Filed to story: Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia & Ethan)
I picked up, wary.
“I need you to come in and sign something,” she said.
“What kind of something?”
“Just a revised agreement. It’s nothing big.”
I glanced at my calendar. “I’ll have my lawyer look at it.”
“Olivia,” she said, her voice crisp now. “You’re asking for $250 million. We’re not sending documents to your lawyer’s office. You’re meeting me. In person. Today.”
I stayed quiet.
“I’m at the Ashmoon Hotel. It’s private. Discreet. No reporters.”
My eyes flickered.
Ashmoon?
Mike’s text came rushing back.
Alexander was supposed to be there today.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Was this all a coincidence?
Olivia’s POV
Amelia kept calling repeatedly. I let it ring, half-hoping she’d give up. But when she called again and I still didn’t an- swer, she sent a sharp text instead.
“Be at Ashmoon Hotel by 7:00 p.m. tonight. Or the original $150 million settlement stands. Don’t test my patience.”
It was the kind of message you’d expect from someone who had the Hawthorne name tied around their neck like a sword. I stared at the phone for a second before putting it down on the coffee table.
Ava’s voice echoed in my head-“Be careful with Amelia.”
Maybe tonight’s meeting wasn’t just about documents. Maybe she would try to downplay me and trap me into some- thing.
I didn’t respond yet.
Just then, a new message lit up my phone. This one was from Mike.
“Miss Whitmore, has Mr. Green’s suit been scheduled for return? I can coordinate timing if needed.”
Right. The suit. I could’ve just handed it to the property staff and let them drop it off upstairs. After all, Alexander lived one floor above me now. But something about that felt… too casual. Too cold. And frankly, I didn’t want to come off as dismissive, not to someone like him.
I sat back and thought it through. Deliver the suit personally. Keep it quick, professional, polite. And since I was al- ready heading out to meet Amelia, I might as well line it all up.
I texted Mike back:
“8:00 p.m. tonight. I’ll drop it off in person.”
After that, I headed upstairs to get dressed. Light makeup. Neutral tones. A white blouse, clean black slacks. No per- fume. Nothing that could be mistaken for “trying.”
I packed the suit carefully in a garment bag and left the house. But I didn’t head straight for Alexander.
First, I drove to my parents’ place.
I’d caught a car idling outside Duskhollow Pines earlier. Nothing conclusive, but the way it kept its distance and didn’ t pull away even after ten minutes-it was enough to make me cautious. That incident with Ethan outside the complex had already reminded me that privacy wasn’t something I could rely on anymore. Especially not with a soon-to-be ex- husband who still acted like I was his Luna.
On the drive, Ethan called. I considered ignoring him, but that would only make him suspicious. I picked up.
“Are you napping?” he asked casually.
“No,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I’m dropping off the suit at my parents’ place.”
A pause. He was testing me.
“Just that?” he asked.
“Just that.”
He hung up without another word. But I knew better-he’d have someone watching me before the end of the hour.
By the time I pulled up to my childhood home, it was already late afternoon. My mother, Polin, opened the door and looked surprised to see me.
“Why aren’t you at work?” she asked, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, eyes scanning my face.
“I took a day off. Needed a break.”
She stepped aside, letting me in. “You’ve lost weight again. Is Ethan treating you poorly?”
I gave her a soft laugh. “If he wasn’t, I’d be getting a divorce.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Olivia…’
“I
I cut her off before she could go any further. “Relax, Mom. I’m just joking.” I changed the subject to her garden, her latest book club drama-anything that could steer the conversation away from Ethan.
I wasn’t ready to tell my parents yet. Not until everything was finalized. Not until I had papers in hand. Until then, I’d keep it to myself. One last responsibility before I closed this chapter for good.
We had dinner together. Simple home food. Comfortable silence. I missed this.
When I finished, I stood up and said, “I’m meeting a friend tonight. Might stay over.”
My parents nodded.
I kissed my mother’s cheek and said goodbye to dad. Then I went to the elevator.
As soon as the doors closed, I pulled a mask from my purse and slid it on, then added a black cap. Staying anonymous would be my greatest asset right now.
The elevator reached the ground floor, and I slipped out through the back door. A second later, a car turned down the block, but I was already gone-cutting through the alleyway to my parked sedan three streets over.
I wasn’t about to lead anyone to the Ashmoon Hotel.
I arrived at the destination just before seven.
It was one of those quiet, upscale places that looked like it existed for secret deals and discreet affairs. The kind of place where people wore smiles like masks and silence cost money.
I stepped inside and handed Alexander’s suit to the concierge at the front desk. “It’s for Mr. Green,” I said softly. “Please have someone deliver it to his suite.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?