Page 38 of Perfect Alpha

I slept in and missed hours of opportunity to catch up on work. My restless, cranky, and exhausted attitude is entirely the fault of Cade Fenway, and I’m cursing his existence while I savor a triple espresso.

I arrive at the office still technically on time, but late for me. Only Caroline is here, and she greets me with a smile.

“Hey, Victory. How was your trip home?”

I groan and drop all my stuff at my desk before heading over to rest a hip on Caroline’s workstation. “Can you imagine if your ex-boyfriend, who surprise dumped you and took a chisel followed by a wood chipper to your soul, had a bedroom across from yours? And you had to see his stupid face every time you went home to visit your family?”

Caroline winces in sympathy. “This explains it.”

“What?”

“Your cold, dead heart.” I throw a paperclip at her and she laughs. “Seriously, is he the reason why you aren’t dating anyone in the city?”

Caroline has exquisite features and easily pulls off her spiky pixie haircut that’s currently dyed dark blue. It’s hard not to stare when she passes by because she has one of those faces that make men and women alike do double-takes. She’s perfectly proportionate with straight white teeth, huge gray eyes, and lips that always look just-kissed.

She moans about the extra twenty pounds she’s carrying around her hips since giving birth to her cherubic son, but everyone else knows she has to-die-for curves on her petite frame. Caroline is also talented as hell, and I’m learning a ton from her.

“I don’t have time to date,” I reply.

It’s my standard answer that I can deliver with perfect intonation. Caroline raises an eyebrow and I wilt under the scrutiny of her intelligent gaze.

“Fine,” I continue, holding my hands up in defense. “You’re right. Cade fucked me up.”

Caroline’s eyes light up, and I’m proactively groaning because I know what’s coming next. “My friend’s cousin is single and he–”

“No,” I interrupt, burying my face in my hands. “Justno.”

“What about that guy from kickboxing then?”

I sigh in defeat. I might as well relent because it’s not like Cade took a vow of celibacy. He didn’t even reply to my flirty text this morning, which was stupid to send in the first place.

He’s probably still in bed with whoever he lost himself inside last night, not wasting his time thinking about me.

“Yeah, I guess we can have dinner or something,” I mumble.

“Victory, you are drop-dead gorgeous,” Caroline informs me. “You realize this fact, yes?”

I wave dismissively and start heading toward my desk. “Uh-huh.”

“You’ll end up alone with cats if you don’t stop acting like you’re eighty-seven,” Caroline warns.

“Dogs,” I correct. “Ihatecats. They’re Satan incarnate.”

Her giggle is infectious and I smile, too, as I settle at my workstation to scroll through some of our recent submissions, hoping another gem stands out. I don’t realize that I’ve worked through lunch until Fiona appears out of thin air and makes me scream in shock.

“The bell arrives today,” I vow.

Fiona laughs. “Do you want to grab dinner and drinks tonight? There’s a place I want to try in Greenwich Village.”

Glancing at the clock and realizing it’s 3 p.m. reminds me that I’m ravenous. “Yes, I’m definitely up for date night.”

“Make sure she schedules anactualdate with kickboxing dude. What’s his name anyway?” Caroline calls, from over in the peanut gallery.

“Vince,” I mutter reluctantly.

“Well, Fiona will be there to ensure you make a date with Vince, and then you’ll both report back to me tomorrow.”

“No way you can come with us?” Fiona asks hopefully.

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