Chapter 16

I woke up early and immediately began working.

My employee handbook lay open on my desk, my highlighter out. I knew there were company policies about quitting without notice, but my research and journalism skills kicked in and found the exact phrases I needed to get around them.

"... hostile work environment...," I included. "Acknowledge I forfeit unemployment compensation..."

By the time I was done, I knew I had a strongly worded document that would convince HR to leave me alone. I CC'd Charles and sent it off, feeling a weight leave my shoulders as the computer's whooshing send-noise accompanied the disappearing email.

I stood, stretched, and then made breakfast. I wanted to start my job search right away. I had a little savings, but I also didn't want to blow it all at once. The sooner I was on my path to my dreams the better.

I was halfway through my steak and eggs when my phone dinged. I picked it up, thinking it was Cathy.

"You'll regret this, Elena," it read. My mouth went dry and my stomach sickened. It was Charles.

I took a screenshot, making sure the time and date were visible, just in case I needed it in the future, and then deleted the message without responding.

After three weeks I'd had nothing but rejections and my inbox was full of emails or messages telling me the positions were filled or that I wasn't qualified. I hated to think Charles had something to do with it, but I knew deep down he was behind it.

I was qualified for the jobs I applied for. Overqualified in some instances, and yet I hadn't even been given a phone interview.

Half way through the fourth week, I finally got an interview request.

I made sure I looked good and sprayed on scent enhancer in hopes it would help. My resume looked beautiful in a bound folder, and I arrived early, ready to impress.

"Ms. Laurentia?" The receptionist looked at me over her glasses. "They'll see you now."

I stood, took a deep breath and walked into the room.

Craig, my old manager lounged back in his seat, his feet up on the desk and in my face as I walked in the room. I went to turn and go out, but the receptionist closed the door practically in my face.

We stared at each other in silence, him smirking, me scowling.

"This is some kind of sick joke, then?" I asked.

"Nice to see you, too, Elena. With that kind of attitude, you'll never get a job."

I turned to go. My hand was turning the knob when Craig called out, "You'll never get any job in this industry anyway, you know that right?"

I swung around to face him, taking two quick steps toward him that made him sit up, alarmed at my aggression.

"I don't know that, Craig. Unless you're doing something that's deeply unethical."

"Oh it's not me, honey," he said, sneering. "I'm just the fortunate enforcer. I'm supposed to make sure you get the message that you're blacklisted from this kind of work, and it's pointless to resist."

I stood, taking it in. I knew what that meant.

Craig took advantage of my silence to ridicule me further. "You're just a little cog in a big machine, and your pathetic little dreams will remain that. Dreams."

"Is this directive from above? Or is this a personal vendetta you have?"

Craig sneered. "You think I'm going to answer that? You must think I'm pretty stupid." He got up from his desk, frowning as he read the expression on my face which declared that I did indeed think he was stupid.

He walked closer, but I refused to be intimidated and didn't break eye contact.

"I can't believe I thought you were attractive."

"I don't think you really did," I corrected him. "I think you mistakenly thought I was an easy target."

His eyes narrowed. "Bet I'm looking better and better though, eh, Elena?"

"Not at all, actually."

"Hard when someone with that much authority wants you as a toy and won't let you go, isn't it?" He stepped closer. "I would have been much more understanding."

My stomach turned as his familiar licorice scent grew stronger. I needed to leave.

"I'll assume the position is filled," I said. "Don't waste your time leaving me a message saying so."

I turned and left the room, slamming the door behind me so hard that the receptionist looked up in surprise.

I didn't stop to apologize. There was one place I needed to go, and I needed to let my fury carry my momentum or I would wimp-out.

I strode the four blocks north to my old office and went determinedly in the large front doors.

I knew I didn't have my access card for the elevators, so I headed directly for the stairwell, hoping to catch the door as someone went in and out. Sure enough, the door was just closing as I neared.

I reached out to grab it, but someone grabbed my other arm from behind, whirling me around.

"Miss," the security guard said. "You can't go up without and access card."

"Hi, Brian."

"Hi, Ms. Laurentia. I've been given specific instructions about you."

"I see. I don't want to get you in trouble." I immediately moved away toward the coffee cart and he nodded gratefully. He returned to his post but his eyes still watched me.

I pulled out my phone and sighed, opening my texts and typing in Charles' name.

I'm downstairs in the lobby. We need to talk.

I doubted he would respond. He may even be in a meeting. But he needed to know that I knew what he was up to and I wasn't going to take it laying down, Alpha or no Alpha.

I sat on one of the benches, determined to wait as long as it took, even if I had to wait until closing and he left to go home. I was going to see this through.

I'd just opened my phone's job search app to kill time when the elevator pinged and the clicking of high heels came toward me. I looked up as they stopped in front of me.

It was Jessica. She was sneering down at me.

"I don't recommend you trying to get your old job back. I'll make sure you stay even less time than before."

I raised an eyebrow, then returned to my phone. Her feet turned and clicked away, then stopped.

"Are you coming, or what?" she demanded.

I looked up at her. "I didn't realize that was what you were doing here."

"You think I accost random annoying people in the lobby for no reason?"

"Honestly, it seems entirely in character."

She snarled. I tried not to smile, stood, and walked with her into the elevator. We had a tense, silent ride up, though I was elated the entire time. Judging from her silence, it seemed that I'd gotten the best of her.

She waved me into Charles' office, shutting the door behind me.

He looked up, his blue eyes snapping with anger and triumph. He inhaled deeply and sighed.

He glared at me as he stood up and moved toward me around his desk, elegant and powerful.

"I accept your apology," he said, his voice cold. His tone was unfamiliar to me, but I assumed it was how he spoke to his rebellious prey.

"That's not why I'm here. I won't apologize for anything I did."

His head jerked back in surprise and narrowed his eyes, but he said nothing.

"I know you've got the word out that I'm un-hirable. That creepy Craig pretty much told me you've had me blacklisted. That's illegal, Charles. And it's petty."

Charles walked back to his desk. He picked up the phone, turned his back, and muttered into it before slamming it back down and turning to me again.

"What was that?" I demanded. "Making sure I don't leave the building alive?"

"I was firing that idiot, Craig. He'll never work again in this industry either. Feel better?"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," I said, throwing out my arm in amazement. "Your abuse of power. He was a terrible person but it's wrong to just do that. It's unethical."

"I thought you said Craig was a gross, lecherous person."

"Oh, he is! But that doesn't mean you have the right to be equally horrible. There are channels for dealing with that kind of behavior without destroying someone forever."

"Elena," Charles said easily, running a hand through his dark hair and making me giddy despite myself. Why was he so handsome? "I'm a predator. An Alpha predator. I am made to destroy."

We stared at each other in tense silence. His smell was infiltrating my brain, making my furious mind less so.

I shook my head. I needed to keep fighting.

Charles sighed and leaned back against his desk, folding his arms. He cocked his head sideways and looked at me with interest.

"This side of you, it's interesting. Less quiet. Less accepting of everything."

"I've always been this way. You just never took the time to find out."

He nodded, seeming to take in what I was saying. He smiled a coy, wicked smile.

"I have to admit, I find it sexy."

I felt myself starting to blush. I shook my head again, trying to get him out of my head, but my body was beginning to betray me.