Chapter 65
Claire’s POV
I mentally groaned. This conversation was one that I feared we would have more often in the future if nothing was done about it.
“Why are you here?” I queried before my eyes went to the clock and I discovered it was already past 6pm.
“You said my work hours end at five. I'm off duty.”
“I'm not here for that,” he replied. “Alfie and I are going to have dinner at that restaurant on the outskirts of town.”
“And what has that got to do with me?”
He rolled his eyes. “You didn't even give me the chance to finish. Is that how badly you want me out of your presence?”
I shrugged.
The Alpha heaved a deep sigh. “Well, as I was saying, my cousin and I want to have dinner outside and he wants you to join us.”
My eyes narrowed in scepticism. “Are you sure he’s the one who wants me to tag along or you are just using him to get me to be with you?”
“Now, why would I do that?” he said with a mischievous grin.
“Whatever, Kelvin,” I replied. “But please let Alfie know that I am not interested in stepping out of this Castle this evening. Perhaps some other time. I have dinner plans with someone else.”
His eyes immediately became a shade darker. “And who did you make dinner plans with?”
“Why do you want to know? The last time I checked, I was just your employee, nothing more.”
“You know what? I am not even going to have this conversation. You are coming with us. Consider it as you working extra hours. I'm going to pay for your extra time.”
A gasp of disbelief slipped from my lips. “Well, thankfully, I am not that desperate to make some extra cash. And you are not going to force me out that door, are you?”
His glittering eyes told me that he was seriously considering it.
“Why don't you just ask the Luna to join you guys if you are really desperate for female company?” I queried. “She’s certainly going to be happy to have dinner with you two.”
The Alpha’s lips trembled with the effort not to reply even as his eyes glared daggers at me.
Abruptly, he turned and stormed out of the room.
“Now, that was immature,” I said to myself as I lowered my back to the bed.
I could grab an extra hour of sleep before my Aunt returned to have dinner with me.
Just as the gentle hands of sleep were beginning to lure me into its depths, the sound of knuckles rapping on my door filled my ears.
It was certainly not Aunt Lora, so I ignored it, thinking that the person was eventually going to get tired and leave.
I was wrong.
Angrily, I rolled out of bed, ready to give whoever it was, a serious lecture about not being an asshole by disturbing other people's rest.
The words instantly died in my throat when I pulled the door open and came face-to-face with Alfie, who was wearing a rather disarming smile.
He also had a bouquet of freshly plucked roses in one hand.
“I'm so sorry for disturbing you and I wouldn't have done it if there had been any other way. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and I just think it would be my greatest loss if you do not join me for dinner this evening.”
Nervously, I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. He wasn't just beautiful, he also knew how to be persuasive and those enchanting eyes of his surely helped to get him whatever he wanted.
The charming eyes in question were staring down at me hopefully.,
Now, how could I say no to that?
“Fine,” I said. But I'm only doing this because you are leaving tomorrow.”
His lips curled into a grin as he handed me the flowers. “I thought it was because I was devastatingly handsome.”
I scoffed. “Some people have really been deceiving you all your life. Anyway, you are going to have to either wait here or anywhere else apart from inside my bedroom.”
“Yes ma’am,” he replied. “And you can take all the time in the world getting ready. I wouldn't mind at all.”
“Yeah right,” I murmured before gently shutting the door.
I quickly found a vase for the flowers and then gave Aunt Lora a call to apologize and inform her about the change of plans.
Thankfully, she was understanding.
Within thirty minutes, I had showered and gotten dressed.
To my surprise, Alfie was still standing by the door when I walked out of my bedroom.
His eyes immediately lit up and he shamelessly let them travel down the length of my body.
“Words would not do justice to how breathtaking you look,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on my cleavage.
I had chosen a simple black A-line short backless halter neck dress that showed a little bit of cleavage.
It was the first time in a long while I had worn something like that.
Alpha Kelvin had made sure my closet was filled with dresses like these that ranged from ridiculously short to long, and clothes suitable for work.
Alfie’s compliment and the way he was staring at me with undisguised adoration, made me feel a little weak in the knees.
“Please don't tell me you’ve been standing here since I left you to go get ready,” I said, hoping he didn't notice the breathlessness in my voice.
“I won’t tell you, Claire,” he replied and then added after a small pause. “The Alpha is waiting for us downstairs which is funny because he doesn't wait for anyone. Are you certain he isn’t the one who has a massive crush on you?”
“Who cares?” I replied. “It's not like it matters anyway.”
“I agree with that,” he said and held out his arm. “Shall we?”
With a shy smile, I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow and allowed him to lead me to where his cousin was waiting.
Alpha Kelvin, who had been pacing in front of a black limo, went still when he saw us.
He was wearing a simple black T-shirt and a pair of black pants.
The dark colour only added to his sex appeal and brought out the beauty of his grey eyes.
His lips parted as his eyes roamed my features in an unabashed manner.
Without warning, his eyes darkened to a vivid forest green and my heart pounded wildly in response.
Alfie chuckled. “Kelvin, I think you are being inappropriate right now. You have a wife, remember?”
Thankfully, his words were enough to bring the Alpha back to his senses.
“What took you two so long?” he queried, his gaze fixed on our joined arms.
“You know what they say about women,” Alfie replied and I scowled at him.
Thirty minutes wasn't long at all.
Without saying another word, the Alpha got into the car.
Alfie looked at me expectantly and gave a tiny frown when I hesitated.
“Aren’t you going in?”
How could I explain to him that I didn't want to sit close to the Alpha?
“You should go in first. I love sitting close to the window,” I replied.
His lips quirked in amusement.