Chapter 46 CHAPTER 46
Evelyn's POV
Her words were cruel but they were true. I didn't stand a chance against her and she had shown me time and again.
“You are smart,” I give it to you, she said rising from her seat and heading towards the door. She looked down the corridor as though she was expecting someone, then returned. “But you are using it the wrong way.”
She sat down again. “See, I'm not the enemy here. You and I can become good friends and even help each other along the way. I just need you to know your place.”
“What do you want from me, Rosa?”
Her lips stretched into a smile. “I know the marriage between you and Alpha Michael is fake,” she said, dropping her voice. “The thing is, I don't want you here at all. Neither does Alpha Raymond. So why do you want to be disgraced for something that is fake?”
She rose up and paraded in the room. “Men like Alpha Michael are made for people like me. He fits me. You don't belong here.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“So, let me make this worth your while. You surrender, that is, you leave Alpha Michael and in exchange, I may be able to get your company back for you.”
I parted my lips, dry and parched. “You might?”
“If you make this easy for both of us. You don't gain anything by being a puppet wife. You are smarter than that.”
I didn't know if I could trust Rosaleen after everything. But I knew she was a good thief and manipulator. There was no way I could win a fight against her. Perhaps, hoping she would keep her words was the best I could hope for. The chance that I could walk away with my father's company was better than hoping I could beat her.
“I accept your deal,” I said to her.
I would give up my position as Products manager and at the end of the quarter, Alpha Raymond would make her the wife of his son.
I returned to my office, a little bit more deflated than I was in the morning. Giving in to defeat sucked.
I returned home earlier than usual. I was still sour about what Tamara did and I was taking it out unnecessarily on the housekeeper. My throat was a bit sore from the stress of the previous day and I went down to the kitchen to make some ginger tea for myself. I stood against the counter for a long time, the sound of the spoon hitting the ceramic punctuating the silence.
“Are you lost in thought?”
I turned around suddenly, almost knocking the mug off the counter. Alpha Michael stood in the door way.
“I.. er..just fixing myself some tea,” I said, picking up the mug.
He walked towards me and blocked my path. His eyes peered into mine as though he wanted to see my soul. I felt my heart thud frantically against my chest and my mouth went dry.
“I..”
He reached for my hand before I could say a word and held it. I lost all control and the mug dropped from my hand, spilling the warm content on the floor and on my bare feet.
I cried out gently.
“Step back,” he said, guiding me away from the mess to the dinning table. “Let me fix you another cup. “
I nodded and watched the muscles of his back contract and relax as he moved about fixing my tea. I sat on the chair, swinging my leg like a happy child.
“I added some honey to soothe your throat,” he said, dropping the tea in front of me.
I picked it up and sniffed it. It smelt good. I smiled. “How did you know I had a sore throat?”
His mouth twitched. I wasn't sure if he wanted to smile or not. “I live here too, remember?” He sighed. “You look pretty much better than yesterday. “
I took a sip. “Don't remind me.”
He sat on the chair opposite mine. “I'm sorry it seemed I didn't trust you yesterday,” he said. “I want to hear solely from you now. Was the product yours?”
I shook my head, avoiding eye contact.
“Evelyn Moon,” he called. “Look at me.”
I raised my eyes to meet his. “It wasn't mine. There was a misunderstanding,” I said but I didn't expect my voice to break that way. I sounded so unconvincing.
“I overheard you today,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
“You didn't hear well,” I said and forced a laughter. I wasn't even sure what he was talking about. “Rosaleen and I have come to a better understanding of each other, Michael.”
He leaned back. “Do you know there'll be serious punishment for lying?”
I swallowed audibly. “Rosaleen is willing to let it go,” I said.
“Well, not me.” He rose up to his feet. “Tomorrow, there'll be a disciplinarian panel. You'll be asked these questions and I advise you that you'd be careful with your answers. If it was your product, stick with that story.”
I sat down there, long after he was gone. Why was he acting like he wanted to know the truth now? Would anyone even believe me if I said the truth?
Sleep evaded me that night. I knew what I wanted, yet who I was clashed with that. Was I to stick to the truth or take Rosaleen's offer? I dosed off in the early hours of the morning.
The panel held in a small room and it consisted of board members, the company's secretary, Alpha Michael and his father, Jasper, Rosaleen, Tamara and I. It was a small gathering of about twenty people, yet it felt like a mob. I saw the looks on their faces. A lot of them had already passed judgement before hearing my story. Alpha Raymond didn't even look at me. Rosaleen sat at the farthest distance from me on the table. Her head was bent over her tab and she seemed to be scrolling through it nervously. I could tell that something was wrong.
The meeting started and I was called on to give my testimony. I rose up, adrenaline pumping through my veins
and looked at the pair of eyes that all watched me. The truth or another deal?