The Alpha's Filthy Secret.

- CHAPTER TEN -

Sloane.

I followed Orson down the carpeted hallway and staright into his office. He didn't even wait for me to close the door before dropping into his high backed chair, resting his thick hands over his stomach.

"Sit down, Eva," he said, gesturing to the leather seats across from his desk. "What's the issue?"

I stayed standing, refusing to stand. "Raul Blackridge."

Orson rolled his eyes, picking up a glass of water from his desk and taking a slow sip. "I knew it."

"We know nothing about this man, Mr. Orson," I said, keeping my voice firm and grounded. "His offer is too clean. Twelve million in liquid capital with no strings? Direct access to European houses overnight? It's suspicious. Nobody hands over that kind of money without a catch."

Orson stared at me in silence for some few seconds. Then his shoulders started shaking, and he let out a loud, booming laugh that made my jaw clench.

"Oh, Eva," he said, shaking his head as if I were a child reciting a nursery rhyme. "You're a talent girl, but stuck to modeling. Blackridge Capital is as legitimate as it gets. The man has glowing reviews across the ocean. Bj's international record is spotless."

I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Spotless usually means buried."

Before I could push further, Orson leaned foward over his desk, his small eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "Look, I'll hear you out. You're my biggest ticket in this building, and I like keeping my top talent happy," he said, his tone turning cold and pragmatic. "You want Blackridge out? Simple. Bring me a better partner with a bigger corporate backing. Until you can match twelve million cash and fifty one percent valuation, you're going to do your job and cooperate."

He picked up his desk phone, dialing a number without looking back at me. Just immediately, a young blonde assistant stepped into the room holding a stack of mail.

I shook my head, turned on my heel, and walked out.

Julian was waiting near the water cooler down the corridor, his brow furrowed in a deep frown the second he caught sight of my face.

"Eva, did you just try to-"

"I'm not going to listen to you right now, Julian," I snapped, cutting him off, stepping right past him toward the elevators. "Not a word."

He let out an annoyed sigh behind me, but he didn't follow. I rode the elevator down alone and pushed through the glass revolving doors of the building. The afternoon sun hit my face, sharp and warm against the cool breeze coming off the street.

Standing near the curb by a black mercedes were Raul and Leon.

Leon saw me first, his posture straightening instantly while Raul turned around slowly, unbuttoning his suit jacket as his dark green eyes locked onto mine.

"Miss Eva," Raul said, his voice carrying smoothly over the sound of city traffic. "I look forward to working with you."

I scoffed in disgust. "As if."

Leon's eyes flashed, his shoulder shifting foward a fraction of an inch as if to step in for the disrespect toward his Alpha. But Raul raised a single hand, stopping Leon in his tracks. A low, dark laugh escaped Raul's chest, completely unbothered. He didn't say another word, he simply turned, opened the rear door of the car and slid inside. Leon gave me one last wary glance before getting into the driver's seat and pulled out into the lane.

I stood on the sidewalk, watching the red tailights disappear into the stream of Los Angeles traffic.

Twelve million dollars. Fifty one percent. If I wanted Raul out of my life, out of my agency and away from my son, I needed someone with bigger pockets and deeper leverage to buy him out.

Five days. Five days of lukewarm lattes and colder shoulders. Every meeting started with a polite smile and ended with a swift exit the moment Raul Blackridge's name left my lips. Financial advisors in Century city, venture capitalists in Malibu, tech giants in silicon valley, they all developed urgent phone calls or sudden appointments when I mentioned a competitor.

"Blackridge Capital?" One man had mumbled, his eyes darting to the door. "I think we have another meeting, Eva. Good luck."

I pushed the cold coffee mug away. It was becoming useless. Raul had built a reputation in the human realm as fast and as ruthless as he had in the wolf packs. His name was a silencer, freezing conversation, cutting off every potential ally. He didn't just invest, he acquired. He didn't just compete, he eliminated. Everyone knew it, and no one wanted to be caught in the crosshairs.

"Oh, this is f****d up." I mumbled as I face palmed myself.

A shadow suddenly fell over my table.

"Miss Eva?"