Mated by Contract to the Alpha
<b>Chapter </b><b>58 </b>
Reba’s POV
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Steve nodded quickly. “Of course, Ms. Collins. Reba, please attend to Ms. Collins and her friends.”
My legs moved automatically while my brain screamed warnings. She’s setting you up. But what choice did I have? Refuse to serve a VIP customer? Might as well hand in my resignation now.
“This way to our VIP area,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.
“Show us the new silver and onyx collection,” shemanded the moment we entered the private room. “Dominic always appreciates pieces with ssic elegance.” She emphasized his name, watching my reaction.
For the next half hour, Elizabeth rejected everything I showed her, her fingers dismissively pushing away each item I presented.
“This? You think Dominic would like this?” she scoffed at a silver bracelet. “It’s pedestrian. Almost asmon as you.” Her friends tittered, exchanging nces.
Don’t give her the satisfaction. She wants you to break. She’s been nning this little ambush, probably lying awake
at night thinking of ways to torment you.
“Perhaps something from our exclusive collection?” I suggested, maintaining my professional tone.
“I’d like to try on those shoes,” Elizabeth said suddenly, pointing to silver–embellished heels. “Size seven.”
I retrieved them and knelt to help her try them on.
“Not like that,” she said sharply. “Remove my shoes first, then ce the new ones on properly. And don’t touch my skin with your human hands. I don’t know where they’ve been.”
Her friendsughed at my humiliation. My face burned as I carefully slid off her designer pumps. This is what she wanted all along. To make me kneel before her. To treat me like a servant, Is this how werewolf women establish dominance? Making humans grovel at their feet?
After trying on numerous pairs and finding fault with each one, Elizabeth sighed dramatically. “I’m parched. Fetch us some champagne. The good kind, not the cheap stuff you probably drink.”
I returned with the champagne on a silver tray, setting it down carefully.
“Poor Dominic has been so distractedtely,” Elizabeth said loudly as I arranged the sses. “It’s a good thing I’ve been there to…fort him.” Her eyes locked with mine. “He needed a real woman after dealing with… lesser options.”
My fingers froze on the sses. Is she telling the truth? Has Dominic been with her? While I’ve been working here,
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trying to be independent, has he already moved on? My chest ached with a pain I had no right to feel. Our arrangement was never about love. Never about exclusivity. But still…
63
“Let me open that for you,” she said suddenly, reaching for the champagne. She shook it vigorously before pointing it in my direction. “Oops, be careful!”
The cork popped with a loud bang, and champagne sprayed everywhere–mostly over my blouse. The fabric immediately became transparent, clinging to my skin. Cold liquid ran down my chest as Elizabeth and her friends erupted inughter.
“Oh my!” Elizabeth eximed with false concern. “How clumsy of me! Look at your uniform–it’spletely ruined. You can see everything! Though I’m sure there’s not much to see.”
The humiliation burned through me like acid. With as much dignity as I could muster, I walked quickly to the bathroom, my arms crossed over my chest. Once inside, I gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles white, as tears threatened to spill over.
A soft knock startled me. “Reba?” Emma called quietly. “I brought you something.”
I let her in. She offered me a ck cardigan. “Elizabeth Collins is a real piece of work,” she said, giving me a gentle hug. “Don’t give her the satisfaction of seeing you broken.”
“I can’t go back out there,” I whispered, my voice catching. “She’s doing this on purpose.”
“So what if she does?” Emma said firmly. “They think because we’re human, we’ll just take whatever they dish out. But you have something they don’t–dignity. If you break down because of this, it will only make her more proud.”
I stared at my reflection. Wet blouse. Messed up hair. Eyes red from fighting tears. But something else too. Something that hadn’t been there before. Enough. I’ve had enough of being pushed around. By William. By Vanessa. By Elizabeth. By this whole damn werewolf world.
I put on the cardigan, fixed my hair, and walked back to the VIP area, my head held high. Elizabeth lounged on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, a satisfied smirk on her face.
‘Finally,” she drawled. “We thought you’d run away crying. Though I wouldn’t me you. It must be hard knowing you’re just Dominic’s current charity project.”
The old Reba would have shrunk back. Would have apologized. Would have taken the abuse to keep the peace. But that Reba was gone,
“Ms. Collins,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I want to remind you that this is Silver Collections, a ce of business, not your personal yground. I am a sales associate, not your servant.”
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open. Her friends shifted ufortably, no longer smiling.
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“How dare you speak to me that way!” Elizabeth hissed, sitting up straight. As a customer, I have the right to expect proper service!”
“Proper service,” I replied, “not degradation. And speaking of service, shall weplete the purchase for the items you’ve been trying on? The shoes you’re currently wearing, plus the dress you tried on earlier.”
“Purchase? Elizabeth sputtered, her face reddening. “I was just trying these on! I have no intention of buying anything from you!”
“I’m afraid the shoes you’re wearing and the dress you tried on have both been damaged by the champagne spill,” I exined, gesturing to the obvious stains. “ording to store policy, damaged merchandise must be purchased. The totales to $8,750.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed dark red. One of her friends shifted ufortably. “Elizabeth, perhaps we should go…”
“Not until this human knows her ce,” Elizabeth snapped, standing up. The shoes–still on her feet–clicked against
the marble floor.
Steve approached, drawn by the rising voices. “Is there a problem here?”
Before Elizabeth could speak, I turned to him. “Ms. Collins identally damaged several items during her visit<b>, </b>including my uniform. I was just exining our damage policy to her.”
Steve looked between us, clearly torn. The champagne stains on both the shoes and my blouse were evident, as was
Elizabeth’s fury.
Elizabeth rose to her full height, eyes shing dangerously. “Do you know who I am? Who my father is? Who I’m
connected to? How dare you try to extort me!”
I stood my ground. My heart was racing, but for once, it wasn’t from fear. It was from something else. Power. My power. Not borrowed from Dominic or anyone else. Mine.
“This isn’t extortion, Ms. Collins. Even if you were the Luna of this pack, you would still be expected to pay for items you damage.”
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