Fated to my brother's alpha friend

My hand paused on the handle. There was no way he remembered, let alone recognized me! I turned slowly, trying to hide my astonishment. In his crisp suit, despite the heat of the day, Albert looked cool, clean, and very grown up. For a moment I forgot that I had lost weight, changed my habits, and done my best to evolve into someone elevated beyond the chubby, plain girl I had been. I was transported right back into high-school Mia: awkward, shy, and very, very ordinary. It was hard not to feel nervous in front of someone so handsome and collected. I opened my mouth to speak, but the door behind me opened abruptly, bashing into my back and throwing me off balance. Considering the door was mostly glass and I ought to have been visible, I was a little shocked to be shoved over like that. A hand on my elbow steadied me-not cool, as Albert appeared, but incredibly warm. “Daniel? A knock would have been appropriate.”Daniel swept his gaze over me without remorse. “Sorry. Sir, you were n

There he was, Peter, who had been missing since I discovered my pregnancy. No death in a ditch, no kidnapping after all. Numb with shock, I crossed the street, tailing the two of them as they walked on without a care in the world. I worked through the crowd as best I could, getting closer, until I could hear them and smell Peter’s expensive, overused cologne. “Lobster? Steak? What will it be for my baby?” He said in his usual carefree, self-assured tone. “Lobster, huh? You’re going to go all out for me tonight?”“We don’t get a one-year anniversary more than once, honey,” he answered, kissing her on the top of her head as they strode on, oblivious. “Yeah, well. Just be grateful we made it this far. I wasn’t about to stick around if you kept entertaining that little stalker of yours much longer.”“Who, Mia? I told you a million times, honey, she was nothing. Just some poor sucker head over heels for me. If anything, you ought to feel sorry for her. Anyway, she’s gone now, and it’s j

A rush of chaos overwhelmed me as the crowd erupted in shouts and the flashing of cameras. “What the hell are you doing?” I hissed, mortified beyond belief. “This scene is going to be front-page news tomorrow!”“Then you’d better hurry up and say yes!” Albert grinned at me playfully, his hand still outstretched. I blinked at him in wonderment. What was happening?“Answer him, lady!” someone shouted in the crowd. Cell phones were everywhere, filming us, snapping photos. I cringed at the attention. “The longer you wait, the more material you’re giving them,” Albert reminded me. He seemed abnormally cool and collected despite the insanity around us, and the ridiculousness of the situation.More lights flashed, and I could hear cameras shooting right and left. Panicked, I reached out and took his hand. A yell of excitement rang up from our onlookers; I seized their surprise and excitement and dragged Albert through a hole in the collection to the car, my head ducked as low as I could ma

Albert was still eyeing the salesman with an authoritative stare. The man was rushing now to remove the necklace from the case, and held it out to me. Suddenly it didn’t look so appealing and pretty. “I wish you wouldn’t make this into such a thing,” I said to Albert quietly, waving off the necklace.“You’re my wife now, in every sense except the paperwork. You agreed to the terms. You’ll need to learn to adjust to being Mrs. Derek, and Mrs. Derek does not tolerate, nor should she, any disrespect. You’re better than that.”Everyone was still staring.The manager, who had noticed the scene, came forward and began his own spew of apologies to us both. “Miss, please, if you’ll allow me,” he gushed, taking my arm and leading me toward an especially glittery case in the middle of the store.Albert, however, seemed satisfied with the flood of respect and reverence. The manager began opening the cases and pulling out rings as big as walnuts, setting them in a bright sharp line on the top of

“Lily, who is this?” The words ran out again, flinty and high-pitched. We both paused. I felt Lily stiffen with annoyance next to me. A group of women were coming up behind us, looking irritated. Despite the late hour, they were all neatly dressed, in expensive outfits, and equal levels of beauty, like pretty, thin clones. The one in front, the one who had yelled, scrutinized me with a haughty air. I shrunk a little under her sharp, distasteful eyes. Despite her anger, she was exceptionally pretty, with big waves of dark hair and a long lean body wrapped in an elegant summer dress. “I’ve never seen you before. A new maid, I assume? You shouldn’t be just wandering around like this until you’ve learned the rules of the place.The courtyard is not open for you.”Lily groaned, seeming used to this woman’s attitude. “You’re being very rude, Monica. This is Mia. She is not a new maid - she is Albert’s lover.”Monica’s sharp, attractive face went stark white. Her brown eyes fixed on me agai