After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 62

Elle's POV

I stared at the mountain of documents piled on my desk, feeling completely overwhelmed. My eyes burned from staring at spreadsheets all morning, and I reached for my coffee cup only to find it empty. Again.

"How the hell did I end up here?" I muttered under my breath, massaging my temples.

Now, I was somehow responsible for preparing materials for a major business negotiation with Carter Group. The abrupt assignment left me scrambling to catch up.

I'd been frantically studying since receiving this assignment. I'd even borrowed books, hoping to avoid making a fool of myself. But the more I read, the more I realized how unprepared I was.

"Elle, did you finish reviewing the preliminary agreement?" A coworker dropped another folder on my already cluttered desk.

"Working on it," I lied, forcing a smile. The truth was, I barely understood half the terminology in the documents.

I glanced at my reflection in the computer screen. The morning's meeting with Raymond Carter had left me anxious, and now I was expected to somehow become an expert on international trade overnight. Was I really qualified for this position, or was it just because I was carrying Brad's child?

The thought of Brad made my chest tighten. Things between us had become so complicated.

As I reached for yet another document, a sudden hush fell over the office. The atmosphere shifted instantly—backs straightened, voices lowered, and several human employees ducked their heads down, suddenly very interested in their keyboards.

I was so engrossed in my work that I didn't immediately notice, continuing to flip through pages and make notes.

"Can anyone explain these to me?" I asked a senior colleague who happened to be passing by. "The wording here seems contradictory to what we discussed earlier."

The colleague's eyes widened, and she subtly nodded toward the office entrance. I turned and felt my heart skip a beat.

Brad stood there, tall and imposing in the same suit from our morning meeting, his amber eyes scanning the room with predatory intensity. When his gaze finally landed on me, something dangerous flickered across his face.

I quickly looked away, pretending to be deeply focused on my work. Maybe if I ignored him, he would—

"Elle."

His voice carried across the room without him having to raise it. Everyone pretended not to notice as Brad strode purposefully toward my desk, his footsteps nearly silent on the carpet despite his size.

Before I could even stand to greet him properly, his hand closed around my wrist. Without a word, he pulled me up from my chair. I barely had time to register what was happening before he was dragging me across the office, past shocked faces and curious eyes.

"Brad, what are you doing?" I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. "Let go of me!"

He didn't respond, didn't even look back as he pulled me toward the small break room at the end of the hall. With a swift motion, he opened the door, pushed me inside, and followed, slamming the door behind us.

The sound echoed in the silent room, and I backed away until I felt the wall behind me. Brad advanced, his tall frame blocking any escape route. He placed his hands on either side of my head, caging me in.

My heart pounded as he leaned in, his face inches from mine. His cologne—something woodsy and expensive—filled my senses, and for a moment, I was transported back to the night we'd shared intimacy. My cheeks flushed at the memory.

"Do you remember what your responsibilities are in our deal?" he demanded, his voice low and controlled but edged with steel.

The question caught me off guard. "What?"

His fingers traced the outline of my jaw, the touch deceptively gentle. "Don't play innocent, Elle. What did you agree to when we made our arrangement?"

I stared directly into his eyes, steadying my voice. "You can relax. I won't be clinging to you. I know the boundaries between humans and werewolves."

Something flashed in his eyes—surprise, then something darker. His jaw tightened, and he leaned even closer. "What did you just say?"

I felt confused by his reaction. Wasn't this what he wanted to hear? That I wouldn't be a burden?

"I said you don't need to worry," I repeated, placing my hands against his chest, trying to create some space between us. "This is a company, Brad. People are watching. Back off."

Instead of moving away, he gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him. I tried to pry his fingers away, but it was like trying to bend steel.

"When we agreed to this arrangement in front of your grandmother," I said through gritted teeth, "you told me we were just doing this for the baby. So... we wouldn't interfere in each other's lives. That's what you wanted, right?"

His expression grew colder, a mocking smile playing at his lips. "So you're already eager to leave? You get pregnant with an Alpha's child and think you can just walk away after you give birth?"

I felt a chill run down my spine at his tone.

"As my mate, you have responsibilities that match that position."

He leaned in until his lips brushed against my ear, sending unwanted shivers through my body. "Having sex with your Alpha is also part of your duty."

I pushed harder against his chest, panic rising. "You're insane! We're at your company!"

His lips curved into a predatory smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Oh? No sex at the office? What about we do it back home?"