Chapter 4 You Took It Seriously?
1664 Words
Of course, Catherine was not finished with her performance.
Under the pretext of pouring more coffee, she spilled the scalding liquid directly onto me.
A sharp, burning pain shot up my arm. I moved instinctively to roll up my sleeve, but Catherine seized my wrist, pressing the soaked, hot fabric firmly against my skin.
"My deepest apologies, Ms. Hayes. What a shame about your outfit." She dabbed at the spill with a tissue.
Wow, how considerate, I thought.
She pretended to care about the clothes while completely ignoring my scorched skin.
I brushed her hand away, but she continued smoothly, "Unfortunately, sloppy attire reflects poorly on all of us, and with such important guests, we can't take that risk. Alpha Damien, perhaps it would be best if Ms. Hayes excused herself?"
My eyes darted to Damien. His indifferent gaze skimmed over me as I reluctantly smoothed the damp sleeve back down.
"It's fine. No one will notice if I keep my arm under the table."
Then he asked, unexpectedly, "Did it burn you?"
Both Catherine and I stared at him, stunned by the question.
Ever the quick thinker, she seized my arm dramatically. "Oh! It's all red! I am so terribly sorry, Ms. Hayes. Let me call a driver for you immediately. A young woman's skin is so delicate. We can’t risk you being scarred."
She was a professional at working every angle. Compared to her, I was an amateur. But, feeling a flicker of Alpha Damien's favor, I couldn’t resist twisting the knife just a little.
"How careless of you, Ms. Reynolds. Luckily, it was just me you scalded. Imagine if you had spilled that on tonight's guest. That would have been a disaster."
Catherine stiffened, clearly not expecting this counterattack.
Before she could form a retort, Dr. Felix strode into the room. Catherine switched gears in a flash, greeting him with a dazzling, practiced smile.
"Dr. Felix! You are looking so handsome tonight. Who are you trying to impress?"
"Come now, Ms. Reynolds, at my age, 'handsome' might be pushing it." Dr. Felix chuckled.
"Don't be silly! Men age like fine whiskey; they only get better. You, Dr. Felix, are still in your prime." She tilted her head in a gesture of friendly concern. "Where is Margaret?"
"My mother fell ill rather suddenly," he explained. "She rushed back home to care for her."
Catherine's face instantly softened with what appeared to be genuine concern. "Is that so? I will be sure to call her after dinner to check in. Our parents are all getting older; these age-related ailments are so common. Mine are the same, and I worry about them constantly when I'm away."
She patted Dr. Felix's arm reassuringly. "But please, do not stress too much. With today's medical advances, I am sure she will pull through just fine."
Her smooth talking worked wonders.
Dr. Felix's furrowed brow smoothed out noticeably.
Watching her work, I had to privately admit that Catherine's crisis management skills were something I could learn from.
With perfect timing, she lifted a luxury shopping bag.
"Dr. Felix, when Alpha Damien heard Margaret was joining us, he had me pick this out specially for her. Please make sure to take it home with you after we wrap up tonight."
Dr. Felix motioned for his assistant to accept the gift. "Alpha Damien, you really shouldn't have."
Damien offered a well-practiced, diplomatic smile. "It is just a small token. Please, think nothing of it."
The private dining room soon echoed with Dr. Felix's hearty laughter.
Catherine made the formal introductions. “Dr. Felix, allow me to present Alpha Damien Frost of Ice Moon Pack. And Alpha Damien, this is the investment mentor I've told you so much about.”
They exchanged the usual pleasantries. Not once during this entire exchange did Catherine acknowledge my presence, not that I expected her to. In these professional circles, someone in my position was often treated as part of the scenery.
When I stepped forward to pour coffee, Dr. Felix's gaze lit up. "And who might this lovely lady be?"
"Oh, that is just Alpha Damien's assistant." Catherine's laugh rang out, light and airy.
Dr. Felix's eyes gleamed as they traveled over me in a way that made my skin crawl. "An assistant? With looks like that? You are a lucky man, Alpha Damien."
It was only then I realized the spilled coffee had soaked through the thin fabric of my blouse, turning it translucent enough to reveal the black lace of my camisole beneath.
Alpha Damien's frown darkened perceptibly. I hurried back to my seat, my face flushing with heat.
