Avery and the Cursed Alpha

Avery's eyes brimmed with tears as she resumed work, the ache of her mother's passing still raw. Jack's words cut through her grief, his voice a cold slap that made her flinch. He was her superior in the office, no matter how much she disliked the fact.

"Avery, you've been absent for three days. Any particular reason?"

Avery's throat constricted, and she swallowed hard, fighting the tide of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She had known this moment was coming, had prepared herself for it, but the words still felt like a razor-sharp blade slicing through her already fragile composure.

"My mother passed away," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached for the words, trying to explain the unexplainable. "She had cancer. The funeral was… it was two days ago."

Jack's expression softened, but only slightly. "I'm sorry to hear that, Avery. But you know we have policies in place for bereavement leave. You should have…"

Avery's eyes flashed with a spark of defiance, tempering the grief that threatened to consume her. "I know, Jack. I'm sorry. It was...it happened suddenly. I couldn't think straight, I thought she could still be saved… She was doing better, but then she had a relapse..."

Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, willing the tears to stay at bay. Not here, not now. She couldn't afford to break down, not in front of Jack, not in front of everyone.

Jack's gaze lingered on her face, his eyes narrowing. "I see. Well, I hope you're prepared to catch up on your work. We've had to pick up the slack while you were away."

"I'll try to catch up, Jack," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush, like a desperate prayer. "I just… I need a little time."

Jack's smile was a thin, mirthless line, his eyes glinting with a spark of curiosity. "Time is a luxury we can't afford, Avery," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "You're already on thin ice. One more mistake, and you're out."

Avery's heart sank like a stone in the pit of her stomach, her fingers curling into fists as she fought to keep her composure. She nodded, her throat tight, and Jack's gaze lingered on her face, making her feel like she was drowning in a sea of his expectations.

But, when she turned to leave, Jack's hand brushed against hers, his touch sending a shiver down her spine when he grabbed her hand and winked seductively.

“Unless you say yes to… you know…” Jack whispered.

The air was thick with tension, and Avery's instincts screamed at her to run, to get as far away from Jack as possible, but she had to endure. The job was her only source of income and she needed every cent she could get. She gently pried her fingers from his hawk-like grip and went to her table. As she worked, Avery's mind wandered to the mountain of bills and debts she had to pay. The thought of losing the house, the only reminder she had of her mother, was unbearable. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, with no lifeline in sight.

Just as the anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Jessica, her best friend and confidante, checking in on her.

"Hey, Jess," Avery answered, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to compose herself.

"Ave, I talked to Sandra, and she has a job opening here at the hotel, the pay is better than your current," Jessica said, her voice filled with excitement. "You need to come and see her ASAP."