Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Alice

Dean had called an emergency meeting and everyone was at the conference room panicking, wondering what the hell was happening. Whispers and murmurs filled the room. I did not say a single word. Everything felt suffocating and I just wanted this to be over with and let me get out of here.

“Alice....”

I turned to the direction where I just heard my name. It was Flora.

“Hi,” I said awkwardly.

“Are you okay?” Flora asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I said quickly, ending the conversation before it even started.

“Okay, so can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Who do you think is getting fired? Because whenever Dean calls for a meeting like this someone has messed up big time.”

I smiled at her. Just because I work in the same office as him doesn't mean I know everything, but I'm not sure someone is getting fired.”

Flora looked a little bit relieved, but no matter how I pretended not to care what this emergency meeting was for, I did. A lot.

After a couple of minutes Dean stepped into the conference room looking as magnificent as always. I had seen him this morning, but it was only for a brief second. Seeing him now again made my heart race so fast.

That was when my eyes landed on a woman walking behind him. She wore a long black dress and heels that made her almost the same height as Dean, but he was still taller.

She looked extremely beautiful and that was when I noticed Dean's hand on hers.

“Everyone,” Dean began speaking, pulling everyone's attention to him. “This,” he said, pointing to the lady, “is Juliana Bishop and she would be joining the team. I believe we all matter and we cannot grow without each other and Juliana here,” he said, turning to look at her, a big smile on his lips, “is extremely brilliant and we hope to attain greater heights with her on the team.”

Everyone got up slowly, offering her handshakes before stepping outside, but I couldn't move. My body felt glued to the seat.

My heart was racing extremely fast, at least it wasn't from fatigue. It was from the fact that Dean wasn't letting go of her hand and he just kept smiling at her. It made me so uncomfortable.

I ran out of the office not caring if anyone was looking at me. I made my way to the ladies' room and I just stayed there trying to calm down. Seeing him with another woman almost gave me a panic attack, but she was just a new employee. I shouldn't be taking it this seriously.

Knocks landed on the toilet door but I didn't move.

“Alice, it's me, Flora. Open up.”

“I'm fine,” I said quickly, trying to make my voice sound okay.

“You are not fine. You just stormed out of the meeting without any explanation. You seemed like a crazy person, so now open up and let's talk.”

I walked slowly to the door and opened it to find Flora standing with a big smile on her face.

“Are you okay?” she asked in the softest voice ever, like she knew something was going on with me, she just couldn't place her hand on it.

“I told you I am perfectly fine,” I lied.

“He gave her that entire introduction he gave to her in front of all of us and then just gave her the job of a secretary.”

“Oh.”

“I know this may sound weird because you're in the same office with him and all of that, but could you please keep an eye on him?” She smiled mischievously. “We all placed a bet.”

“Why?”

“Did you see the way Dean was looking at her? There is something definitely there,” Flora said, her smile becoming wider.

Those words hit against my ribs so hard it almost knocked the air out of my lungs.

But I still pushed myself to smile. After Flora was gone I almost started crying. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was gaining weight quickly and it scared me. I made my way back to my table. The plan was simple: pretend like nothing happened.

When Dean walked in he didn't go to his table, he walked to mine.

“What happened?” he asked in the softest voice ever.

“Nothing,” I replied quickly.

“Are you sure?”

I forced a smile.

“Very sure.”

“You're the only one who hasn't welcomed Juliana.”

I laughed, but it wasn't a mean kind of laugh.

“You're introducing her to the entire company when you gave her the role of a secretary. Was that really necessary?”

“Of course it was,” he said with a straight face.

“You know everybody thinks the both of you are involved, right?” I didn't know when those words left my mouth.

He moved back from my table, placing a hand in his pocket.

“About that.... Juliana is actually from a very prestigious family and I will be getting married to her.”

“What?”

“Yes.”

“Wait.... is she your mate?”

“I'm not looking for my mate, Alice. I have so many responsibilities and looking for my mate is something I could care less about. Juliana is good, my family approves and she is going to be a great Luna, so I'm going for it.”

“Oh.”

That was the only word that left my mouth. I couldn't speak.

“Alice, I can...”

I lifted my hand, stopping him.

“You don't need to explain.”

He seemed surprised, but he didn't push.

I couldn't stay till the close of work. I just got up, took my things and left. I made my way straight to Layla's place where I cried uncontrollably in her arms.

I kept wondering what I would do without her.

“You have to tell him.”

“What?” I said, wiping my eyes after crying for more than an hour.

“This is Dean's baby as much as it is yours and you need to tell him.”

I considered it, but I didn't know how. But right now what did I have to lose? He was a

lready getting married. He might as well know the truth.

I picked up my phone and sent him one message.

“We need to talk.”