Christina’s POV
The glass and steel tower stood in the heart of downtown Highrise City. It was expensive real estate with shiny windows that reflected sunlight everywhere, almost like it was trying to show off to anyone walking by.
Sixty-eight floors of money and power.
Laurent Global Holdings was bigger than all the other buildings around it.LGH wasn’t just about real estate and finance; they had business in everything that included technology, hotels, tourism, and dia. If it made money, they were part of it.
The place attracted humans like bees to honey, especially influencers and social dia personalities. I’d passed it countless tis, watching people perform dance routines right outside the entrance, but I’d never gone inside until today.
The interior looked expensive in a quiet way. Clean lines, smooth finishes, and subtle signs of wealth everywhere. Everything seed to say, "Yes, this single chair costs more than your car, but we’re too polite to ntion it."
No one got past the lobby without permission, which explained why the front desk stopped right away. A woman with perfect eyeliner looked over like she was deciding if I belonged there or not.
"You can’t access the upper floors without an appointnt," she inford , smiling with politeness. "Alpha Hudson receives countless requests daily. His calendar is fully committed months in advance."
She looked up and down again. I could tell what she was thinking by the look on her face—here was another woman, hoping to get the attention of a powerful Alpha with nothing but nice hair and pretty underwear.
The joke was on her. I hadn’t even bothered with mascara today.
"Perhaps try again in three months," she suggested with false sympathy.
I didn’t bother arguing. What was the point? Instead, I found a seat in the lobby and texted him.
[I’m at LGH. Can I leave your jacket at the front desk?]
Fifteen long minutes passed before his reply appeared on my screen.
Hudson,[Contact Dominic Everett, my Beta. Here’s his number.]
No explanation. No expression of gratitude. Nothing.
I stared at the ssage with irritation. All this trouble for returning one jacket. First, I had to take ti away from work. Then I was treated like so desperate gold-digger trying to get an Alpha’s attention. Now I had to find his Beta like I was bringing so important pack relic?
I was such a fool. All this effort for a man who communicated like a legal docunt.
Still, I’d already co this far. Might as well complete what I started and avoid the bad karma of leaving a favor half-done.
I called the number he gave.
Less than five minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and out ca a man who looked like a high-ranking Beta—tall, perfectly dressed, with every hair in place. He walked like he had important pack business to handle, but he gave a real smile when he got to .
"Thank you for coming all this way, Miss Vance. I’ll ensure Alpha Hudson receives this." At least soone here understood basic courtesy.
I handed over the jacket, then asked, mostly to fill the silence, "Is your Alpha in a eting?"
Dominic blinked. "Alpha Hudson isn’t in the office today. No scheduled etings. He’s on a date."
"A date?" The words escaped before I could stop them. "Who?"
Dominic looked around carefully, like a packmate who wanted to share gossip but had to stay loyal. He seed torn between keeping quiet and wanting to tell sothing.
I simply held his gaze and waited.
Finally, he gave in.
"Octavia Grey," he whispered, like he was sharing secret. "She’s been trying to get our Alpha’s attention for a while now."
I tried to keep my face normal.
Octavia Grey. The most famous celebrity right now.She had just won the country’s biggest film award for so independent movie.Her face was everywhere—red carpet events, interviews, social dia posts. She had everything—fa, talent, and she was beautiful.
I’d seen her in interviews,she was cold and classy. She always looked like she’d rather ignore you than talk to you.
And now she was pursuing Hudson Laurent?
While I was thinking about those two together, Dominic told sothing else important.
"Miss Vance, I’m sure you’re aware that our Alpha is... determined to secure a mate quickly."
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe. The fact that even Hudson’s Beta openly discussed his urgency to form a mating bond made my head spin.
I replied simply, "Yes, I know."
Hudson had asked to consider his marriage proposal. But evidently, I wasn’t the only female on his list of considerations. If I declined, perhaps he’d be completing a mating ceremony with Octavia Grey within days.
The man wasn’t exaggerating about his tiline. For him, this was clearly a strategic alliance, not a matter of the heart. He likely believed any suitable female would fulfill his requirents.
But what about my situation?
If I declined him, did I have other options?
Technically, yes. There was Niall, who had Louisa’s blessing, and Leonard Shaw, the Alpha my father had tried to introduce to.
Last night, I blocked Niall’s number. It felt good for about seven hours. Then this morning, he called from two different numbers,like a desperate wolf who couldn’t accept rejection.
My father had been calling a lot too. I didn’t need to answer to know he wanted to get back with Niall or think about Leonard.
Looking at my situation, marrying Hudson might actually be the smartest thing I could do—maybe the only choice besides leaving everything behind and starting over.
Dominic spoke again, his voice quieter and more personal.
"Please don’t be mad at for saying this, but I’ve worked as Alpha Hudson’s Beta for years and, trust , he doesn’t really care about those celebrity types. You’re the one he fits with best,Miss Vance.You should really think about the bond he’s offering."
"I understand," I nodded. "I’ll think about it."
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