Page 14 of Heat Island
Something hot and fierce erupts in my chest. Anger burns away the shock, leaving clarity in its wake. This isn’t confusion or coincidence. This is calculation.
“Funny,” I say, keeping my voice light while maintaining eye contact. “I could swear we’ve met before.”
His expression doesn’t change, but his fingers tighten almost imperceptibly around mine before he releases them. “I don’t think so. I’m sure I’d remember meeting Josie’s sister. You’re almost as pretty as she is.”
Josie giggles while I grit my teeth. Egret had a lot of nerve and no shame even when we dated, but this is truly beyond the pale.
“I can’t believe you made it. I thought you had meetings all afternoon,” she says, throwing both arms around his neck. “We would have waited for you.”
He gives her a condescending smile. “The Tokyo markets won’t open for a few more hours, so I could slip away.”
“Egret’s in finance and he’s pulling extra hours now so he can clear his schedule for our honeymoon.” Josie explains to me, oblivious to the tension crackling between us. “They’re taking me to Paris.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to France,” I say, not breaking eye contact with him. “I had a boyfriend once who wanted to honeymoon in Paris. The City of Lights must be part of some alpha playbook.”
A muscle twitches in his jaw, but his smile doesn’t falter. “Must be.”
I’m dying to confront him, to demand an end to this farce. But it’s my sister’s smiling, giddy face that gives me pause.
I won’t ruin this for her, even if it kills me.
My phone buzzes with a push notification from my news app, giving me the perfect excuse to step away. “I need to call this client back right away. Work emergency.” I flash an apologetic smile at Josie while Egret’s eyes narrow slightly. “I’ll see you later.”
“But we’re supposed to meet Brendin and Saren for lunch,” Josie protests. “I thought you cleared your schedule.”
Perfect. A complete reunion. Just what I need.
“Maybe next time.” I back away, already dialing my own office number with faked urgency. “Have something carb-loaded for me.”
“Don’t forget about family dinner tonight. You already said you’d come. I’m officially introducing my mates to everyone.”
Family dinner. Of course, I’d forgotten all about family dinner.
I hold my silent phone to my ear, fighting off the urge to cry as I give her a thumbs up andback away.
Egret pulls Josie close. “Let your sister handle her work. That’s what she does best, right?”
The barb lands exactly as intended. I keep my smile frozen in place as I retreat toward the store exit, pretending to speak into my phone.
Once outside, I lean against the building and take deep breaths. The audacity. The absolute gall. Not just to pretend we never met, but to throw my career focus back in my face like it’s a character flaw.
So stupid.
I slump against the wall, watching Egret guide my sister through the revolving doors. What is wrong with me? Three alphas wanted me enough to propose, then decided I wasn’t worth keeping. Now they’re marrying my sister and pretending I don’t exist.
I’m alpha repellent. That’s the only explanation.
A flash of memory hits me—that photographer from last night’s gallery event. The one with the intense eyes and the perfect jawline. The one whose face I rammed a door into.
Oh god. I probably broke his nose. He could barely string a sentence together after I hit him—classic sign of a concussion. And what did I do? Mumbled an apology and hurried back to work, leaving him bleeding in a storage closet.
For all I know, he collapsed minutes later. He could’ve died surrounded by bubble wrap and packing peanuts while I passed appetizers and checked wine inventory.
No wonder I can’t find an alpha. I’m literally dangerous to their physical well-being.
Even when I meet a gorgeous one, I physically assault him and abandon him to potential brain damage.
This is why I need to hire professionals, even if I have totake out a second mortgage for the privilege. Alphas who have no expectation that I’ll act like an actual omega.
