Chapter 21 CHAPTER 21
Evelyn’s POV
I had to be very sure what I was reading was true. I looked at the name of the lawyer at the bottom of the document. It was the same man who had authorized the previous contract. I pushed the chair backwards and stood up. Just then, the door opened and Alpha Michael stepped inside.
He saw the document in my hands and I saw the look in his eyes immediately, burning with rage. “You have no respect for boundaries.” His words hit me like daggers to my chest.
I raised the document up. “When were you going to tell me about this?”
He said nothing. He simply moved closer to his chair as I stepped aside.
“I thought the contract we signed that day contained all the agreement.”
He looked at me. “Those are the new additions.”
It was said so plainly, without remorse as though he could just alter a signed contract as he pleased.
“You can’t do that -”
“Can’t do what exactly? These are new areas of concern that weren't present when you first signed the contract. If you do not agree to it, we can call it a day here.”
I blinked, too stunned to speak. My fingers tightened around the papers until they creased. “I am not giving you any children, Alpha Michael. The contract mentioned that we would not need to have any intimate relations.”
“And I don't intend to have any with you.” His words sliced through me. “But you may sneak up to my bed one night and try to seduce me. And I may fall for it.” His eyes fell over my body. “And children may come out of it,” he continued. “You may even do that intentionally to keep yourself attached to Greywood even after the termination of our contract.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I only married you to save my family!” my voice cracked. “I am not a whore.”
“And I’m trying to protect mine,” he snapped back.
I took multiple steps backward, overwhelmed by how callous this man who sat in front of me was. He thought very little of me. Maybe trying to flirt a little with him in the office this morning had given him the effrontery to say these things to me. I turned around, forgetting the pitch I wanted to make as well as the document, and walked out of the room.
It wasn’t until I stepped into the hallway that the tears stung my eyes and poured. I looked at the long and quiet corridors and told myself I was an imposter there. I didn't belong. Alpha Michael didn’t care one bit about me, it was just a convenience. Someone with a perfect story he could use for whatever reason it was that he was pretending to be married.
I kept my head down as the tears continued to pour, trying as much as possible to avoid anyone seeing me. When I got to the end of the corridor, I almost bumped into someone. I raised my head to look at her, and the shock on her face changed to concern suddenly.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked softly, touching my shoulders gently.
I recognised her. I had seen her in Alpha Michael’s house that night when I got the news of my father’s death. “i’m fine,” I said, wiping my hand over my face.
“You’re crying,” she said, trying to usher me to a seat inside her cubicle.
“I'm not..” My voice betrayed me. “I need to be alone, please.”
I walked past her and rode the elevator down to my floor. I ran to my office, my shoes clicking on the tiles and ignoring the curious stares of the other junior workers. I collapsed on the floor behind the closed door of my office, and twisted my ankle. But I didn't pay attention to it. I kicked off the heels and cried. Stupid me dressing up to please Alpha Michael. The only thing he saw in me was a whore.
My phone buzzed and I ignored it. I sat on the floor until I stopped crying and until the tears on my cheeks dried up.
“Fuck him,” I said rising to my feet minutes later. I would find a way to save my father's company. I didn’t need his stupid money. Or anyone at Greywood. I picked up my phone and called Xavier. As the call connected, I rose up and walked to my desk. I pulled off the ‘Project Synergy’ pinned on my wall and trashed it. I was not going into an alliance with a selfish bastard like him.
“Hey, baby,” Xavier's voice cut through the humming.
“Xavier,” I called out. “I need a favour from you please.”
“Hey.. what do you need?”
I picked a pen and scribbled something on a piece of paper. “Can you convince mum to not sell the company, please? I really want us to keep the last thing dad left for us. And I have a plan to get investors. I just need time.”
There was a short pause and I bit my lips in apprehension. “I don’t know, Evie. She’s quite bent on selling it. Why do you need it though?”
“Xavi..”
"I know you loved dad, and all,” he continued. “You know you didn’t need to get married to that rich guy to take care of any of us. I can take care of you and I mean it.”
I sighed. It was quite hard for me to explain it, but my step brother had a big crush on me, and no matter how I tried to discourage him, he never stopped trying.
“I was quite heartbroken when I heard the news,” he said.
“Xavi.. Xavier, I’m so sorry about that but can you please help me here? I really need this.”
“She’s selling it off to Alpha Rowan,” he said finally. It felt like the floor was dragged off my feet. “He wants to buy the company.”