Chapter 3

Emilia

Throughout the night, I couldn’t sleep. I tried to stop myself from reading the comments but I just couldn’t keep my hands away.

“Dirty swine!” “She looks like a sack of potatoes!” 

“How can alpha be attracted to a thing like her? He’s weird! What’s with ugly girls and bagging the most handsome men!”

“She looks like she swallowed a whale.”

There wasn’t a single good comment, just vile words and attacks directed at me.

Scrolling through, the headlines about Blake’s relationship was no longer among the search bar and with a deep sigh, I forced myself to bed.

Rolling out of bed, I glanced at the time, it was 7am, I grabbed my towel, peeling my clothes away.

Once done, I threw on a pair of jeans, a normal sweatshirt along with a baseball cap and a nose mask.

From what I’ve seen, it would take nothing for me to get spotted. 

I exhaled, assuring myself that everything was going to be okay before I stepped out of the house.

Entering the bus, it wasn’t surprising that the same news was being discussed by a group of young ladies, all slender with high cheek bones and make-up.

“Argh, Alpha is yet to say anything, does this mean it’s true? He never addresses any of the rumors, this is killing me…”

“I just want him to disregard the news and arrest that fat bitch!”

I let my thoughts wander, their words fading away as I began to wonder how I’d cope with this alongside working with Athena.

Should I quit? Not when I’ve got bills piling up, the rent, a wardrobe change, the electricity and house bills.

Working with New York’s glaciers for just two months is enough to settle all my bills, there’s no way I’d give it up for the bakery where I get paid peanuts.

“You can do this…” I whispered and the bus alarm signified my arrival.

Stepping down, I was stunned to find a crowd outside the company, so many ladies holding up boards and chanting words.

“She must leave! Alpha can never be with her!” They screamed and I bowed my head, pushing my way past them.

I managed to reach the gate and just as I whipped out my phone to show my acceptance letter, the baseball hat slipped.

“She looks familiar!” 

“She’s the lady from yesterday!”

“She’s got the same carrot hair! Get her!” I heard screams and my life flashed right before me as the angry mob rushed behind me.

I pushed my way into the company while the securities tried to curb the escalating issue.

So many ladies had made it past the gate, the securities were too small for the crowd and all I could hear behind me were curses and screams.

I rushed into the company, my heart was about to burst out of my chest while I glanced around frantically for a door.

Locating one, without reading the signs, I pulled it open, rushing inside. Once inside I bolted it, my eyes shut as I rested my back against the wall, trying to catch my breath.

I was sweating and after almost ten seconds, I peeled my eyes open slowly and to my horror, Zach was sitting on a table, hands folded and beside him were two hockey players whose faces I had seen on a few billboards.

My jaws dropped, a chill ran down my spine as my legs buckled.

His eyes were dark and his jaws clenched, there was no hint of emotion on his face and it was terrifying.

“Wow, Alpha, your mystery girlfriend is here.” One teased while the other chuckled.

“We’ll give you guys a little privacy,” The second nudged the other and with a smile, they both walked towards the door.

I glided away slowly, still trying to form words in my head.

They pulled the door open and there were screams coming from the lobby, indicating that the angry ladies were still outside.

“I…” It was awkward standing in front of him without saying a word while his dark eyes were fixated on me.

“Happy with the fame?” He hissed harshly as he stood up, taking a step towards me and I scoffed.

“What fame? I don’t know…”

“Don’t play innocent.”

“I’m not.”

“A videographer was filming at the rink yesterday. He caught me grabbing you before you fell. Now that video is everywhere.”

My brows pulled together. “And you think I planned that?”

“I know your likes, the desperate fans who would do anything for their idols, you still had the guts to show your face here…” He spoke with a calmness that brought chaos.

I frowned. “Look, I don’t know what the hell happened last night but I’m far from what you’re thinking. I got a job here, I’m here to work and I would appreciate it if your team can release an official statement and clear this all up.” 

“So you want me to clean up your mess, how much did you get paid for this? What media house do you work for?” He demanded and I scoffed.

It felt like he wasn’t listening to anything I was saying and it was so frustrating. “Can’t you listen!”

“I do not know what the fuck happened and all I just want is for all these to be cleared up so I can carry on with my life!” I was still speaking when a notification popped up.

Glancing at the phone in my hand, my display screen of Blake appeared almost immediately as his eyes darted to it.

It was a message from Athena. “What the fuck did you do this morning! How could you show up at the company!” I cursed under my breath.

There was just so much to deal with at this time and God knows I’m not cut out for this type of stuff.

“Please… Please deal with this mess, I just got this job and I don’t want to lose it, I know you’re furious and you hate everything happening but just one tweet from you and everything is going to get cleared up.” I pleaded, my hands pressed together as I stared at him.

He shrugged and without a word, pulled the door open while I stood at the side, watching as he walked away.

Almost immediately, Athena appeared at his side. “Alpha, should we discuss a counter video for the scandal…”

“No.” He didn’t even glance at her before walking away and although I could see the disappointment and rage in her eyes, she swallowed it with a smile.

She turned around and at that moment, our eyes met, her smile disappeared as she began walking towards me, disgust stretched out on her face.

Whatever happened previously, I knew my first day at the New York Glaciers was about to get a whole lot worse.