Alpha Kane

A numbness washed over me, followed by emptiness after I let her go. The pain in my heart grew into a heartbreaking, excruciating ache that I had to live with.

I asked Kaysir to check on her and bring her food, but she refused to accept anything from him, knowing I must have sent it to her.

After talking with Chan and Miranda, I discussed her transfer to the sales department. They didn’t ask me why, and everything was arranged. Knowing Chan, he would make her comfortable, and she wouldn’t be alone among them.

"Put away all of Zara’s things and give the box to Kaysir. He’ll take it to her home," I commanded before Chan and Miranda left, nodding gravely at me.

Kaysir called me. "Sir, I brought Luna, but she didn’t accept my breakfast."

This was expected, and I was afraid she’d stop eating. "Leave this to me. Don’t forget to take her back to my pack house as soon as she’s finished here," I commanded before ending the call.

Standing up, I turned to the window and stared at the snow-covered buildings. Most of the snow had melted, but a few flakes remained.

Miranda asked permission to enter while I stood by the window. Turning my head, I saw she had entered with another girl. I asked her to find me another secretary, now that Zara had vacated the position.

I watched the confident girl. Her light red hair was half-up in an elegant updo, and her blouse seemed a little tighter than it should have been. But she smiled professionally and stood confidently.

"Sir! This is Nasia Hughes. She’s here for an interview for the secretary position," Miranda introduced herself, her lips pursed. I sensed her displeasure at this.

"Thank you, Miranda. I’ll handle the rest." She cast a dark glance at the newcomer and left without a word.

As soon as the door closed, I saw the newcomer standing there, clutching a folder in her hand, and she gave me an irritating smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling, it’s a great honor..." she began cheerfully, and I immediately disliked her false tone.

"Your resume," I demanded coldly, not returning her greeting. The smile faded slightly, but she quickly composed herself.

"Of course, Mr. Sterling." She quickly handed me the folder.

"That’s it, Mr. CEO, in case you get hired. Not ’sir’ or ’Mr. Sterling.’" For some reason, I didn’t want her to call my name. She tensed slightly, but nodded quickly.

I opened her folder and studied her resume. She had worked with several other CEOs, and her qualifications were also impressive. Still, I hated her presence, standing where I was used to seeing Zara. No one could fill that void.

Closing the folder, I placed it on the table and slid it back toward her.

"Bring me black coffee and a fresh mango. It should have a red and yellow tint. You have half an hour." I calmly sat down in the chair and turned to face her, resting my chin on my fist. I watched her shift uncomfortably, a blush crossing her worried face.

It was winter, and there were no mangoes in the market. And not the kind I said only grew on my lands.

"...Uh, what kind of coffee..."

I didn’t let her finish. "Sort it out, Ms. Hughes. You’re free to go," I said coldly, without any emotion in my voice.

Alien from Neptune. Not as he loved me. Calling Zara. I was definitely becoming like that.

Nasiya left with a little less confidence than she had when she entered, and I didn’t care. My emotions were suppressed, and the smile that had become rare had disappeared completely.

The anxiety I’d felt when I was alone intensified. I asked Chan for the sales data, so I could use it as an excuse to visit her. Just to see how she was doing in her new surroundings.

Before I knew it, my feet carried me to the sales department. I walked in, and Chan immediately noticed me, rushing toward me.

"How is she doing?" I asked without hesitation.

"She’s a professional and has already started working with the data."

I craned my neck, but the partitions hid it.

"Where is she?" I asked quietly, and Chan pointed to one of the booths. Everyone stood up, seeing me approaching. My greedy eyes settled on her, sitting calmly in her chair, typing on the keyboard. A war of emotions raged within me, but I had to suppress every single one.

My arms ached from the strain of trying to keep them pinned to my sides, lest I lunge at her and grab her. Don’t drag her away and apologize for being a bitch.

Her gaze settled on me before I could even say anything. She sensed my approach. Her soft features hardened at the sight of me, but her beauty couldn’t be eclipsed, even when she glared at me with murderous eyes.

That day, she chose black and red. Toughening my tone, I spoke, infusing my voice with authority: "I need the sales figures on my desk by the end of the day."

And then she straightened her head and gave me the phoniest smile I’d ever seen.

It was a clear message: "Screw you, CEO Alpha Kane Sterling, you can’t break me."

"Of course... sir," she replied in a hollow, artificial tone.

***

Zara

Alpha lingered, his face flickering with distant emotions I didn’t want to decipher.

I pressed my lips together and gracefully placed my hands on my small desk, wondering if he needed anything else or if he’d simply come to gloat over my misery.

I looked at him with a barely perceptible detachment, blinking at the right moments so he wouldn’t think I was staring.

"Fine," he muttered a monosyllable, as if his mouth would ache incessantly if he spoke again, and he turned abruptly and left.

Nova’s lying eyes stared at him, though she didn’t need them to.