Chapter 3: Alpha Ronan

~ Ronan’s Pov ~

Intern? No way. She can’t intern at my company. I can’t even look at her without my dick pulsing.

“That is not happening,” she said, glaring at her father.

“It will happen. You need to intern at a company, and Ronan’s is the perfect one. You study estate management, and Ronan deals with real estate development. I’m sure he could help.”

Definitely not.

“You can’t just push me to intern at his company!”

“I can, and I just did. Listen to me and don’t make a fuss,” Calder paused and turned to me. “I need her to intern at your company. She needs a kick-start, and I want her to be responsible for once. That way, it guarantees her a job, and she won’t be as miserable as her pathetic mother.”

I could hear Anyssa swallow as she glared at me. Her eyes turned fiery, watching my every movement.

“I don’t think there’s a vacant position open in my company.”

“None at all? You said you needed help with an assistant.”

I swallowed. I did tell him that, but not her. Anyone but her.

“I do.”

“You can’t do this! You know what? I’m done listening. I can’t stand this!” she hollered just as Mavis came down with Ruby by his side. Anyssa’s attention shifted to them, her eyes filled with hurt. That’s strange. Shouldn’t she be happy about her stepsister getting engaged?

Mavis and Ruby approached us with smiles on their faces.

“Hi, Dad! Thank you so much for the party. I love it,” Ruby said, giving Calder a quick hug.

“Anything for my sweet girl.”

The praise seemed to encourage Ruby as she squeezed Mavis’s arm tighter while glaring at Anyssa. Anyssa’s face puffed up and it looked like she was about to cry. She stole glances at Mavis, who had his full attention on Ruby.

“Oh, I didn’t think you would attend. It’s so sad you don’t have a plus one though,” Ruby chimed.

“I don’t need one,” Anyssa said, barely audible. She tried to control herself, but her silent sobs could be heard between her words.

If I didn’t know better, I would have blindly overlooked the attraction she had toward my son. Why him? He already has some stupid fixation on Ruby.

“Dad, please. I can’t intern at his company. You promised to let me do what I want with my life.”

“And look how you turned out,” Ruby said, rubbing her hand on Mavis’s arm seductively. “You need something to do at least. It’s not like you’re getting married anytime soon, right? Who would want to marry a lowly Omega who hasn’t even finished college? You should be happy. By the time you’re done with your internship, I’ll be Mrs. Mavis Ellis,” she grinned.

Anyssa swallowed, barely showing any emotion, but I could tell how affected she was how her eyes darted to where their hands joined, how her eyelids trembled watching Ruby touch Mavis. It wasn’t annoyance—it was pain.

“I can’t do this,” she said, walking out of the room and climbing the stairs. Ruby laughed as she walked away and, with one last glance, pulled Mavis to greet some guests.

“Why do you want her to intern at my company?”

“If that’s the only way to keep her on track, then she needs to do it.”

“You’re saying I should agree to put your daughter on a leash. You know that, right?”

“If that’s what it means…yes.”

“She needs this for herself. Besides, what else does she have to do? Frolicking around college and coming home drunk most of the time has to end. Look,” he turned to me, “you owe me one. She can just work for you for a few months just to keep busy until I find someone reasonable enough to have her.”

“It’s hard to get someone to marry her. She is an Omega; I don’t know how I’ll find a suitable man to marry her off to.”

I wanted to ask why he wants to marry his daughter off, but I couldn’t digress. That could come another time… this moment needs focus.

“Okay,” I said finally. “She can work as my personal assistant. I need someone to fill that position anyway. If she can do it—” and if I can keep my eyes and hands off her “—then I can hire her permanently. I just hope she takes it seriously.”

“Oh, she will.”

The night became a blur after that. Being the father of the groom comes with many responsibilities, and responsibilities come with even bigger responsibilities, and opinions that do not matter.

I tried to keep my mind straight; focus on Ruby and my son, Mavis. He has been a good boy. After my wife’s death and me suddenly going MIA, Mavis oversaw the company, and with Calder’s help, I got back on my feet. But somehow I couldn’t focus on any of that. Fuck that, I couldn’t even focus on this damn party. The only thing—or rather, the only person my mind seems to focus on is Anyssa.

How she looked ravishing and sexy in that dress of hers. Even though Calder acts like he hates his own daughter, if he finds out my thoughts about her, then I am done for. I need a smoke.

I nodded to Calder, who sat with the special guests and his family, and walked up the stairs. All that mind torture was tiring, and I needed a smoke. I walked to the balcony, taking in the view. It was perfect… and with the party downstairs, I could rest for a little bit.

I brought out my roll, taking it between my fingers as I heard faint sniffing, I froze.

Anyssa quietly sobbed, tears falling down her cheeks. She aggressively wiped her tear-stained face as she sobbed in between.

This was because of Ruby, it had to be. And while I hated seeing her this way, I couldn’t do anything. I clenched my fists, silently cursing myself for being a dickhead. Somehow, watching her cry affected me, and not in a good way… it made me uncomfortable. I wanted to clean her face and tell her it was okay.

But I couldn’t. That would be all shades of wrong.

She jolted up when her phone rang, cleared her throat as she answered. Her brow furrowed as she listened, the pain contorting into utter fear.

“You can’t do that! You promised not to show anyone the video.” I walked closer, locking eyes with Anyssa.

Her mouth opened in shock.

“I‐I’ll call you back,” she said and disconnected the call, slightly irritated.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s an open space, and I enjoy the view.”

Her eyes roved down my features, taking in the smoke in my hand.

“Smoking,” she said.

“Oh, this? I can smoke, but you can’t. I’m not sure they allow kids to do that nowadays.”

Yes, out with the kid joke? What? She’s still a kid.

“How much did you hear?”

Does she really want to bring that up now?

“Enough to know you’re being blackmailed. Who is it?”

“It’s none of your business,” she said, striding toward where I stood. I blocked her path.

“What is it?!”

“You haven’t answered the question. Who was it? Or is it something you’d be interested in telling your father?”

Her face twisted in fear, and for a minute she shivered at the thought. Good.

“Now, tell me who it is.”