Bound by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 60

Rebecca's POV

I recognized him immediately as Dominic's Beta—his second-in-command both in the company and in the pack hierarchy. He extended his hand, and I shook it, noting his firm but not intimidating grip.

"It's nice to meet you," I said. "Thank you for taking the time to train me today."

His expression remained neutral, but something in his eyes suggested he was assessing me. "It's my pleasure. Mr. Sterling speaks highly of your capabilities."

The elevator arrived, and Marcus used a special key card to access the executive floor. As we rode up in silence, I wondered what he really thought about me—the human woman who had somehow captured his Alpha's attention.

"The executive floor houses Mr. Sterling's office, the board room, and several support staff offices, including yours," Marcus explained as we exited. "Your position will place you in direct contact with Mr. Sterling throughout the day, filtering his communications and managing his schedule."

He led me to a sleek desk positioned just outside what I presumed was Dominic's office. The workspace was impeccably organized, with a state-of-the-art computer, a tablet, and a phone system.

"This will be your workstation," Marcus said. "I'll be training you on our proprietary software systems and communication protocols today."

For the next several hours, Marcus patiently walked me through an overwhelming array of systems—scheduling software, document management, communication platforms, and security protocols. My fingers cramped from typing as I attempted to take notes and practice simultaneously.

"Don't worry about memorizing everything today," Marcus said, noticing my furrowed brow as I struggled with a particularly complex sequence. "These systems take time to master."

"Thank you for your patience," I said, flexing my aching fingers. "I want to learn quickly."

A hint of a smile touched his lips. "Mr. Sterling mentioned you were determined." He checked his watch. "It's nearly noon. Why don't you take a lunch break? The executive dining room is on the forty-eighth floor, or you can use the general cafeteria on twenty."

I hesitated, wondering if Dominic would be free for lunch. "Is Mr. Sterling in his office now?"

"He's been in meetings all morning, but his calendar shows a brief opening at noon." Marcus's tone remained professional, giving nothing away about what he might know of our relationship.

"Thank you. I think I'll see if he has time for a quick lunch."

Marcus nodded. "I'll return at one to continue your training."

Once he left, I took a deep breath and smoothed my hair. The systems training had been exhausting, but I was determined to master everything. This job was my opportunity to be part of Dominic's world on my own terms.

I decided to surprise Dominic by bringing him lunch. According to the schedule Marcus had shown me, he'd been in back-to-back meetings all morning and probably hadn't eaten. I quickly used the office directory to locate the executive dining room and placed an order to be delivered to his office.

Then I took the elevator to the top floor where Dominic's private office was located. As the doors opened, my heart sank. Elizabeth Collins was walking purposefully toward Dominic's office, her stiletto heels clicking on the marble floor. She looked stunning in a perfectly tailored cream-colored suit that accentuated her slender figure, her golden hair cascading down her back in elegant waves.

I stepped out of the elevator, suddenly feeling underdressed and out of place. Two female employees passed by, their voices low but not quite low enough.

"They look perfect together, don't they?" one whispered. "Both from pure Alpha bloodlines."

"The Council still hopes they'll mate, despite his... distractions," the other replied with a meaningful glance in my direction.

Heat rose to my face as I quickly retreated, pressing the elevator button repeatedly as if that would make it arrive faster. The last thing I wanted was to create an awkward scene by interrupting whatever meeting Dominic had with Elizabeth.

When the elevator finally arrived, I stepped inside and pressed the button for the twentieth floor. I'd eat in the general cafeteria after all.

---

The cafeteria was bustling with employees enjoying their lunch breaks. I found a quiet corner table and picked at my salad, my appetite diminished by the sight of Elizabeth heading to Dominic's office and the whispered comments that followed.

I pulled out my phone, seeking distraction, and found a text from Sophia.

[First day at the fancy new job! How's it going? Went to the police station this morning to file a report about Dylan. Thank you again for you and Dominic's help with the evidence.]

I smiled, grateful for the reminder that at least one thing in my life was going right. Sophia and I had repaired our friendship, and she was safe from Dylan's manipulations. I typed a brief reply, not wanting to burden her with my insecurities about Elizabeth.

[Going okay. Learning lots of new systems. Glad you filed the report. Talk later?]

I set my phone down and pushed my salad around the plate, my appetite completely gone. The image of Elizabeth walking toward Dominic's office replayed in my mind like a cruel film loop. My shoulders slumped as I stabbed at a cherry tomato, watching it roll across the plate.

Who was I kidding? Elizabeth was everything I wasn't—wealthy, sophisticated, pure-blooded. The perfect match for someone like Dominic. I glanced down at my simple white shirt, already slightly wrinkled from the day's activities, and felt hopelessly inadequate. The whispered comments from those women had struck a nerve I didn't even know was exposed.

My throat tightened. I'd been a fool to think I could belong in this world. No amount of training or professional clothing would change the fact that I was an outsider—a human intruder in their carefully structured hierarchy.

"Ms. Brown?"

I jumped at Marcus's voice, nearly knocking over my water glass. "Sorry, I was..." I trailed off, not wanting to admit where my thoughts had wandered.

"I apologize for interrupting your lunch," he said, standing beside my table with perfect posture.

I straightened, trying to compose myself. "It's fine. Is something wrong?" My heart raced with sudden worry—had I made some terrible mistake already?

"Not at all. Mr. Sterling asked me to check on you when he noticed the lunch delivery but couldn't locate you."

"Oh." The words hit me with unexpected force. My chest, which had felt hollow moments before, suddenly filled with warmth. Dominic had noticed my absence. He'd been expecting me. He'd sent someone to find me. I felt my face flush, a strange mix of embarrassment and pleasure washing over me.

"I was going to surprise him," I admitted, my voice unsteady. "But he seemed to be in a meeting with Elizabeth, so I..." I couldn't finish the sentence.

Marcus's expression remained impassive, but something in his eyes softened almost imperceptibly. "Mr. Sterling has asked me to schedule a daily lunch period for you two in his calendar moving forward."

The knot in my chest loosened. Daily lunches? Reserved specifically for me? I bit my lower lip to stop a ridiculous smile from spreading across my face. Just minutes ago I'd been wallowing in insecurity, and now—because of a simple lunch invitation—I felt foolishly, ridiculously hopeful again.

"That's... thoughtful of him," I managed, trying to sound professional while my pulse hammered in my ears. Was this Dominic's way of claiming me publicly? Of ensuring I didn't retreat if I saw Elizabeth again? The thought made me both nervous and strangely exhilarated.

"Shall we continue your training?" Marcus asked. "I've prepared some important documents for you to practice processing."