Page 22 of The Alpha's Broken Oath

“What rumor?” I grit my teeth, almost feeling my molars grind in my mouth from the impatience.

CHAPTER NINE

WINTER

I have worked for Bracken Holdings for five years, and in all those years, I have never dreaded coming to work more than I do today.

Yesterday’s stunt with Ashley raised a lot of rumors. I let some of the rumors roll off my back. People talk when they’ve got nothing to do, and when you give them time, they forget about you. At least, that’s what I tell myself when I walk to the office.

However, that “people talk and they’ll stop when they get tired” mantra I’ve been chanting in my car on my way here flies out the window the minute someone whispers,” The new boss demanded that Winter be his new assistant. Guess we all know why she went to see him yesterday.”

It doesn’t fly past me at what they are hinting at. To the naked eye, the new boss wanting me as his assistant right after I paid him a visit only spells one thing: I slept with the boss. And how wrong they are if they think I’d stoop so low for a man like Deacon.

“How are you feeling today?” Julie hands me a cup of coffee as soon as I get to my desk, and I almost want to hug her for the sentiment.

“You mean, how am I feeling when hideous rumors about me are flying around faster than I can stop them?” I quip dryly, sipping the goodness from inside the paper cup.

On a day like this, I’ll need stronger coffee. Maybe two more cups of coffee to make me numb to this nightmare of a day.

“Everyone is in a tizzy, like I said. If you give—”

Julie’s words are cut off by Luka, who appears in a grey tailored suit with the same gelled-back hairstyle he never seems to give up.

“Everyone is in more than a tizzy, Julie. Let’s be honest: our friend here has a lot of explaining to do, starting with how she keeps attracting Alphas like bees to honey. She’s caught the attention of two Alphas so far, and everyone in here might pretend like that’s normal, but we both know it isn’t.”

Luka Graves has always been straightforward and blunt. Those two qualities are some of the best things I admire about him, yet I despise those qualities right now because I know he won’t let this go without getting answers.

Plus, I know among the two Alphas he’s speaking about. One of them is Deacon. The other is Alpha Kieran Vega, and I would argue that I didn’t necessarily attract Alpha Kieran Vega’s attention on purpose.

Alpha Kieran, who was and still is the CEO of Vega Industries, bumped into me just outside the elevator and made me spill coffee all over my most expensive blouse. With an easy and genuine smile, Alpha Kieran offered to buy me a new shirt, but I had declined his offer and said I was fine. He’d asked me out to lunch on the same day, and I said, “No.” Over the next two years, every time he showed up here, he would call me “sweetheart” and ask me out. I would give him the same answer every time. I’m not interested. It was a running joke between us and nothing more.

To Luka’s insinuation, I decide to play dumb.

“What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me, Winter. First, that brooding Alpha from Vega Industries who only comes here to see you, and now, the new boss? I need you to spill the truth to us, girl. Why does the boss want you as his assistant?”

The words that come out from my lips sound like lies even to my own ears, “I work harder than anyone in this office. The manager of the finance department didn’t see my potential, but the boss went through my resume and decided to give me the promotion I deserve, so, no, Luka, the boss isn’t attracted to me.”

Silence cuts between us, with me waiting for Luka to buy my lie and Luka gazing at me like he doesn’t believe my bluff.

The whole awkwardness is split into two when the telephone on my desk rings.

I pick up the phone, holding it against my ear.

“Bracken Holdings. How might I be of service—”

“Ms. Cavanaugh,” deep and husky, Deacon’s voice makes every nerve inside me char like burned wood.

We might not be face to face, but Goddess, I can feel his voice wash over me and seep inside my body like hot lava. I can also feel the excitement buzzing from my wolf just from the sound of his voice alone, and I refuse to share the same feeling.

“How can I help you, Sir?”

I keep the vitriol in my voice to a minimum, even though I very much want to cuss at him for the odd change of things.

Never in my life did I think I’d be in such a situation. Yet, here we are. I am at his beck and call, and he is the boss of the very company I've put my blood and sweat into.

“Come to my office, Winter.”

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