(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Don’t fall for their tricks

As soon as the elevator closed on Rene’s professional form, Pamela turned a narrowed gaze towards Kellen Woods. Kellen felt a shiver of fear run down his spine at the glowing, pink gaze.

"Mr. Woods, that could have cost us a very important deal." She scolded. Kellen couldn’t help himself, and shrugged. That only seemed to make Pamela irate, but Kellen needed to explain himself.

"I don’t think so. We are a big Guild, this is a huge collaborative effort, and Rene is a shark." Pamela flinched at Kellen’s words. "Some words of wisdom that I didn’t think I needed to give you, Pamela, but you never accept the first draft of a deal someone offers you. That’s basic business." Pamela’s face went red at his words, and Kellen realised that Rene had done quite a number on her. "Pamela, just because she approached you doesn’t mean you fold at her every whim. You’re better than that." Pamela’s face hardened for a second before she sighed. She ran her hands over her face, shaking her head before she looked at Kellen. She seemed embarrassed.

"You have the wrong impression here, Guide Woods. I’m not giving into Rene’s every whim, I just have a tremendous amount of respect for her. I was also the one who tried to recruit her into our Guild and who she said no to. I don’t often see her face to face so it just took me by surprise. Usually I only speak to her over the phone." The more Pamela spoke, the more her hard PR face broke, and Kellen had a sinking feeling that he had been wrong about his assumption.

"Pamela, I don’t mean to overstep here, and you don’t have to tell me the truth, but I’m concerned I’m getting the wrong idea here. Do you...have feelings for Rene?" Kellen asked her quietly, and watched as Pamela turned a different shade of red. Kellen blinked. "Does she know that you like her?" Pamela almost looked like she was in pain as she nodded. Kellen felt his jaw drop.

This was a first, at least a first that he knew about. It explained why Pamela was having such a hard time. It also explained Rene’s awful contract. It was clear she was trying to take advantage of the feelings Pamela had for her. Kellen ran a hand over his face.

"You need to be so careful. I love Rene, and I’ve known her for years. She’s a great family friend, but. She’s gone wild after her divorce. I’m sure you’ve noticed if you have a crush on her." Pamela wouldn’t meet Kellen’s gaze and he sighed. She was staring at her feet, wiggling her heeled toes in her shoes. "Pamela, she eats your type for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’re too cute, and rarely do they confess first." Pamela grew slack-jawed at Kellen’s words, and his serious expression. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish before finally finding her voice.

"W-What the hell is that supposed to mean? You make her sound like a bad person!" Oh, she was head over heels for her. Kellen sighed, shaking his head.

"No, she’s not a bad person, but if you let your feelings get in the way of contracts, and the Guild, that’s a big deal. She likes pushing you, and you’re easy to get a rise out of because you’re so aware of her. Please be careful, and if you need help, just message me through the work email. I’m well versed with what she normally does since she went to school with my Mom. They interned at the same firm." Kellen told her, but that didn’t seem to soothe Pamela. Her jaw worked, even as her cheeks were flushed.

"While I appreciate your concern, I have this." She told him harshly, and Kellen shrugged. He had warned her, and that was all he could do if she didn’t want his help. Sure, he had drafted several contracts before, and threw out several on the front lines. It was only now he was realising that several of the contracts he’d received had been from Rene, so he knew she was able to draft good contracts. She just wanted to play with Pamela.

He didn’t want to be harsh, but if Pamela wasn’t able to get over this crush, or manage her feelings about Rene, she would get devoured, and get the Guild in a bunch of trouble. He hoped that the Captain or even Hill or Casper was looking over the contracts before signing. For their own good.

"Mr. Woods, stop antagonizing poor Pamela and get in here."

Kellen glanced over to the doorway of the conference room to find the Captain leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a small smile on his lips. He had his jacket off, and the first couple of buttons on his shirt were undone. His usually perfect hair was askew, and Kellen swallowed. Holy hell, he was hot.

