<b>Chapter </b><b>35 </b>


    Aria’s POV


    I quickly bit my lip to stop a gasp.


    Then I quickly shoved my phone back into my pocket, and walked back to the girls like nothing happened


    “Hey, something just came up… one of my clients suddenly messaged me. I need to run back to the office.” I threw out the most believable excuse I could think of.


    They all looked disappointed.


    “What you can’t even spare one lunch break? We were dying to hear how you closed the deal with Mr. Elrod.”


    “Sorry, but it’s really urgent. Rain check, okay? Catch youter!”


    I hurried off and headed back into the building.


    I’d only ever taken the CEO’s private elevator once–back when I got fired from Apex and had to beg Grayson for help.


    That time, the mean receptionist gave me a <b>hard </b>time.


    Yet this time I found out that the mean receptionist had been <b>reced</b>. A new girl gave me a warm smile as i approached. She didn’t stop me at all. Maybe she’d received orders?


    Islipped past quickly, heart pounding at the thought of any of the colleagues might catch me going into the CEO’s private elevator.


    Lucky for me though no one was around. Into the elevator, I typed in the code. The elevator started moving up.


    When the doors slid open, I ran straight into Nora.


    “Oh hey Arial Coming to see Alpha Grayson?”


    “Uh, yeah. Is he in?”


    “Of course. He’s waiting for you.”


    She gave me a knowing smile and even winked. I could feel my face flush instantly.


    “Umm, thanks,”


    Grayson was indeed in his massive office. But he had his headphones on when I stepped in, clearly still in a meeting


    He looked serious and focused. He gave me a quick nod, pointed to the couch and quickly returned to whatever his team was saying


    Now this was frustrating. I thought he <b>had </b>some time for mel


    I wandered around for a bit, and then slowly moved closer to him.


    Standing behind his back, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gently blew into his ear


    He froze mid–sentence<b>. </b>


    “Everything alright, Alpha Grayson?” someone asked on the call.


    “All good,” he replied calmly and went on like nothing happened.


    I grinned silently on his shoulder and kept pushing my luck-


    Slipping one hand down his shirt, and running my fingers across his chest,


    Damn, his body was insane.


    Smooth skin. Rock–hard pecs. I could feel his muscles shift under my touch…


    Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist.


    Stop. He gave me a stern warning look.


    But I already knew him too well to know where the line was, and how to <b>tease </b>just short of it.


    So I leaned in anyway and gently licked the <b>edge </b>of his ear


    Then it got out of control


    Heyanked me into hisp so fast I let out a surprised yelp. “Ahh!”


    The people on the other end of his meeting definitely heard me, because the whole line went awkwardly quiet.


    OK now I was probably out of line. I tried to get up, panicking a little, but he tightened his grip around my waist.


    “Go on,” he told them gruffly, before mming the mute button.


    “Sorry! I didn’t mean–ahl”


    <b>He </b>swept everything aside and shoved me down on his desk..


    My upper body hit the surface while my legs dangled off the edge, and he stepped between them.


    Just like that, my whole body heated up.


    “You think that was funny?”


    His voice was cold, even stern. But his hands were already under my skirt and came straight to my bottom area.


    He pressed on my clit, hard.


    Thet out <b>a </b>soft gasp.”No, no<b>…</b>not funny! I’m sorry.”


    His thumb kept rubbing my cilit across my panties, Soon my juice wet the thinyer of fabric<b>. </b>He stared me down, examining my heated face.


    “You think just because the contract forbids me to fuck you, you can do whatever you want to provoke me.”


    I bit my lip, breathing <b>heavily</b>. He put more pressure on his thumb, even stuffing part of the fabric into my hole, I moaned pleadingly.


    “You need a good fuck to behave, don’t you?” he demanded.


    “No.. please I said I’m sorry.


    Please.”


    I wanted him to shove his long finger into me and end this torturing <b>void</b>. Yet instead, he simply pulled hand <b>ou </b>


    “You’ve had enough pleasure from this rtionship. I say it’s enough,” he said coolly.


    I sat up and used him


    n with my eyes. “You are ying dirty!”


    “You know how much I want to put you over this desk and fuck you hard, and yet you are taking advantage of the fact that I can’t how who ying dirty?”


    It was obvious he wasn’t nning to give me what I wanted.


    I bit my lip, sitting up with a pout. For a second, I actually considered giving in on my one non–negotiable… but deep down I knew how stupid that would be.


    “Let me know when you change your mind,” he said with a smug little smirk.


    “I won’t,” I shot back, just as stubborn.


    I hopped off the desk, my body nowpletely cooled down from just moments ago.


    Now I knew this <b>was </b>a power y.


    He wouldn’t ask for it. Too proud. And I wouldn’t bend either.


    This would keep going till one of us would eventually give in… Or this whole thing would fall apart.


    He pulled me back into hisp. “So I heard all your coworkers are obsessed with your new deal?”


    “They’re all really nice,” I smiled. “And Gary told me I’ll be presenting at the shareholder meeting soon. Can you believe that? Me. On stage. At


    the shareholder meeting!”


    He chuckled. “Well, let me hit you with another surprise–My parents will be attending that meeting.


    “What?!” I practically screamed, nearly falling off hisp.


    “That excited?”


    “No–not excited. More like…terrified.” I murmured.


    His parents. The legendary former Luna and Alpha of Red Stone Pack.


    They were the true royalty. The kind of people you only heard about in whispers. They didn’t do media. They didn’t show up at events. They were myths in tailored suits.


    And now I was going to meet them. Worse–I’d have to speak in front of them.


    “Do they know about… us?” Lasked in a low and strained voice.


    “Of <b>course </b>not,” he said tly.


    Yeah, figures. I wasn’t his girlfriend or anything.


    “Please tell me at least you’ll be in the audience? Like, for moral support?“”


    He gave me an evil little grin. “That’s the other thing–I’ve got <b>a </b>negotiation that oveps with the meeting, I won’t be there


    I groaned and flopped against his chest. “Noool is it toote to back out?”


    Chapter <b>35 </b>


    “The Aria I know doesn’t back out. Besides, I’ve got a way to boost your confidence.”


    He slipped something into my pocket.


    It was a ck.card.


    “You


    think confidence can be bought?”


    “Confidence can’t be bought. But killer clothes, shoes, and jewelry can. You know what they say–every soldier needs good armor. He kissed


    my forehead. “Your CEO just gave you the afternoon off, Go shopping for your shareholder debut outfit.”


    “Can I have youe with me?” <b>I </b>asked hopefully.


    “No. I’ve already dyed my meeting long enough.” He nodded toward his still–muted conference call


    I watched him reconnect to the meeting and knew our little lunch break was officially over.


    Not wanting to disturb him, I stood and quietly left his office.


    So now I had a free afternoon… <b>and </b><b>a </b>no–limit credit card. And a killer outfit to find.


    nly one person came to mind for this kind of mission: Delh.


    Only


    I pulled out my phone and texted her.


    [hey I’m back. wanna go shopping?


    ? We can talk.]


    But just like all my other messages…This one went unanswered too


    AD


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