Chapter 123
Chapter 123:
“Ah, yes,” he purred, the sound sending a shiver of revulsion down my spine. “I heard about the unfortunate incident. A terrible shame for your new friend, Ms. Vance. The archives are so dusty this time of year p>
My blood ran cold. I hadn’t told him it was Elara. I hadn’t told him about the punishment.
“How do you know that?” I asked, my grip on the phone tightening until my knuckles turned white.
“I know everything that happens in that building, sweetheart,” he chuckled darkly. “But I’m glad you called. I was wondering how long it would take for your bleeding heart to get the better of you p>
𝗧h𝗲 b𝖾st 𝗋е𝘃іе𝘸ѕ oո
He had a mole. Someone inside the firm was feeding him information.
“What do you want, Braydon p>
“Dinner,” he said simply. “Tonight. Le Bernardin. Seven o’clock. Don’t be late, or I might feel inclined to file a formal negligence suit against Ms. Vance before dessert p>
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone slowly, nausea churning in my stomach. I looked at Elara, who was watching me with wide, terrified eyes. I had thought I was stepping up to negotiate — that I could use my status as Dallas’s Mate as a shield. But as the silence of the breakroom pressed in on me, I understood the truth.
I hadn’t seized control. I had walked straight into the cage he had left open for me.
Adella
The private dining room at Le Bernardin smelled of old money and suffocating silence. Thick crimson carpets swallowed the sound of my heels as I walked toward the solitary table in the center. Braydon sat there, swirling a glass of Pinot Noir, looking every inch the grieving son and misunderstood Alpha he pretended to be in public.
“You’re late,” he said, not bothering to look up.
“I’m here to discuss the restoration project,” I said, my voice tight. I remained standing, clutching my purse like a shield. “I know about the damage to the treaty. I’m willing to offer my personal services to repair it, free of charge, if you drop the negligence claim against Elara Vance p>
Braydon finally looked at me. His eyes, the color of stagnant pond water, crinkled at the corners. He laughed — a dry, humorless sound.
“Sit down, Adella. You look ridiculous hovering like a nervous waitress p>
“I’m not staying for dinner. I want your word that Elara is safe p>
“My word?” He took a slow sip of wine. “My word is that if you don’t sit in that chair in the next five seconds, I will call the Alpha Council. By morning, Ms. Vance will be a Rogue, and your precious S&D Design will be buried under so many lawsuits that Augusta won’t be able to afford a cup of coffee p>
My stomach twisted. I felt the cold steel of his trap closing around my ankle. I pulled out the chair and sat.
“Good girl,” he purred. The endearment made my skin crawl. “Now, let’s skip the pleasantries. I don’t care about the treaty. I want you to come home p>