Moonveil’s New Queen Chapter 03
I froze. I hadn’t expected her to lay hands on anyone.
I shoved her back. “That’s enough. You don’t get to hit people.”
Stella sneered. Then she raised her hand and slapped me, hard.
“I’ll hit her and I’ll hit you. Now get out. Right now.”
“Or I’ll make you regret it.”
The HR door flew open. People had heard the commotion.
Vivian Reed, the HR Manager, stepped out first. She
recognized me instantly–the new CEO starting today.
All the color drained from her face. She yelled at Stella.
“Stella! What have you done?”
Stella narrowed her eyes, turning on Vivian with cold
disdain. “Vivian. Is HR even trying anymore?”
“You’re hiring interns this unqualified?”
She pointed at me, voice dripping with venom.
“Let me tell you something. Because she rode the C–Suite
Private Elevator, I’ll schedule a full professional deep sanitization of the car.”
“The $5,000 service fee will be charged directly to HR’s
operating budget for allowing unauthorized personnel access to restricted C–Suite space.”
I laughed. “Five thousand for one elevator ride? That’s extortion.”
“And do you have any idea what you just did? That’s workplace violence. Assault.”
“I will be pursuing legal action.”
Stella blinked, then threw her head back and laughed. “Pursue me? You?”
“Let me tell you how it works around here. The Alpha makes every call.”
“With him on my side, what are you going to do?”
She turned back to Vivian, sharp and annoyed. “Vivian.
Revoke her internship. Effective immediately.”
“I don’t want to see her in this building after today.”
“Or I’ll take it up with the Alpha when his meeting’s over.
And you’ll be next.”
Vivian snapped out of it. She ignored Stella completely and rushed to steady me.
Before she could ask if I was okay, Stella yanked her away.
“Didn’t you hear me? Why are you helping an intern?”
She looked me up and down. “Wait. Is she your
connection? Some nepo hire?”
“That explains the attitude. No wonder she dares ignore
me.”
The other employees murmured, turning on Vivian.
“Vivian, that’s really not cool.”
“We’ve worked together for years. You wouldn’t get my
son a job, but you sneak your own people in?”
“We only call you Vivian out of respect for your seniority.
How could you?”
“Right? Good thing Stella caught on. Saw right through
your little nepo intern.”
“That slap earlier? Chef’s kiss.”
“What?” Vivian went pale. She stared at the red mark blooming on my cheek.
Her eyes went wide. “Are you all insane? You hit her?”
“Do you have any idea who she-”
I put my hand on hers and shook my head, quiet.
I didn’t want to reveal myself yet.
I wanted to see just how far Stella’s little reign of terror
went. And it was the perfect chance to sort out who stayed and who went.
Vivian read the look. She bit her lip and fell silent.
Stella crossed her arms, smug. “Who is she? Your sister?
Your daughter?”
“I don’t care who. Handle it. Now.”
The boardroom doors at the end of the hallway swung open.
Nathan’s meeting was over.
Over the crowd, I saw him.