Christina’s POV
I glanced at Violet, her eyes filled with desperation. "You do realize I wasn’t the only person at that gathering? Even if I keep silent, others will realize you’re lying."
"Except you and , no one else from Nyx Collective attended that gathering. They don’t have connections to those circles. If you keep quiet, no one at our company needs to know a thing."
"Relax. I had better things to do than howl about your embarrassing five minutes of fa."
I made another attempt to leave, but Violet clearly wasn’t finished with her passionate speech, and please, I wasn’t her fan.
"As long as you don’t tell anyone I borrowed the prototype, I won’t show anyone that little video of you going full feral at the gathering. Fair?"
Oh. So we were doing blackmail now.
I stared her down."You think I care if they find out I defended myself?"
Yes, so people at Nyx liked .Yes, I had so work friends.But they weren’t ride-or-die buddies,more like Monday-through-Friday lunch companions.
"Go ahead and tell whoever you want. I’m not the one who stole from the company."
Violet’s mouth twisted. "Of course you care. You looked like a lunatic, and I’ve got it on video. Your behavior was way more embarrassing than mine."
"So what’s the plan, Violet?"
"There is no plan. Just keep your muzzle shut, and I’ll keep mine."
"I’m hardly one for break-room gossip, and frankly, your business doesn’t interest . I have no obligation to spread rumors about you or make you the center of attention."
She relaxed a little. "Good."
"But..."
"But what?"
"But you stealing that necklace from the showroom isn’t just gossip fodder. It’s career suicide.If Savannah finds out, you won’t just be unemployed, you’ll be blacklisted from every company in the industry."
Her whole face twitched."I put it back! No one at Nyx knows, and they won’t—unless you tell them!"
I raised a brow."You do know Savannah has access to the surveillance system, right? And that she reviews them periodically? If she spots you on her own, that’s your disaster, not mine."
The color drained from her face so fast I thought she might faint from shock. I could practically see the calculations behind her eyes, trying to figure out how to wipe the footage before Savannah discovered her theft.
A few minutes later, Savannah’s assistant popped her head in and asked to head to her office.
Violet got summoned too. She walked in like she was heading to a judgnt, all pale lips and shaky breath, clearly convinced I’d already reported her as a thief.
But Savannah didn’t ntion the necklace. Not even a side-eye. Instead, she launched into business.
"Eliza Black’s been getting online buzz for weeks. Looks like it only strengthened her resolve, because she wants a full custom set from Nyx Collective, sothing unique to wear at the Cannes Film Festival next month. If she stuns, we claim new territory and launch the new luxury line behind her."
Savannah paused long enough for the weight of it to settle in our bones.
"Anyone who wants to can submit designs. Whoever she picks leads the project," she said. "It’s our shot at expanding our influence. Don’t ss it up."
Violet was bouncing. "I’ll make sure she loves my work!"
Of course she would. She’d been quietly competing with ever since I won the last commission.
If Eliza showed up to Cannes wearing one of Violet’s designs, she’d be claiming victory over everyone at Nyx.
I gave a more asured nod. "I’ll be ready."
The second I stepped out of Savannah’s office, my phone buzzed.
I ignored Violet’s eager looks and checked the ssage,
[Your dry cleaning is ready for pick-up.]
Right. Almost forgot.
I’d worn Hudson’s jacket ho yesterday after he lent it to at the hospital. The rich, comforting scent had lingered on it, making surprisingly calm.
I was going to hand-wash it at first, but one touch and I chickened out.
That thing felt more expensive than my entire house’s belongings.
Definitely custom tailored to his powerful fra.
Definitely sothing that would disintegrate if my untrained hands got anywhere near it with soap.
So I took it to the fancy dry cleaner instead.
After work, I headed straight there to pick it up.
On the way back, I passed the bakery near the corner and grabbed a few cupcakes.
Figured I might as well soften the awkwardness of returning an Alpha’s jacket with sugar.
I got to apartnts and stood in front of Hudson’s door.
My heart was racing.
I knocked.
Waited.
Knocked again.
Nothing.
Of course he wasn’t ho.
He probably only slept two hours a day and worked hundred-hour weeks, typical Alpha behavior—always protecting, providing, conquering.
Still, I stood there for a beat longer than I ant to.
Back in my flat, I ssaged him,[When will you be back? I’ve got your jacket.]
I stared at the screen for two minutes.
No reply.
I ate dinner.
Watched an entire episode of The Infernal Housewives of Highrise City.
Still nothing.
Not even a blue tick.
Maybe he didn’t give a damn about the jacket.
Maybe once another wolf’s scent touched it, it was dead to him.
Like one of those territorial Alphas who won’t accept anything once it carries another’s scent.
It was nearly ten.
I’d showered, blow-dried my hair, slathered on night cream, and was just about to go to bed when my phone finally buzzed.
Hudson,"I won’t be back any ti soon. Bring it to Laurent Global Holdings headquarters tomorrow."
No "please." No "thanks."
Just a straight-up command, like I was one of his subordinates.
I typed back,"Got it."
Didn’t add a smiley.
He didn’t deserve one.
His ssage had the warmth of an ice stare.
Maybe this was the real Hudson Laurent—zero charm, full Alpha dominance.
How could soone propose one day and then disappear and go cold the next? It’s like matching on Tinder, chatting intensely for weeks, going on a date where they hit on you, saying ’I’ll call you.’ And then bang—they ghost you.
I was about to put my phone away when it rang.
Unknown number.
Probably a scam call.
More likely Niall Granger again, trying to reclaim what he’d rejected.
I hung up instantly and blocked the number.
Next morning, I took half a day off just to drop the damn jacket off at Laurent Global Holdings, where the most powerful Alpha in Highrise City awaited.
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