ElaineI hurried down the dimly lit corridor, my footsteps echoing on the shiny marble floors. The air carried the scent of fresh coffee and a hint of lemon from the janitor's recent cleaning. Clutching a thin folder tightly against my chest, I made my way to Nancy’s office.Approaching my destination, my heart started racing. I paused, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. It wasn’t that I was afraid of her, but I dreaded interacting with Nancy. Whenever she was around, she imposed her authority and intimidated me. It had reached the point where she would humiliate me in front of others. The situation had become so toxic that I tried to avoid her as much as possible. Thankfully, Marie was always there to support me. Despite this, I couldn’t completely avoid Nancy, knowing she was our department head.The office door, made of dark wood, seemed more imposing than usual. Nancy’s nameplate gleamed in the artificial light. I knew what awaited me beyond that door, so I approached w
ElaineWait, what? Me? What the hell is she talking about? I began to panic as all eyes were turned on me. My heart skipped a beat as shock surged inside. I hadn’t been informed about presenting today so I came unprepared. What was this all about?I gripped my folder tightly, trying to hide the tremble in my hands. Judging by the way Nancy smirked, I knew this was something she planned to humiliate me. Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Marie leaned towards me, attempting to intervene. “I think Elaine—”“Let Elaine give the update, Marie. It’s her task isn’t it?” Nancy declared firmly. Her voice left no room for argument, silencing Marie as she sat again. At that point, I knew there was nothing I could do to avoid this. So, I was forced to suck everything up and straightened up. I wouldn’t let her bully me like this without a fight. Gathering my courage, I took my folder and stood up.Desperation clawed at me, my legs feeling unsteady under the weight of everyone’s expectant gazes. I c
ElaineTwo days after that fateful meeting, everything went back to normal. And so, I thought.My workspace was a corner in the open-plan office, surrounded by the gentle hum of the busy office setup. Papers and folders lay scattered across my desk, a vivid testament to the day's overwhelming workload. I was deeply engrossed in updating a crucial report. A soft knock on the divider snapped me out of my concentration, jolting me from my swamp of work. I looked up to see Marie, smiling warmly at me."Elaine?" Marie's voice held a hint of urgency."Hi, Marie. What's up?" I replied, momentarily setting aside my work and adjusting my glasses."I just came out of Nancy’s office. She asked me to instruct you to see her in her office," Marie said. Although her expression remained smiling, I could see the hint of curiosity in her eyes"Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know," I replied. Marie nodded and departed, leaving me to ponder Nancy's sudden request. Since the tense board meeting two day
ElaineI sat in a cozy corner of the bustling coffee shop, nursing my morning coffee. The rich aroma of freshly brewed beans filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere. I had just two days to secure a meeting with Everett Innovations. How the hell would I be able to do that?The thought alone made my temples throb. This Elite Five lived up to its name. Imagine being a discreet group of highly successful companies across different fields of business but still managing to keep a highly secretive profile. I remembered what Trevor had told me: this company only opened its doors to potential partners. They would only reach out if they were interested in partnering with you. If not, you won’t get any information from them. They would contact you to collaborate, not the other way around. Perhaps that was why they hadn’t answered any of our emails or calls. With this reality hovering above me, how would I get them to meet with us at Roma Aesthetics?I sighed and massaged my forehead, trying to
ElaineI followed Leo as he led me down the street. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I should have been at the office of Everett Innovations, trying to schedule an appointment for Roma Aesthetics. Instead, here I was, trailing after this poor kid. I had offered to walk him home, thinking it wouldn’t take long, but now I was starting to worry. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a mistake and poor judgment call. My concern for Leo's safety battled with my worry about the difficult task assigned to me by Nancy.Feeling defeated, I sighed and tried to reassure myself. "Making sure this kid is safe won’t take much time. I can get back to work soon."After a few minutes, we turned a corner. There, I saw a small house made of cardboard, held together with tape and string, next to an old trash bin. It was tiny, with a worn-out blanket for a door and newspapers on the floor. Leo stopped and turned to me with a small smile. "Welcome to my home, Aunt Elaine," he said.My heart
ElaineI turned my head, recognizing the voice instantly."Well, well, who do we have here?" Megan's tone was dripping with sarcasm. She stood there, a smug smile playing on her lips. Her eyes glittered with a predatory gleam, and her posture was as sharp and poised as ever. She was with another wolf, a man dressed in corporate wear, clearly indicating they were on some business errand together. I stood up and dusted myself off, determined to face this unexpected encounter with dignity."What are you doing here, Elaine?" Megan asked, her eyes scanning me with a mix of curiosity and disdain, her lips curling into a smirk. I could feel her trying to assert dominance, trying to make me feel small. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing the details, so I simply said, "It's work-related."Megan's eyes widened in shock, her expression quickly morphing into one of false pity. "Elaine, the previous Luna of Wolfsilver Pack, working as an employee?" Her words dripped with thinly
ElaineI was taken aback when I realized the wolf I had bumped into was Trevor. I had been lost in my thoughts, not expecting to see a familiar face in this place.“Elaine?” Trevor said, his surprise evident. He looked just the same, with his bright eyes and easy smile.Feeling awkward, I managed a small smile. “Hi,” I said, my voice a bit shaky.Trevor’s curiosity got the better of him. “What are you doing here? No work today?”I shook my head, my stomach growling audibly. “Actually, I’m here because of work,” I admitted, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.Trevor’s smile widened. “It’s lunchtime already. How about we grab something to eat? There’s a diner nearby.”“Hmmm…”“Don’t think about it, come on. You might be thinking to say no but your stomach is saying otherwise.”I felt my cheeks heat remembering the embarrassing encounter. With that, I nodded and followed Trevor as he led me to Whimsy Diner. The diner had a cozy, nostalgic feel, with checkered tablecloths and the smell o
ElaineFlashback…The moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft, silvery glow, its gentle touch highlighting the tears streaming down my cheeks. I stood there, silently weeping, while Trevor paced back and forth beside me, clearly unsettled. The tension between us hung heavy in the cool night air.“Why him? Why must you marry the Alpha’s son?” Trevor’s voice held a mix of frustration and hurt.“It’s what the Alpha and the Luna have decided,” I replied, my voice trembling with emotion. “It’s their way of thanking me for saving the Luna.”“But how is it a reward if you’re marrying because they told you to? Shouldn’t marriage be about love? Did they force you to agree?”“No! They didn’t—”“Then, why? Why did you agree to this arrangement? It doesn’t make sense—”“Because I love Tristan!” I shouted, my tears flowing more freely now. “I’ve loved him since we were little. I thought it was just a simple crush, but eventually, as I was given access to his world through his parents, I found myse