CHAPTER 15

 

Beatrice’s POV

The moment I stepped into the house, I braced myself for what was coming.

I could feel three pairs of eyes watching me. Their expressions were filled with disappointment and something that felt like irritation.

My triplets—Caleb, Cooper, and Charlotte—were wide awake despite the late hour, sitting cross-legged with their arms folded. When I was upset, they looked exactly like me, which made my guilt worse.

Charlotte was the first to speak, her voice sharp. “You’re late again.”

I sighed, kicking off my heels and setting my bag by the door. “I know, baby. I’m sorry.”

“You always say that,” Cooper muttered, turning his face away.

Caleb, ever the observer, tilted his head. “Did you at least eat dinner?”

I forced a smile. “I grabbed a little something.”

His frown deepened. “Liar.”

I winced. He wasn’t wrong.

Charlotte let out a dramatic sigh. “Mom, we waited for you.”

My chest tightened at their words. It wasn’t like I had a choice. Work had run late, and I couldn’t exactly argue with my boss—especially when that boss was Xander— Their unknown father.

I walked over and kneeled in front of them. “I hate coming home late. I missed you all so much today.”

“Then why do you keep doing it?” Charlotte asked, crossing her arms.

I stroked her curls gently. “Because Mommy has a job now. A good one. I promise it will help us in the long run.”

They stayed quiet, still upset.

I needed to win them over.

“Okay,” I said, lowering my voice like I was sharing a secret. “What if I make it up to you? Tomorrow, after school, we’ll get ice cream. Extra scoops. Any flavour you want.”

Charlotte’s eyes lit up. “Even the rainbow one with the sprinkles?”

“Even that one.”

Cooper eyed me sceptically. “And we can stay up an extra hour tonight?”

I chuckled. “Nice try. But fine, just thirty minutes.”

Caleb finally smiled. “Deal.”

With that, they lunged forward, wrapping their little arms around me. I held them close, breathing in their familiar scents. This—they—were my entire world.

Whatever happened at work, whatever storms I had to face, none of it mattered as long as I had them

***

The next morning was a whirlwind.

Between making breakfast, finding Charlotte’s missing shoe, and convincing Cooper that he couldn’t take his toy sword to school, I barely had time to breathe.

By the time we got to their school, I was running late. Again.

“Be good today,” I told them, kissing each of their foreheads.

“Love you, Mom!” Charlotte called as they ran inside.

I moved around for a second, looking at the beautiful gifts God had given me. Then, I turned back and headed for the office.

I arrived at the office just as Pearl, my colleague, approached my desk. She raised a brow. “Rough morning?”

“You have no idea.”

She smirked. “Well, buckle up. The boss wants to see you.”

I froze. “Xander?”

Pearl nodded. “Called me personally to tell you to report to his office.”

My stomach flipped. “Did he say why?”

“Nope. But it sounded important.”

Great. Just what I needed.

I narrowed my shoulders, making my way to his office.

Xander stood by the window when I walked in, his sharp gaze fixed on the city below. He looked…deep in thought.

“Sir?” I said carefully.

He turned, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. “Sit.”

I obeyed, my heart pounding hard.

“I want your thoughts on the mining project proposals,” he said, sliding a file across the desk.

I blinked. That was it? No cold remarks? No tension-filled silence? Just work?

Relieved, I nodded and opened the file. “I reviewed them last night. The second proposal seems more sustainable, but the budget estimates are slightly off.”

Xander leaned back, watching me intently. “Explain.”

I cleared my throat, pushing aside my nerves. “The projected costs for equipment are too low. If we move forward with this supplier, we’ll risk quality issues. I recommend we renegotiate or look for an alternative.”

Silence.

Then, to my shock, a smirk ghosted his lips." Well, not bad. A little bit of my sense could touch it up." He said.

I blinked. Did Xander tell me indirectly that I didn't have sense? 

Before I could process it further, he handed me another file: “Prepare a report by noon. I’ll need it for the meeting.”

“Yes, sir.”

I pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway, but something held me back. It was the same feeling I had when I’d first met Xander—the pull between us. The tension. But now it felt like it was wrapped in a layer of ice, keeping me at arm’s length.

I returned to my desk, trying to focus on the task. I had to finish that report, after all. But every time I tried to concentrate, my thoughts drifted back to Xander—his voice, the way he’d dismissed me so curtly, the coldness in his eyes that never seemed to fade.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been harsh with me.

Yes, he was powerful, and he controlled every aspect of his life—his work, wealth, his pack—but me? It was a different story. Every time I got too close, he shut down, pulling away with a coldness that had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the walls he had built around his heart.

And damn it, I hated those walls.

I tried to shake the thought from my head. Focus on the report, Beatrice. Focus on the job.

But the truth was, it wasn’t just about the work anymore. Xander had gotten under my skin. He was everywhere—his presence, eyes, and voice echoing in the back of my mind.

I could feel him, even now, like an invisible hand resting on my shoulder.

Hours later, as the clock ticked closer to noon, I finished the report. I hadn’t even realised how much time had passed; I was engrossed in every detail and every recommendation I had written. The report had to be perfect, after all.

When I finally knocked on Xander’s office door and entered, I was met with the same coldness I had seen earlier. He was seated behind his desk, his gaze fixed on the files. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tense.

“Here’s the report you asked for,” I said, my voice steady even though my hands trembled slightly.

He took the file from me without looking up and flipped it open. The silence stretched out between us, thick and suffocating.

His eyes scanned the pages, and I stood there, watching him. Every second felt like a lifetime, as if this moment held more weight than it should.

Finally, he spoke. “This is okay, not what I expected, though,” he muttered, his voice low. But next time, don’t take so long, so I shouldn’t have to wait for you.”

It was harsh. The words hit me harder than I expected. His tone made it clear that the praise didn’t mean much—not when it was paired with that cutting remark.

I swallowed, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I’ll make sure it’s faster next time.”

His gaze flicked up to meet mine for the first time since I’d entered. The intensity in his eyes startled me. There was something there—something I couldn’t quite place.

“Beatrice,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You can’t keep running yourself ragged like this. You’re not going to win me over by doing everything perfectly.”

I blinked, feeling the sting of his words. Was this what he thought of me? That I was doing this for his approval?

“I’m not trying to win you over, Xander,” I replied, the frustration bubbling inside me despite my best efforts to hold it in. “I’m just trying to do my job. But nothing I do seems to get it right in your eyes.”

He froze, and for a moment, I thought he might say something—something that would bridge the gap between us. But instead, he stood and walked to the window, his back turned to me.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice distant. “Nothing you do will ever be enough. Not for me. Not for anyone.”

The words hit me like a physical blow.

I stood there, staring at his rigid back, trying to process what he had just said. Was he serious? Was he pushing me away again?

My heart skipped a beat.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.

But for the first time in what felt like forever, I realised that maybe—just maybe—there was hope.

But something in my gut told me this wasn’t over.

Something told me that the real storm was beginning.

As I reached the elevator, I saw Pearl walking toward me.

Her gaze flicked over me, sensing the shift in the air. “Everything okay?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I believed it myself. “I think so.”

The doors to the elevator closed, but as they did, the sound of Xander’s voice echoed in my mind—Nothing you do will ever be enough.

The words lingered like a curse.