Ever the actress, Catherine put on another show of concern. "Ms. Hayes, how terribly careless of me! I have a spare jacket in my car. Let me call my driver to bring it up for you."
My current state was undeniably inappropriate. Whatever game she was playing, I had little choice but to play along for now.
"Thank you. I appreciate it," I said, my voice tight.
I didn't know it then, but the "spare jacket" was a returned item she had planned to discard, and it was a size too small.
The moment I squeezed into it, it was pure torture. The fabric strained tightly across my chest, and the waistline was cinched so tight I had to hold my breath to keep the buttons from popping.
This constricting jacket sent a clear, unspoken message: do not even think about touching the evening's dishes.
Back in the private room, I pressed a hand to my constricted chest as I sat down.
Dr. Felix's gaze lingered on me with a predatory hunger that intensified the chill on my skin. I pressed myself against the chairback, trying to shrink away, but the movement only seemed to give him a clearer view.
I shifted sideways in my seat, subtly tugging at the left side of my collar.
"Dr. Felix." Alpha Damien's voice cut through the uncomfortable tension.
Dr. Felix turned, reluctantly dragging his attention back to the business at hand.
The three of them dove into their negotiations, laughing over drinks and savoring every dish, while my fork never once left the table.
Midway through the dinner, Damien excused himself to the restroom. Dr. Felix followed shortly after.
When the two men returned, Alpha Damien's expression had darkened considerably. His icy glare crackled with a quiet, contained fury.
Baffled by the sudden shift in his mood, I kept my head down, avoiding his eyes.
As we were preparing to leave the room, I found Catherine loitering in the hallway, undoubtedly lying in wait for me.
"Alpha Damien wants you to escort Dr. Felix back to his hotel," she announced without preamble.
"Me? Escort a grown man?" The request was so blatant it had to be a joke.
"He's taken quite a liking to you. Surely you've noticed." Catherine adjusted my collar with faux concern, her tone laced with venom. "Women like you sleep their way to the top. Well, here's your chance. He hasn’t stopped staring since you walked in. Don’t waste this opp ortunity."
A room key was pressed into my palm.
"Seal the deal in his bedroom. The success of this contract depends entirely on you now."
"I'm not doing that." I shoved the key back at her as if it were a burning coal.
Her nails dug into my wrist as she forced the key back into my grip. "This is a direct order from Alpha Damien. Do you need him to spell it out for you?"
My brow furrowed in disbelief. There was no way I would believe her.
As I reached for my phone to call Damien, she let out a scornful scoff.
"What exactly did you think your job was, Ms. Hayes? A pretty face at Alpha Damien's side is not just for show. You have no real skills, no connections. You're just a 'special gift' for our valuable partners."
How bitterly poetic. I was the "gift."
But her words meant nothing without confirmation. I would hear it from Alpha Damien himself.
She waved a dismissive hand. "Go ahead then. Call him."
Each ring tone synced with my hammering heartbeat, a brief reprieve from the answer I dreaded, until the call eventually died, unanswered.
Catherine's smirk stretched wider, triumphant. "Convinced now?"
A bitter lump rose in my throat as every shred of dignity I had clung to in front of Catherine crumbled to dust.
"Alpha Damien was just playing around with you," she scoffed. "Did you really take it seriously?"
So that was all I was, just a toy. I had forgotten my place.
Blind rage took over. I snarled through clenched teeth, "You can tell Alpha Damien it was not just him having fun. I enjoyed myself too. As for Dr. Felix, why don't you keep that 'precious opportunity' for yourself? You clearly have far more experience in these matters than I do."
I tossed the room key into the open collar of her blouse and strode away without a backward glance.
"Celia, have you lost your mind?" Her screech caught up to me just as I reached the elevator.
I did not break stride. I simply raised my middle finger behind my back, a silent, defiant answer.
Alpha Damien's car was waiting outside, its engine purring softly at the curb.
I steeled myself for his wrath, for the debt I owed him, and for the wreck he had made of Liam's future.
As his window lowered, I clung to the last shred of my pride. "Alpha Damien," my voice shook despite my effort to steady it, "did you order me to escort Dr. Felix back to his room?"
He stared straight ahead, his profile as cold as carved stone. "Do you have a problem with that?"
The confirmation stung more deeply than I expected. Catherine had not lied. I had just been foolish enough to believe I mattered.
"No," I said, my breath hitching. "I am done."
- Writer
