Filed to story: Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia & Ethan)
Duke went out the door, and I watched him through the window as he put out his cigarette outside.
“Sorry about that,” Duke said when he came back through the door, grinning. “I didn’t know that Chloe would be joining us. Of course, I don’t want her to inhale second-hand smoke.”
Five minutes later, the three of us were sitting in a new private room that looked identical to the last one.
I noticed that when I didn’t even open my menu and I already announced that I knew I wanted the Red Curry, Alexander’s hands gripped his menu like he wanted to tear it in half. My cheeks heated when I realized too late that I should have pretended to look at my menu.
After we ordered, Duke turned to us with wide eyes. “I heard about what happened with Chloe and her mother in Luceland,” he said and gestured for us to explain the situation.
Alexander set down his menu and glared at his friend from across the table. “Did you just ask me to lunch so that you could gossip?”
Duke gasped and put his hand to his mouth in mock offense. That was another area where he was completely different from Alexander. Duke was much more dramatic.
“Of course not, I actually have news to deliver to you,” he revealed.
Alexander leaned forward, his eyes flashing with excitement. “Okay I’ll bite. Tell me.”
“Well, first tell me how Chloe’s moms face looked when they put handcuffs on her…” Duke trailed off when he saw Alexander’s warning look. He pouted and crossed his arms. “Fine, ruin my fun then. Did you know that Chloe’s aunt, Hana, arrived in Luceland yesterday?”
Alexander nodded. “She made a snarky remark to us outside the police station,” he answered.
I recalled the impeccably dressed woman who had implied that Chloe and her mother would be getting out of jail. That must be Chloe’s aunt, the woman that they were talking about.
“Well, I found out that Hana is a part of the ZIKO society,” Duke revealed.
This name meant nothing to me, but Alexander’s face went pale. “That cult-like group?”
“Yep,” Duke answered and took a sip of his red wine. “Hana has been a member for a very long time. She is well-respected in that group.” He looked around and then leaned forward. “My sources also told me that Hana offered Felix, her nephew, and Ethan, her future nephew-in-law, membership into her exclusive club-with a condition that they would both owe her big time-but Felix had refused on the spot, knowing how shady and corrupt the ZIKO society is.”
My throat became dry when I realized that Duke hadn’t said that Ethan hadn’t refused membership. Was my ex-husband now a member of this creepy club?
“I bet you that Chloe offered to join the club and owe her aunt a big favor,” Duke continued and raised his eyebrows. “That’s the only reason that Hana is offering to help get her out of jail.”
“Or, Felix told his aunt that he would join,” Alexander pointed out. “Maybe he agreed because he thought that it was the only way to get his mother and sister out of jail.”
“Whoever joined, it isn’t good for two reasons,” Duke said and held up his pointer finger. “One, because having another Windsor a part of that creepy club isn’t good because it’s giving them more power from a well- connected family.”
My stomach stiffened with fear when I figured out the second reason why Felix or Chloe joining the ZIKO club wasn’t good.
“And two,” Duke said, putting up his middle finger along with his pointer. “If the corrupt group that Hana is in offers their help and resources, then I bet you that Chloe and her mother will be out of jail before the end of the week.”
*Olivia*
To my surprise, Alexander didn’t seem too worried about Hana helping her niece and sister get out of jail.
At this point, the server brought us our food, and he eagerly tucked into his Thai peanut noodles. But I pushed my own lunch away. The news that Chloe might escape punishment again made my stomach churn, and I had completely lost my appetite.
“Why don’t you seem more concerned?” Duke asked Alexander. I noticed that he wasn’t touching his meal either. “I can almost guarantee you that with Hana’s help, Chloe and her mother will be bailed out of jail. Then, they will retaliate against you and Olivia.” He shuddered. “I can assure you that you don’t want the ZIKO group coming after you.”
But Alexander merely shrugged and swallowed the bite he had just taken. “I’m not scared of a corrupt group like them,” he answered. “And I’m positive that Chloe and her mother won’t escape the law this time.” He wiped his mouth calmly with a napkin and took a sip of water. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
Duke’s mouth was hanging open in disbelief, and I was pretty sure I had a similar expression on my face.
“Besides, I know Felix pretty well,” Alexander continued as he twirled noodles around his chopsticks. “I don’t think he would join that group just to get his mom and sister out of jail. I saw him after they were arrested. Sure, he seemed pretty bummed they were locked up, but I also think he was angry at his family for getting themselves into that situation.”
“You don’t know Chloe like I do,” Duke said, and for the first time I could remember, his expression was serious. “Chloe and her mother are crafty. That is how they have escaped the law for so long. With the ZIKO group on their side, they will find a way to get out of jail and drop all the charges that they have been accused of.”
Alexander shrugged again and continued to slurp his noodles.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Duke said with a dark look and then drained his glass of wine. He looked for our server for a refill.
Their conversation had given me a lot to think about. I excused myself and stood from the table, heading in the direction of the restroom- which I definitely didn’t need directions to.
But I actually wasn’t headed for the restroom. I went outside on the patio and wrinkled my nose since there was still the lingering smell of smoke from Duke’s cigarette.
But there was no one else on the patio, which gave me what I really needed right now-privacy. I took out my phone, and Ava answered after the third ring. Quickly, I told her what I learned so far during our lunch with Duke.
“This isn’t good,” she said in a worried tone when I was finished telling her about how Chloe and her mother were getting help from a powerful relative. “I don’t know a lot about the ZIKO group, but everything I’ve heard is pretty creepy. Some people think that they control fifty percent of the world or something crazy like that.”
My hands shook. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, but that’s just a rumor. I have no idea how true it is,” Ava said, but then her voice brightened. “But at least we have Alexander on our side.”
I sighed as memories from last night floated into my head. Did Alexander’s help really come for free?
“Well, in the worst case scenario where Chloe and her mother are set free, we need to warn everyone to be extra careful. Like Sarah and Kelly,” I pointed out.
“You’re right,” Ava said, I’ll make sure to send them a message warning them to be cautious.”
When Ava and I said goodbye, a middle-aged man came out on the patio. He had a pack of cigarettes in his hand, but when he saw me, his eyes widened, and he stuffed the box into the pocket of his expensive black slacks. He shuffled toward me. I wished that there was a way around him, but he was blocking my path to the door back inside.
“Luciana,” he whispered when he was right in front of me.
Even though I knew there wasn’t anyone behind me, I still looked back to check.
Nope.
This weirdo was talking to me.
I turned back and jumped a little because the stranger had moved even closer to me. His bright green eyes were studying my face like he w going to be given a test on it later.
The hair on the back of my neck raised, and I tried to get around him, but he shuffled to the side, blocking my exit.
What the hell was this guy’s problem? Was it a hit man that Chloe had hired from within jail? But I knew that was just a paranoid thought. If he was a hit man, he wouldn’t be standing right in front of me.
I would have already been dead.
“Can I help you?” I asked, trying to indicate that he should stop staring at me.
“My name’s Stanley,” the man said. But continued speaking before I could even tell him my name. “How old are you?” the stranger asked suddenly. His voice was deep and rich, like chocolate. “You look exactly like my future daughter.”
My eyes widened in shock. What an odd thing to say.
Before I could push past him, another man walked onto the patio.
This man I automatically recognized. His silver hair was gelled back just like his son’s, and he had a confident yet cocky air to him.
It was Neil Green. Alexander’s father.
“Ah, you must be Olivia,” Mr. Green said and held out his hand for me to shake. “Alexander’s assistant.”
I nodded as we shook hands.
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?