Chapter 3

Alice Pov

After I bid farewell to my boss, because I asked him if I could under time due to an emergency at home, I hurriedly made my way to the elevator.

Jana called me earlier and she was at the school. She informed me that my seven-year-old twins' teacher wanted to speak with me. And that they are inside the guidance office.

In the morning, I drop Keno and Keano off at school, and in the afternoon, Jana picks them up. I don't have time to fetch them myself because their dismissal time is only at two o'clock. That's why Jana is the one who picks them up. My friend works for her father's company and she is the boss so she has control over her schedule.

The meeting with my boss, Mr. Diego Samaniego, the Vice President of Samaniego Real Estate and Developer, had just concluded when I received a call from my panicking friend. I was asked to come to the school because my son, Keno, fought with his classmates.

Upon receiving the call, I quickly informed my boss that I needed to leave early due to a family emergency. Mr. Diego Samaniego is kind and considerate of my role as a single mom, so he permitted me to take time off from my job as his personal assistant.

When I arrived at the elevator, I secretly felt happy that it was open, so I quickly entered. I was puzzled when I noticed that some employees of the company were just standing outside and didn't enter the elevator, even though there were only two people inside. It seemed like they were afraid or hesitant. Their facial expressions were mixed. Some raised their eyebrows, some had hesitant smiles, and some seemed envious as they looked at me. I wondered why they looked that way.

"Aren't you going to take the elevator, Lenny? It's spacious," I asked the secretary of my boss. Lenny is the one who handles and assists Sir Diego with paperwork and meetings, while I focus more on personal matters. But I also accompany him during meetings and take notes in case Lenny forgets something.

Instead of answering, Lenny hesitated and just waved her right hand as a refusal to what I said. I furrowed my brow as all the employees boarded the other elevator.

I discreetly glanced at the man next to me on the left. My eyes widened when I saw the logo of a severed wolf head on his polo shirt, positioned on the right side of his chest.

I knew that the person who wore that logo on his clothing was Secretary Edu Lacsa, the secretary slash driver of Alpha Jacob, who is the CEO of the company I work for. Secretary Lacsa is always with Alpha Jacob, which means that the man behind me right now is Alpha Jacob!

I bit my lower lip when I realized that I mistakenly entered the wrong elevator. In my haste to get down and leave the building, I didn't notice that I had entered the VIP elevator. So that's why the employees were staring at me and had such reactions on their faces. Perhaps they were thinking that I dared to ride the VIP elevator and accompany the person with the highest position in this company.

When I saw Secretary Lacsa press the close button, I quickly stepped out of the elevator before it completely closed. However, I failed to go out because Alpha Jacob suddenly grabbed the back of my shirt collar and pulled me back into the place where I was standing earlier. With a trembling voice, I reluctantly faced him to apologize.

"L-I'm sorry, A-Alpha J-Jacob. I didn't realize that I entered the wrong elevator," I quickly explained to him, fearing that he might fire me from my job.

Alpha Jacob is known as a terrifying CEO with no mercy. If it weren't for the company's good reputation because of his father who is kind to all employees and pays a higher salary compared to other companies, I'm sure no one would work for him due to his bad behavior.

"Do you want to be sandwiched at the dooe of the elevator? If you want, go ahead, but not in front of me and not in my company. I don't want to pay for a hospital bill because of my employee's stupidity," Alpha Jacob said to me in harsh words and irritated tone.

I furrowed my brow upon hearing his baritone voice. His voice sounded familiar to me, but I couldn't remember where I had heard him speak before. However, that thought quickly left my mind as his statement of calling me stupid sank in.

The rumors about him were indeed true. He truly is a heartless CEO. And stingy too. My worries and uneasiness disappeared and were replaced with annoyance. With a scowl, I lifted my gaze and met his eyes.

"I just made a mistake entering the wrong elevator, does that immediately make me foolish? And besides, I was already on my way out earlier, but you stopped me, didn't you? If you hadn't stopped me, there would only be two of you in the elevator right now," I replied, unable to hold back myself. It's a miracle that I am no longer afraid of him.

"If I hadn't stopped you and pulled you back inside, you would have been stuck in the middle of the elevator doors and become sandwiched. I saved you from not getting hurt but you're talking back at me instead of thanking me," Alpha Jacob replied angrily, his beautiful chocolate-colored eyes fixed on my face.

I have been working in this company for a year, but I haven't seen him even once or even just his shadow. I always thought that Alpha Jacob, who is not only the CEO of Samaniego Real Estate and Developer but also the alpha of the White Pack, is already old. So I didn't expect that our CEO is actually young and handsome. However, he is grumpy and sharp-tongued. He is a red flag to me.

