Chapter 11 Top Class Alpha
"Hey guys," Rhett began, addressing the group of designers in the conference room.
"As you all know, Alpha Damian Howard appointed Allie as his landscape designer, but Lily expressed some concerns about this decision, given Alpha Damian's identity and background. So I gave her the chance to be part of the project if she had any good suggestions." He turned his gaze to Lilith and Alicia, who were sitting across from him.
Lilith was beaming with confidence, while Alicia appeared to be lost in thought, preoccupied with something else entirely.
"Thus far, I've received drafts of Lily and Allie's designs. However, I've found a serious problem," Rhett announced, turning on the projector. On the screen appeared two general outlines of designs that looked eerily similar. Rhett flipped through slides, showcasing the garden, pool, and sculpture designs. They were almost identical.
Alicia stared at the screen in disbelief. How could Lilith's design be almost identical to hers? She felt like her ideas had been stolen, with Lilith only slightly altering the pattern of the pond and the placement of the sculptures. Oh, and she had added a few butterflies throughout the garden.
"What have you done, Alicia? You copied my work?" Lilith immediately stood up and pointed an accusing finger at Alicia.
"No, I didn't!" Alicia protested, but then she suddenly realized that Lilith had seen her design the previous night. It was all starting to make sense, but it seemed like it was too late to do anything about it.
"This is ridiculous! You're a new designer who hasn't even completed a formal project yet, and you're already thinking of copying others' work? What a terrible character you have! You know I stayed up two whole nights to complete this design," Lilith scolded hysterically, tears in her eyes.
She felt no remorse for stealing Alicia's ideas, especially since she had promised Vivi that she would get rid of Alicia no matter what. After all, she was the design director, the Beta of the Shinfancy Pack, and had more experience than Alicia. She knew that Alpha Rhett and the rest of their colleagues would take her side and stand by her, no questions asked.
"Allie, I remember when you left work yesterday, you said you left your apartment keys in the office," Cassie said suspiciously, eyeing Alicia with suspicion.
Alicia couldn't believe that Cassie, whom she considered a friend, was doubting her. Her lips quivered as she defended herself, "Yes, I did forget my keys in the office. But Lilith was there too when I went back to get them."
Lilith quickly interjected, "You see, she admits it! You must have snuck into my office after work yesterday to check my computer."
"No, I didn't steal your work. It was you who stood at my workstation yesterday and spied on my designs," Alicia explained, shaking her head helplessly, her voice shaking with emotion as the tears that had been stored in her eyes whipped out and landed on her chest.
Rhett dropped his gaze to Alicia's tear-stained face, processing the information he was gathering. Based on Cassie's account, Alicia had indeed returned to the office alone to retrieve her car keys after everyone had left work yesterday. However, it was clear that Lilith had also been in the office at the time. Unfortunately, the CCTV footage from yesterday afternoon had been deleted.
"I spied on your design? Are you kidding me?" Lilith accused Alicia hysterically. "I am the design director of Shinfancy. Do you think you're a world-famous design master? Ask anyone here who will believe you?"
There was a brief silence, during which Alicia's heart sank.
"I will!"
a voice declared, causing everyone to turn their heads toward the door. It was none other than Damian Howard.
Standing next to Damian was a curly-haired boy with glasses who appeared to have just reached adulthood. He helped Damian open the door to the conference room and immediately retrieved a spray, pressing it against the door handle to erase his and Alpha Damian's fingerprints. A competent Beta, as Alpha had taught him, had to help his mysterious Alpha eliminate any trace that might reveal his identity.
"Mr. Howard," Alicia said, looking at the tall and commanding figure before her in his well-tailored suit. Though she was in a state of shock, Alicia didn't notice the scent of her favorite lavender in the air. She longed to fly into Damian's arms and lean against his strong chest, not only because he was her mate but also because Damian had silently conveyed his trust in her words.
"Mr. Howard, what brings you here?" Rhett asked, surprised. It was the question everyone had been anticipating.
"Just a coincidence," Damian replied briefly to Rhett before turning to Alicia, whose lips were quivering. "Why didn't you shoot back?" he asked.
"I was defending myself," Alicia unconsciously answered, forgetting to wipe away the tears that had just slipped from her eyes.
Noticing Alicia's tears, Damian frowned and gazed grimly into his mate's beautiful olive-green eyes. At that moment, they were like emeralds that had fallen into the water, losing the original luster of the gem and depriving him of the brightness that symbolized optimism and innocence. That was not the Alicia he wanted to see.
Damian reached out with a somewhat rough thumb and wiped the tears from Alicia's face before saying, "You seem like a dying red wine right now."
Alicia blinked, understanding that Damian was referring to the change in the distinctive scent that emanated from her as his mate. She sniffed as she felt the lavender scent emanating from Damian become pungent and tinged with a chilly sensation.
"Ahem!" Rhett interrupted, temporarily disregarding the suspicion that Alpha Damian harbored feelings for Alicia. He reminded Damian, "I'm sorry, Mr. Howard, but we're in a meeting to discuss an important matter."
"I know," Damian interjected, his voice cold as steel. "I overheard all your discussions. And it seems you're talking about my courtyard design, so why don't you let me join your meeting?" He turned to Nadia, who was sitting next to Alicia. "Can I sit next to my designer?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Please, please sit," Nadia stammered but quickly stood up and reserved her seat for him. She wasn't a member of the Moon Halo Pack, but for some reason, Damian's request had the same effect on her as an Alpha's voice, and she couldn't say no.
"Alright, Redhead, go on. I'm listening," Damian said, settling into his seat and fixing his sharp, hawk-like gaze on Lilith, who looked pale and scared.
"Mr. Howard," Alicia wanted to say something to convince Damian not to waste his time stopping here for her, but the lavender scent emanating from him grew stronger, making her too nervous to speak.
After marrying into the Wilton family, Alicia had encountered top Alphas and knew that they possessed the ability to unleash an intimidating aura that could instinctively terrify average shifters.
Rhett noticed his employees shaking with fear at the ruthless aura emanating from the King of Rogues. Even he, as an Alpha, had just trembled. This was the difference in strength between a top Alpha and an average one.
Considering that the honored client was in a rather bad mood, Rhett tensely swallowed his saliva, hoping not to spoil their cooperation. He flipped the slides to the front and said, "Mr. Howard, this is the design that Alicia and Lilith came up with based on the proposal your Beta emailed. As you can see, they are nearly identical."
Fear and cold sweat soaked Lilith's clothes as Damian Howard entered the conference room. She had never expected him to appear out of nowhere. But he wasn't supposed to have received Alicia's design, so she might still have a chance to smear Alicia.
"Mr. Howard, as you can see, Alicia stole my design," Lilith said shakily, ignoring her pounding heart.
"Wait, who are you? I remember appointing Miss Scarlett to design the courtyard of my house," Damian asked, frowning.
Lilith's face looked terrible as she replied, "I'm the design director here."
"Lyon, contract," Damian commanded.
The boy whose name was called took a tablet out of his backpack and handed it to Damian, then pointed to a clause in the contract and reported, "Alpha, I'm sure our contract clearly states that Ms. Alicia Scarlett is to be the sole designer for this project."