Cecilia’s pov
I ended the call, turned around - and nearly collided with a man who clearly had no concept of personal space.
Which was odd, because I could’ve sworn I saw him walk past just a minute ago.
Now he was standing there like a ghost waiting for his cue in a very awkward off-Broadway show.
"Uh, can I help you?" I asked, polite but wary.
I did a quick ntal scan of his face and ca up blank.
No recognition.
Nothing.
He just stared at . Hard. Like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve using only his gut.
Then, in a whisper so faint I almost missed it, he said, "Rebecca..."
Okay. Creepy.
"Sir?" I tried again, injecting so steel into my voice. "Is there sothing you need?"
That seed to snap him out of it.
He blinked, cleared his throat like a man who’d just realized he was being weird in public. "Sorry. It’s my first ti here. Bit turned around. I saw you and thought maybe you could help."
"Sure," I said, keeping my tone friendly but alert. "This place is a maze. Which private dining room are you trying to find?"
"1623."
"Take that hallway" - I pointed - "third door on the right. Can’t miss it."
"Thank you," he said, nodding like an actual normal human for a second.
He turned to go. I exhaled.
Then he stopped.
Of course he did.
"Sorry, but... are you from Denver?"
"Yes," I said slowly, already regretting my honesty.
He paused. Tilted his head. "How old are you, if you don’t mind asking?"
Okay. We were officially off the map now.
"I do mind, actually," I said sharply. "And I’m sure your dinner guests are wondering where you went. You should head over."
His expression shifted - remorseful, maybe, or just socially clumsy. "Please don’t misunderstand. I had a daughter once. She passed a long ti ago. But if she’d lived, I imagine she’d look a lot like you, beautiful and graceful as well."
What the actual hell?
I stared at him, caught sowhere between horror and secondhand embarrassnt. My brain short-circuited in twelve directions at once.
Nope.
No thank you.
Hard pass.
Without another word, I turned and walked away.
If he said anything else, I didn’t hear it. I was too busy ntally Googling "How to sage yourself after unsolicited ghost dad energy."
I didn’t care who he was. As far as I was concerned, he was just another middle-aged man using the tragic-dead-daughter-card as a weird excuse to ask a young woman inappropriate questions in the middle of a restaurant hallway.
Classic.
I turned on my heel and speed-walked back toward the private dining room we’d reserved - ready to erase the past five minutes from my ntal hard drive - when I nearly collided with soone rounding the corner.
It was Alpha Yardley, Sebastian’s father, the original tall-dark-Alpha prototype.
"Alpha Yardley," I said, straightening up and shifting into Professional Secretary Mode™.
"Secretary Moore," he greeted with that perfect blend of authority and charm, like a man who could close a business deal and host a charity gala in the sa breath.
I’d seen him around the company a few tis - always sharp, always composed. And despite all the speculative office gossip about and his son (thank you, local grapevine), he’d never so much as hinted at it.
Before I could make a graceful exit, the sound of approaching footsteps made my stomach drop.
No. No no no.
Creepy Dead-Daughter Guy had followed .
"Yardley," he said with sudden confidence, like he’d just rembered how to be important. "You know this young lady?"
"She’s Sebastian’s secretary," Alpha Yardley replied smoothly, before turning to . "Secretary Moore, this is Zane Locke. He’s the current leader of the Locke family."
My brain short-circuited.
Zane Locke?
As in... Cassian’s "great-uncle"?
The sa family whose mber was supposedly helping the Whites?
And I - just twenty minutes ago - had been on the phone dragging his wife’s na through the taphorical mud like I was auditioning for a Real Housewives confessional.
Amazing. Just amazing.
I turned back to him, instantly snapping into my most polished, boardroom-ready persona.
"Mr. Locke, it’s a pleasure to et you properly," I said with a smile that scread damage control. "I apologize if I ca off abrupt earlier."
Zane Locke waved a hand dismissively, suddenly all gracious statesman. "Not at all. I should apologize for my... inappropriate questions. I wasn’t myself."
