Mesmerised by the Alpha

Chapter 24. The Master Key

I stared at my reflection, letting out a breath through my nose. My hair was scraped into a loose bun, wisps curling down around my face, and I’d changed into something warm but decent for dinner—knitted black jumper, jeans, and the silver necklace Mum had given me last Christmas. I tilted my chin up slightly and tried to look like someone who had it all together. “It’s just dinner,” I muttered to myself. “Act normal.”

Down in the bar, I slid into the empty seat beside George, who greeted me with a warm smile and a nudge of his elbow.

“Long day?” he asked.

“You could say that.” I groaned softly, resting my arms on the table. “Most of the morning was moving files to the security office. I didn’t realise quite how much stuff was buried under reception. Daryl and Jordan helped, but honestly, I’m knackered.”

We’d just started chatting properly when Stella breezed in, took the seat on George’s other side and—true to form—inserted herself mid-sentence.

“Especially since you haven’t even cleared out reception properly,” she said, flashing me that polite, venomous smile. “You don’t just take the files you need, you take everything. Including all the boxes from the archives.”

I blinked. “You mean the boxes stacked ceiling-high that haven’t been touched since before I was born?”

Stella shrugged, reaching for the wine bottle. “Yep, those are the ones! You have two days, max.”

“That’s not even remotely realistic,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “There are hundreds of boxes in there. It’ll take a week, maybe longer.”

“Not my problem,” she replied smoothly, pouring herself a glass. “Some of us have actual work to do.”

I clenched my jaw, just as Jordan and Daryl walked in—timing like divine intervention.

“Hey, Jasmine,” Daryl said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about the boxes. Jordan and I will give you a hand.”

“Of course we will,” Jordan added, grabbing a chair. “We’ll get it done, no stress.”

George nodded in agreement. “We’ll sort it out together.”

The tightness in my chest loosened a little, especially when I caught the flash of irritation in Stella’s eyes. She rolled them but didn’t say anything else.

Not long after, Kaci arrived and dinner was served—a hearty stew with dumplings, warm and rich and exactly what I needed. For once, things felt… good. We laughed, talked about nothing important, and the cold tension that usually accompanied Stella’s presence faded into the background.

As we finished dessert—apple crumble and custard—Kaci turned to Stella.

“Where did you go after lunch?” she asked casually. “I was looking for you everywhere.”

Stella lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t have to report my movements to you, Kaci. Maybe focus on doing your own job properly.”

Kaci sighed, clearly used to it. “Right. I’m going for a swim. Need to clear my head. Jas, do you fancy joining?”

“Yeah, why not?” I said, welcoming the distraction. “Just let me run upstairs and change. Give me twenty minutes?”

“Perfect.”

Before I left, I caught Daryl’s eye and pulled him aside.

“Sorry Daryl, I just had a quick question—about the master key.”

His brow furrowed. “What about it?”

“Well… for security reasons,” I said, lowering my voice. “If you or Jordan weren’t around, and someone needed to get into a locked room, what happens then? Does anyone else have access?”

Daryl nodded slowly. “I've been meaning to talk to you about that, actually. Come with me.”

We headed to a quiet corner where he unlocked a small steel box and handed me a single brass key on a plain ring.

“This is it. The master key. Since you’ve taken over the security stuff, it makes sense for you to have it now. But be careful, Jasmine. Don’t lose it. That thing opens everything.”

I nodded, gripping it tightly. “I’ll keep it safe. I promise.”

“Good.” He smiled. “Now go relax. You’ve earned it.”

Back in my room, I stashed the key in a hollow book in my drawer—something I’d picked up years ago from a quirky market stall. Then I changed into my swimsuit, wrapped a towel around my shoulders, and slipped out into the crisp evening air.

The pool shimmered beneath the outdoor lights, steam rising gently as Kaci sliced through the water like a pro. She surfaced, grinning, and waved.

“You coming in or just admiring my form?”

“Bit of both,” I laughed. “You’re like a bloody mermaid.”

I dived in, gasping at the cold that bit through me. The two of us paddled and talked, drifting between light teasing and companionable silence.

After a while, my teeth started to chatter.

“I’m heading in,” I said, rubbing my arms. “This weather is far too cold for my southern blood.”

Kaci chuckled. “I’ll stay out a bit longer. Go inside and take a hot shower, city girl.”

I sprinted back to my room, showered quickly and changed into warm, comfortable clothes. My thoughts kept drifting back to the locked lab and the two men with the cooler boxes.

I opened my phone and pulled up the CCTV app. The games room still had a group hanging around—Jordan, Daryl, George. Kaci was still outside. Stella and Nate were nowhere in sight. The hallway to the forbidden wing was clear.

It was now or never.

I slipped the master key into my coat pocket and crept out, heart pounding against my ribs. Every step echoed more than it should’ve. I passed the main corridor, took the stairs two at a time, and made my way to the locked door near the ballroom.

The key turned with a heavy clunk.

Inside, the air was colder, quieter. I made my way to the lab, its door slightly ajar, and slipped in. The scent of antiseptic and something coppery hit me immediately.

More boxes lined the walls. On one of the back tables sat one of the cooler boxes from earlier. My stomach twisted.

I opened the lid.

Blood bags. Five of them. Empty.

That explained the need for a cooler box—but not the lies. Why claim it was stained glass? Why sneak it in?

Some kind of illegal operation? Medical experimentation? Wildlife poaching? I couldn’t piece it all together, but something was seriously wrong.

The sudden sound of approaching footsteps made me freeze. With barely a second to think, I slid into the large storage refrigerator again, leaving it cracked open enough to breathe.

Two construction workers entered, their voices muffled but clear enough.

“I thought this place was locked.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the other one replied. “No one even knows it’s here.”

They disappeared toward the back—the area I’d found those strange cell-like rooms. The ones that made the hairs on my neck stand up.

I slipped out as quietly as I could and made for the hallway, only to stop short at the sound of laughter. Not from the two men—someone else.

I ducked behind the same pillar I’d used before.

A woman entered, alone. Hoodie, leggings, dark trainers. Face obscured by the shadows—but something about the figure made my stomach twist.

Stella?

I couldn’t be sure. But I had seen her dressed in something just like that before.

Whoever it was, they walked with purpose, heading into the same forbidden space.

I stayed hidden until they’d vanished from view.

My fingers brushed against the master key in my pocket. Tonight had raised more questions than answers. But for now, at least I had a way back in, if I needed it.