Kane

I could only hope her heart didn’t ache at the memory of that day. It should have been an unforgettable day, but it turned into a disaster.

"He’s my pride," my mother boasted, and Zara’s gaze darted to me. The mocking smirk returned to my mother.

"I think you’re a wonderful mother. Only a Luna could raise a man of such ability."

I knew Zara was being sarcastic, but my mother didn’t understand because she didn’t know the truth. My hands froze, and I picked up my coffee to take a sip. Zara was about to make a snide remark, and I couldn’t help but listen silently.

Mom, blushing, looked down at her toast and said, "I know, dear. I know."

She laughed, and her sarcastic gaze fell on me again. I had to keep my expression neutral.

"He’s charming and caring, and he certainly knows how to make others happy. You’ve raised him so well." A false smile appeared on Zara’s plump lips, and I couldn’t do anything but watch silently, barely containing my guilt and looking away.

Mom smiled at her, then turned to me. She reached out to touch mine.

"Kane, your mate is crazy about you. I wonder when you’re going to think about a marriage ceremony."

Mom was testing the waters, and Zara was extremely sarcastic, and at rare moments, I was at a loss for words.

***

Zara

I praised Alpha’s mother, but my praise was empty. On the contrary, it was mocking. But Luna was too absorbed in the vain glitter of flattery to catch the hints.

Alpha, on the other hand, looked a little awkward. Now and then, he looked away and took large sips of coffee.

Yes! He was smart enough to understand what I was hinting at, but unfortunately for him, he couldn’t say anything, especially in front of his mother.

The sweet, humiliating taste of his humiliation was pleasant on my tongue, and I savored this small victory until it was time to go to the office.

"Try to come early and take me shopping. We can have dinner at a restaurant," Luna suggested, wiping her mouth immaculately with a napkin.

Alpha kissed her lightly on the cheek and said, "Of course! Mom."

I said goodbye to her and headed to the car. Olfi held the door for me while I got in and fastened my seatbelt.

I’m never going to sit on that Yeti’s lap again. Who would have thought he could turn my heart into a lollipop, too?

Alpha came up to me from the other side, and soon we were on our way.

"Your tone is quite flattering," Alpha remarked evasively as soon as the car started moving. I pretended not to understand and looked him straight in the eye.

"I’m not sure what you’re talking about." His iceberg-melting gaze remained fixed on me, but I didn’t care; I stared back calmly.

He snorted before turning away. After that, we stopped talking, and we went our separate ways to different offices, eventually reaching the underground parking garage.

The time spent in the sales department was enjoyable. Two employees who had been on vacation had returned, and the office was now in full swing: jokes were flying everywhere, and laughter was constantly blazing. I was genuinely enjoying myself, and on rare occasions, I completely forgot about Alpha.

"Zara, Romance or fantasy?" Chan asked during a tea break, and everyone waited for my answer.

"Both! I’d say romance. The best genre." I shrugged, and smiles spread across my colleagues’ faces. The door opened, and a tall woman with strawberry-red hair and a very confident gait entered.

Her gaze slid from one employee to the next, finally landing on me.

"Miss Zara." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes?" A wrinkle appeared on my forehead. I didn’t know this woman.

"I’m Nasia Hughes. Personal Assistant to the CEO. Can I talk to you alone?" She gave me a worried look.

Oh! It dawned on me. He hired this person to replace me. The girl looked confident and knew how to act, but who was this Mr. CEO?

’Why was she calling him that?’ Nova rolled her eyes.

Chan stared at her, but I smiled.

"Of course! We can talk outside." I wondered what brought her here.

Was this some stupid message from Kane? I swear, if he’d sent me some ridiculous task, I would have immediately said ’no,’ because screw it.

As soon as we stepped outside and the door closed, some of the confidence vanished from her face, replaced by panic as she looked at me desperately.

"Miss Zara, can we be frank? I really desperately need to, so please keep this conversation between us." If she hadn’t acted professionally, I’m sure the poor girl would have grabbed my arm.

Too bad, I felt sorry for her. Working under Alpha was no joke. He could be such a manipulative bastard sometimes.

"Of course! How can I help you, Ms. Hughes?" I asked calmly, leaning against the wall.

She seemed hesitant, a slow breath escaping her lips when she finally spoke. "So, I’ve done my research, and I know you were his secretary before me. So, how did you cope with him? How did you survive? Please, any advice would be a lifesaver."

There was a hint of desperation in her words, and her eyes seemed almost moist. Oh! Alpha, you’re a walking, talking freezer. Pity this girl.

"Ah! Is he giving you a lot of trouble?" I asked, a hint of pity in my voice. She nodded her head so vigorously that I thought she was about to fall over and roll over.

"Yes! Every day, he makes me bring him coffee ten times in a row. He always returns it under some excuse, and he doesn’t even drink it. I swear." She sobbed, almost on the verge of tears.

"He deliberately finds fault with everything I do and looks at me with such hostility, as if I’m there to steal something from him. I swear, I just want to do my job." She lowered her head and shook it slowly.

"I’ve worked with several other CEOs; they always appreciated my professionalism and the way I did my job, but Mr. CEO never appreciates anything. How... how did you please him? Please help me."

I put my hand on her shoulder. The poor girl was already tired of him after just three days.

"Just stop reacting so violently and stand your ground from time to time if you think you’re right, and he’s being unreasonable. Trust me, he appreciates it when someone refuses to give up so easily. So okay."

"Find a middle ground with him. But remember, you won’t be able to please him. If you think he’ll appreciate you, then this job isn’t for you," I told her the truth, trying to be as reassuring as I could.

Her blush returned, and she smiled gratefully at me. "Thank you, I’ll take your advice into account." She relaxed and asked, "Why did you quit that job?"

Something had struck a chord in me, and I wanted to blurt out the truth, but I suppressed all those emotions and smiled. "Our relationship was interfering with my work, so I needed a place where I could give my all."

Realizing what I’d said, her face brightened. "Oh! That’s why. I thought he hated me. He just misses you in this position. No wonder he’s making my job difficult. I’ll keep that in mind for the future."

I held back her smile. "Glad I could help."

Well, there you have it, fodder for gossip. I wonder if she’ll share this news with anyone and spread it further?

I didn’t care, but it could be a problem for Alpha.

A CEO Alpha who can’t control his temper.

Good luck with that.