ALPHA JORDAN'S ARRIVED

CHAPTER 3: ALPHA JORDAN'S ARRIVED

CATHERINE:

I grabbed a clean towel and stepped into the bathroom. I tried to wash off the ache in my heart but it wouldn't bulge. The mirror fogged up as I stepped out, leaving wet footprints on the tiled floor.

I wiped my reflection clear and stared at myself for a moment. My brown eyes looked tired. My curls clung to my shoulders, still dripping.

“Pull it together, Cathy,” I muttered. “He’s not worth it.”

Just then, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it and saw Zoe’s name flashing across the screen.

“Hey, girl,” I answered, still drying my hair with the towel.

“Hey, babe!” Zoe’s voice came through loud and lively. “You up?”

“Yeah,” I said, my tone flat. “I just finished my shower. What’s up?”

“Listen,” she said quickly, her voice dropping like she was sharing top-secret info. “Big news. We’ve got an important event today.”

I frowned. “Important how?”

“Important as in—our company was contracted to handle this year's Annual Alpha's Ball, and some of the Alphas are hot billionaires. I heard Bennett and Sam talking about one of the billionaire Alphas. Could be a big catch if the universe finally shows us love.”

I sighed. “Zoe…I'm not interested in anything like that. I hate Alphas.”

Zoe paused for a moment. “I’m serious! Sam, the manager, said we gotta look our best. So, babe, dress sexy today, okay? We might get a huge tip if we play our cards right.”

I shook my head, my heart still feeling shattered. “We don't dress sexy to any events. We've got a uniform.”

“It doesn't matter. Just make sure you wear something sexy,” she instructed. “We can change back to our sexy outfits once our ushering job is done. Then we can play around a little.”

I rolled my eyes as I sat on the edge of the bed. “I'm not sure your idea is a good one.”

“Hey, my rent’s due,” she reminded me. “And I’m not trying to get evicted again. You're lucky your father left you a house. Are you in or not?”

“I'm definitely coming to work but I'm not dressing sexy.”

“Fine. But try and smile more today, okay? You look gorgeous when you smile.”

I couldn't help but laugh. “You sound like my mom.”

“Then she’s a smart woman. See you later, babe.”

She hung up before I could reply.

I set the phone down and stared at the ceiling for a second. Zoe always tried to grab every opportunity to make some extra cash. That was exactly what landed my father in trouble.

Working at the event company wasn’t exactly what I had dreamt I would become, but it paid enough to keep the lights on and also put food on our tables.

Mom had done her best, trying to provide for me after Dad died but her health had been deteriorating and she couldn't work anymore.

I stood and went to my dresser, grabbing my clothes. Mom’s voice floated down the hallway. “Cathy! Breakfast!”

“Coming, Mom!” I yelled back, applying lip balm quickly. I got dressed, wearing a pencil skirt and a white crisp shirt. I took a final glance at my reflection in the mirror and headed downstairs to have breakfast with my mother before I left for the coding Academy.

---

It was almost four in the evening when I arrived at The Mirage where I worked as an usher. The familiar neon sign buzzed above the entrance, glowing faintly even though it was still daylight.

When I stepped inside, the scent of floral flowers and polished wood filled the air. The hall was busy as the staff moved around, trying to put things in order.

Zoe was ready, of course. And as usual, she looked like she’d just walked off a runway.

“Hey, bestie!” she called out, waving her manicured hand. Her blonde curls bounced as she moved toward me. She wore a tight red dress that barely covered her thighs and had a neckline low enough to expose her cleavage.

I raised an eyebrow. “Wow, Zoe. Are you here to work or on a date?”

She laughed, twirling dramatically. “Please. If I’m gonna work, I might as well look good doing it.”

I shook my head. “You look like you’re about to seduce the entire city.”

“That’s the plan,” she said with a wink. “Didn’t I tell you? It's the annual Alpha Ball and all the billionaire Alphas are going to be there. I heard their tips are usually huge.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that,” I said dryly, hanging my bag in the back room. Just then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and ignored it. Denzel has been calling since I left his office.

“Aren't you going to answer it?” Zoe asked, looking at me suspiciously.

I shook my head and said nothing.

Zoe paused and stared at me. “Hey, you don't look happy. Are you alright?”

I nodded and turned away because I didn't want her to see how glassy my eyes had become.

She stepped closer and put a hand on my shoulder. “Talk to me, Cathy, did something happen?”

I couldn't hold back anymore as a tear slipped down my face. “I caught Denzel cheating on me with Giselle.”

“What? Where? When?”

I swallowed hard. “I went to his office this morning and caught him banging Giselle on his office desk.”

“That's insane. How could he cheat on you with your friend? That's not fair.”

I heaved a sigh. “I'm done with him.”

Zoe stepped closer. “Hey, don't make a hasty decision when you're angry. Denzel has been good to you.”

I stared at her and swallowed hard. “He said Giselle is his fated mate.”

Zoe looked confused. “But he's engaged to you.”

“That doesn't matter anymore, Zoe. I just have to move on.”

Zoe stared at me for a moment. “I'm so sorry, Cathy. You didn't deserve that. Don't worry, everything will be alright. Tonight, try and have fun. Stop acting like you wouldn’t like some excitement in your life. You're beautiful, Cathy, and I'm sure you're going to attract a billionaire for yourself tonight.”

“Excitement gets people killed,” I said, my tone flat.

She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a grandma.”

I rolled my eyes too but didn't respond.

An hour later, Sam announced that it was time to get going. The ushers, about twelve of us, got into a bus, wearing our uniforms. Everyone chatted excitedly about the possibility of getting a new boyfriend today. But I kept scrolling through my phone, looking for something to distract me.

The drive to Silver Moon Pack took an hour. And by the time the bus pulled to a stop in a vast parking lot, the sun had started to set.

Our male colleagues arrived a few minutes later. We went to work at once, arranging flowers and setting the stage. In less than an hour, the hall was well decorated and the stage was ready.

The guests started arriving almost immediately. Alphas and Lunas, Betas and their mates, noble men and women all flamboyantly dressed. I stood in a corner and watched.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps behind me caught my attention. Sam, the manager was whispering orders to the staff.

“Come on, people! Make sure the Alpha section is spotless! Move those chairs! Check the lights!”

“What’s going on?” I asked Zoe, who was reapplying lip gloss nearby.

She grinned. “He’s here. Alpha Jordan Canon has arrived.”