Chapter 4

Anita's POV

I trailed behind Beta Damian as we moved toward the place where the Alpha stood. As we reached him, he looked at me with a suspicious gaze. I wondered if he had seen me before because I had never seen him. This was my first time meeting the Alpha of this pack, despite having been here for three years.

He removed his gaze from me and waved his hand through the air, signaling us to follow his lead.

I glanced up at Beta Damian, wanting him to take the first step before I joined in, which he did. We walked through the double doors adorned with beautiful chandeliers that cast a soft glow throughout the room.

There were paintings and artwork all around. Everything was so stunning.

My eyes quickly caught sight of a particular painting of a middle-aged man with a woman wrapped around him. It seemed like she was his wife. She was beautiful, and her smile made the picture come alive.

In all the time I've been working in this pack, I've never entered this grand hall. Luxurious black chairs with gold rails were placed all over. A grand piano was set near the staircase. The tiles were so polished that you could see your reflection in them.

"Wait here," the Alpha commanded, stopping us in our tracks.

"Follow me," he gestured to Beta Damian, giving him a sign to come with him.

They both went into a corner, leaving me all alone in the room.

I stood there, hands clasped in front of me, for about twenty minutes, or maybe less. Then suddenly, Beta Damian emerged from the corner.

He waved his hand to the side, "Come with me," he commanded, and I obeyed like a humble sheep.

We entered the corner and into a wide, spacious room. The Alpha sat at the front, opposite the door, focusing his eyes on a young man in his early twenties.

The man was introducing himself. I was a bit lost about what he was doing, so I moved closer to Beta Damian, who was standing beside me.

He didn't want to interrupt the situation or disturb the Alpha, so he stayed where he stood, as did I.

"What am I to do here?" I whispered into his ear in a hush tone.

He leaned close, his eyes still fearfully lingering on the Alpha, and said, "Alpha Hades needs a personal assistant to help plan and schedule his daily activities. He needs someone who can understand him and read his emotions, too." His words made my eyes widen.

"A personal assistant? I’ve never done that kind of work before. Why did you bring me here without asking about my work history?" I pressed further.

What he was saying sounded strange to me. How could someone want a personal assistant without any prior information?

I needed to get out of here fast.

"Be calm, Anita. You don't need work history to qualify for this job. You already look like someone fit for it, so hold on," he whispered nonchalantly.

No. I was not prepared for this.

If I ever wanted to be a personal assistant, it certainly wouldn't be for this Alpha. His demeanor alone was too toxic and unbearable for me.

I wouldn’t be able to handle him.

My mind quickly raced back to when I was clearing the furniture outside. He came up behind me, just standing there, peeping and sizing me up.

So that’s where he saw me and planned to use me for this? What if he's a playboy? I can’t wrap my head around the kind of job the Beta is talking about.

I raised my head to the Alpha, and his eyes met mine immediately. My heart started thumping loudly against my chest, and I couldn’t understand why I was becoming so nervous.

I quickly looked away and tugged on Beta Damian’s clothes, trying to get his attention. He looked at me, and I leaned closer to his ear.

"I can’t do this, please. I want to leave," I said to him.

He smiled and shook his head. "No, you can’t leave. You and he have been selected for this. You have to muster the courage to win the Alpha over, understand?"

His words struck a chord in my heart. Why couldn’t I leave?

Is this now by force?

I shrugged off the feeling immediately and turned to him as he faced the Alpha.

"No. I want to leave. Excuse me," I barked, but the Alpha’s deep voice sent me crawling back to my previous position.

"What’s going on there?" he asked, and I shrank into myself immediately.

I started praying that the ground would open up and swallow me whole. I couldn’t imagine standing in front of him, trying to convince him to pick me over the other man.

What would I even say?

I lowered my head and stepped back to where I had been standing, and Beta Damian went to the Alpha, whispering something in his ear.

"What’s your name?" the Alpha asked.

Hearing his deep, authoritative voice sent shivers down my spine, making goosebumps rise all over my skin.

I raised my head to his strikingly handsome face. "I am Anita," I muttered slowly.

He nodded, acknowledging what I said, then spoke again, "Move to the front," he ordered.

My eyes widened at his command, and if you were closer to me, you could hear my heart beating against my chest.

I moved one step at a time to stand in line with the man.

