Chapter 23
“Are you ready?” Alpha Kaiden asked, his gaze cold and domineering ast his alpha side took over.
Anastasia looked at him for a few seconds before nodding, Logan’s words. echoing in her head.
“For someone who doesn’t think twice before retorting, your reaction was quite slow,” Kaien commented, looking at her from the corner of her eyes before they walked out of the elevator.
She observed him.
His walk, his back, broad shoulders, well–built biceps, his fitted clothes, his hand that moved into his pocket as he walked, his présence dominating and asking for submission, she observed everything like a hawk.
‘He has never touched a woman intimately before. His fake reputation,” She remembered Logan’s words and felt guilty for all the times she called him a rapist when the poor guy couldn’t even touch a woman or fall in love because of the curse.
His words that day when he said she was lucky to find a mate and threw it all, his anger and
rejected an alpha, everython when she told him that she
sighed.
to make sense to her, and she
It’s been a really long time since Anastasia felt guilty about something, and she didn’t like the feeling of it.
‘I told you he is not a bad guy, didn’t I?‘ Dione jumped at the first opportunity, and Anastasia rolled her eyes.
‘He is still the same guy who is keeping us captive here, the same guy who tied us with those silver chains whose marks are still on our ankles, and most definitely the same person who yanked us through the chains as they slapped our skin, Anastasia reminded her wolf, and the latter narrowed her eyes.
But he has a reason for it. Not all rumours about him are fake. His life was indeed ruined because of the rogues. He got this curse all because of the rogues. So, can you really blame the guy for being how he is? He is a good guy, and it shows in the respect his people hold for him. I don’t know about other things, but he is definitely better than the scum of our
ex–mate, Dione said.
Anastasia noticed how her wolf’s voice immediately turned sad, and she sighed.
Her wolf took the heaviest blow of what happened that night. And why not? The human counterparts and their bonds of love are nothing in front of what these wolves have, and to say, her wolf was the one who asked Anastasia to reject the love she was destined for. She can’t even imagine what kind of pain Dione must’ve suffered in that moment. Though she never mentions it, Anastasia can feel how much her wolf yearns for the love she never could’ve.
“That doesn’t give you any green pass to like this walking red flag; Anastasia said.
Oomph! Anastasia’s eyes closed as her brows squinted and her nose scrunched in pain when she bumped into a wall.
“Oww,” Anastasia rubbed her nose.
“I only thought that you were distracted earlier, but seeing you bumping into me lik
this straight ahead and then daring to call me a wall, I guess you were sleepwalking,” Kaiden looked at her amused.
Anastasia looked into Kaiden’s eyes, glaring at him. She suppressed the urge to retort with a snarky reply and smiled at him.
“I am sorry, sir,” She said.
Kaiden looked at the girl up and down before sighing.
“I don’t want any mistakes, Sia. If you messed up, I am going to deduct your salary. Don’t come to me later asking why you were working for me for free when I don’t give you anything,” Kaiden said, and Anastasia nodded.
“It won’t be repeated, sir,” she said as they entered the room where a man. in his late thirties was already sitting with a girl on either side.
“Mr. Kaiden,” the man stood from his place and extended his hand.
Kaiden shook his hand and sat down.
“What can I get you?” the man asked.
Kaiden waved his hand leisurely as he leaned back in his seat, his gesture a clear indication that he didn’t want anything.
“Well, isn’t this the first time Mr. Kaiden actually has a date? Who is she?” The man asked, and Anastasia could feel his lecherous gaze run up and
down her body, making her feel a bit conscious.
“My new secretary,” Kaiden said, and the man nodded.
“Quite a beauty, I must say,” The man said.
Anastasia suppressed the urge to roll her eyes as she noticed the girls looking at her with jealousy before their gaze shifted to Kaiden. She didn’t need a genius to tell her what was going on inside their heads. “Let’s talk business. I don’t have the entire day,” Kaiden said, and Anastasia pulled out the contract from her bag.
She stood from her and placed the contract on the table in front of the man, well aware of how his gaze lingered on her ass.
It didn’t surprise her. This wasn’t her first time working at a company, and surprisingly, each one of them was the same.
“Read the contract before signing. I hope you have brought the company’s seal with you. I want things finalized today only,” Kaiden said. The man looked at Kaiden before his gaze shifted to Anastasia.
He took the contract and started reading it to ensure it was alright. Kaiden and the man discussed a few terms of the contract, what the man was planning to do with the collaboration and their execution plans. Anastasia noted everything as Kaiden had asked her to.
Once they were done talking and the man started reading the terms. again, Kaiden leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting to the girl beside him, who was already looking at him with soft eyes.
It was different. There was something about Anastasia’s gaze that was. different right now. This wasn’t how she was looking at him earlier. Did something happen in those 15 minutes he left her alone? Kaiden raised his brows inwardly.
“Oh, I will. However, apart from this contract and deal, I am interested in something, Mr. Kaiden. I won’t beat around the bush and come straight to the point. This secretary of yours, I have taken quite a fancy to her. How about you let me spend this evening with her, and I assure you that I will increase the share by 5%? I think it’s a fair deal,” the man said, and Anastasia froze in her place.
