Chapter 017

The moment the door of the lift opened and Ethan's eyes fell on Abigail, an emotion he couldn't describe rose within him. 

A few feet away from him was the girl he gave his heart to after years of being alone, following his painful separation with Bianca.

 But when he looked at her, all he saw was the video of her kissing Liam and how she held onto his shirt like a lifeline as she was carried out from the exploded building.

He wasn't expecting her. 

In fact, he had sent a mail, requesting that she remained at home until she saw better. 

But his face was steel — a complete facade to the storm that brewed beneath in her presence. 

“Good morning,” Mia greeted when he walked past them.

Abigail opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out and she ended up looking like a fool.

“Always shooting way past your target, aren't you?” Mia said when Alpha Ethan had disappeared.

“What?” Abigail asked, facing her dazed. Her face was crimson with embarrassment.

“Even your cheeks show what you hide. Are you seriously having a crush on your boss? Abby, seriously? Hybrids like us shouldn't dare to dream that big. Isn't it enough that your face is already attached to a scandal with Liam?”

Abigail raised her hand to dismiss her and in denial. “You're only imagining things, Mia. I don't have a crush on the CEO.”

She walked away to prevent further interoggations from Mia. When she settled in her small cubicle, she hoped Ethan wasn't going to return. She was too annoyed to see him. 

Back to his ex. That was what Mia had told her. She assumed it was Liam's mother because that was the only ex he had mentioned.

“Guess it's tg hybrid that suffers in the end,” she muttered to herself as she turned on the computer. 

Liam was mated to Ariana and Ethan was back to his ex. 

And she?

She was cold, empty, and alone.

Hybrids never win anything. They only get to work all day.

A few days’ absense and her tasks had trippled. Funny how the salary for the missed day would be deducted but the tasks was always done. 

Whining never worked. She could whine all day but it wouldn't change anything. So, she quited and focused on responding to mails first. Then there were correspondence, appointments, organizers…

The list was endless. 

It was midday and Alpha Ethan hadn't returned, to her relief. The coffee in her tummy had emptied, no thanks to the humongous work she had yet to finish, and her body was demanding for food. She had spent her lunch money on transport all because Liam wouldn't let her be. 

She cried softly as her tummy rumbled. Maybe Mia would have some cash to spare and if she could finish with the correspondence before break was over. 

Her eyes and attention were buried in the screen. Safe didn't hear the clacking of heels approaching her not when it stopped. 

“It's you, isn't it?”

Abigail raised her head to meet a woman wearing an offensive amount of lipstick and a frown. She didn't know her. But she was popular now, after annoying the entire pure wolf community.

“Alpha Ethan is not around,” she replied, ignoring the woman's attitude. “If you'll kindly drop your —”

“I'm not here to see Ethan,” the woman said, cutting her off. “I saw Ethan all weekend and this morning.”

Of course, Abigail thought.

The ex.

More drama 

And hopefully, she prayed, it doesn't escalate to public.

What would they think of her now? 

 

A social climber dating both the Alpha and his son.

“I'm here on my own,” Bianca continued. She knew that Ethan would be away. He had said he had an important meeting with Pa Frey. And it was her chance to meet the hybrid who was causing a mess and put her in her place.

“Meet me in the office,” she said.

Abigail started to protest about the pile of work she had and how it was work break, but she flashed an angry glare at her.

“Don't make me wait for you.”

She walked away leaving Abigail groaning in frustration. Just when she thought she had Ethan to deal with, his ex was now ordering her around. She saved the work she had been working on and dragged her feet to the office.

Bianca was looking around the office like it was hers. Well, it was pretty much hers since she was back to Ethan, so she thought.

She ran her hand through the fabric of the CEO’s chair before she sat. Now standing, she saw Abigail better.

The hybrid.

She was good looking but Bianca solaced on the lie that she had looked more beautiful in that age. 

“Didn't you learn that hybrids should know their place?” She asked after scanning her. “Or have you forgotten your lessons?”

It was a compulsory class exercise in school. As hybrids, while the pure wolves went to gyms, they had a class just to teach them their place in society.

Abigail never forgot the lessons. Just that she didn't care. 

“Dating my son…in secret. Do you think you're his spec? And worse, you're screwing his father. Shouldn't you feel ashamed?”

Abigail thought there was nothing shameful about it. Her spark with Ethan had been real. And so was the spark with Liam…until it wasn't.

But she said nothing. 

There was no point explaining to someone who had already judged her. 

“Make me some coffee,” Bianca said when Abigail remained silent. “Add milk.”

She spoke to her like she was her servant. Crossing her legs, she watched as Abigail walked to the coffee machine. Even though she tried to bury it, she could feel the beating of her heart. Abigail was pretty and she had a good body. Hers faded in comparison to Abigail's and it irked her that she couldn't deny it.

Abigail, who was unaware of the malicious stare planted on her, prepared the coffee with hunger biting her stomach. She longed even for a sip to boost her energy. But she couldn't dare it. 

She grabbed the cup with shaking hands and forced her steps to the table. But immediately Bianca seeped it, she screamed, pouring the hot coffee towards Abigail.

The coffee burned through her skin and she screamed in pain.

“What the hell is going on?!” She heard behind her as Ethan walked into the office.