Even Alphas Bow to Her Chapter 06
His lips trembled.
“I wasn’t trying to-”
“Mr. Hawthorne.” I cut him off. “If you don’t have more data to present, we don’t need to waste each other’s time. My assistant will notify you of the decision.”
I stood and extended my hand.
Standard dismissal.
He rose slowly and took it.
His palm was damp.
He held on too tight. Didn’t want to let go.
“Vivian, can we talk off the record for a minute?”
I pulled my hand back.
“Meeting’s over. Charlotte will see you out.” any
He didn’t leave right away. At the door, he turned back.
“The core concept behind NEXUS-”
I held his gaze. He knew. He’d stolen my work. I just
never bothered to call him out.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
“Never mind. Thanks.”
The door shut. Footsteps faded.
Charlotte poked her head in. “Vivian, he’s gone. Front desk said he stood by the elevator for a while. Looked rough.”
“Not my problem. Has the investment team’s preliminary verdict come in?”
“Not recommended. Weak fundamentals, poor
execution, messy capital structure. The only bright
spot is the core concept itself, but a concept alone doesn’t justify investment.”
“Draft the formal report. Notify him through the proper channels.”
I thought that would be the end of it.
“Vivian, Ethan Hawthorne called three times.”
It was two in the afternoon. I’d just finished clearing a backlog of documents when Charlotte delivered the update.
“I turned him down each time, but he kept insisting. He really wants you to unblock him.”
My phone lit up.
A new number. Ethan.
“Vivian, can we talk? Not about the project. About us.”
I ignored it. Blocked another account.
“Understood.”
Afternoon. Meetings, signing off on documents, three overseas calls.
That was the rhythm–project after project, call after
call. I didn’t have the bandwidth for Ethan.
5:30 PM. Charlotte appeared at the door again.
“Vivian, he’s waiting outside. His car’s parked at the main entrance. Security asked what he wanted. He said he’d wait until you come out.”
I rubbed my temples. “Take the Basement Garage.”
“Got it.”
The elevator opened on the lower level. My car sat in the corner.
I was reaching for the door when a shadow moved out from behind a pillar.
“Vivian.”
Ethan’s voice came out rough.
His suit jacket was slung over one arm. His tie was loose.
He must’ve shifted and snuck in. That violated the
treaty between werewolves and humans–in a crowded
city, transforming came with steep fines. Maybe even jail time.
“You can reach me through my assistant.”
He stepped closer. “I wanted to say it to your face.”
“Say what?”
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at him.
His eyes were red–rimmed.
“I sat in that Conference Room for thirty minutes today, and all I could think about was the past. You sitting next to me. Me ignoring you. You trying to show me things. Me brushing you off like it was all beneath me.”
A pause.
“I was a total asshole.”
I smiled. “I don’t care. You just didn’t like me. You don’t have to apologize for that.”
“And as for staying with me when you didn’t even
like me? That was my own stupid gamble.”
“V.” He said it again, softly. “Back then… did you really love me?”
His hand pressed against my car door. Blocking me in.
I let out a small laugh, like I was remembering a different time. “We were fated mates. The pull was instinctual. Of course I loved you.”
His breath caught. Like he’d just been handed
something precious. “And now-”
“That was ten years ago.”
“What’s the difference between ten years ago and now?”
“Everything.” I met his eyes. “Ten years ago, you were the Pack Heir. The big man on campus. I thought you were the brightest person in my world. Now? I’ve seen too much. Met too many people. And I realized you’re
just… ordinary.”