She had seen this kind of culture almost everywhere, and this wasn’t the first time she had gone through these kinds of suggestions, but this time it felt different. Maybe because she knew this time she couldn’t run away? It wasn’t some sleazy alpha but Alpha Kaiden this time. It was a matter of
her life, her entire plot of revenge, and her dignity.
There was no doubt she would choose her dignity, the dignity for which her mother died, but-
5% was a great deal. And knowing all too well how much Alpha Kaiden. hates rogues, she wouldn’t be surprised if he said yes today. After all, their lives meant nothing to –
“Okay,” Kaiden said.
Anastasia closed her eyes in embarrassment. She had anticipated this kind of answer, but for some reason, it still hurt her, and she clenched her hands around the side of her thighs.
She opened her eyes, her gaze meeting those girls who had mockery in their eyes for her, and she gulped her anger, trying her best to control her emotions.
There was no way she was letting an obnoxious alpha make a deal out of her dignity. She gritted her teeth, waiting for Kaiden to leave them alone so that she could teach this old man a good lesson.
Her eyes burned with anguish, and Kaiden observed her with a bored expression.
“That’s great,” The man said before he increased the percentage himself and signed the contract.
“Here, it’s done,” the man said, and Kaiden hummed before leaning forward.
“We are done here, let’s go,” Kaiden stood from his place and held Anastasia’s hand, making her raise her brows.
Let’s go? But didn’t he –
“Mr. Kaiden, leave the girl. Did you forget –”
“You are the manager and not the CEO himself, and even if it had been the CEO, you should’ve known that Blackthorns don’t sacrifice their people for a measly 5%,” Kaiden smirked.
“You! You duped me!” The so–called manager shouted, and Kaiden hummed.
“You should’ve studied my profile before coming to make this deal. If you have a problem, tell your CEO to talk to me. I will handle things myself, Kaiden said before he sighed and walked to him, leaving Anastasia near the door.
Kaiden looked into the man’s eyes before he leaned forward.
“Next time you try to make a move on my people, don’t forget I am still the same person rumored to have annihilated 50 people with my bare hands,” Kaiden said, letting his eyes darken a bit, and the man gulped, his eyes wide as saucers as he looked at the man, remembering all the rumors about his mafia background.
To say Anastasia was shocked would be an understatement.
‘Did Alpha Kaiden really take my side?‘ She thought, her pupils dilated. “You didn’t really think I would let someone bully my employees, did you?” Kaiden grabbed her hand and pushed her against the wall they were out of the area, making her gasp at the sudden action in the busy corridor.
She noticed how almost everyone was looking at them.
nice
“Hahaha, how can I think like that? Of course not. If I had thought that, wouldn’t I have shown my disapproval already?” Anastasia smiled forcefully.
“Do you think I am a fool? I am sure you were thinking of beating that man–to a pulp before running away as soon as I left the room,” Kaiden said, and Anastasia didn’t hide it.
“Is that the reason you saved me? You were afraid that I would run away?” Anastasia asked, and Kaiden hummed.
“I won’t deny it. It was a major part of it,” he smirked, making her smile. Probably, her wolf was right. This man in front of her wasn’t as bad as he looked to be.
“Besides, I am yet to avenge that kiss,” Kaiden bent forward and took a whiff of her scent, sighing deeply, his hot breath on her skin, making Anastasia’s legs tremble a bit.
This man was really dangerous for her, but in a hell lot of different ways. “Anyway, I have a proposition for you,” Kaiden said, and Anastasia scrunched her brows as he grabbed her hand and took her out of the building before pushing her into the car.
She thought they were going back to the company, but he drove the car towards the highway before stopping near the forest.
She looked around, slightly confused with what he was trying to do.
“What kind of proposition is this that requires us to come this far away?”
Anastasia asked.
Kaiden took a deep breath.
“I want you to enter into a contract marriage with me,”
Anastasia didn’t react. She kept looking at him, waiting for him to tell her that he was just joking, but when he didn’t, she narrowed her eyes.
“You are kidding me, right?” Anastasia asked.
Kaiden smiled at her, a genuine smile for the first time.
“I am not kidding you, but I surely want a kid with you,” Kaiden said, shocking Anastasia again.
“Alpha Kaiden, I think you have legit lost your mind,” She said before turning around, but before she could move another step, Kaiden held her hand and pulled her close, looking straight into her eyes.
“I am willing to wait for you till you get over your revenge. It’s not a love interest, so you don’t need to be scared that you would be bound to me. As you can see and might’ve heard too, you are the only girl I have been able to touch intimately so far. It was proven with that kiss. Just like all the alphas, I need an heir to continue my bloodline. That’s why I need your help. In return, I am willing to help you with anything as long as it is legal,” Kaiden said, and Anastasia gulped.
He looked serious.
“You don’t need to give me your answer today. I will wait. Think it through. You have one week to decide what you want to do,” Kaiden said before he walked to the car and opened the door for her to enter.
