My Sister’s Alpha

Surprise

NAIDIRA POV

My eyes widened in the dimly lit room as I took in the audience; the men with their drinks and the women laughing seductively at whatever their counterpart was saying, but none of them looked like him. None of them carried the air he did.

I tried to focus on the direction where I felt the most exposed, but quicker than it came, it disappeared like it never existed.

Was I overreacting? Why would he be here of all places?

In these two years, I'd ignored his presence on the news, on television, but never had we run into each other-not once.

I bite down hard on my lip, trying to calm my erratic heart.

I turned to face Amon, who had a quizzical look on his face. Maybe it was my interaction with Amon that triggered it, I resolved within myself.

Amon's hands suddenly held my jaw, brushing the outline of my ears with his fingertips. "Did I do something wrong?"he said, searching my eyes.

For the first time since tonight, I took a proper look at him, his tilted head, his fluttering lids, the slurriness in his tone, and the peculiar smell of alcohol mixed with something sharper.

He was drunk.

Amon was never drunk. Why today?

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I held onto his hands. "No, you didn't. Let's get you home, okay?" I said, my heart still tingling at the sensation it had felt earlier.

"What if I want to stay right here, in this moment with you?" he added.

My lips twitched, trying to conceal the giggles that threatened to spill. Who knew the fierce and commanding Amon would turn into a poetic genius when drunk?

I brought out my phone to video him for future bribery before quickly texting Julie that I was leaving, but there was no response from her.

I placed the phone back inside my purse, then held Amon's hands tightly, leading him away amidst the sea of guests-glaring at the girls who glared at me and saying goodbyes to the men who wanted to talk about business related stuff with him.

While I was busy fighting for our way outside, Amon did nothing but stare at me silently. His head occasionally dipped toward my neck as he smelled me.

When we reached outside, the cool evening breeze danced on my face. I closed my eyes for a second, relishing the sensation before locating Amon's car-which wasn't too hard, considering Amon's love for red went far beyond just a color.

My mind quickly registered that the only thing Amon didn't own in red was his suit. A small snicker escaped my lips as I unlocked the red car with the key I took from his pocket and pushed him into the back seat.

The ride to Amon's house was fast and silent. The roads weren't packed with drivers like they usually were during the day.

Through the rearview mirror, I could see his head propped against the window, his eyes shut. He looked peaceful.

How could someone who carried such predatory stillness when he walked past a room look like such a squishable toy when he slept?

My gaze dropped to his lips that would have been on mine. A loud honk from a nearby car reminded me that my eyes ought to be on the road and not the sleeping drunk man behind me.

I pulled into Amon's driveway. His security men, who were used to seeing me around him, let me inside his mansion.

With the help of his butler, Cole, who was agile despite his age, we were able to carry Amon into his room.

"Thank you, Miss Naidira," Cole bowed, a smile cracking through his wrinkles.

"It's nothing. Tell him he owes me when he wakes," I said, bidding him farewell before leaving.

I took Amon's car since he made me miss my ride back home-although I knew I probably would have missed it anyway, given that Julie hadn't returned my text. She was safe, that I knew. But the man she was with? I wasn't so sure.

Once I reached my house, I took off what I could, while the things I couldn't remained on me while I collapsed onto the soft mattress, enveloped in its warmth.

My hands instinctively grazed the healing burn scar I had acquired at work. I closed my eyes, but the darkness was slowly replaced by flashbacks of him... the night we first met.

"Wait here..." his voice had said, before disappearing and returning with a small first aid box.

He was the first man that ever cared.

My eyes flung open.

I didn't want to think of him anymore. He was,and would remain, part of the past that left a hole in me.

I wasn't going to let them affect my life here.

I was in my present now.

~

Morning came, and I begrudgingly hauled myself from the bed. I took off the heavy makeup, only to find the large eyebags my sleepless night had gifted me. My face etched with irritation, I stepped into the shower, allowing the cold water from the facet to run down my body in an attempt to cool myself.

I ate breakfast in silence, the only noise coming from the television. Julie-who could have been the source of the noise-was nowhere to be seen.

I quickly texted her, and this time she replied, saying she would meet me at the office and she had a surprise for me.

I took the last bite of my sandwich and stood, grabbing Amon's keys.

When I reached the office garage, I parked his car at his spot. The moment I stepped out, all eyes turned toward me.

I knew why and instant regret washed over me.

Amon's employees knew that Amon and I were close. More than half of the ladies-single, dating, and even married!-were so curious they couldn't even hide it.

Amon hands me a pen-'Are you two dating?'

Amon calls me to his office- 'Your man's calling you.'

At this rate, Amon and his freaking employees were the reason I was still single!

I gritted my teeth at them, making them jolt and turn their gaze away. Then I shamefully speed-walked to my office, not surprised when the workers inside watched me vigilantly.

Yay! I made office gossip... again.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Julie slouched against my chair. When her gaze lifted to me, her eyes lit up.

"Nai!" She screeched, jumping up happily, her arms outstretched and a contagious smile blossomed on her face.

I hugged her, then pulled back, not failing to notice she was now fully clothed in her office attire."What's gotten you so happy?"

"I had the best night of my life yesterday, but that's a story for another day," she said, dragging me to my seat.

"Remember I said I had a surprise for you?"

Julie scurried off, dialing a number on her phone before whispering something into it.

"Are you planning on professing your undying love to me?" I asked, arching an eyebrow at her suspicious behavior as I dropped my bag on my desk.

She walked toward the door and opened it gently, almost theatrically.

"Even better," she said.

My gaze trailed from hers to the opened door, my eyes widening as my pupils dilated with each passing second. Then came the erratic beating of my heart and that painful gnawing in my chest.

"Orion?" I whispered in disbelief.