Married To The Billionaire Alpha King-Chapter 64 - I won’t let you down

64

~Elara’s POV

I woke up early, the first rays of sunlight slipping through the curtains, painting the room in gold. My body felt lighter than it had in weeks, and for the first time in a long while, I felt... happy. My eyes fell on Darlon, still asleep beside me, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I pressed my hands together, quietly whispering a prayer, asking the Moon Goddess to protect him, to keep him safe. I felt a strange warmth in my chest, like the prayer had been heard.

"Darlon," I murmured, nudging him gently.

His eyes fluttered open, and he gave me that lazy smile I’d always loved. "Morning, beautiful. Are you feeling better?"

I nodded, brushing my hair from my face. "Much better... thanks to you."

He stretched and kissed my forehead. "Good. Let’s get ready. We have work to do."

We went through our morning routine together. The bath was quiet but comfortable, with the scent of lavender filling the room. We dressed neatly, him in his usual tailored suit, me in the crisp, professional attire that felt foreign yet empowering. Breakfast was simple, but we took our time, stealing glances and soft touches. Then he drove me to Blueberries Company, the city passing by in a blur outside the car window.

When we arrived, Darlon held my hand as we entered the boardroom. All eyes turned to me. He stepped back slightly and introduced me clearly, deliberately: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Elara. From today onward, she is the CEO and owner of Blueberries Company."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. From junior staff, someone who had poured her soul into the company quietly, to sitting at the head of the table, it all felt unreal. I could hear whispers and murmurs, but I kept my eyes on him as he gave me a small, reassuring nod.

After the introductions, he leaned close and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. "I need to get to the office, too. Go on, show them what you can do."

I watched him leave, the door closing behind him, and then I turned fully to the board. After addressing them, I went to my office... my chair... it all still felt like a dream. I spun slowly, taking it all in, imagining the looks on the employees’ faces. I was sure they had a lot to say, but I decided I wouldn’t let their murmurs distract me. This was my moment.

The door opened abruptly, and I froze. Alpha Rowan and Luna Elena stepped in, their expressions tight, eyes full of anger. My heart skipped.

"How does it feel," Alpha Rowan said, his voice sharp, "to take the generational company from us?"

I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. "Why are you here in my office?" I asked calmly, though my claws itched at the sharpness in their tone.

They scoffed. "We came to make a point. We want you to talk to Alpha Darlon. Release Lira from police custody."

I paused, feeling the tension coil in the room like a live wire. My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest. I glanced at them, unsure of what to say first. "And why do you think I would..."

Alpha Rowan interrupted, voice low but insistent. "Because she has done nothing wrong."

I clenched my fists under my desk. Lira... the girl causing all this trouble... and now they’re demanding my intervention. My eyes flicked to my hands, then back to their faces, and I realized this would be the first real test of my authority as CEO.

I took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of power running through me, steadying my nerves. "Fine," I said slowly, my voice firm, resonant. "I will speak to Darlon. But I can’t promise you anything yet,"

They nodded stiffly, though their expressions softened just slightly. I could feel their hesitation, their frustration, but I refused to back down.

They lingered for a moment, their eyes flicking between me and the chair at the head of the table. They looked like they wanted to say more, but neither dared. Finally, Alpha Rowan let out a long, restrained sigh and muttered, "We’ll leave... for now."

I kept my expression neutral, leaning back slightly, hands resting on the polished wood of my desk. "Yes," I said evenly.

Luna Elena’s lips pressed into a thin line. She turned on her heel, and her husband followed her, his shoulders tight, his jaw set. They left with hesitant, heavy steps, but I could feel their resentment lingering like a shadow in the room.

I exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension coiling in my chest. My hands shook slightly, adrenaline still buzzing in my veins. This was the reality of power, of being at the top. And even though it felt strange, even a little terrifying, it also felt right. I was no longer the girl who had watched from the sidelines. I was the one in control.

Just as I was straightening the papers on my desk, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," I called, voice steady, though my heart skipped.

Ronan entered cautiously, his usual confident stride replaced by hesitancy. His eyes darted to the floor, then up at me, and there was a tension I’d never seen before. "Elara..." he started, his voice low, almost pleading. "I... I came to apologize. And... I want my job back."

I blinked at him, letting the words sink in. "Your job?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral, calm. "You’re aware that the company doesn’t belong to Alpha Darlon anymore, right?"

"Yes, I know," he admitted, swallowing hard. "But I....I’ve worked for this company for years. I... I made mistakes, I admit it. But I’ve been loyal. I....I knew I hurt you... But please, I can still be useful. I just want a chance to prove myself again."

I leaned back, folding my arms, watching him carefully. "Ronan... loyalty isn’t just about time spent. It’s about trust. And you broke that trust, repeatedly. You undermined people, ignored authority... and now, you expect me to just... take you back?"

He flinched slightly, but didn’t step back. "I know I messed up. But I’ve learned, Elara. I swear. I... I’m begging you. Just give me a chance. One more chance. I’ll work harder than anyone. I won’t let you down again."

I studied him, feeling the tension in the room.

"Ronan," I said slowly, carefully, " You want your job back? You will have to earn my trust first. And that... won’t be easy."

He swallowed, nodding quickly. "I’ll do whatever it takes. Please... I just need a chance. I won’t fail you, I promise."

I tilted my head slightly, watching him plead. His eyes were sincere. I hadn’t seen them before, and a part of me wanted to test him, to see if he was capable of change. "Fine," I said finally, voice firm. "I’ll give you a probation period. One month. You prove to me that you’re reliable, that you can follow my rules, and maybe... We’ll talk after that."

His shoulders relaxed slightly, a small, grateful smile forming. "Thank you... Thank you, Elara. I won’t let you down. I promise."

I nodded, already turning back to the stack of documents on my desk. "See that you don’t. That’s all I ask."