Chapter 188
Aria’s POV
Three days later, the morning arrived with crystalline clarity. Not a cloud marred the brilliant sky as sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Smith Tower.
The building hummed with the energy of a new workday beginning.
I stood by my office window, watching the city sprawl below. My reflection stared back at me—sharper now, more defined.
The past few days had changed something fundamental in me. I could feel it in my bones, see it in the way others looked at me now.
Even without a wolf of my own, I was learning to project power.
The elevator chimed down the hall. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Nathan. His footsteps—confident, measured, deliberately loud enough to announce his presence—echoed through the corridor.
Those polished Italian leather shoes stopped outside my door.
Two sharp knocks. Perfunctory. Then he pushed the door open without waiting for my response.
“Morning,” I said, not bothering to hide my smile. I’d been expecting this visit.
Nathan’s expression flickered with surprise. He’d probably anticipated resistance, coldness, the usual battle lines we drew with each other. Instead, I swiveled my chair to face him directly, my posture open and relaxed.
“Got a minute?” His voice carried that smooth executive tone he used when he wanted something.
“We have a major partnership meeting this morning. The other party’s representatives will be here soon. I thought you might want to sit in on the evaluation p>
“Sure p>
The single word seemed to catch him off guard. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“You’re not even going to ask what the project is p>
I leaned back in my chair, letting my smile widen just a fraction. “If it’s important enough for you to personally invite me, Nathan, I’m sure it’s worth my time p>
The casualness in my tone clearly unsettled him. Good. I’d spent two years being predictable, being the obedient wife who did what she was told.
Nathan had gotten used to me being defensive, wary, always maintaining my guard.
Time to change the game.
He stared at me for another beat, as if trying to decode what had shifted, then nodded curtly and left.
I waited until his footsteps faded before allowing my smile to slip. My fingers drummed against the armrest of my chair as I counted down in my head.
Any minute now.
Nathan thought he was about to watch me squirm when Ethan walked through those doors. Thought he’d get a front-row seat to some dramatic confrontation between ex-lovers.
The whole company was probably already buzzing with gossip. The disgraced former Luna, the cheating Alpha—it was soap opera material. They’d be talking about this for months.
But Nathan had no idea what was really about to happen.
I glanced at my phone. Right on schedule.
Ten minutes later, I heard it—raised voices from down the hall, Nathan’s sharp bark of surprise cutting through the general office chatter.
Then hurried footsteps heading straight for the Project Department.
I rose from my desk, smoothing down my black and white checkered Chanel-style dress.
The five-inch Louboutins made satisfying clicks against the floor as I made my way toward the commotion.
By the time I reached the Project Department, Nathan was interrogating one of the junior analysts, his usual composure cracking at the edges.
“Where’s Jennifer?” His voice had gone cold, dangerous.
The analyst stammered, “I—I think she resigned? Nobody’s seen her for a couple days p>
Nathan’s eyes flashed amber for just a second. His wolf was close to the surface.
I filed that information away. Interesting.
“When did this happen?” he demanded.
“Maybe… three days ago? She cleaned out her desk over the weekend p>
I’d given Jennifer plenty of incentive to disappear. A generous severance package, a glowing reference letter, and most importantly—protection.
She’d been terrified when she came to me with those doctored files Nathan had planted in my system. Terrified, but brave enough to do the right thing anyway.
Unlike Nathan, I rewarded loyalty.
His hand clenched into a fist at his side. For a moment, I thought he might actually hit something. Then his gaze snapped to me, standing in the doorway.
Our eyes met across the room.
I saw the exact moment understanding clicked into place. Saw his expression shift from anger to calculation to barely suppressed rage.
“Aria.” My name came out like a curse.
“Nathan.” I kept my voice pleasant, professional. “Is everything alright? You seem upset p>
“Where is she p>
“Who?” I tilted my head, playing innocent.
“Don’t fuck with me.” The profanity slipped out before he could stop it. Several employees nearby went very still.
Wolves hated public displays of lost control—it suggested weakness. “Jennifer. What did you do p>
“I didn’t do anything.” I stepped further into the room, aware of every eye on us.
“If an employee chooses to leave the company, that’s their decision. Though I have to say, I’m surprised you didn’t know about it sooner. Don’t you usually keep close tabs on your… assets p>
The emphasis on that last word made his jaw clench.
“We need to talk.” He grabbed my elbow—not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to steer me. “Now p>
I let him guide me down the hall toward the conference room.
The conference room he’d selected was one of the largest, with glass walls facing the main office floor. Not exactly private.
I wondered if that had been intentional—a power play, letting everyone watch him assert dominance over me.
Or maybe it was just convenient. Either way, it worked in my favor.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, Nathan released my arm and strode to the windows, putting distance between us. His shoulders were rigid, every line of his body screaming tension.
“You want to tell me what game you’re playing?” He didn’t turn around.