Page 78 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

I can’t decide which path to follow. But without Alice, I know I’m a shell of man. I need her. I didn’t realize how desperately I needed her till I saw her again.

I start the car, my heart aching.

I don’t know what to do, but I do know that I would give anything to see her smiling at me again, to see that trust in her eyes when she looks at me.

But Jimmy was right. I need to be real with myself.

That’s never going to happen.

*****

I look at my second-in-command. “Are you sure about this?”

Jimmy has his hands in his pockets as we walk down the street from the hotel. “That’s what I found out. She was on track for partnership. With you getting her pulled her from this project, chances are she will not be considered a candidate anymore.”

Troubled, I look straight ahead with a distant gaze. Getting in the way of Alice’s career wasn’t what I wanted.

“I’ll talk to Katherine. You go deliver these papers to the bank and look into the excess charges I pointed out. This account should be dormant. I want to know where these funds are going and when the account was activated. Make sure the bank manager understands discretion, Jimmy.”

“Wait.” He holds out his hand to stop me. “I thought the plan was not to get involved with Alice.”

“I don’t know what the plan is,” I say grimly. “But I’ll be damned if I let her get hurt because of me. Go deal with the bank situation. I’ve got this.”

As he leaves, I consider this new development. A bank account belonging to my father, which should have been dormant, has been reopened. One of Jimmy’s connections in the palace forwarded a bank statement to him. The man found it in the office of the shifter who’s in charge of the royal treasury. How did a personal bank account get activated without my knowledge or, obviously, my father’s?

I make my way to Pinnacle Group’s office building. It’s been a few days since the meeting. I’m going to see Katherine tomorrow night, but I would prefer that this conversation take place in a private setting.

When I enter her office, her expression is cool and aloof. “Mr. Kassel. How can I help you?”

“I believe my assistant reached out to inform you that we didn’t want Miss Lane working on our collaboration.”

Her demeanor turns frosty. “Yes. We have discussed that with her.”

“It seems that there was a miscommunication. What he was supposed to say was that we were very happy with Miss Lane, and we would prefer that only she work on this project.”

Katherine gives me a wary look. “You expect me to believe that you asked your assistant to send me a message praising Miss Lane’s work and saying you will only work with her? I hope you understand when I say I find that hard to believe.”

I stare at her. “What’s hard to believe?”

“Did you think we would switch lawyers for some reason after our meeting took place?” she asks coolly.

I curse myself silently. “Well, it has been our experience that changes can occur. In any case, please have Miss Lane present at the dinner meeting tomorrow.”

I’m about to leave when she says, “Unfortunately, before your assistant passed on the erroneous message, Miss Lane declined to continue with this project.”

I turn around to face her again. “Alice didn’t want to work—”

I cut myself off, but it’s too late.

“Alice? So, it’s true, then. You do know each other.”

“She’s an acquaintance—” I begin, only for Katherine to make a stifled sound, her arms crossing over her chest.

“I never do this, Mr. Kassel. I would never jeopardize a business deal, especially one so important to my company. However, Alice is dear to me. She’s a very close friend. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I do know that you broke her heart. She doesn’t wish to be around you. Whatever happened between the two of you, I will not jeopardize her mental health for anything, including this project. She will not be working with you on it.”

“Her mental health?” I frown. “What is wrong with her?”

“You saw her. She was physically ill after the meeting with you. Whatever happened in the past must have been terrible for herto have such a harsh reaction. I will not let you two be in the same room together.”

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