<h4>Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Office Complications</h4>
Cecilia’s pov
I all but fled back to my office, my heels catching on the carpet as I copsed into my chair.
My brain short-circuited, stuck on a loop of Beta Sawyer’s voice: "Liam loaded the Alpha’s breakfast with every kind of... male enhancement imaginable."
So Liam knew. Of course he knew.
I leaned back in my chair with the posture of someone who’d already epted their funeral arrangements.
Death by mortification was imminent.
I’d been ying dead for about fifteen minutes when a knock sounded at my door.
Pulling myself together, I straightened my blouse and cleared my throat. "Come in."
I figured it was Beta Sawyer.
Or maybe one of the assistants with a new stack of reports.
But it wasn’t.
It was Sebastian.
My body went from rxed to petrified in a single heartbeat, my thoughts scrambling like eggs on a hot pan.
He closed the door behind him with casual confidence.
"What’s wrong with your face?" he asked, looking far too rxed and pleased with himself.
"...Nothing." I dropped my hands from where they’d been rubbing my face and stood up quickly, my gaze darting around like a trapped animal’s.
Inside, I was ying a symphony of anxiety.
Sebastian walked up to my desk and ced a sleek white thermos right in front of me, like he was dropping some kind of emotional grenade.
I blinked at it. What now?
Before I could say a word, his handnded on my waist - firm, warm, possessive. "Sit," he said, voice low and utterly unbothered.
The second his fingers brushed against me, my entire body betrayed me.
My knees went soft, and my brain lit up like a broken slideshow: his handsst night, his mouth, the way he’d -
Nope. Not going there.
I sat down, trying to pretend I still had some shred of dignity. Spoiler: I didn’t.
My breathing was shallow, chest tight. I folded my hands in myp like a Catholic schoolgirl hoping the nun wouldn’t call on her.
Sebastian looked at me - all obedient and intimidated - and I could’ve sworn I heard him sigh softly.
"Liam made you soup," he said smoothly. "Said you might need to... replenish your strength."
My mind went nk for a second. whaaat? Then it hit me.
Instantly, my mind went straight to those health articles I used to scroll through: "What to eat after sex," "Post-coital nutrition"...
Oh my Moon Goddess. Liam knew everything!
That smug, infuriating man had probably read the same damn articles, and actually took notes.
"...Thank Liam for me," I managed to say, taking the spoon and lowering my face toward the soup, wishing I could disappear into it entirely.
Another knock sounded at the door.
I’d just taken a spoonful of soup and nearly choked in surprise.
Sebastian bent down to pat my back.
The office door burst open without warning.
Beta Sawyer froze in the doorway like a deer caught in high beams, clutching his tablet to his chest like it was a riot shield.
His eyes bounced between me and Sebastian, quickly taking in the scene: me in my chair looking flushed and guilty, Sebastian looming far too close, a steaming thermos open on my desk.
Sebastian turned his head slowly, shooting him a look so cold it could’ve sh-frozenva.
"I - uh - I just remembered I left some documents," Beta Sawyer stammered, already stepping backward like he was facing a wild animal. "Carry on, please. Pretend I was never here."
He was gone before I could blink - vanishing from the doorway like he’d teleported.
A secondter, a hand reappeared around the edge of the door and, ever so gently, pulled it shut.
Silence fell like a dropped curtain.
I sat there in stunned silence.
I’d officially given up. Resistance was futile.
Turning to look up at Sebastian with newfound determination, I tried for a professional tone. "Alpha, during office hours, unauthorized visits are prohibited."
Sebastian’s icy demeanor melted into spring sunshine as he looked down at me.
His eyes crinkled with amusement. "Of course, Secretary Moore. Enjoy your soup. I’ll be on my way."
And with that, he left.
I stared at the door as it closed behind him.
After a long moment, I pressed my palm to my forehead in pure exasperation.
I ate the soup, more out of a need to do something than hunger, but had to admit—Liam was a fantastic cook.
Once I’dposed myself and mentally reattached my soul to my body, I headed down the hall to Beta Sawyer’s office to go over a few pending reports.
We spent the first few minutes pretending everything was normal. Like ourpany hadn’t just caused a minor HR emergency with a side of sexual tension.
Beta Sawyer was the picture of professionalism. Almost. His gaze flicked toward me every so often like he wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start.
Just as I gathered my things to leave, he finally spoke up - carefully."The Alpha... he didn’t scare you, did he?"
I paused, then gave a small, weary smile. "It’s... manageable."
"He clearly has... feelings for you. You’re not going to resign, are you?" Concernced his voice.
"No," I smiled, waving off his worry. After a few seconds of silence, I added, "Actually... I can be pretty scary too."
With that cryptic statement and a reassuring smile, I left him looking thoroughly confused.
-
Aside from the chaos of that morning, the rest of the day moved along like business as usual.
Sebastian had a lunch meeting on the calendar, but hadn’t said who was going with him.
I casually suggested Beta Sawyer take his ce, iming I had some "urgent internal reports" to review.
The moment the clock hit noon, I grabbed a quick bite and made a straight line for the pharmacy.
We hadn’t used protectionst night.
And judging by the timing, I was smack in the middle of my fertile window.Cue panic.
No matter how good it had felt - or howpletely out of control I’d been in the moment - I wasn’t about to y roulette with my uterus.
If there were consequences, I’d be the one handling them. Alone.
After grabbing emergency contraception and discreetly tucking it into my purse, I headed back to the office.
The floor was quiet - everyone had already left for lunch.
I ducked into the breakroom for a ss of water.
Just as I was about to head back to my desk, my phone buzzed.
Yvonne.
"Hello."
"Darling, how was your experience?" Her voice dripped with suggestive mischief.
Between women, it only takes one bold friend to bring out the daring in the other.
I licked my lips nervously. "It was... pretty good."
"I told you! Wasn’t it absolutely mind-blowing? Like discovering a whole new universe?"
"Yeah, it definitely has... impressive capabilities," I admitted.
"Of course! Unlike men who tire out so quickly, it has no ws."
"It does have one w," I countered.
"What w?"
"I’m worried it might be addictive."
On the other end, Yvonne sat up straighter in her chair, eyes gleaming. "Wow, it must have really hit the spotst night if you’re talking about addiction! Was it that good?"
For me to use a word like "addictive" was rare in my usually restrained vocabry.
"...Ahem, ahem!" I strategically coughed, taking several gulps of water.
I wasn’t always this bold with my words. But with Yvonne being so enthusiastically honest, I couldn’t bring myself to lie.
Yvonneughed again. "Well, I’m d you enjoyed it. For us women, pleasing ourselves is what matters most."
Having finished our private women’s talk, she moved on to another topic. "By the way, next Friday I’m taking you and Harper to this fascinating ball. I specifically requested three invitations. All of Denver’s socialites will be there."
I wasn’t particrly interested in cocktail parties or balls, but these events were perfect forworking, which Harper would appreciate. Making connections was never a bad idea.
"Sounds great," I agreed cheerfully.
After hanging up, I added next Friday’s event to my nner.
Suddenly, warm breath fanned across the top of my head, and two arms appeared on either side of me, hands syed on the table.
"Cecilia," Sebastian murmured just beside my ear, his voice low andced with amusement, "five-star reviews should be given to the person who earned them... not broadcast to the general public."
My heart just aboutunched out of my chest.