Page 105 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
She chuckled. “The suite is just an elevator ride away, but thanks for the offer.” Then, glancing over her shoulder—just once—she added, “I’ll see you later.”
The moment Leila left, the room felt different. Emptier. Like something important had been yanked out of place. I missed her. Missed the curve of her smile, the way she pretended not to be affected when our eyes locked.
And just like that, I was bored. Impatient—because I wanted this over with so I could get back to the suite. Back to her. And irritated—because Gabe wouldn’t stop yapping about how he’d spend the contract money if he won.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight, Luca,” he said. “Missing your fiancée back home?”
I grimaced at the reminder that I was supposed to be getting married next week.
“Saw the engagement photos all over social media. Congrats, man. Another Alpha off the market.”
I clenched my jaw. Elena had gotten what she wanted—our wedding plastered across every damn platform like a royal announcement.
I didn’t say a word. I just sipped my champagne.
Gabe leaned in a little, his voice dipping like he thought we were sharing some secret.
“By the way…that woman who pitched with you—your secretary or something?”
I looked at him.
He chuckled, mistaking my silence for amusement.
“Damn, she’s a knockout. I’d pay good money to have her in my bed tonight. Maybe more, if she talks like that while—”
“Careful, Gabe,” I growled at him.
He blinked, clearly not expecting that tone.
“I’ve been civil tonight. Smiled at your bullshit. Even listened to your little spending fantasies like they matter.” His eyes grew wide. “But there’s a line. And you just crossed it.”
He started to say something, but I didn’t let him finish.
“I’ll only say this once, so listen carefully,” I said. “She’s not my secretary. She’s not someone you pay for anything. And the next time you speak about her like that, you’ll find yourself shut out of every deal I’m tied to. Including the ones you don’t even know I’m behind.”
He gave a weak laugh, tried to play it off. “Relax, man. Just a compliment.” He brushed my shoulder with his hand, and when he noticed the disgust in my face, he immediately retracted his fingers.
“I’ll go get another glass of champagne.”
When I returnedto the suite, Leila was packing. She was kneeling beside her open suitcase, folding her clothes with more aggressionthan necessary. Her robe hung loosely over her shoulders, and the thin satin slip beneath it clung to her like a second skin. The ceiling light caught the delicate outline of her breasts, her nipples visible against the fabric.
I clenched my jaw. My grip tightened around the bottle of wine in my hand.
She looked up when she noticed me, her eyes sweeping over the wine.
“Is that a celebratory wine or consolation?” she asked, raising a brow. “Please tell me it’s the former.”
I smirked, stepping into the room. “The Alpha Regent team called.”
“And?”
“They loved your pitch and would like to move forward with the contract signing as soon as tomorrow.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
She beamed, and before I realized it was going to happen, she threw her arms around me. Her body was warm and soft against mine, and my wolf groaned when she pulled back. “I can’t believe we won this. I mean—I was blown away listening to those other pitches. Everyone was so high profile, so sleek. And Gabe kept going on and on about how he’d use the money to rebrand his entire security fleet. Like it was already his.”
