Married To The Billionaire Alpha King-Chapter 32 - go shopping

32

~Elara’s POV

I walked back into my office with this strange heaviness in my chest, like someone had placed a stone there when I wasn’t looking. I shut the door gently and stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle around me. The room felt too bright, too quiet... too aware of me somehow.

I dropped my small lunch pack on the desk and sat down slowly, pushing my chair back until my legs stretched out a little under the table. My fingers brushed over the pack again, but I didn’t even bother opening it. My stomach twisted each time I thought about the cafeteria, how the whispers rose the moment I stepped in, how every pair of eyes turned to me as I walked in wearing a neon sign that said Hey, look at me, the villain of the week.

And all that... just because Lisa lost her job.

I dragged my hands over my face and let out a small sigh. "People are actually wild," I muttered softly.

Lisa was rude to Darlon. That was literally the entire story. But somehow it became my fault. The food sat there, untouched, and honestly, the sight of it made me tired. I leaned forward a little, using my arms as a pillow, and closed my eyes. I knew I shouldn’t sleep during work hours. The rumor mill was already slicing me with knives... leaving early would only fuel it.

Still... my eyelids were heavy. My mind was loud. And the chair was softer than it looked. I drifted before I could convince myself not to.

A sharp tapping sound jerked me awake.

I blinked a few times, disoriented, then lifted my head slowly. My neck ached from the weird angle I slept in, and the imprint of my sleeve was on my cheek.

Someone cleared his throat.

I looked up fully, and froze a bit when I saw him.

Darlon stood across my desk, one hand in his pocket, the other resting lightly on the table. He wasn’t smiling, but the corner of his lips twitched.

"You slept off," he said. His voice was calm, but his eyes dragged over my face like he wanted to note every detail, including the sleep lines I probably had.

I shot up from my chair so fast I nearly tripped. "I...sorry....I didn’t realize when..."

"It’s closing hours," he cut in gently. "You can pack up."

"Oh... right," I muttered as I scrambled for my bag. My movements were clumsy from the sleep fog, but I tried to act normal. "I’ll just... pack this. And uh... head home."

He nodded once.

I hesitated for a second before saying, "We’ll... um... meet at home?"

The words sounded awkward, and I mentally winced. My mouth did that thing where it never listened to my brain.

"Yes," he replied.

I let out a very small sigh. "Yeah... I have something I want to discuss. I’ll talk about it when we get home."

His eyes softened just a bit. "Alright."

I slung my bag over my arm and walked out.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a crowd inside. Too many faces. Too many emotions. Too many eyes snapped straight to me.

Their expressions shifted instantly, some tense, some annoyed, some openly hostile. Like my presence ruined their day.

I stepped back before the doors could close. "You all go first," I said lightly, forcing a smile.

"I need to stretch my legs anyway," I muttered to myself.

Nobody argued. Of course, they didn’t. People rarely argued when their eyes were already slicing through you like tiny knives.

I stepped toward the stairwell door, clutching my bag to my chest. My fingers trembled a little, and before going in, I took out my phone with a small sigh.

I dialed Fridolf.

He picked up the first ring, his voice crisp and steady. "Your Majesty?"

"Please wait for me where you dropped me this morning," I said quietly. "I... I’ll be down in a few minutes."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I’m already there."

I hung up, pushed the door open, and stepped into the stairwell.

The air inside was warm and stale, holding that faint scent of dust and old cement. My footsteps echoed behind me, too loud, too sharp, following me like ghosts. As I began my descent, the weight of the day pressed against my back, heavier than my bag.

A few steps in, my breathing already felt uneven. Halfway down, my lungs were working like I had run from danger instead of walking down stairs. My hand found the railing, gripping it for balance.

My legs started to tremble. My vision blurred slightly.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

By the time I reached the first floor, I felt like collapsing. My thighs burned. My chest rose and fell quickly. My palm slid against the cool wall as I steadied myself.

"That was the worst decision I made today," I whispered, my voice thin and tired.

I pushed the glass door open and stepped into warm evening light. Everything outside glowed gold, soft and almost unreal after the harsh lighting inside, as I walked to where the car was.

And there, exactly where he dropped me that morning, stood Fridolf.

The moment our eyes met, he straightened even more and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty," he greeted softly as he opened the car door for me.

I mustered a tired smile. "Thank you, Fridolf."

I slid into the seat, and the cushion welcomed me like it had been waiting all day. The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a long, shaky breath and rested my head back. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

When the mansion gates opened, and we drove in, the guards bowed. The maids rushed forward.

"Welcome, Your Majesty," they chorused.

One of the maids hurried to take my bag.

"Your Majesty, your food is ready. It has been set in the dining room. The Alpha asked that you eat together tonight."

"He is back?"

"Yes, your majesty,"

"That was fast," I muttered.

I went upstairs, peeled off my office clothes, and changed into something soft.

Darlon was already seated, facing the table like a man deep in thought. The warm yellow lights from the chandelier washed over him, bringing out his handsome face. He looked up when he heard my steps.

"Good evening," I said softly.

"Come sit," he replied. "Let’s eat."

I settled into the chair beside him, the distance between us smaller. The aroma of the food drifted up, warm and comforting, and my stomach growled loud enough to embarrass me.

He pretended not to hear. I appreciated that.

"How was your first day?" he asked as he lifted his cutlery.

I nodded. "It was fine."

A lie. It was chaos.

He ate slowly, then looked at me again. "You said you wanted to discuss something?"

I swallowed, clearing my throat. "Yes. I wanted to ask if you could... forgive Lisa. Maybe bring her back."

His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Why are you asking for her?"

"I just... think I need someone who understands the office system. Someone who can guide me." I kept my tone steady, even though I wasn’t sure he believed the excuse.

He set his cutlery down and looked at me fully. "Elara, I already made my decision. And I don’t go back on decisions. Forget Lisa."

The firmness in his voice told me the conversation was over. I nodded quietly and focused on my food.

And then, right when I took a sip of water, he asked, "Are you free tomorrow? We could go shopping."

I almost choked.

"Shopping?" I sputtered, wiping my lips. "Like... you and me?"

"Yes," he replied, completely calm. "Unless you don’t want to."