and there.

I take a few more steps in, quietly taking it all in.

"Ragnar?" A familiar voice calls and my head whips up in that direction.

"Good morning, Rhys." I greet, holding my hand out for a handshake.

"Good morning, Ragnar. I see you’re right on time," he smiles dryly and wipes his hand on the napkin he pulls out of his suit pocket.

"Welcome to the Wolfe mansion."

"Thank you." I respond, crossing my arms behind me. He sizes me up once and clears his throat.

"You’ve been given the position."

I frown slightly. "What position?"

"Personal secretary."

I stare at him with questions in my eyes as my head slowly tilts to the side.

"What about the interview?" I ask and Rhys chuckles slightly.

"You’re looking at it, Ragnar. You needn’t sit in an office before you know what an interview is?" He asks.

"Why was I chosen for this position?" I ask, trying to make myself look like I know what I’m doing.

Rhys’ expression sobers up.

"The twins have enemies. A lot of them," he goes on. "Some outside the pack, some within, and the others are business rivals. A few more have very personal reasons for wanting either Xander or Damon Wolfe dead."

My eyebrows go up.

"That’s comforting." I groan.

"I wasn’t trying to comfort you. You have combat experience an exceptional combat experience, according to the reports."

I shrug. "I know how to defend myself."

"You know how to do quite a bit more than that."

I don’t answer.

"You’re being hired because we need somebody who can handle more than a scheduling app."

"In essence, a secretary with the added job of bodyguard." My voice twists and Rhys shakes his head.

"Not necessarily. You’ll never be expected to step between one of them and a bullet."

"Good."

"But if something happens, you won’t freeze. That is why you’re here." He explains. I inhale sharply and nod like I’m taking lessons.

He studies me for a beat.

"Tell me about yourself."

I look at him and smile, "My background? You’ve already done a background check on me otherwise I wouldn’t be here for this interview in the first place. So I’m certain you already know all there is to know about me."

His eyes narrow on my face for a while and then he nods. "Fair enough. Now walk with me."

He leads the way deeper into the mansion and I follow, taking mental notes of every corridor we walk past and every hallway.

"Your job is going to include managing both Xander and Damon’s schedules," he explains. "You’ll set meetings, handle correspondence, keep their calendars in order, and make sure neither of them skips out on obligations just because they’d rather not go."

"That sounds hard."

"It is."

"Anything else?"

"You’ll coordinate with their assistants, their security teams, and the household staff. And you’ll be going with them to certain meetings off the estate."

"Both of them?"

"Yes."

I sigh on the inside.

Managing one Wolfe already sounds like plenty of work.

Two seems almost unnecessarily cruel.

"You’ll have access to sensitive information," Rhys continues. "Their schedules. Business dealings. Personal correspondence. You’ll hear things that aren’t meant to leave this house."

"I understand."

"Discretion is essential." He barks.

"You won’t have a problem with me."

"Well I wasn’t worried. Your quarters are in the east wing," he says. "You’ll have everything you need although, there are areas you’re not allowed into without clearance."

"Such as?"

"Armory, security room, certain private offices all parts of the training wing."

I nod. "Understood."

We round another corner.

Suddenly a heavy impact echoes down the hallway and I stop but Rhys doesn’t.

I glance through an open doorway.

Two men are sparring inside a big training room and when I look closer, I notice one of them is Damon Wolfe.

He moves with this frightening kind of precision that is fast and so powerful.

His opponent throws a punch but Damon dodges and with the speed of lightning, he counters.

Damon’s fist misses by about an inch and almost immediately, his elbow comes around with the momentum and connects right with my shoulder.

I stumble back a step as the entire room goes silent.

Damon turns.

Our eyes meet.

He looks at the spot he’s just hit, then back at my face.

"You alright?"

I roll my shoulders and scoff awkwardly. "I’ve had worse."

The corner of his mouth lifts. "Good."

Rhys sighs. "Damon."

"What?"

"You just hit our new secretary."

Damon glances at me again. "Then I guess he’s already getting the full Wolfe experience."

I can’t help the tiny smile that pulls at my mouth. "Lucky me."