Chapter79
I flipped back to check Alpha Gideon’s morning coffee order.
Hand-brewed? Seriously?
I rushed to the break room in my heels, hunting for beans, a kettle, a grinder.
As my arms ached from grinding, I couldn’t help but laugh.
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I hadn’t joined Hartley for a cushy gig, but Elliot smoothly passing off the grunt work made me feel like a
drafted pack mule.
I brewed the coffee quickly and carried it to Alpha Gideon’s office.
Steadying my breath, I knocked.
“Come in,” came his cool, steady voice.
I stepped inside. Alpha Gideon was deep in paperwork, laser-focused.
I set the coffee gently by his right hand.
He glanced up, then back down.
Not wanting to disturb him, I turned to leave.
“Vivian,” Alpha Gideon called.
I turned back. “Anything else, Alpha Gideon?”
He tapped his cheek, staring at me.
I kept my professional smile, confused.
What’s with his cheek?
Seeing my blank look, he beckoned me closer.
I stepped forward.
Suddenly, he stood, his tall frame blocking the light, his scent flooding the air.
His long, elegant hand brushed my cheek-a jolt of electricity shot through me, raising goosebumps from my
face to my neck.
“You-” My eyes widened, and I stepped back.
“Got something on your face,” Alpha Gideon said, his voice low and warm, showing me the speck of coffee
grounds on his fingertip.
I was speechless, my lips pressing into a thin line.
“Thanks, but next time, just tell me.”
Alpha Gideon sat back down.
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“I did. You’re just slow.”
Tapping your face counts as telling? Why don’t you tap your dad’s face and call him a clueless old wolf!
I stormed out, my cheeks burning like I’d chugged a bottle of whiskey.
In the bathroom mirror, my face was flushed-Alpha Gideon was so petty!
One misfired message, and he thought I was flirting?
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At the 10:40 meeting, I stuck to taking notes.
Elliot handled notifying departments and prepping materials for the elders, knowing I was new and the tight
schedule left no time to catch up. He meant well.
By noon, we had a lunch meeting.
A real estate tycoon, William Prescott, had invited us-Hartley had long dabbled in real estate, co-developing
a resort with him.
The deal predated Alpha Gideon’s tenure; William was an old friend of Alpha Gideon’s father, practically
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Damien too.
urant.
the private room, we found not just William and his assistant, but Julian, Alpha Adrian, and
Great. William’s here to play mediator.
Alpha Gideon sat, his demeanor icy.
I tensed at the sight of Alpha Adrian, bracing for another outburst.
His eyes bored into me, like he wanted to burn a hole through my skull.
She’s already parading around with Alpha Gideon?
The others shot me subtle glances, but I let Alpha Gideon’s words echo: Clear conscience, no fear of shadows.
”
Let them think what they wanted. I wouldn’t embarrass him.
Elliot and I took our seats.
He’d warned me William loved pushing drinks, and we’d need to shield Alpha Gideon.
“Fill Alpha Gideon’s glass! Latecomers owe a shot!”
William boomed, kicking off the table’s drinking game.
I stood, smiling as I picked up the glass.
“Alpha Gideon’s got a cold-can’t drink. I’ll take it for him.” I raised it to my lips.
Before it touched, a pale, elegant hand snatched it away.
“You don’t need to drink. Sit.” His voice was calm, but there was an odd protectiveness to it.
Alpha Gideon set the glass down.
The room went dead silent.
Alpha Adrian gripped his own glass so hard it might shatter.
Others reacted-curious, frowning, pretending not to notice.
I was dazed, but I sat back down, trusting he had a reason. I’d play along.
“Alpha Gideon’s quite the gentleman,” Julian teased, sounding like a jab-implying he was snubbing William for a she-wolf. Even Charles would’ve given William face.
Alpha Gideon shot him a look, then smiled.
“You get me, Julian. Here-you drink this for me.”
He coughed weakly, laying it on thick.
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< Chapter79
You shameless pup!
Julian must’ve thought.
But Alpha Gideon, “sick” and unable to drink, had called him out.
Refusing would be awkward.
Grudgingly, Julian took the glass and drank, his face flushing with irritation.
Damien shot him an apologetic look.
He’d been shut out by Hartley repeatedly; at a recent gala, he’d begged William to arrange this meeting, dragging Julian in for backup.
Clearly, Alpha Gideon wasn’t giving anyone an inch.
Is he really that smitten with Vivian?
This level of protection screamed more than colleagues.
Damien glanced at Alpha Adrian.
William laughed, defusing the tension.
“Can’t drink with a cold-fair enough.” He signaled his assistant, still clutching the bottle, to back off.
Alpha Gideon’s move made it clear: he wasn’t playing ball.
Charles would retire eventually, and Alpha Gideon would run Hartley. Crossing him was unwise.
William had set this up to help Damien and gauge Alpha Gideon’s style.
“You should’ve warned me about the extra guests,” Alpha Gideon said, his smile polite but eyes frosty.
William, unfazed, kept his cheer.
“Meant to, but I figured you might bail. Damien’s been losing sleep over this project.”
Seizing the opening, Damien jumped in.
“Alpha Gideon, about the project loan-give us another shot. I know past issues raised doubts, but I swear, they won’t derail things. Alpha Adrian and I will keep it on track.”
Alpha Adrian sat stone-faced, saying nothing.
Damien didn’t expect him to.
Alpha Gideon listened, expression neutral, sipping his tea.
“Alpha Adrian, nothing to add?”
His sharp eyes locked onto Alpha Adrian’s face, thickening the tension in the room.
Alpha Adrian met his stare, the chill in his eyes flaring into sparks.
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Everyone braced.
Damien, fearing a scene, grabbed his shoulder.
“Alpha Adrian, talk it out.” He squeezed, signaling:
This is about the project. Don’t lose it.
Alpha Adrian’s gaze shifted from Alpha Gideon to me.
I was over it. I stared back calmly, like he was a clueless pup.
Finally, he turned to Alpha Gideon.
“What Damien said goes for me.” His voice was strained, despite his proud demeanor.
Alpha Gideon’s eyes glinted with mockery.
“What did Damien say? I’m a bit forgetful, Alpha Adrian. Run it by me again.”
Alpha Adrian’s fists clenched.
Begging was out of the question.
He stood abruptly, ready to storm out-until Damien jumped up, pulling him back, shooting him a calm
down look.
William watched, amused.
Alpha Gideon was toying with Alpha Adrian, likely over Vivian.
Can’t resist temptation, huh?
But he was pleased.
A tough wolf was easier to handle than an untouchable one.
Vivian was stunning, but beautiful she-wolves weren’t rare.
If Alpha Gideon was into them, William had plenty to offer.
“Alpha Adrian’s got no manners,” William said, feigning disapproval, then subtly signaled his assistant.
“Alpha Gideon’s tea’s empty. Fill it up. You’re slipping too.”
The assistant got the hint, tossing her hair with a flirty sway as she reached for the teapot.
Alpha Gideon raised a hand. “No need. We’re here to eat, not just sip tea.”
William hid his disappointment.
Not interested.
“Fair point. Let’s dig in,” he said.
They picked up their cutlery.
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<The Alpha Regr
