Elaine“Did he really do that?” Liz’s voice rang with disbelief, cutting through the thick silence between us.I didn’t respond. Instead, I sipped my coffee, trying to steady my trembling hands. The events of last night kept replaying in my mind, over and over. Tristan barging into my apartment, his presence filling every corner, suffocating me. I hadn’t slept a minute since.Liz slumped onto the sofa, still stunned. “I always thought Tristan was a jerk, but barging into your apartment without permission? That’s beyond out of line. He’s completely lost it.”I forced a bitter smile. I never expected him to do something like that. Sure, he was arrogant, but this? The fear I felt as he stood there, towering over me like some predator. I can’t shake it. Tristan was powerful, relentless, an alpha. I felt like nothing more than an insect under his gaze, knowing he could’ve done anything he wanted. I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.The thought sent a cold shiver through me.“Elaine? Hel
ElaineThat morning, I woke up with a smile, the kind that felt like it was trying to burst out of me. The text from Nancy the day before had filled me with an overwhelming sense of anticipation. Today, I had a feeling it would be a good day. No, a great day. If Nancy and Mr. Smith had secured a contract with Everett Innovations, it would give Roma Aesthetics the boost we needed to stay competitive given the fallout we had with Bride Essentials.As I brushed my hair, I allowed myself a moment to daydream. A new contract meant stability, hope, and a fighting chance for the company I’d poured my heart into. Today, I wasn’t just going to work. I was walking into a new chapter, one full of possibilities.Looks like things are starting to get better. I grabbed my bag, locked the door behind me, and headed to the street to hail a cab. Almost immediately, one pulled up.The old cab driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror a few times before he finally spoke. "You seem awfully happy
ElaineMr. Everett chuckled, clearly proud of himself, and even Mr. Smith glanced at me with an awkward grin, aware of the tension that was brewing inside me. This reunion was far from anything romantic as Mr. Everett had been thinking. Rather, it was nothing but suffocating. I felt breathless as the room felt heavy with silence. I was speechless and was caught completely off guard. My mind raced and I tried to make sense of what was happening. Looking at Nancy’s serious expression, there's no denying what was happening. Her face confirmed that this wasn't just a regular meeting. It was far more. Mr. Smith, on the other hand, looked anything but pleased. His frown deepened as he glanced at Tristan, who sat there looking far too comfortable for my liking.Mr. Everett Everett’s smile, however, remained as warm as ever. He greeted me with a nod as if nothing unusual had just transpired.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to regain some composure. Tristan's familiar voice cut through the t
Elaine“If there’s no problem, then I guess it’s settled. We can now proceed to the contract signing—"Before I could even react, Mr. Smith stepped in. “I think we can postpone that thought for a moment. While we’re excited to get into this new project, I need to consult with my team first just to make sure we can deliver what’s expected of us. The last thing we want is another failure. Can you give us a few days to study the proposal? We’ll be sure to update you before the end of the week.”I breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Smith spoke. His words were a saving grace from the pressure I felt inside my chest. Mr. Everett seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly, he recovered with a reassuring smile.“Well, of course. I apologize for being too eager. I was just excited to get started.”“No need to apologize,” Mr. Smith replied with that professional smile of his. “We’re grateful for the opportunity. I’m confident we’ll find the best way forward.”I made myself sit still, trying to kee
Tristan"See? What did I tell you? One heroic act and Elaine would come crawling back to you."I watched the light catch on the glass edges as I swirled the alcohol inside. Seeing my phone on the table and remembering my previous call with Elaine made me smirk. As much as it pained me to admit, Megan was right with her words. I drank the whiskey and felt the warmth slide down my throat. I hated sharing the spotlight, but this victory was partly hers. Megan deserved credit for her counsel, whether I liked it or not. I wouldn’t be in this situation if I hadn't listened to her. As much as I thrived on being the sole architect of my success, Megan had played a huge part in this.It had been too easy. I still couldn’t believe it was this easy. All it took was being her "hero," and Elaine’s defenses crumbled. It was a smart move to involve Mr. Everett after finding out how close Elaine was to his grandson. I had seen her interact with that twerp the night of the presentation and knew they h
ElaineI kept checking my wristwatch. Thirty minutes had passed, and Tristan was still nowhere to be seen. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. He was never late on anything yet here I was waiting for him to come. Where the hell is that jerk?The thought bounced around my mind, only making my frustration grow. Every time I looked at my watch, I felt like I was being slapped. It was another reminder of how Tristan treated me in his life, how he was constantly making me feel I was nothing but a dirty doormat he could step on anytime. Then, the waiter came over again, his polite smile starting to add pressure on me. He had checked on me many times, and I could tell he was becoming impatient with me.Worried that I might get kicked out, I decided to order. “I’ll have the Salade Niçoise and sparkling water,” I said with a smile. The waiter nodded and left, but I could still feel his eyes on me. He probably wondered why I was still sitting here after waiting too long. I tapped my fingers
ElaineTristan stared at the paper in front of him. His brows furrowed as he scanned the details. "Is this for real?" His jaw clenched as he caught on to something. “Wait a minute. You’re saying I can’t come within a hundred feet of you? And you’ve specified that I can’t contact you or be with you at the same place? That’s absurd! I’m your fucking husband, Elaine. You can’t just lock me out of my own life.”I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “After what happened when you barged into my apartment without consent, I figured this was the best way to go.”His expression darkened, fury brewing in his eyes. “Do you really think the pack will allow this? They won’t stand by while their Alpha is treated like this.” He leaned closer, voice low and menacing. “This order undermines my authority. As your husband, I have every right to be with you. This is just plain stupid.”“Oh, did you miss the part where I’m filing for divorce? The moment I walked away from your beloved Silverwolf Pack and y
ElaineThe mall buzzed with noise. The mixture of voices and footsteps echoed around me and yet, I felt I was all alone. It was like I was there in that place yet my mind was wandering elsewhere. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”The frown expression of the woman I bumped returned me to my senses. Quickly, I bowed at her and apologized. The woman sneered and rolled her eyes before going on her way. I heaved a sigh as soon as she passed by. I continued strolling the busy hallway. Wolves rushed by around me. I tried to slip between groups of mall goers and dodged their strollers. I almost regretted going out of the apartment as today is the weekend and the mall was filled with werewolves but it’s too late to get back to my apartment now. It had only been two days since I slapped Tristan with the restraining order but I already felt lighter. Since the incident inside the French bistro, Tristan hadn’t shown up his face to me. He hadn’t trespassed my apartment again nor appeared at Roma