Tempting The Alphas

Welcome to my world

***Three months later***

"Rubi, are you done yet? I have to go to work," Julie shouted as she banged on the bathroom door.

"Just a moment, I'm almost done," I yelled, rolling my eyes as I continued to apply my makeup.

One of the things I hated most about the apartment was having only one bathroom. When three women live together, getting ready is challenging. Most mornings, Julie left for work early, which allowed me to soak in the tub. But today, she was running late. As a result of a power outage, the alarm clock didn't go off. It was yet another inconvenience of living in a shithole.

"Rubi, I cannot be late!" Julie shouted.

"Alright, geese," I said as I opened the bathroom door and stepped out, glaring at her. "Happy!" I sneered.

"Maybe if you had a job, you would understand the importance of time management," she replied as she entered the bathroom.

'Fucken b***h!' I thought as I returned to my room and sat on my bed. Sighing as I thought back on what happened at my interview.

(FLASHBACK)

"In my opinion, this is precisely why I am a perfect fit for this company," I said, smiling.

Erin's eyes were fixed on me momentarily before she sat back in her chair and began speaking to me. "Ms. Salvatore, I am impressed that you presented such a well-conceived speech," she said.

"Thank you," I replied happily, but it was short-lived.

"The truth is that you have no experience working in a law firm, or any other type of job, for that matter. As far as I am concerned, this is the result of someone who knows someone and has pulled a few strings. However, you need more than just knowing someone to be able to work here. Unfortunately, I do not believe you are the right fit for this company," Erin said, rising from her seat.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand," I exclaimed, rising to my feet. "So you don't think I'm a good fit because I know someone who got me an interview?" I questioned.

"Ms. Salvatore, please keep in mind that, as I stated earlier, you have no prior work experience. In order to be successful, we need candidates who have the ability to lead and who do not rely on others for assistance or on their good looks. Thank you very much for coming in," she replied before leaving.

(End of Flashback)

Three months had passed since that interview. I kept telling my mother that I was still waiting for the results of my background check before I could start, a lie that was easily believable since we moved around a lot. Despite this, I knew I couldn't keep up the lie forever.

"It's bullshit," I muttered to myself, walking to my closet, looking for something to wear for tonight's event.

Lisa had invited me to her dinner party a few days ago, so I had to find an outfit to wear. I was about to shut the closet door when a black sequin mini-dress caught my eye. I decided to try it on and was pleasantly surprised by how great it looked on me. The dress was captivating and elegant, hugging my curves in all the right places. After taking it off, I tossed it into my duffle bag with a pair of black stilettos and my makeup bag.

"Rubi, where are you going?" my mom asked me as I exited the room and headed toward the front door.

"Remember I told you about Lisa's dinner party two weeks ago?" I replied.

"Rubi, you need to do something meaningful with your life. You can't keep going to dinner parties and whatever else you're invited to without thinking about your responsibilities," my mother said.

"OK, Mom. I told you I was waiting for a job offer," I said, hugging her. "I'll have that job soon. I have to run. I love you," I told her, kissing her cheek before running out.

The moment I stepped out of the apartment building, Lisa's chauffeur drove up.

"Miss Rubi, it's good to see you again. Please allow me to take your bag," he said, reaching out to grab the bag.

"Honestly, it's the least you could do since you're late," I said, throwing the bag at him and slipping into the back seat.

He put my bag in the trunk, then walked around to the driver's side and got in. Then he looked at me in the rearview mirror and said, "You don't need to be mean."

"Maybe don't be late next time. Also, I don't think it's polite of you to talk back to me. I'll make sure Lisa knows about this," I said, rolling my eyes.

I saw the driver stare at me momentarily before he started the car. My eyes closed briefly, and my hand clenched around my heart as the car pulled away. With tears welling in my eyes, I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and said, "Vinny, I am sorry. I've just had one of the worst days ever. A little over three months, actually." My voice trembled as I spoke. "As much as I love my home, I know I am meant for more."

It felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest after holding these feelings for so long. We sat silently for a few moments as Vinny nodded in understanding.

"Miss Rubi, you are not a nobody, and you must always remember that you are destined for more. You cannot let anyone or anything convince you otherwise," he told me.

"I appreciate it, Vinny," I replied, smiling as I regarded him in the rearview mirror.

The rest of the drive was spent in silence. Shortly after we got to Lisa's house, I couldn't help but feel jealousy wash over me. Honestly, I didn't mind Lisa inviting me to a fancy dinner party. But it should be the other way around; I should be the one hosting and have everyone gawking at how much fun we had at my house. It was clear that the moon goddess had blessed the wrong person. As I exited the vehicle, I was surprised at how many cars had already gathered outside the old Victorian mansion. I smiled and waved at Lisa as soon as she stepped out the front door.

"Hey, girl," I said, walking up to her and hugging her.

"Oh my goddess, we've got to hurry because the party starts in forty-five minutes," she said, pulling me from our embrace and dragging me to the door.

"Why are there so many cars here today? Is this just dinner?" I asked as we entered the front door.

Lisa's house was beautiful both inside and out. Despite its old-fashioned appearance, the house had a contemporary aesthetic. Entering the house, you're greeted by cream-colored walls decorated with fine art and luxurious furniture. Above the grand entryway was a marvelous chandelier. According to Lisa, her father ordered all the decor from overseas. Every table had roses, which I loved because they added warmth and a welcoming feel to the house. Lisa's house was one of the few places I enjoyed hanging out at. It wasn't because it was fancy but because I could be myself and share my feelings and dreams without anyone telling me I was reaching too high. Lisa and her father always encouraged me to aim higher and pursue my dreams. Even though I was envious of Lisa, I really cared about her. After everybody at school learned about my financial situation, everyone shunned me except Lisa. Throughout our friendship, Lisa encouraged me to speak my mind, and while I did, there were some things I refused to say.

"Yeah, it's just dinner," she laughed.

We dashed toward the stairs, and the scent of Indonesian Nutmeg, Sichuan Pepper, and Pink Pepper filled the air. Taking a quick look around, I couldn't figure out where it came from. Still, it made my wolf come forward momentarily, then disappear like she was scared, something she'd never done before. I shrugged it off and followed Lisa into her room. As I was about to shut the door, the housekeeper came over.

"Miss, you forgot your bag," she said, handing it to me. I smiled and thanked her before shutting the door.

"This party makes me crazy nervous," Lisa said softly.

"Why?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion. This was the first time I'd seen her fidgety.

"Oh, I didn't tell you, did I?" she asked.

"Tell me what?" I said, leaning against the vanity.

"We're gonna have Christian Diaz here tonight. That's why we're having a party. It was my dad's idea since he was back in town," she explained.

In addition to being the wealthiest man we'd ever heard of, he was also rumored to have killed his parents so he could inherit his fortune. However, it was not clear to which pack he belonged. Yet something about that intrigued me, not to mention his wealth and power. There was no doubt in my mind that he was the kind of guy I wanted, and I would do whatever it took to win his affection.