The Beta's Witch

Chapter 1: The Same Old Routine

~ADRIANA POV~

An alarm buzzed somewhere near my head. Rolling over I quickly tapped the snooze button on my alarm. The digital numbers flashed 3:45 am.

Before my body got comfortable again, I threw the blankets back and padded my way to the bathroom to splash some water on my face and brush my teeth.

Throwing on some workout clothes I had laying out, I opened the door to the adjacent bedroom, checking on my little man. I watched his chest rise and fall steadily.

 He wouldn’t wake up for another 3 hours. For two years since he started kindergarten, I had tried to get him to wake up a little earlier, so he wasn’t scrambling to get to school. The kid liked his sleep, and I couldn’t push him when he pouted at me with those big, wide, innocent, eyes.

Closing his door quietly, I crept down the hall and into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. I left my phone charging on the counter. If I didn’t leave my phone in the kitchen, I would be scrolling it all night and never get any sleep. I had one missed call from Elijah Thomas, my boss, but decided to wait to talk to him once I got into the office. I turned to the door leading to the basement.

Hooking my phone up to the speaker I hit my workout playlist and quickly set about stretching. When we had moved into this house 3 years ago, I saw potential in the basement as a home gym, and quickly went about renovating it. Mats covered the floor, making it safe for sparring, not that I ever had a partner to spar with.

 A mirror replaced the wall at the far end of the basement, where a weight bench and various weightlifting tools were neatly stacked. In one corner, a large punching bag hung from the ceiling. In another corner I had wedged a pretty expensive treadmill. The rest of the space was open concept.

 For as long as I could remember, since we had settled in Emberton, Maine I had always woken up early and gone about some kind of training routine. The same thing every day. A couple minutes of stretching, followed by a 5-mile run on the treadmill, then a sequence of martial arts routines. Fridays I always took off early from work to train at local dojos.

Six years and four black belts later . . .

By the end of my routine, I was dripping with sweat. I was done a little earlier than usual. So I jogged up the stairs and hopped in the shower, taking time to let the hot water ease the tension from my sore muscles.

 When I finished getting ready, I tiptoed back into my little man’s room and crawled into his small race car bed with him. Being 5’4” had its advantages.

 I swiped a finger down his nose, chuckling when he scrunched his face sleepily.

“If you’re up and out of bed in the next 15 minutes I’ll make waffles.” I whispered, bargaining with my 7-year-old.

 “With strawberries,” he countered sleepily.

“Deal” I agreed, kissing his forehead, then rolling out of his bed to make his food.

After a quick breakfast, I checked to make sure all my papers were in order before, we headed out the door.

The drive to Berkley Elementary was a short one. Daniel gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, like every morning, before hopping out of the car. I watched until he disappeared into the building.

Grey Enterprises sat deep in the center of downtown. The large tinted glass tower stretching so high you had to lean back to take it all in.

The elegance of the building didn’t end with its outer appearance. Like every morning my breath was stolen away as I pushed through the front doors. An immense crystal chandelier twinkled from the center of the ceiling, casting twinkling lights over the sophisticated leather furniture that rested a few steps down in a square shaped seating area.

I cringed as I caught sight of a familiar figure chatting up the receptionists across the room.  

I silently cursed my heels as they clicked against the marble floor. I cursed the marble floors too.

The elevator was only a few feet away when Jeff from accounting slid in front of me. Glancing back, I saw a few not too friendly stares from the desperate women behind the desk. He easily began walking backwards as I kept my pace.

“Hey gorgeous. Haven’t seen that sexy ass of yours in a while.” His wolf-like grin making his sleezy face even more unattractive.

“For good reason,” I scoffed, “I’m busy Jeff, go bother someone else.”

“Don’t be like that baby. Let me walk you to your office.” He cornered me in the elevator as soon as the doors closed. “Maybe tonight you and I could get to know each other better.”

I could smell the cigarettes on his breath as he dragged his fat fingers across my cheek. Standing tall, I lifted my chin and met his lust filled gaze.

“Last warning Mr. Anders.” I growled, “Back. The. Hell. Up.”

The ding of the elevator snapped my attention to the opening doors. Oliver Jacobs, Accountant Manager and Jeff’s boss, walked in with a handful of files. Jeff, the i***t, still hadn’t backed up. Mr. Jacobs stopped short, eyes narrowing, as he took us in.  

 “Is there a problem here, Adriana?”

I lifted my eyebrows at Jeff. He chuckled and backed away. I wanted to move closer to Oliver, but I didn’t want to show any weakness in front of Jeff. There wasn’t always someone who would step in when men cornered me.

“I’m fine Mr. Jacobs, thank you.” I inclined my head, graciously.

“Adriana,” he sighed, “We’ve worked together for 6 years now. How many times must I ask you to call me Oliver?”

Jeff scoffed in the corner, making Oliver raise his eyebrows. I decided to ignore him. Instead I took in the man before me. He looked like he could be a model. I also used to work for Oliver, before Mr. Grey, our CFO, needed an assistant. Oliver immediately recommended me for the position. Mostly because guys like Jeff made it hard for me to get any work done.

Mr. Jacobs luscious dark curls were expertly combed back revealing his perfectly angular face. He had an easy smile that made someone want to hang on his every word. The creases in his slacks were razor sharp, contrasting with the cuffs of his shirt that were casually rolled up. Yet he still looked like a high-end business professional.  

“I’m sorry Mr. Jacobs,” I maintained. Luckily, the elevator signaled that it had reached my floor. Wishing Mr. Jacobs, a good day, I quickly made my way to Elijah’s office.

I wasn’t trying to be difficult by using his formal name. I kept my professional distance at work, refusing to let anyone closer than necessary. Sometimes it felt lonely, but it was necessary. Or at least that’s what I had been told.

Don’t let anyone get close to you and Daniel.

For that reason, I kept the employees of Grey Enterprises at a distance. Nothing was worth risking Daniel’s life.

I didn’t know what it was that I had been running from. Anything that happened prior to 6 years ago was erased from my memory. All I knew was what was written in the short letter. A letter that had been laying in my bed in the dingy little apartment I had no memory of renting.

Written in my handwriting.

Explaining that to someone would have been awkward at best. The letter said it was safer to keep my distance, so that was what I was going to do.