"I am not antagonizing her, I’m trying to give her advice." Kellen protested, and the Captain chuckled, his yellow gaze scanning over the Guide. Kellen felt that the way he was looking at him was very similar to how Rene was looking at Pamela. Like a full meal, and he was hungry.

"You? Kellen the Celibate? I’m surprised." Kellen jerked with surprise. He hadn’t expected the Captain to say that. "I didn’t think you’d be able to give dating advice." It was a one two hit from the man Kellen had never expected it from. He felt his cheeks flush.

"I can give advice on other people’s character. And plenty of single people give others advice." He declared and the Captain chuckled.

"You aren’t single, are you Mr. Woods?" His tone was teasing, but Kellen felt a wave of frost slide down his back. Uh oh. He had stepped into a very dangerous situation without his knowledge. The Captain had a knowing smirk on his face, and Kellen frowned. He crossed his arms, the two mirroring each other.

"It was just an example." He said hotly, and the Captain moved away from the doorframe, coming over to place his hand on Kellen’s face gently.

"Good, because if you had said no I was going to be heartbroken. How dare you play with my heart and body for a whole week only to tell me we aren’t together? After we declared that we were in front of cameras? Devastating. I even paid for our food on our date." His little smirk on his lips made Kellen want to smack his hand away.

"You didn’t have to do that, so you aren’t allowed to get mad at me for that. Besides, I feel like you have it wrong. Aren’t you the one who has been-" Kellen cut himself off. He was falling for the same fucking tricks he had just warned Pamela about when it came to Rene, and the little smirk on the Captain’s face told him that he knew it too. So many others were listening in on them, and Kellen hated feeding the rumour mill of the Guild.

He frowned in annoyance at being so easily wound up. "You know damn well your claims that I’ve been using you are wrong." Kellen told him quietly, and the Captain grinned. His eyes were a soft yellow, not quite vibrant or gold.

"Oh? So the other day wasn’t an example of just that? You had your way with me, Mr. Woods. I distinctly remember you saying that you were going to use me." Kellen’s face went up in flames. He was vibrating, since he knew what the Captain wasn’t saying. Kellen had been quoting him. The Captain had gotten to know his body, and Kellen had wanted to get to know him the same way.

"You are twisting my words. You know damn well that I was doing it because you’re worse." The Captain blinked his big, yellow eyes like a movie star damsel in distress.

"Me? Worse? There are witnesses that you’ve been using my body for your own reasons. I’m not an object, Mr. Woods." Kellen was pissed. He was even more angry because if he tried to argue with him in public, only Kellen would come out of it looking bad. Kellen hated how the man loved to put him in situations like this. He bit his lip, and the man tsked. "Stop hurting your lips. It upsets me." He muttered and Kellen, out of spite, bit harder. He watched as the Captain’s eyes deepened in colour. Kellen stepped closer to him, his hands in fists, and his body vibrating with anger.

"You know damn well that if I was taking advantage of you, you wouldn’t complain in the slightest." Kellen whispered tensely, and the Captain’s eyes zeroed in on his lips.

"How are you so sure? What if I am a delicate man, Mr. Woods?" His lips quirked up slightly as he moved his hand further down his face, rubbing his thumb against Kellen’s bottom lip. Trying to soothe the blooming wound.

"Captain, you are allowed to be delicate. What you are not allowed to be is a liar. Your eyes are giving you away." Said eyes widened in surprise.

"How so? What are you noticing?" He asked, genuinely curious. Kellen was surprised that the Captain didn’t know.

"W-When you...feel a certain way, your eyes change colour." Kellen told him, his cheeks flushing and that seemed to stun him, before a very dangerous smile crossed his face.

"I didn’t know that you liked it if others watched. I’ll keep that in mind." This man! I did not have that kind of kink!

The Captain frowned, his grip tightening on Kellen’s waist. He dropped his hand so that he had both around his waist, and Kellen didn’t want to admit how much he liked the touch. _{ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom}

"But we can still practise, can’t we?" He asked, and Kellen felt his cheeks heat. Practise?