Even Alphas Bow to Her Chapter 03
Zoe went quiet.
After a moment, she asked softly, “So how have you
been these past few years-”
“Good. Work keeps me busy.”
“Lily said you started some small online store
overseas-
I didn’t bother explaining.
“Zoe, was there anything else? I’m at the office.”
She got the hint.
“Oh, right. We should grab coffee sometime? Lily’s
been saying she really wants to-
“Can’t. Busy lately.”
I hung up.
Pulled into the Basement Garage of our European office.
Killed the engine.
She cried at the airport. She left the Pack because of a
broken heart. She’s still not over it.
That narrative–how many people had Lily fed it to?
How many dinner tables had she sat at, eyes all red and pitiful, rewriting six years of my life as one big escape?
My phone buzzed.
The Family Group Chat.
Lily: [Sis is back in town and she won’t even see me. Is
she still mad at me…]
Margaret: [You know how your sister is. Ignore her. If she doesn’t want to help with Ethan’s thing, fine. It’s
not like she can do much anyway.]
Robert: [Drop it. Today’s about Ethan.]
Right. Right.
I’m the petty one. The grudge–holder. The spinster sister.
She’s the sweet, wounded little girl.
The elevator doors opened. Charlotte was waiting in the hallway.
“Vivian, morning. The investment team added a few
more docs to the Apex Technologies preliminary
review. Want them now?”
“Bring them in.”
Charlotte had been with me for years. She knew some of my history. “Vivian, are you going to help him?”
I walked into my office.
“By the book. Who he is doesn’t matter. His project
either sells itself or it doesn’t.”
In business, it’s all about the numbers. Feelings don’t
factor.
[Vivian, you there?]
7:23 AM.
Ethan’s WhatsApp popped up on my phone.
Six years. First message he’d ever sent me.
Not asking how I was doing.
Asking for a favor.
“I’ve got a meeting at 9:30 with Summit Capital.
You’ve been overseas for years–do you know anyone
there? Can you get me a read on their Managing Director?”
I stared at the screen.
He was desperate. He didn’t think he could sell himself.
Ten seconds later, another one.
“Lily said you used to work in investment banking? So
you know the space. Please ask around. This meeting
means everything to me.”
Investment banking.
That’s what Lily told him I did.
Unbelievable. One minute I’m running a tiny online
store. Next I’m in IB. What’s next–did she tell him I
was homeless too?
And Ethan–we were mates once. We spent countless
nights together. And he had no clue what I actually did
for a living.
The “investor” was my company. The “Managing Director” was me.
He had no idea.
No one had ever told him.
Just like no one had ever cared enough to ask.
I didn’t reply.
Another one popped up.
[Vivian? You still asleep? Did you see my messages?]
Then:
[Look, I know you’re probably still hung up on what
happened between us. I was young. I said things I
shouldn’t have. I hurt you in front of everyone. But
that’s in the past. Do me this one favor. For Lily’s sake.]
Hung up on what happened.
He thought I wasn’t answering because I was still bitter about him marrying Lily. sake.]
Hung up on what happened.
He thought I wasn’t answering because I was still bitter about him marrying Lily.
Not because I had forty–plus emails waiting for me before 8 AM.
He thought my world still revolved around him.
I blocked him.