"Thank you for saving me, and I'm sorry for entering the wrong elevator. I promise it won't happen again," I replied in a low voice, bowing my head slightly to show him that I truly regret the mistake I made.

"It's still working hours. Where are you going and why do you seem to be in a hurry? Because of your rush, you ended up making a grave mistake."

I raised my head again upon hearing what he said. "Grave mistake? It's as if I killed someone or disclosed your company's confidential data to your competitor to make it a grave mistake from a simple error," I couldn't help but retort with a frown. "And I'm heading to Little Angel, my child's school. I asked permission from Sir Diego and he allowed me."

I heard Secretary Lacsa chuckle softly upon hearing my response, but it quickly stopped when Alpha Jacob gave him a stern look.

"You're talking back at me so I will deduct your salary for this month. Who is your direct superior? My Uncle Diego?" Alpha Jacob asked me irritably again.

I couldn't believe it and stared at his face for a long time. Now, there is no doubt that the rumors about his attitude were true. He has no heart. Just because I made a mistake in entering the wrong elevator and only answered his question but he already wants to deduct my salary. That doesn't seem humane.

"I admit that I made a mistake, which is why I apologized to you and tried to leave earlier, but you stopped me. It doesn't seem right to deduct my salary just because of a simple mistake I made and because I am talking back at you. You will get mad at me even more if I don't answer you, right? So why are mad at me? Where is the fairness in that?" I replied to him with annoyance.

Suddenly, the concern and hesitation I felt earlier disappeared. This man is so frustrating. It's as if he wants his company to become even richer by deducting from my salary.

"You're talking back again, so I'll deduct half of your salary," Alpha Jacob said with a disdainful tone. I want to respond to him, but I'm worried that if I speak to him again, I won't have anything to eat next month because all of my salary will be deducted. The only thing I can do is give him a bad look. "Why aren't you answering me? Did your courage suddenly disappear?"

"You will deduct my salary if I answer you. And if I continue to talk back, I might not have a salary to leave at the end of the month," I replied to him. "Are you in a bad mood now, and I'm the one you're taking it out on, Mr. Samaniego?" I couldn't help but ask him.

Secretary Lacsa burst into laughter while his face showed amazement, but he quickly closed his mouth, suppressing a smile, as Alpha Jacob gave him another sharp look. It's a good thing he kept quiet because if he had spoken and I had answered, I might not have received my salary until next year.

When the elevator opened, I quickly walked out without saying goodbye or looking back, leaving them behind. I had been waiting for a taxi for a few minutes when a black luxury car suddenly stopped in front of me. The window on the passenger seat rolled down, and I saw that Alpha Jacob was inside the car.

"Hop in. We'll take you there," he ordered me with a serious expression on his face.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Sir," I quickly replied to him. Why did his attitude suddenly change? And why is he offering to give me a ride? Are we close?

"Get inside or you will be fired right now?!"

I swiftly opened the door and got inside the car. Secretly, I prayed that none of his employees would see me getting into his car. I don't want to become the talk of the town if that happens.

Even though the silence inside Alpha Jacob's car was extremely uncomfortable, I just endured it. I didn't tell him where Little Angel was, so I was surprised when the car stopped right in front of the school I was heading to.

"Thank you for the ride, Secretary Lacsa," I thanked Alpha Jacob's secretary. "Thank you for the ride—" My expression of gratitude to Alpha Jacob was interrupted when he suddenly got out of the car.

"No need to thank me. I'm also going to this school," he quickly replied to me.

"Ah," I replied simply. Then I walked into the school.

Alpha Jacob also entered the school just like me. I didn't pay attention to him even though it seemed like he was following me.

I was heading to the guidance office where my two children and the two classmates they had a conflict with were. I suddenly stopped walking and frowned at Alpha Jacob. "Are you also going to the guidance office, Alpha Jacob?"

I hope not, I silently wished. If he's also going to the guidance office, there's a possibility that he is the parent of one of the two children that Keno had a conflict with. If that's the case, I might really lose my job.

"Yes," Alpha Jacob gave me a brief answer before he passed me and hurriedly walked towards the guidance office. I nervously tried to catch up with him as we walked. He knocked on the guidance office door three times before someone inside opened it.

"Mommy!" Keano called out to me.

"Daddy!" Keno shouted.

I suddenly stopped walking and widened my eyes, not because I saw a wound on Keno's cheek, but because of what he called Alpha Jacob, which clearly surprised him as well.

Keano and Keno ran towards us at the same time. Keano hugged my leg while Keno hugged Alpha Jacob's leg.

"Keno!" I called out my son in surprise. But he just ignored me and instead, he looked up and smiled at Alpha Jacob.

"I finally found you, Daddy!"