The Billionaire Alpha's mate

AVA'S POV The shrill sound of my alarm dragged me from another dream I couldn't afford to have. 6:00 a.m. I stared at the cracked ceiling above my bed for a long moment before forcing myself to sit up. My entire body protested, every muscle aching from yesterday's twelve-hour shift, but staying in bed wasn't a luxury people like me could afford. Not when hospital bills were waiting. Not when medicine had run out. Not when my mother was fighting for every single breath. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and whispered the same words I had whispered every morning for the past two years. "Just one more day." Our apartment was barely large enough for two people, yet now it felt painfully empty. Mom hadn't slept here in months. Her favorite knitted blanket still lay folded neatly on the couch. Her reading glasses rested on the coffee table exactly where she'd left them. Sometimes I couldn't bring myself to move them. It felt like if I did... She would never come home. I shook the thought away before it could break me Today wasn't the day to cry. Today was payday. Finally. By this evening I'd have enough to pay for another round of chemotherapy medication and cover part of Mom's ICU expenses. Maybe I'd even have enough left to buy fresh groceries instead of surviving on instant noodles for another week. Hope was dangerous. But today... Today I allowed myself a little. I walked into the tiny bathroom and splashed cold water across my face. The mirror reflected a woman who looked older than twenty-three. Dark circles hid beneath hazel eyes that had once sparkled with carefree dreams. My copper-red hair fell in loose waves around my shoulders, wild and untamed despite every attempt to tame it. Growing up, people had always admired the unusual shade. Your hair looks like fire. You're beautiful. Beauty. Funny how beauty never paid hospital bills. I tied my hair into a loose ponytail before changing my mind and letting it fall again. It framed my face better that way. A little concealer hid the exhaustion. A touch of lip balm. Nothing more. I wasn't trying to impress anyone. Least of all the men who thought every woman came with a price tag. My white blouse was freshly ironed despite its age, tucked neatly into a black pencil skirt that hugged my hips before falling to my knees. I slipped on my worn heels, grabbed my handbag, and checked the envelope taped beside the front door. Hospital invoices. Outstanding balance. Medication list. The numbers blurred together. I swallowed hard. "Hold on a little longer, Mom." My phone buzzed. St. Mary's Hospital I answered immediately. "Hello?" "Good morning, Miss Monroe ." My heart tightened. "We wanted to remind you that the payment for your mother's medication is due today. Her current supply will only last until tonight." "I know." I closed my eyes. "I'll bring the money after work." "We appreciate it." The call ended. I stood there for several seconds, gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. Failure wasn't an option. Not today. --- The city was already alive by the time I boarded the crowded bus. Businessmen rushed down sidewalks. Students laughed over coffee. Couples argued over breakfast. Everyone had somewhere to be. Everyone carried burdens invisible to strangers. Mine just happened to come with a hospital bracelet. Forty-five minutes later, I stepped into Harper Marketing Solutions. The familiar scent of coffee and printer ink greeted me. "Ava!" I barely had time to set my bag down before Mia appeared beside my desk carrying two cups of coffee. "Happy payday!" She handed me one with a grin. "You look like you actually slept." "I got almost five hours." She gasped dramatically. "Luxury." I laughed for what felt like the first time in weeks. Another coworker, Jasmine, leaned against my cubicle. "You know," she said, folding her arms, "it's honestly unfair." "What is?" "You." I frowned. "What did I do now?" She gestured toward me. "You're gorgeous." I blinked. She continued anyway. "Seriously. Red hair. Hazel eyes. Tiny waist. Long legs. If I looked like you, I'd have some billionaire paying my rent." Mia snorted. "Forget billionaire. She could make a fortune online." Jasmine nodded enthusiastically. "Or become a model." "Or a stripper." The three of us burst into laughter. I nearly choked on my coffee. "Oh my God." "What?" Jasmine shrugged innocently. "I'm serious." "I am not becoming a stripper." "Why not?" "Because I'd rather earn my money honestly." "You're too stubborn." "I prefer determined." Mia smiled softly. "One day that determination is going to make you rich." I hoped she was right. Because determination was all I had left. As everyone settled into work, I quietly opened my banking app. Zero notifications. Salary hadn't arrived yet. Probably lunchtime. I could wait. I'd waited all month and another few hours wouldn't kill me. Hopefully. The office phones rang endlessly as emails flooded in. I buried myself in spreadsheets, trying to ignore the anxiety twisting inside my stomach. Everything depended on today's paycheck. Everything. Around eleven-thirty... The elevator doors opened. Then another. And another. Men dressed in expensive black suits poured into the office. Security. Lawyers. Executives. Every conversation died instantly. The room fell eerily silent. "What..." Mia whispered. "...is happening?" I looked up just as our department manager hurried past us, his face completely drained of color. Someone grabbed his arm. "Sir?" He shook free. "Conference room. Everyone. Now." Nobody moved. The tension was suffocating. Five minutes later every employee stood inside the largest conference room. Our CEO stood at the front. Sweat glistened across his forehead. He looked like a man preparing for his own funeral. "I'll keep this brief." His voice trembled. "As of this morning..." He swallowed. "...Harper Marketing Solutions has officially been acquired."The room exploded. "What?" "No way!" "Acquired by who?" "When?" "Does that mean we're fired?" The CEO raised both hands. "Please." Silence returned. "The acquiring company is..." He hesitated. "...Blackwood Enterprises." The name swept through the room like a violent storm. Even I'd heard of them. The wealthiest corporation in the country. Merciless. Ruthless. Famous for buying struggling companies...and cutting anyone they considered unnecessary. Cold settled in my stomach. No. No. Please no. "Our new CEO has already arrived." A collective breath caught in everyone's throat. "And restructuring begins immediately." Restructuring. Corporate language for... People were about to lose their jobs. My heartbeat pounded in my ears. If I lost this job— Mom— No. No, no, no. Not today. Not when she needed me most. The conference room doors opened again. Heavy footsteps echoed across the polished floor. Someone entered. No one dared breathe. I slowly lifted my eyes... ...and found myself staring at the man who had just turned my entire world upside down. To be continued...