Her Revenge Contract

Katherine's POV

It's been a week since I returned home. Xavier has been by my side every second of the day.

I was burning to return to work, yet Xavier didn't let me go.

"Relax," he said, pulling me closer. Sadness was still reflecting in his blue orbs, yet he still didn't tell me what was bothering him. "Take some deserved time off. There will be some changes made to the King Group soon, and you need your strength to take on the new position."

I froze for a moment, confused at Xavier's words.

"What new position?" I asked.

The question stunned Xavier, yet he smiled and pulled me into his lap.

"John fled in fear, and the King Group has no leader," he said, "so I have suggested that the board appoint you as full-time chairman."

That took me by surprise, and Xavier smiled and tapped my nose lightly.

"Congratulations, Chairman Kate King," he said. "It does have a certain ring to it!"

Sure enough, that night, I received an email with a letter of appointment from the company's board of directors, and the chairman's inauguration party was scheduled for a week later.

Yet, it didn't have the exact feeling I was hoping for, and the information weighed heavy on my shoulders.

I sighed, a bit irritated with myself. What I had been striving for was finally in my grasp; it was a dream come true, yet it made me afraid to accept the appointment.

"Aren't you happy?" Xavier asked when he saw me frozen with the appointment letter in my hand in his study. He gently pulled me to him and whipped a stray tear from my face, then lifted my hands and gently pressed a kiss on my knuckles.

"I know what you are worried about," he said. "John has fled, and it will be difficult to bring him down while he is gone."

I nodded, yet Xavier continued.

"In the meantime, I have submitted evidence to the police and Wolf Council."

I lifted my gaze and found Xavier's, and a smile followed on his lips.

"Rose and Erika are temporarily restricted from leaving the country," he said, lifting his eyebrow seriously, "so you don't need to worry about them getting away."

I nodded and smiled, then slipped out of Xavier's arms.

"Thank you, Xavier," I said, kissing his cheek and then heading toward my room.

I was in love with Xavier, yet I couldn't seem to get over the idea that he was lying to me about something.

The question was: What?

What was he hiding?

Was it so bad that it would ruin our relationship?

Xavier had marked me as his mate, but why did our relationship still feel like it was based only on common interests that the King Group shares?

Will it change as soon as all this is over? Or when I mark him as mine?

My mind kept racing with many more questions.

When it was eventually time to go to bed, I was too exhausted to even dream.

The next morning, I did my morning routine and found Xavier at the dining room table with a newspaper in his hand.

Old habits die hard.

"Morning," I said, and I pulled out a chair to take a seat.

"Morning," he mumbled under his breath.

I knitted my eyebrows together, surprised at Xavier's attitude.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said, moving the newspaper to look at me. "Eat something."

"Xavier," I said as I reached for a piece of toast, "tell me what's going on."

"Nothing is going on," Xavier snapped and sighed.

I raised my eyebrows at him and crossed my arms around my chest.

"It doesn't seem like it!" I argued.

"Morning Luna, morning Alpha," Greyson sang as he walked into the dining room. "How are we this morning?"

Greyson stopped in his tracks and looked at both of us.

"Someone is in a bad mood this morning," he said and looked at me.

I shook my head and gestured to Xavier.

"It is nothing," Xavier said, getting up.

Odd, I thought.

Greyson sighed, yet took a seat next to me and Xavier left the room.

"Have you seen the news?" He asked, trying to grab my shocked attention. "No, what news?"

Greyson pulled his phone out of his pocket and searched for an article on it.

The heading reads: the King Group Chairman left his family to fend for themselves.

I quietly read through the article and internally growled when I was done. I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief.

Rose was a very smart and manipulative she-wolf; she was taking advantage of the fact that no one knew about her involvement in John's decisions and illegal trades. She was claiming to be innocent and portraying herself as the heartbroken and clueless mate left by a criminal husband.

"Rose is pinning everything on John," I said. "She even blames him for the things she and Erika have done."

My gaze moved to where Xavier used to sit, and my thoughts raced.

I knew Xavier would want me to do the same thing if we were in the same situation, and my eyes widened at the thought of us becoming like John and Rose.

I quickly shook my head to get rid of the thoughts, handed Greyson back his phone, and pulled the newspaper toward me.

The shares of the King Group have miraculously risen since John fled, and I am now considered a positive figure in the business world.

A photo of me appeared on the front page, revealing the details of my new appointment.

I have decided to accept the role of chairman. Not only to reveal all the shit John has done and get rid of all the employees involved in the money laundering case but also to win the employees' trust and hearts in this unsettling and chaotic time. "I'm going to get ready for work," I told Greyson when I was done eating and left for my room.

Fifteen minutes later, I was ready, and Greyson waited for me.

"Your driver is waiting," he said, and I nodded and followed Greyson toward the front door.

Xavier instructed Greyson to stay by my side until proper arrangements could be made to secure my safety.

