Chapter 3

Irene 

“Irene?” Theodore’s deep voice was rich in awe and disbelief at the same time. His brows pulled together to form the sharpest frown—an accustomed look of disgust he reserved exclusively for me since our days back at Silverwood Academy.  

“Yo-you’re the CEO?” I stuttered, eyes twitching like my brain just suffered the heaviest glitch.

“Do you two know each other?” Anna’s eyes ping-ponged between the two of us, perplexed.

Theodore took his eyes off me upon that question; any second longer, he would have bored two holes in my head with his laser vision. 

“You must have made a mistake.” He turned to Anna. “This can’t be the person I was expecting.”

I could say the same for him too! If I had known this dick head was the CEO, I wouldn’t have bothered to apply in the first place! It’s not my fault that the CEO chose to remain anonymous. 

Anna’s confusion visibly grew deeper with the furrowing of her brow. “She’s Irene, the winner of the competition–”

“That’s not possible.” His flat tone was as sharp as a knife, mercilessly ripping my fragile fabric of confidence.  

“Why?” I fired back with heated breaths.

“Because the Irene I know is not good at anything, let alone capable of winning my company’s competition.” 

Anna gasped. 

My eyes were peppered instantly as hot tears bled out of my tear ducts. It’s been five years since I last saw him; I thought he would have changed. 

“I see you’re still the same,” I scoffed. “Nothing but an egoistic bastard!”

“Look around, Irene; I’ve grown. I wish I could say the same for you. Shame.” He proceeded to sit on his swivel.

“Then again, I never had any expectations for someone like you. You are delusional, too emotional for your own good, and most of all…” My skin crawled as he eyed me from head to my flat shoes as if I were vermin. “Annoyingly weak.” 

“Theodore!” Anna yelled, but it was too late. The damage had already been done; his words hit my chest like a mallet, shattering whatever ounce of courage I had left.

It’s been years now; I thought my hatred for him would have subsided. But seeing him again, hearing him slither his venom, reminded me of just how much I detest him with every fiber of my being!

By the time I could recover, my cheeks were already dripping with my tears, my stomach burned as if I’d swallowed a piece of molten metal, and my nails were clawed deep in my flesh. Yet, this bastard didn’t flinch.

“Fuck you!” I seethed. I don’t care if he’s CEO!

“Okay, I do not know what kind of relationship you both share, but both of you really need to take a breath!” Anna protested. Unluckily for her, she was talking to two brick walls.

“If I had known you were the person I was coming to meet, I wouldn’t have bothered to come here.” I slithered.

“The feeling is mutual, Irene.” He bit back, not in the slightest fazed. “I doubt that you came up with those designs yourself.”  

“You can insult me however you want…” I inched close to his desk, holding my index finger out at him, “But never in your damned life question the authenticity of my work!”

“Yeah, right.” The corner of his lips lifted into the dirtiest smirk. “Soon, I’m sure word will be out, and then we’ll find out who you stole that work from.” 

“I would never do such a thing!” 

“That’s the first thing a thief would say.”

“Guys!” Anna grunted.

“And why would I stoop so low and steal anyone’s work?!” No, the better question is, why am I still here, tolerating his insults?!

“Guys, please–” Anna interjected. Again, to deaf ears.

“Don’t play coy, Irene. Who doesn’t want to win my competition? The grand prize is enough to make most people desperate.” 

He didn’t lie about that one. A car and a hundred thousand dollars are certainly a juicy prize. But that wasn’t my motivation! 

“Do you think I applied for money?” 

“Why then?” He lifted an eyebrow. Even Anna stared intently at me.

My lips parted, but they pressed back into a thin line in a flash. I did it because my cheating mate, Dylan, encouraged me to. But there’s no point in telling him. Not like he would care in the first place. 

“Cat got your tongue?” He smirked. 

“The design is mine.” That was all I could silently defend myself with. 

“Prove it.” 

My brows knitted together. 

“Work with me for one month. Anna here will draw up a contract, good pay and benefits.” He added. My brows furrowed deeper. 

“If you can impress me, I will offer you an even bigger contract. You’ll be our Lead Interior Designer for one year. And your winning design will be showcased in a flagship luxury mansion.”

My jaw dropped. I have to admit, it’s a good deal. Working at this company will earn me serious international recognition. My career will peak at astronomical heights. I won’t have to return to my Pack. I’ll finally have something to myself without Dylan's or anyone’s help. I can be independent and enjoy my passion while at it.

My wolf pushed me to say yes, but my doubts were a worthy opponent. Am I even good enough, let alone to work with someone toxic like him? Barely a few minutes with each other, and the room is already above 100 degrees Celsius.

“Of course, you can say no.” He chipped in, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’ll have your prize regardless. But you’ll never be able to convince me that you’re a good interior designer.” 

That cold, egoistic look again. It’s the same one he gave me on my first day at the academy. “You don’t belong here. Just quit.” That’s what he said to me back then. And because of that statement, I wanted to prove him wrong so badly. Even when it was hard, and I almost gave up, I could never let him have that satisfaction.

He’s doing the same thing now. Demeaning me as if I can never be anything but a weak omega. 

I’ll prove him wrong! It’s just one month. What could possibly go wrong? 

“Anna,” I said. “Draw up the contract.”