Zara

’We both chose the color mourning. Well, I was just recovering from a broken heart. He, on the other hand, was constantly in mourning for being such a cold bastard.’ I told Nova.

He whispered something inaudible in Chan’s ear, causing him to nod slightly. Alpha walked through the door, and it closed behind him.

The pain in my heart intensified, but I suppressed it. I was tired of enduring the pain. Everyone returned to work, and I began adding up the numbers he’d requested.

Lunchtime arrived, and Mardis and Harnya went downstairs to eat in the cafeteria. Chan was busy placing an order over the phone. I was just finishing my work when the door opened, and Miranda walked in. Her worried eyes instantly landed on me as she rushed to my desk.

"There you are."

I stood up to greet her, and she gave me a tight hug. Chan approached us with a worried expression.

Miranda asked worriedly, "Are you okay? What happened?" Miranda stepped back and put her arm around my shoulders. They both looked at me with deep sympathy.

"Come on, guys. Don’t look at me like that. I already feel pathetic." I sighed heavily and leaned on the edge of the table.

"Did you fight?" Chan asked with unwavering seriousness.

I lowered my head and closed my eyes for a second. What was I supposed to tell them? After all, he was their boss, and I didn’t even know half the truth, other than how he’d betrayed my trust.

"We just had a huge fight, and I refused to work as his secretary. Since I’m still under contract, he doesn’t want to let me go, so I’m here." I crossed my arms and explained.

"Oh! I’m so sorry." Miranda’s face darkened, and Chan snorted, shaking his head.

"Mr. Sterling is looking out for you, Zara. I hope you two can work this out." Then Chan gave me an encouraging smile. "You have such amazing chemistry, and you absolutely dazzled on the runway. Did you read the articles?"

Nodding slightly, I tried to contain the growing pain in my heart. The moments I spent with him would haunt me.

"Sorry to break the bad news, but he hired a new secretary and almost brought her to tears on her first day," Miranda said, sitting down on the nearest chair and sinking into it.

’This Alpha and his theatrics.’ Nova rolled her eyes.

"What did he do?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

Miranda gave a slightly sly smile and said, "He told her to bring him a mango. Fresh mangoes, for heaven’s sake, in winter, and red and yellow ones at that."

’Some stores had canned fruit and even fresh ones from other seasons, but mangoes were rare, especially red ones.’ Nova amused.

"Oh! My God. Did she find it?" Chan asked, covering his mouth with his hand.

"No, she returned an hour late with a can of canned mango slices, and the CEO gave her a long, long lecture about how incompetent she was. Her inability to complete even the simplest task brought tears to her eyes. I had to console her," Miranda explained, shaking her head.

This incident reminded me of my first day here, and a bitter smile appeared on my lips. If only I’d known what a manipulator he was, I never would have chosen to work for him. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Poor girl. He still hired her?" Chan asked.

"Yes. I’m tasked with mentoring her and teaching her time management."

’How typical of him. The poor girl will suffer.’ Nova was worried for the human.

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of food. An assistant was carrying several white boxes. Chan told him to place them all on my desk.

"Let’s gossip over lunch. I’m so hungry." Chan rubbed his hands, his eyes shining with delight at the sight of the food.

I tried to move away so they could eat in peace.

"Go wash your hands, let’s eat." Chan glanced at me, picking up his folk.

I’d never been one to turn down food; it usually became my comfort when I was stressed or depressed, but after the fight with Alpha, eating became impossible. It felt like my stomach was filled with stones.

"I’m not hungry." I tried to move away.

"Come on, Zara. If you don’t eat, then neither will we. The three of us always ate together," Chan pouted like a child, his lower lip trembling.

"That’s right, we eat together, or none of us eat." I realized Alpha must have set this up after I refused to take food from Kaysir.

’But why?’ Nova asked.

’Why did he care whether I ate or not?’ I hated him.

What kind of feigned concern was this for a woman he considered beneath him because she was a demon queen?

’The irony was delicious.’ Nova amused.

"Zara, let’s go," Chan asked again, and I didn’t have the heart to refuse. They were so kind and considerate to me.

Giving up, I went to the shower and washed up. Chan handed me a box of fried rice and chicken strips. The aroma should have awakened my hunger, as it had been about 36 hours since I’d eaten anything solid, but I still wasn’t hungry.

I forced myself to eat a little to keep from passing out, but the food tasted like sand. Congratulations! Alpha, you’ve even made me lose my appetite.

"I hope you’re happy," I thought to myself.

After finishing work, I handed the data file to Chan. Let him take it to that icy bastard who has no feelings for anyone. I didn’t care.

Keysir was waiting for me outside the sales office, ready to escort me down.

"We need to go to pack house," he apologized. I knew he understood some of the tension between us.

My heart sank at the thought of living in his house. Until the day before yesterday, I’d been incredibly happy to return to him; now the thought gave me a headache.

"I know," I said quietly and began to descend the stairs. Keysir followed silently. He led me to Alpha’s car, and I realized this would stay with me forever.

Not because he cared about me, but because he cared about his own damned impeccable reputation.

Ah! Look how thoughtful Alpha Kane Sterling is. He gave his car to his Luna.