Understatent of the year.
"Truly, no offense taken," I said smoothly, even as my brain was screaming, Abort mission! Save yourself!
I turned back to Alpha Yardley. "I won’t keep you, sir. I should get back to my table."
But of course, the universe wasn’t done toying with .
"No need," Yardley said with a smile. "I’ll call Sebastian to join us here. You should co with us."
"...Of course," I replied, voice calm, soul internally combusting.
And that’s how I found myself walking into private dining room 1623 with the literal patriarch of the Locke family and the father of my boss-slash-maybe-love-interest.
As I sat down, I couldn’t help feeling completely out of place.
"Secretary Moore," Zane Locke addressed , "what’s your full na? Do you have a mate?"
I nearly choked. Now that I knew his position, I couldn’t just ignore him.
"My na is Cecilia Moore," I replied, deliberately avoiding his second question.
Zane Locke nodded approvingly. "A beautiful na for a beautiful woman. You have both grace and intelligence - quite rare these days."
"You’re too kind," I murmured, taking a sip of champagne to hide my discomfort.
I could feel his eyes still studying , and it took all my self-control not to squirm under his gaze.
Alpha Yardley’s expression shifted subtly as he watched our interaction.
"Secretary Moore," Zane Locke continued, "are you seeing anyone? My nephew is still unmated..."
The door opened, saving from having to respond.
Alpha Sebastian and Cassian walked in, just in ti to hear Zane’s matchmaking attempt.
I whipped my head around, looking from Alpha Sebastian to Cassian, acutely aware of how bizarre this situation had beco.
Alpha Yardley nodded toward the newcors, his expression growing more serious as he looked at Cassian. "Alpha Sebastian, co greet your Uncle Zane."
Alpha Sebastian approached politely, addressing him with a respectful "Mr. Locke."
In stark contrast, Cassian bounded over with casual familiarity. "Uncle Yardley! It’s been too long - you’re aging like fine bourbon, you know that?"
Alpha Yardley eyed Cassian - who was built like a linebacker - with obvious disapproval.
I could tell he was thinking about all those rumors about Cassian and Alpha Sebastian.
His expression darkened with each passing second.
"Cassian," he said, voice tight, "you’ve been spending far too much ti in Denver. You’re not getting any younger, and your uncle is already exploring options for you."
Cassian’s smile turned devilish. Oh no.
He casually slung an arm around Alpha Sebastian’s shoulders like they were the leads in a supernatural buddy cody.
"I just like hanging out with Sebastian," he said, stretching the word like taffy. "He’s more fun than any she-wolf I’ve ever t."
He might as well have set off fireworks spelling out: I’M DOING THIS ON PURPOSE.
Alpha Yardley’s face paled so fast, I half-expected soone to call a dic.
"What is he playing at?" wondered, watching Cassian deliberately provoke Alpha Sebastian’s father.
Zane cleared his throat awkwardly and attempted to defuse the tension. "Children will find their own path. Alpha Sebastian and Cassian are both fine young n, and as for their preferences... well, we shouldn’t be too old-fashioned about these things."
That was the mont Alpha Yardley entered full crisis mode.
Then his eyes locked onto - sharp, desperate, and wildly inappropriate. Like a man spotting a life raft and deciding, Yep, I’m jumping.
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, his gaze landed on like a drowning man spotting a life preserver.
"My son is interested in won!" he blurted. "Everyone at the company says he’s dating Secretary Moore!"
Excuse , WHAT?
I had been minding my own business - quietly sipping champagne, fully committed to staying out of this soap opera - when suddenly I was cast as the female lead in a scandal I did not audition for.
I choked.
Hard.
"NOPE," I said, nearly knocking over my cup. My hands flailed like I was trying to swat away the accusation itself.
"No, no, absolutely not! We are not dating. Those are just rumors - I swear on my paycheck, they are NOT TRUE."
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