Chapter 5 New Client
Alpha Ellis didn't pry into Alicia's personal affairs and instead asked the butler to arrange for a driver to take her back to downtown. Alicia knew she could always count on Alpha Ellis to look out for her like family. In fact, she considered him to be part of her inner circle.
Alicia suspected that Alpha Ellis was taking care of her on behalf of his brother Tobias. She was grateful for his kindness, but deep down, she couldn't shake off her reservations about the Wilton family, particularly Tobias.
When Alicia had first joined the pack, she had asked Tobias about her husband, only to be met with vague responses. On the other hand, Alpha Ellis had always been approachable and easy to talk to.
FLASHBACK
One year ago.
"How are you settling into the new apartment?" Alpha Ellis asked as he handed Alicia a steaming cup of coffee.
"It's great, thank you," Alicia replied, taking a sip.
She should have asked Alpha Ellis about Tobias earlier, but with her busy schedule and the chaos of moving, she hadn't had the chance. It wasn't until Alpha Ellis reached out to her recently that she found the courage to visit him at the Golden Moon Group HQ.
"Alpha Ellis, I came here today to ask about your ... hmm ... about my husband, Tobias." Alicia said hesitantly, still trying to adjust to the term "husband".
Alpha Ellis seemed to anticipate Alicia's question and nodded. "I understand why you're asking, but I'm afraid I can't tell you much about him right now. I know you're uncomfortable with this marriage, but please trust me when I say that you won't be trapped forever."
"Okay," Alicia said, and didn't pursue the question, although her heart was heavy with unanswered questions. She wasn't good at riddles.
Honestly, Alicia hadn't expected to get any information about her mysterious husband from the beginning. She wondered if Tobias Wilton was a taboo subject for the Wilton Family, something they couldn't talk about with anyone.
"Can I know why the Wilton Family would spend a large sum of money to get me to marry Tobias?" Alicia asked, as she was leaving Alpha Ellis' office. This question had been on her mind for a week.
Alicia knew she was just an average shifter, and her father's pack was nothing special. If she couldn't find out anything about her husband, she at least wanted to know why she had been chosen.
"A large sum of money? I don't think so," Alpha Ellis said, raising his handsome eyebrows. After all, ten million dollars was hardly a huge sum for the Wilton Family.
In the end, Alicia didn't get the answer she was looking for.
FLASHBACK END
Alicia got home at 1 p.m.. She had taken a day off with her boss to attend the pack meeting. Now that she was back in the city early, she decided to go back to work and finish her assignment.
At first, Alicia thought the Wilton Family wouldn't allow her to work for another company founded by a different pack. But to her surprise, Alpha Ellis didn't order her to quit her design job.
Shinfancy Creative Studio, where Alicia worked, was part of the Shinfancy Pack. Her boss, Rhett Joseph Boucher, was the Alpha of the Shinfancy Pack and her former mentor.
She started as an intern at the studio, and Mr. Boucher personally mentored her. He patiently taught her how to use new design tools, advised her on her intern evaluations, and praised her talent.
Although Alicia was the only employee in the studio who wasn't part of the Shinfancy Pack, most of her colleagues were friendly. She loved her job.
Of course, no one in the company knew that she was married. It wasn't that she deliberately kept it a secret, but when she got married, the Wilton Family had no intention of making it public.
"Hey, Allie, I thought you took the day off. What happened? Did your date end early?" Cassie, a co-worker, asked jokingly.
"A date? No, of course not. I had a headache over the weekend, but I'm feeling better now, so I came back to work," Alicia said, telling the lie she had made up on the way to the office.
"It's a good thing you didn't go on a date with someone else. Our Alpha Rhett would be heartbroken if you had quietly spent the night with someone else!" Nadia, a gossip-loving colleague, said with relief and patted her chest.
"I was thinking the same thing, Nadia," Cassie nodded.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Alicia quickly glanced over at her boss's office, which was only 25 feet away. It would be so embarrassing if he overheard their conversation.
"Relax," Cassie said, patting Alicia on the shoulder. "The boss took Andy to a client meeting, but they'll be back soon."
Back at their workbench, Cassie couldn't resist asking again. "Seriously, you don't have a date or anyone special in your life like a mate?"
"No, I don't. And I'd appreciate it if we could drop the subject." Alicia sighed.
Nadia chimed in, nudging Alicia's arm. "Come on, tell us! We won't spill the beans. Friends with benefits count, you know."
"No kidding! I don't have a date or a friend with benefits. And I don't need one either." Alicia rolled her eyes and walked back to her desk, her mind wandering to her husband whom she hadn't seen in a year of marriage.
Her colleagues returned to their work, and Alicia opened the folder on her desk. But Nadia's words had triggered a memory of the hotel incident last night. Alicia shook her head and took a few deep breaths.
"Alicia," She mentally scolded herself, "Focus. You're married, and you have to be faithful to your husband."
But just as she was getting into a groove, Nadia, sitting next to her, burst out with an announcement. "Ladies, Emma at the front desk says there's a super handsome Alpha here, even taller and more handsome than our boss. He's here to visit our company!"
Alicia couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. Alpha-level clients usually sought out high-level designers, but she was only a junior designer. She decided to focus on her work anyway.
"I'll go greet him," Nadia announced, already on her way to the meeting area.
"Plus me!" Cassie was ready to join her.
"Nadia, don't be silly," Lilith, the Design Director, reprimanded. "Focus on your work." With that, she straightened her polka-dot shirt and headed to the meeting area.
But Nadia ignored Lilith and still went to the meeting area, after all, she was the highest-ranking designer besides Lilith.
Alicia finally had a few moments of peace and quiet. But then she heard Nadia's excited screams from the meeting area.
"Oh my god, ladies, it's Damian Howard! Alpha of the Moon Halo Pack!"
"My moon god! Are you sure, Nadia, you've met him?" Cassie stood up immediately and grabbed Nadia's hand.
"Of course I have! My mother interviewed the Alpha two days ago, and I was there too. I'm pretty sure he's Damian Howard," Nadia said with conviction.
The name Damian Howard was like a double bolt of lightning that shattered Alicia's fragile concentration. She immediately raised her head and tried to find the King of Rogues they were talking about.
"Wait! I forgot the most important part! Alicia!" Nadia shouted.
"What's wrong?" Alicia stood up, and suddenly she had an unfortunate premonition.
"Mr. Howard wants to see you."
"Why?" Alicia asked.