I watch as her face changes from surprise to realisation to devastation. Her heart is thumping wildly as she stares at me, her gorgeous violet eyes wide.
She didn’t know, just as I presumed, and I wish I had somehow found a way to let her know that Valerie needed her. Well, no surprise there, fucking up is my forte and I keep doing that.
She used to be the voice of logic and reason in my life, and why my father truly approved of her. Although he never liked her father, he had always held Zaia in high regard. That is a relationship that is still not the way it used to be before I divorced her.
Looking at her, I know that she deserves that position as CEO. I won’t ever say it, but I’m proud of her.
“I… How?” she asks softly. “We never caught the attacker. It’s a long story and… I shouldn’t be seen here with you. Can we meet somewhere else, maybe tomorrow?” I ask, swallowing as I try not to look at her tempting, glossy lips.
“Meet? You want to meet now? No. Tell me what happened to Valerie. I need to meet her. I need to, I’m an awful friend,” she whispers the end part as she turns her head away.
“No. I should have tried harder to get the message through to you. Look, here’s Jai’s number. He moved to Valerie’s mother’s original pack with the Scotts’ after it happened. Call him, and he’ll tell you the rest of the details and give you the full address,” I say, taking out my own business. card and adding Jai’s number to the bottom. I can’t risk being seen with her, just in case.
She reaches for the card, her fingertips brushing my finger as she takes it. There’s no mate bond, but the tingles of her touch rush through me, strong. My eyes flicker silver for a second before she turns away from me.
“Thank you,” she says, turning her back to me and reaching for the door handle. I hate that she has to leave. Why can’t this moment last longer?
“Zaia,”
She pauses but doesn’t turn back to me, waiting for me to speak. “How are my pups?” I ask quietly. Her heart thuds, but instead of replying, she pulls open the door and steps out.
My own heart squeezes but I don’t fight it. I can’t risk us being seen together. Even if I’m getting closer to learning who they are, I can’t ruin it all when I’ve come so far…
a little longer, Zaia… Then I’ll come
“Zaia?”
are you?” Zaia asks, her voice sounding far warmer than it was when she spoke to me. “It has been! Wow… babe, you look… gorgeous. I see you’re doing well. Not what we hear.” Cara
stay hidden. Dad had asked me to bring her to the meeting, but right
colourful, but I’m happy. Truly. How are you?” Zaia asks her, not missing a beat and clearly not
a dinner date…” Cara trails off and I narrow my eyes. No part of this was a date, and
I exhale slowly, hearing the sound of heels. ” Oh, Zaia! You haven’t seen Sebastian, have you?” Cara asks, and I clench
“No.” Zaia’s reply comes.
didn’t mean to be insensitive.” Cara apologises. “I’ve just been looking for him. He left the table a
sorry.” Cara mumbles. I
I’ve moved on.” Zaia’s words sting but
“Congratulations.”
Send Annalise
mutter as she
the hall, returning to our private room and walking over to our table where the client is waiting with his
apologise for the delay. Now where were we…” I say as I
pissed off about coming here, I’m now relieved that I did. And no matter how hard I try, I’m unable to remove her image from my mind. My little
sign… meeting her again after all these
is sealed. We part ways and I’m ready to head home and let Jai
after the break!” Cara says, about to hold on to my
Alpha, nothing more,” I say quietly. She blushes, clearly humiliated, and nods, tucking a
saw Zaia earlier…” she mutters, fiddling with her sleeve. “I don’t really care,” I reply coldly, ending the conversation
of the hotel. It’s mainly empty, considering the time, though it’s understandable. The gushing sound
hands me my car keys and we get in and I put the
car has air conditioning when Zaia’s voice reaches me. “Atticus!
lawn. Her voice is full of surprise and amusement.
I didn’t expect Atticus to still be
see is not something I was expecting. Atticus is down on one knee in front of her, in a position that
step… but I want to
on me and I turn my gaze ahead, sliding
So she’s moved on….
although Cara tries to make small talk, I’m not interested. I drop her off at home before I drive to the mansion
of Zaia looking down at Atticus fucking replaying in my mind. My
up at her… I clench the steering wheel, my eyes flashing, and I get out.
the mansion and step inside, loosening my tie and head up the stairs only for
“Sebastian!”
She’s awake…
“Hmm?”
“Come here!”
on the sofa. Mom has a blanket over her, her head resting on Dad’s chest as he drinks his glass
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FeT45M6EV+U6f7TGme6HDFfhbhaFM4So+lH5XQG2+S6YSCjxNVgXlqOYidiE9dhSOHcd5JPSP6phk6klSt4qNsIcCV8RNNAJWXdH5oO9AwZN7DzcUKC0S2UvL276Xo/PwNsC8f3ZPQqtFblTvw+0lyD4m/rahP6O1cQbODjGQkWbGu/S652YhWY5/D0iQPPkHiSNfZ8Pq9V/WTQ6xaFg66Ez9AlUc87THmJtWoOKpo/5R1v4wJZLxR3JQkJZmA3+SgF7F3HMK/z7iTHHIjZiMdeADYNhNt4V651zU50NaLwuFss32Cu7O+M4IJabOfD/zptpscp6XNaKFRDbih4Srrh2Mk0Zjsy7fZCYMW0QGE6zF+W0xXp1ljU8zzJiOf6HcdmnuXfJJ2aVXsYEves1QMtQOV9fpmJaoFYs4dH6IRfwVN5mrJBLFw7FWwAkvQ/7ATDEm1ZVafVE0PDF9yKB7StlAfThN1QQt569X0eRiZVeYB+75mMB9cq6R7DHQZt3fgJY9jPhJY063g4dZASa6P7bJ8U6WQj6e2OIUdLs3C2A3TD0sa/Mak6mYddMSKidc+o9uvngVAyWaXMOjqKbt5vaAww+NrVpfHrjSnQjXk5GpM7kDXMU5iZ7rXWOyA6EDMktBIWD82x9yPPdiC0kKN+BLMjo3hOlxtj9APVl5Kj8J9sXILCIcGTwMU1bvkBIjhLn4hXvO8WtITqQi2jl3jGWW/kmLdyPuD5j2kgxeN3RqK8PJAMNn3vY/jYtVJTyMfpRzyRN3kYCFx6orkCjwwuicFd2JH2NVFbZ+bpi0mWtpAF6zfZ9Rs6HepgqNxFEEXkeRYwzBg3MNsN82q+LbysTevGe8QV/f8FRS7yAs0TWVokV+WML40uG0+JaMerRjNC0q9rB5QLoKjk3k5mI4CRblapIK+aGxVu6yMBAhNSbXU9Dmr2Rd/LgKxXsDdqTxTLmP4oZ00RBeKpxTfWUvuTn4wVKQO4=
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