Chapter 97
A call from Alpha Gideon now? Please don’t tell me it’s overtime.
I pulled the car over and answered, “Hey, Alpha Gideon.”
“Come up.”
His steady, slightly stern voice came through the line.
“Got it.”
I hung up, sighed, and turned the car around.
After parking, I headed back upstairs, dropping my bag in my office before hurrying to Alpha Gideon’s. I caught my breath, knocked, and stepped in.
Alpha Gideon was shutting his laptop and standing up.
He glanced at me, his tone dry. “You’re real quick to clock out.”
I froze. He saw me leave?
No way-his door was closed, and I’d checked before slipping out.
Then it hit me.
I touched my flushed face.
Our offices were close; my slow return and sweaty arrival had given me away.
Ugh.
“I had something to take care of, so I left right on time,” I said, emphasizing on time to make it clear I wasn’t
cutting out early.
“Urgent?”
Alpha Gideon asked casually, grabbing his suit jacket from the rack and slipping it on with effortless, refined
grace.
“Your business comes first, naturally,” I replied, smiling professionally.
Alpha Gideon adjusted his cuffs, glancing at me again.
“No need to prioritize me. If it’s urgent, just say so.”
His tone was unusually gentle, his eyes soft with a misty concern that could easily pull you in.
I stayed steady. “Alpha Gideon, what’s the task?”
He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Vivian, always the professional.”
His opening jab had dripped with annoyance-his “care” was just a test of my loyalty.
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This wolf loved digging traps, luring you to jump in, then circling back to strike. He’d make a great con artist.
Alpha Gideon got to the point. “Last-minute business mixer. You’re coming with me.”
He grabbed his phone and headed out.
I followed, skeptical. Last-minute?
Who agrees to a spur-of-the-moment invite like that? Who’s this VIP?
Outside, Elliot emerged from the assistant’s room.
“Alpha Gideon.”
“No more tasks today. You’re free to go,” Alpha Gideon said, striding forward.
Elliot lit up, ready to bolt, but then he saw my miserable expression as I darted to my office and back out in a frenzy.
“What’s up?” he whispered.
“Gotta go with him to a business mixer,” I muttered.
“Wasn’t on the schedule.”
“It is now.”
We exchanged a few hushed words.
At the elevator, Alpha Gideon stood with his back to us. When the doors opened, he stepped in, and we
followed, standing behind him.
My mood was sour.
If the lunch fiasco hadn’t happened, I’d have been fine tagging along. New role, new connections-it would’ve been great for networking with old and new faces.
But today, I had bigger fish to fry.
After the initial rage, I’d spent the afternoon mulling over the forgiveness letter, planning to hash it out with
Cassie.
Elliot noticed my gloom and took a bold shot at Alpha Gideon. “Hey, Alpha Gideon, how about I go to the
mixer instead?”
“I need a female companion. You a she-wolf?” Alpha Gideon checked his watch, his tone flat.
Elliot choked.
I could almost hear him thinking: You’ve never brought a date before.
Alpha Gideon glanced back, catching Elliot’s slightly hurt look.
“What, you wanna be my date? Fine, I’ll pay for the best surgeon to make it happen.”
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As we exited the elevator, Elliot shot me an I tried look.
I nodded gravely, signaling I get it.
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One more word, and ruthless Alpha Gideon might neuter him. Who’d dare push back? Not me.
Elliot was a good wolf-just outmatched.
We parted ways in the garage.
Elliot, nearly turned into a she-wolf, probably planned to hit a club to shake off the shock.
I followed Alpha Gideon to his car, firing off a quick text to Cassie: Got a last-minute thing. I’ll swing by your
place tonight.
No reply-Cassie was probably swamped.
At the car, I headed for the driver’s seat, only to find it occupied.
“Hey!” A young, handsome wolf with short black hair waved, flashing a bright grin. A tiny black cross earring glinted in his ear, and his white tee revealed tattoos snaking from his neck to his arm. Did a punk hijack the
car?
But he looked vaguely familiar.
“He cute or what?” Alpha Gideon leaned down behind me, peering in.
I ignored his jab. “Who’s he?”
“Driver. Isn’t it obvious?”
“Crystal clear.”
I dropped it, opened the back door. “Alpha Gideon, after you.”
He slid in.
The door slammed shut, and I caught him watching me circle to the front passenger seat-his face
darkening.
I climbed in, greeting the driver. “Hey.”
“Yo, I’m Caleb Morgan. Spelling’s not important-just call me Caleb,” he said, friendly.
“Cool, Caleb.”
I touched up my makeup in the car, distracted by my thoughts. At the hotel hosting the mixer, I finally asked,
“Who’s the big shot who got you out here last-minute?”
“Julian.”
“Him? You two tight?”
“Eh, so-so.”
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“Then why go?”
I was puzzled.
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Alpha Gideon turned, his smile warm and disarming. “No reason. Just felt like stretching my legs.”
“Just because” wasn’t in his dictionary.
But I believed he and Julian weren’t close.
The last time they played golf, it had felt purely business-no bond strong enough to drop everything for a
random invite.
So he wasn’t here for Julian. He was after someone else.
Alpha Gideon’s hand pressed gently against the back of my head, his smile knowing. “It’s not that deep.”
A few steps later, I realized how close we were walking-and I hadn’t even noticed.
A bit spooked, I sidestepped, brushing my hair. “Got it.”
Alpha Gideon went quiet.
We reached the hotel’s grand terrace floor.
As we entered, all eyes turned to us-but mine locked on a familiar face in the crowd.
< The Alpha Regretted Having An Affair