Not that I needed any extra protection. I could fend for myself, yet I didn't argue with Xavier's decision.

I found Xavier standing at the door, deep in thought, staring at something or someone standing outside. "Xavier," I greeted him as I passed him, and he lazily turned his head, and a smirk followed on his lips. "What is so funny?" I asked, a bit annoyed.

Did I have something in my teeth? Did I have something on my clothes?

"You look amazing," he said. "I need to control myself not to go caveman on you!"

I blushed, and Greyson's eyes grew wide.

Yet I couldn't help wondering why Xavier's mood kept changing. He was slowly giving me whiplash with all the mood swings.

"Be careful," Xavier said, taking a step toward me, bending down, and softly kissing me on my nape. Kia went wild in my mind as small electric tingles flew through my body down to my core.

It was amazing how such a simple touch could influence a person.

"Greyson will be at your side until Nathan's case has been closed," Xavier said as he let me go.

I nodded in understanding, turned, and hurried behind Greyson toward the SUV waiting for us.

When we arrived at the office, I was surprised by a group of people waiting for us in the reception area with a huge banner screaming in big, bold red letters: Welcome back!

I was even more surprised to see that most of the board members were waiting among the staff.

Christopher was the first one to approach me, and he had a broad smile on his face.

"Kate!" His husky old voice sounded over all the people, and tears filled his eyes as he saw me walking through the double glass doors. "Welcome back!"

"It's good to be back," I said, shaking Christopher's hand.

"Come, girl," he said and set his hand on the small of her back, "let me show you your new office.

I followed Christopher and the group of directors toward the elevator and we got in.

Five minutes later, I stood in front of the new office.

I sort of felt sad that I was leaving my father's old office, but I was a bit unsure how to let Christopher know that I wanted to stay there, where I felt at home.

Christopher unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Come on, have a look," he urged.

My heart started to pound uncontrollably in my chest, and my hands became moist.

It felt like I was betraying my father.

I took a deep breath and slowly walked into the new office.

The first thing that hit me was my father's scent, and my gaze snapped toward Christopher, confused.

"Your father only used the top office when he needed to escape reality and have some peace and quiet," he said. "This was his work office, and he spent most of his time planning in there."

"You always kept it locked?" I whispered, smelling no other scents inside.

"Yes," he answered. "John tried many times to claim it, but we opposed it."

I nodded and walked toward my table, and the same emotions of my first day at work swept over me, except this time I wasn't afraid anymore.

"Thank you," I said.

We had a quick break with snacks and coffee in the boardroom, exchanged some pleasantries, and I took off for my new office.

I needed to check the accounts. Now that John can't keep information from me, I can thoroughly investigate the accounts.

Now I need to find which accounts were false.

Kelly walked in a few minutes later with Greyson by her side.

"I thought I lost you in the wave of directors," I said with a teasing smile.

"Kelly saved me," Greyson said and turned to his mate.

"Well, I am glad you are saved," I said, "directors can be a bit intimidating."

Greyson laughed, yet didn't say much after that. He took a seat in my office and opened his laptop to do some work.

I turned to Kelly and nodded and she followed me out into the financial office space.

The board of directors had, while I was away, replaced all of the financial staff, and a new group of employees waited for me in the meeting room.

I nodded at the group as my gaze moved over all the new faces- Christopher had arranged for all their personal files to be sent up to my office.

"Morning," I said, and the group greeted me back in all seriousness.

"As you all know, I am officially appointed as the new chairman."

I explained what I expected from them, answered some concerns, and without further ado, I started to give instructions. "Open new financial accounts," I said to the first group, and we would start each section from a clean slot."

"I need you to pull all the financial information from all the accounts for the last three years," I instructed the second group, and if there are any problems you pick up in that period, then pull the information back for the last four or five years. In short, the finances must be transparent."

Everyone looked at me in all seriousness; they understood. They could see that I would not be gentle or bullied.

It took me almost a whole day just to restructure the company, and before long it became dark.

"Luna," Kelly said as she knocked on my office door, "Alpha called again; he says it's urgent."

I kept on reading through the document and replied without raising my head.

"I called him back after I finished reading through the document."

Greyson must have seen Kelly hover, get up, and leave my office.

After a while, I couldn't read anymore, so I gave in, got up from behind my desk, rubbed my sore neck, and looked out the window.

"Gosh," I whispered to myself, seeing it totally dark outside, as I walked toward the window. "Is it that late already?"

I turned back toward my table and glanced at my phone.

The phone's light flashed, showing Xavier's name, and I rushed toward it to miss the call.

I unlocked my phone and saw Xavier call countless times, yet I forgot this morning to unmute my phone.

I hurriedly called Xavier back, and just as I was about to press the call button, a message popped up.

"Shocking! The former chairman of the King Group fled abroad and died in a car accident."