<h4>Chapter 109: Chapter 109 When Trust Begins</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    "Really?" I gave Alpha Sebastian a look that was somewhere betweenughter and tears. "But haven’t you heard the saying? Only the good die young. The worst people always seem to live forever."


    Alpha Sebastian nced at me, his eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite decipher. "Do you trust them, or do you trust me?"


    "I trust you," I answered without hesitation.


    I wouldn’t dare say otherwise. Besides, there was something about the way he spoke that naturallymanded trust.


    Alpha Sebastian slowed the car and looked at me again, the corner of his lips curving into a subtle smile. His voice softened just enough for me to notice. "Good."


    Those simple words seemed to possess a magical quality. Something warm bloomed in my chest, giving me the strange sensation of being a devoted follower. Was it weird to have such faith in my boss? Probably.


    ncing out the window, I realized we were heading toward Silver Peak Pack’s headquarters. "Um, would you mind dropping me off at the corner? I can walk the rest of the way."


    "What’s this?" Alpha Sebastian’s eyebrow arched elegantly. "Are you embarrassed to be seen arriving with me?"


    "Wow. Use me and then ditch me. ssic."


    "...Fine! I’m sorry!"


    I surrendered, and of course, the car didn’t stop at the corner but drove straight into thepany’s underground parking garage.


    The whole time, I was scanning our surroundings like a paranoid spy.


    I realized I wasn’t just worried about gossip—I felt guilty, like I was doing something wrong.


    Just as I thought we’d arrived undetected and was calmly stepping out of the passenger side, someone else exited an another car.


    We turned our heads simultaneously.Our eyes met.


    "...Vice President Wiley." My smile felt stiff and unnatural.


    Wiley was about to respond when he saw who emerged from the driver’s seat.


    His expression instantly morphed into one of horror.


    I mentally sighed.I hope Wiley doesn’t misunderstand my rtionship with Alpha Sebastian.


    When we entered the elevator, Wiley smiled at me with false pleasantness. "Secretary Cecilia, do you and the Alpha Sebastian live in the same direction?"


    "We live in—" I began, only to be cut off by Sebastian’s cool voice.


    "Whether we live together or not, is that information you need?" His tone was t but carried a clear warning.


    Wiley’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    My body tensed in shock.


    Wait, why was my boss creating rumors himself?


    "Vice President, please don’t misunderstand," I hurried to exin. "We just happen to live in the same neighborhood, not together."


    "Ah, ah, I see," Wiley responded, nodding mechanically.


    But I could practically read his thoughts: No need to exin!


    I noticed him pulling out his phone and typing a message. Daring a peek, I caught the words Alpha Yardley on the screen.


    Holy shit!!


    He was reporting this to Alpha Yardley!


    "Vice President Wiley!" I shouted near his ear, letting my irritation show. He flinched, quickly his phone into his pocket. and hurried out without another word the moment the doors opened.


    I moved to follow him—I felt I needed to rify things with the Vice President before rumors spiraled out of control.


    As I took a step forward, Alpha Sebastian pulled me back. "Where are you going? We haven’t reached our floor yet."


    The elevator doors closed again.


    "He’s texting your father!" I protested.


    "You think this is the first time?" Alpha Sebastian replied calmly.


    "Though I admit, this time is special. Now he thinks he has concrete evidence."


    Evidence you provided!


    By the time we exited the elevator, I felt a decade older.


    Alpha Sebastian tried to reassure me. "Don’t worry. If things get out of hand and you can’t resolve it, I’ll handle it."


    I didn’t ask how he nned to handle it. Something told me I wouldn’t like the answer.


    Back at my desk, I massaged my temples. I reasoned that if Alpha Yardley had heard rumors before and never called me in to discuss them, he probably didn’t take them seriously.


    ...


    In the afternoon, while I didn’t receive any invitation to speak with Alpha Yardley, I did get a call from his wife, Luna Regina.


    Her voice was gentle and refined over the phone.


    She exchanged pleasantries first, and I could tell immediately that she was a woman of exceptional poise and breeding.


    Then she got to the point.


    "Secretary Cecilia, does Sebastian have any ns this evening?" she asked.


    I checked Alpha Sebastian’s schedule before answering, "No,he is free tonight."


    "Then add something to his calendar," Luna Regina said smoothly. "Tell him I’ve arranged a dinner meeting for him tonight. I’ll send you the time and location. Please make sure he’s reminded."


    "Of course, Luna Regina," I replied professionally.


    I got up and headed to Alpha Sebastian’s office. When knocking yielded no response, I remembered he would be taking his afternoon rest. I returned to my desk to wait.


    When it was time, I called Beta Sawyer to ask if the Alpha Sebastian was awake yet.


    "Shit," Beta Sawyer’s voice came through the phone, sounding stressed. "I’m out of the office. You’ll have to wake him today."


    [WHAT?!


    Don’t scare me like that, Beta Sawyer!!]


    He seemed to sense my panic. "...Just be careful."


    We both fell silent.


    With the mindset of someone approaching a minefield, I made my way to the Alpha Sebastian’s office.


    This would be the second time I’d wake him from his afternoon nap since our Singapore trip.


    Last time had been...plicated.


    But considering Beta Sawyer did this daily, I steeled myself.


    After all, I’d survivedst night—how bad could waking my boss be?


    When I pushed open the door to his rest area, nning to wake him verbally from a safe distance, I discovered he was wearing earplugs!


    Was he actively trying to prevent being woken up?


    Bending down carefully, I reached to remove one of the earplugs, my fingers brushing against the shell of his ear as I gently extracted it.


    Drawing on my previous painful experience, I kept a safer distance from his face and called out loudly, " Alpha Sebastian! Time to wake up!"


    The figure on the bed didn’t stir.


    My ridiculously handsome boss maintained his sleeping position,pletely undisturbed.


    I was certain my voice had been loud enough for the neighbors to hear.


    Yet he hadn’t even twitched.


    Could someone really sleep that deeply?


    I tried calling him twice more, each time raising my voice, but the Alpha Sebastian might as well have been in aa!


    I began to suspect he wasn’t truly asleep—he was simply refusing to get up!


    Looking around the room in frustration, my eyesnded on a pair of cufflinks on the nightstand.


    Maybe I should... poke him with one?


    Would that get me fired on the spot?