<h4>Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Maybe He’d Say Yes</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    As we drove back to the office, a troubling thought crossed my mind.


    What really connected Xavier and Alpha Gavin—besides business?


    Cici White.


    Just thinking about her made my skin crawl.


    What new n was that snake working on this time?


    She had a way of poisoning everything she touched.


    It was like rot spreading under clean skin—slow, hidden, but dangerous.


    I muttered under my breath, "Can’t we just throw her in jail already?"


    ording to Harper, the current evidence only made her an aplice to the kidnapping.


    But if they could tie her to the assault and attempted murder charges, she could be facing up to fifteen years—even with the Shadow Pack ’swyers doing everything they could to protect her.


    Still, Cici seemed determined to avoid even a day in prison.


    First, she showed up with medical records iming a serious mental illness.


    Then, she faked a seizure right there in court.


    Honestly, who did they pay off to make that look real?


    Is this what justice supposed to look like?


    The rich get to break the rules, while the rest of us are expected to follow them?


    I had hoped Alpha Sebastian would step in and put a stop to the Shadow Pack’s games.


    But so far, he hadn’t done a thing.


    Maybe he had his reasons.


    Not that I had the right to question him.


    I let out a soft sigh, frustration still sitting heavy in my chest.


    "Who’sing with me next Wednesday?"


    Alpha Sebastian’s deep voice snapped me out of my gloomy thoughts.


    I turned slightly in my seat.


    Beta Sawyer nced at the rearview mirror.


    "I should probably stay at thepany," I volunteered quickly.


    "I still have a lot to learn about our operations."


    "That works for me," Beta Sawyer agreed easily. "I’ll go with you, Alpha Sebastian."


    We thought the matter was settled.


    But five minutester, Alpha Sebastian casually announced, "Cecilia will apany me."


    Beta Sawyer and I exchanged confused looks.


    "This visit is mostly ceremonial," Alpha Sebastian borated, his voice cool and detached. "Just making an appearance, going through the motions. Perfect for a secretary who’s still learning the business."


    I bit my lip.


    Was he implying I was just eye candy?


    And if he’d already decided I was going, why bother asking us at all?


    Why not just give the order directly?


    Beta Sawyer’s expression suddenly turned strange.


    He stole a nce at Alpha Sebastian through the rearview mirror,then turned his gaze back to me in the passenger seat.


    ...


    By the time we returned to the Silver Peak Pack headquarters, it was almost one o’clock.


    As usual, Alpha Sebastian headed to his private room for his afternoon rest.


    Beta Sawyer and I stepped out of his office together.


    "Beta Sawyer,ter could you—" I began.


    "I’ll wake him," he interrupted quickly.


    I blinked in surprise, then broke into a pleased smile.


    "Great! If you’re ever too busy, just let me know. I’m happy to help with anything."


    "Will do," Beta Sawyer replied with an odd smile.


    I walked cheerfully toward my office.


    Over the next week, I settled into my role seamlessly.


    I familiarized myself with the organizational structure of both the headquarters and branch offices and got up to speed on all the major projects from the past year.


    I also made a point to connect with department managers and executives, building rtionships across thepany.


    During lunch breaks and after work, I treated the secretarial staff to meals several times to elerate the bonding process.


    After all, I needed their cooperation daily—having loyal support staff was crucial.


    But what pleased me most was that after Alpha Sebastian’s afternoon naps, Beta Sawyer never asked me to wake him.


    Morning coffee, afternoon tea—Beta Sawyer always insisted, "I’ve got it!"


    He really was the perfect colleague. I had misjudged him earlier.


    Author’s pov


    Wednesday finally came—the day Cecilia would go on the business trip with Alpha Sebastian.


    It wouldst two days and one night.


    They were leaving in the morning anding back the next afternoon.


    The night before, Cecilia was packing her suitcase.


    Harper was lying on her bed, hugging a pillow and resting her chin on her hands like a teenager at a sleepover.


    "Ooh, just the two of you? That sounds fun!" Harper raised her eyebrows and smiled in a teasing way. "You better make the most of it, girl!"


    Cecilia rolled her eyes and tossed a shirt at Harper’s face.


    "Make the most of what? It’s a work trip."


    Harper pulled the shirt off her head and kept grinning.


    "You can work and have a little fun too, you know. Just because you’re guarding your heart doesn’t mean your body has to suffer. Physical release is healthy—studies say it even helps you live longer."


    Cecilia burst outughing.


    "What do you think he is, some kind of luxury escort? Like I can throw money at him and he’ll just lie down and let me do whatever I want?"


    Harper’s eyes lit up with mischief. "Maybe he’d say yes."


    "You mean like a gigolo?" Cecilia said with a straight face.


    Harper dropped back on the bed with an over-the-top sigh.


    "You’re hopeless."


    Cecilia’s pov


    The next morning, I overslept by fifteen minutes.


    I barely had time for a slice of toast and a ss of milk before rushing to the penthouse with my luggage.


    Alpha Sebastian was already eating breakfast when I arrived.


    I stood awkwardly nearby, waiting.


    A tantalizing aroma of meat drifted toward me.


    I nced at his te—was that just ordinary bacon? How did it smell so incredible?


    As he brought a piece to his mouth, I couldn’t help swallowing reflexively.


    Then I watched him spear some sd with his fork.


    The vibrant green leaves looked impossibly fresh, as if they’d been plucked from the earth moments ago.


    When he bit into them, the crisp sound made my mouth water... I couldn’t even imagine how delicious they must taste.


    I didn’t realize I was staring at his lips, alternating between swallowing hungrily and looking at him like I wanted to devour him instead of his food.


    "Cecilia..." Alpha Sebastian’s voice cut through my trance, sounding slightly unsettled. "Why don’t you join me?"


    "Oh, I really shouldn’t — it’s not proper," I said, but my body had other ns. I was already sitting before I could stop myself.


    Liam smiled warmly and prepared a te for me.


    He exined that the bacon was his special recipe, unavable anywhere else.


    The vegetables in the sd came from Alpha Sebastian’s private garden, harvested by Liam himself at dawn.


    Even the juice was freshly squeezed from perfectly ripe fruit...


    "I need a Liam in my life," I said, green with envy.


    From across the table, Alpha Sebastian’s deep voice floated toward me. "If you dare to dream it, you can have it."


    His intense gaze held mine for a heartbeat longer than necessary, and I felt a strange flutter in my chest that had nothing to do with bacon.