Chapter 12: The Choice I made.

Ella's POV

"HELL, NO!!!" I hissed, keeping my voice low so my mom wouldn't hear us. "Syl! You're really telling me to sleep with a random stranger for money?!"

The idea alone made my stomach twist.

"I just want you to survive!" Sylvia shot back. "I'm looking at the options, Ella! It's either you end up as Jason's mistress, or you die trying to fight him, or you use the one resource you have that isn't under his control to get the money and get free!" She said, urgency and desperation filling her eyes.

"It's just one night, Ella. Just one transaction. Then the debt is gone, and Jason loses his leverage over you."

"I'm not saying it's a pretty idea, but it's a path. Unless you've got a better idea?"

"So your brilliant plan is to sell myself to a man I puked on? That's your solution?" I gawked at her.

"I mean... if you ask me, from what you told me, he didn't exactly... seem uninterested in you." She shrugged, sinking back on the bed.

I raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and disbelief written all over my face.

"Don't give me that look, Ella."

"Think about it. Why would he even bother being nice to you?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest. "He's way too high up the pack ladder to care about an omega drowning in her sorrows at a bar!"

"Besides, you said you tried to kiss him. And he just... stood there, not stopping you. That tells me he was probably ready to go all the way with you if you'd let him. And that's even bold for a drunk version of you too, cause, you'd never do that with anyone except Jason. So, there had to have been some sort of connection between you both last night."

I scoffed, looking away from her.

"Or maybe I was just hurting and wanted to get back at Jason," I murmured.

Sylvia leaned closer, grinning. "Babe, you've got to stop underestimating yourself. That man didn't just stand there because he's polite. Something drew him to you... and I'd bet my claws on it. You're way too interesting to ignore. And I'm not letting you downplay it, either."

I groaned, a bit embarrassed. "Stop overanalyzing everything, Syl. Plus, I had a little too much to drink."

"They say drunk actions are sober thoughts... or something like that," she said, brushing off my complaint with a flick of her hand. Then, she smirked. "You could use this to your advantage."

"Okay," I breathed, turning to face her. "Even if I want to... how? I was drunk. I have no way to contact him. I don't even know his name."

Her lips curved into a mischievous grin.

"Fred."

"Who's Fred?"

"Are you kidding? C'mon, you know Fred. My friend who works at the Draven Royale!"

"Oh! Right. But what does he have to do with this?"

She leaned in, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. "He served the VIP yesterday during his morning shift. Though, he doesn't know his name... actually, nobody does. But he knows where the man's conducting business. He's not from our pack; just here on some kind of corporate deal. So, Fred pointed me to the L.L Tower; the new construction firm securing all the border contracts. And apparently, he owns the company."

The L.L Tower. Of course I'd heard of it. It's one of the top five richest companies in the pack, impossible to partner with unless you had crazy connections. Many had tried for years to figure out who owned the company; but nobody ever knew.

Suddenly, it all made a sick kind of sense to me.

"Syl, you never cease to amaze me." I muttered, a strange laugh bubbling up from the stress. "There's literally no telling what you'll do next."

"Well, Duhh... I'm Sylvia Davis, remember?" she teased, flipping her hair back on purpose.

"So... what are you going to do, Ella?" Every playfulness stripping away from her tone and dragging us back to what was really at stake.

And as much as I hated every part of the idea, I saw no other way out of this mess. I was still lost in my thoughts when my phone beeped beside me. I picked it up, only to see Jason's reminder glaring at the top of my screen:

"Tick! Tock! Stop being stubborn and just accept my terms! I don't like waiting!"

The look on my face must have changed instantly, because Sylvia was at my side in a second. She read the message over my shoulder and without asking, snatched the phone from my grip. "This guy is a monster! What kind of sick game is this?!"

Immediately, she looked at me straight in the eyes, "You need to decide... now, Ella!"

I pressed my palms to my face, breathing through it; clearly torn but I knew I had to make a move now.

I didn't answer Sylvia with words. Instead, I got to my feet and walked straight to my closet, throwing the doors open.

Sylvia's eyes followed me, confused. "Ermm... What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I said quietly, as I began shoving clothes aside. "You don't expect me to go see a VIP in my pajamas."

"Wait. Does this mean... you'll go?!" Her eyes widened.

I kept digging through the clothes, refusing to look at her, until my fingers brushed against a red lace. I paused, then pulled it free and held it up.

"Oh," Sylvia breathed, recognizing it. "The lingerie you bought for your first night as Luna."

"Yup." I said, forcing out a bitter smile.

.........

Sylvia helped me tidy up and even made a quick lunch. After she was done, she left, leaving the apartment quiet... and my mind buzzing.

Her words continued to replay in my mind for the remainder of the day and night. When I woke up the next morning, my mind was made up.

I went to grab the red lingerie I had hung. And my chest ached at the memory of Jason, as I remembered how the lingerie was intended for my first night as Luna with him, but I shoved the thought down and focused on the task ahead.

I dressed in the lingerie, and I grabbed a long trench coat, wrapping it around my body. I left my hair down and I put on a little makeup to make my features pop.

My mother had been holed up in her room since yesterday making calls upon calls. I hadn't spoken to her, but hopefully, this would fix all our problems.

It was no secret where the L.L Tower was. When I walked through the front door, the receptionist was typing away on her computer.

She barely spared me a look as I approached her desk.

"Good morning, I'm here to see the Chairman," I said as politely as I could.

She finally looked upward at me, but her eyes ran over me like I was barely worth noticing.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh, no, but..."

"Look, I don't have time for this. The Chairman doesn't see random guests, and you're not getting an exception, Ex-Luna."

Ah... now I see why she's been acting up. Of course, she knows I'm Jason's ex-Luna. Word travels fast.

"Okay. Please, this is extremely important. If you could just..." I tried to protest.

"It always is," She sighed, looking back at her screen. "You have to leave."

Hell! This is the height of this bullshit! Fueled by a mix of fury and frustration, I slammed my hands onto her desk so hard that the computer and papers rattled. I leaned forward, locking my eyes onto hers, with a silent dare.

"Young lady, you're going in there right now... and telling the Chairman that Rhaella Hammond... is here to see him," I said evenly. "If he doesn't want to see me, then I'll leave on my own terms. But if you think for a second that I'm walking out of here because of your flimsy threats" my gaze hardened "then you better think again!"

She stared at me, stunned by my audacity; but just as she was about to fire back, she was interrupted.

"And what gives you the right to turn away those who come to see me?" A deep, familiar voice boomed behind me.