Sweat began trickling down my forehead despite the air conditioning in the room.

"Yes. I do not know whether my Beta here has told you about this meeting. Has he?"

I nodded, and the man gave the Alpha a warm smile, "Yes, Alpha. He has."

It seemed like the man was ready for the job. He was dressed in a well-ironed black suit with matching shoes. He looked like someone who was already working as a personal assistant. So why couldn’t they just choose him and let me be?

I was a mere servant, and what I was wearing was nothing to write home about. I had on a loose-fitting flared dress, some parts of it stained with dirty liquid and dust all over my body.

I wasn’t in any way as well-dressed or presentable as the guy beside me. Why were they doing this to me?

Or were they planning to humiliate me?

My face scrunched up in disgust as I looked at the Alpha again.

He cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention. Before he could say anything, the man next to me started speaking.

"Yes, we are all gathered here, and I am pleased to start introducing myself because I know that I fit perfectly for this position," he said, interrupting Alpha Hades. Everyone turned their attention to him.

"I am Marshall County. A graduate from Harvard, I finished at the top of my class with a first-class degree in business administration. I am also the second heir to the County's groups. I believe you should all know my father. He is very popular, and my mother, Mrs. Gabriella, is very beautiful. She has cherry pink—"

"That's enough! Are those details necessary?" Alpha Hades cut him off, clearly annoyed.

Marshall shook his head, giving the Alpha a warm, confident smile that seemed to infuriate him even more.

"But Alpha—"

"Shut the hell up! Don't speak again, or I'll send you to the grave. I hate people like you who sugarcoat things to make them sound good, but later down the line, you’ll end up being the worst," he spat, his words laced with venom, glaring at Marshall.

Marshall was trembling under the Alpha’s harsh words.

Then Alpha Hades turned to me, "You, step forward."

Would I say I am afraid of him? No, I'm not but slowly, I moved to stand in front of Marshall.

"You should begin with your introduction, Anita. Or do you want me to shout at you before you do the right thing?" he groaned, casting a weird look at me.

My lips started shaking as I searched for the right words, all eyes on me, fixated and waiting.

No, this couldn’t be happening. What do I do now?

"Speak up, now!" Alpha Hades shouted at me, his veins standing out at once.

"I—I—I," I stuttered, struggling to find the words. "I—I am so sorry, Alpha. I am Anita, a 23-year-old maiden of the pack and also work as the pack servant." I blurted out everything at once and exhaled deeply.

I didn’t realize when my hand reached for my hair, running through it as I tried to calm myself. Then I raised my head.

This time, Alpha Hades looked at me more softly than before. Since I entered this room, he hadn’t given me this look at all.

His expression now was softer and calmer. I wondered what I had done to make him look at me this way. Was it because of my awkward introduction? I doubted that.

I quickly lowered my head as his eyes continued to focus on mine, then he spoke.

"Well, Anita will take the role of my personal assistant from now on," he declared.

"Huh?" I gasped, snapping my head up to look at him.

"What—what did you—" I stammered, trying to find more words, but he stopped me.

"Yes. You fit perfectly for this role, so get ready," he said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

What? What had I just gotten myself into?

The room fell silent immediately. I felt cold chills running down my spine.

"But Alpha Hades, is this reasonable? With all my qualifications and degrees, I am sure that I am fit for this role. How come you are giving it to a mere rogue who is a maid without any degree, honors, or anything?" Marshall voiced out, gritting his teeth.

Alpha Hades gave him a questioning look, "Marshall, I understand you, but unfortunately, I can't work with people who flatter themselves too much. So, back off. I treat everyone equally, regardless of gender or achievements," Alpha Hades said calmly.

I looked at him with widened eyes. No, I had never seen anyone like this before.

Even his subordinates usually practiced favoritism and tribalism too much. That’s why I hadn’t been able to get a decent job since my stay here.

They treated me like a rogue and made me do demeaning and difficult jobs.

I was surprised to see this side of him. I thought he was just like everyone else.

"I won't accept this. This is cheating. Alpha Hades, this is cheating. She is trash compared to me and deserves no favor. Do not take—"

"Leave this place. Now!" Alpha Hades thundered, stopping Marshall from speaking further.

Marshall hissed and turned to me, giving me a spiteful glance before storming out of the office.