Page 21 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

“Hey…” I say softly, giving her a gentle tug on the arm to bring her attention back.

She blinks, her focus settling on me again, her body easing as if she’s brushed off whatever it was that caught her attention.

“Are you okay?” I ask, my tone careful, but there’s an edge of concern I can’t quite hide.

Her gaze flits over me, quick and assessing, before a small smile curls at the corners of her lips. “Yes… I’m fine,” she says, the words soft but convincing enough. Then her eyes spark with a teasing warmth as she gestures vaguely in my direction. “You look good. New dress? Or is that the glow of someone utterly smitten?”

Her tone lightens, playful now, and it makes me smile despite myself. Whatever moment she just had, it seems to have passed.

We sit, and the staff brings over cocktails like clockwork. I wrap my hands around the glass, but I barely take a sip before the words start spilling out.

I tell her everything—about Alex, the contract, the pressure from my family. I tell her about the way he looks at me, the way he makes me feel seen, like I’m not just another piece on some corporate chessboard.

Alice listens without interrupting, her expression thoughtful and unwavering.

By the time I’m done recounting everything to Alice, she nods slowly, a deep look of consideration crossing her features. “Wow,” she says, shaking her head with a small smile. “I’ve never seen you like this before. Never heard you talk about anyone like that before.”

I swirl the drink in my glass. “I guess I’ve been babbling a bit, huh?”

She tilts her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “A bit? It’s adorable.”

“Well,” I say, shrugging with a faint smirk, “I’m still thorough, though. I even had my private investigators look into him.”

Her brows shoot up. “Smart,” she says, nodding in approval.

“I’m not about to nosedive into something without knowing what I’m getting into,” I reply firmly. “I had them look into him immediate after offering the contract. I needed to know who I was dealing with.”

“And?” she prompts, leaning forward like she’s hanging on my every word.

“They didn’t find much,” I admit, tapping a finger against the rim of my glass.

Alice’s expression softens. “I like this side of you,” she says gently. “You seem so… happy.”

Her words make me pause, and I feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Happy. It’s such a simple word, yet it carries so much meaning. But just as I’m basking in the warmthof her approval, an old, familiar worry worms its way into my thoughts.

I swirl my drink absentmindedly, watching the liquid catch the light. “Yeah, well…” I trail off, sighing. “The elders have been keeping a close eye on me. Frank too, he’s actually seen Alex at work before, but he had a janitor mask on. I know they’re watching. And if they ever find out Alex is just the janitor from work…”

“What will you do if they find out?” she asks, cutting right through my sentence with that direct, no-nonsense tone of hers.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of her question settle in. “I don’t know,” I reply, my voice blunt and honest. It’s the truth—I really don’t have an answer.

She holds my gaze for a moment. The silence stretches, but it’s not uncomfortable. There’s a quiet understanding between us, and underneath it, I can feel the concern she’s hiding behind her calm demeanor. “Well, we’d want to make sure they don’t find out then,” she says, almost encouragingly, as if she’s trying to reassure me, to lighten the burden without really saying it outright.

Another silence falls, but this one feels heavier, my thoughts already spinning. If Lawrence or Frank ever found out that Alex—the janitor from work—is the boyfriend I’ve been parading, I can’t even imagine the mess it would cause.

Alice must notice the concern starting to etch itself on my face, because she turns, her tone suddenly lighter. “So… this Prince Charming of yours. I can’t wait to meet him,” she says with a smile, clearly trying to brighten the mood.

Her words make me feel a spark of excitement at the thought. “I’d actually love to introduce you two,” I say, already picturing the meeting in my head.

“Invite him over,” she says quickly, almost too quickly. Her eagerness makes me smile slightly, and I reach for my phone without a second thought.

I dial Alex, and he picks up after just a couple of rings. “Hello, Katherine.”

“Hi, Alex,” I say, my tone bright. “I want you to meet me somewhere.”

“Oh. Now?” he asks. “Where are you? Is something wrong?”

“I’ll text you the address,” I say, glancing at Alice with a smile. “And nothing is wrong. I’m out with a friend I’d like you to meet.”

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