Hello! Hellish Alpha

Bad luck

" Did you just videotaped me? " She asked again, her breath shaky.

Ace didn't make any eye contact with her but answered, " You see the camera, what does it look like? You have 30 seconds to continue! "

April’s fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted her blouse, feeling the sting of Ace’s threats lingering in her mind. The room was heavy with silence, a silence only broken by faint footsteps echoing from down the hallway. She drew a shaky breath, gathering her thoughts, but her heart raced at the idea of facing him again.

The door creaked open, and in stepped a woman with a faint voice, " Mr Gordon, the manager of the halo group is waiting for you! "

Ace let out a groan then stood up heading for the door, " I'll be back! "

She shut her eyes and clenched her fists in anger but her anger didn't last too long as the woman called out her name.

“April?” Jane’s voice was hushed, barely above a whisper, as though saying the name aloud might make April disappear.

She turned around and saw her cousin, Jane staring at her and smiling.

" Jane! " I mouthed.

She took a quick glance at my blouse and buttoned it.

The sight of her cousin was enough to momentarily distract April from her surroundings and her anxieties. After three long years of silence, seeing Jane again felt like a strange twist of fate—both comforting and confusing.

April’s cheeks flushed as she took a step back, straightening her clothes quickly, fighting the urge to bury her face in her hands.

“Jane,”

she managed, her voice wavering slightly, “I…I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Before she could react, Jane ran up to her, enveloping her in a warm hug.

" I miss you soo much! "

Jane’s eyes scanned April, taking in her disheveled appearance and the lingering tension in her face.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

“It’s been years—no calls, no messages…you just vanished, April.” Her voice was gentle but firm.

April felt a pang of guilt but found herself struggling to explain. She had no idea where to even begin or how much Jane could handle without getting tangled in her mess. “It’s a long story,” she said, her voice soft, almost pleading.

“Then let’s start somewhere,” Jane said, crossing her arms.

“I missed you, April. We all did. Whatever happened…it must’ve been serious. You were always there for me—why couldn’t you let me be there for you?”

" it's a very long story! "

April swallowed, feeling the weight of the unspoken words pressing down on her.

“It’s…it’s not easy to explain,” she replied, her voice barely audible.

“Maybe we could talk more tonight? Over a drink?”

Jane’s expression softened, her eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and sadness.

“Alright,” she said finally, placing a comforting hand on April’s shoulder.

“Tonight, then. We can catch up, just like old times.”

She took out her phone and said, " I just sent you the address of where we should meet! "

April's eyes widened, " How?...

" Duh! You are an employee here, of course I have your number. "

April beamed with a warm smile, feeling a flicker of warmth in the midst of the cold, heavy tension that seemed to fill the room.

For a moment, it felt like things could be normal again, that she could step out of the shadows of her past.

But the moment shattered when Ace walked back in, his cold gaze flickering between the two women.

“Enjoying a little reunion?” His voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied them.

Without waiting for a response, he stepped closer to April and she moved back, his voice low and edged with authority.

“Your little meeting’s over. Now, April, I’ll need you back here in a few hours. Congratulations. You’re hired.”

The words struck April like a tide. She was both thrilled and confused, feeling a strange surge of victory after everything that had happened.

But before she could respond, the door burst open once more, and Ace’s mother strode in, Queen Fiona.

The woman’s sharp eyes locked onto April, and without warning, she raised a hand, slapping Jane’s cheek with a force that left a stinging red mark.

April staggered back, stunned, as Fiona began to hurl insults, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Who do you think you are?” she sneered, her face twisted in anger.

“ I thought I told you to bring me a bottle of margarita. Are you insane? "

Jane bowed, lowering her gaze to the ground.

" I'm sorry ma'am, I was busy....

Fiona cut her off, " Busy with what? " That was when her gaze met April who was soaking in her sweat.

" Look what we have here, if it isn't the runway bride. It's been three years since I saw the bride, what brings you here? " She said, rubbing her hands on her blouse..

April didn't like as she touched her blouse and removed her hands like it was dirty.

" I'm an employee here so you don't get to violate my rights. You are not my boss, Fiona so you don't get to scold me! "

She then burst into a laughter, " Isn't she too proud? Are you on crack? Maybe your lover had given you some crack? "

April eyebrows creased because she was confused about what she was uttering.

Lover? She was the one who paid us to leave her son? She never ran away?

" What are you talking about? "

" I'm done with this b***h, I'm too angry to engage in a conversation with her. "

She turned to her son, " Be sure to remove half of her money for disrespecting your mother! "

Ace didn’t react, his face expressionless as he watched the fight.

“ Now let's go! Fiona said to Jane pushing her out of the room, her voice cold and unforgiving.

With a final, scornful look, she turned on her heel and left, leaving the room filled with a tense, uncomfortable silence. April fought back tears, refusing to let them see her pain.

Ace cleared his throat, drawing April’s attention back to him. “Get out of my office, Do bad and I'll upload the video” he said, as if nothing had happened.

Then he left, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

********

Later that night, April sat alone, waiting for Jane in the restaurant she picked.

She felt a mix of anger, shame, and fear, her mind replaying the events of the day.

A huge part of her was ashamed and stupid for not stepping up for Jane. She wanted to apologize for everything and tell her the truth.

She glanced at the clock, counting the minutes, wondering what was keeping her.

But just as she began to relax, her phone buzzed in her hand, the screen lighting up with an unknown number.

Frowning, she answered, her voice hesitant. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end was panicked, urgent. “ Are you April. I…I’m so sorry, the woman we picked, Jane Deck is in no condition to speak to you "

April’s blood ran cold. " Who is this? Jane? what happened?”

There was a pause, a painful, heart-wrenching silence. “April…a trailer hit her. She’s in critical condition. They’re rushing her to the hospital now.”

April’s world spun, her breath catching in her throat as the news sank in.