Chapter 4

Jonah’s dignity might have been hurt from having his orders ignored, or he might have grown tired of pretending. He began taking Sapphire’s side more openly than before.

Sapphire became his preferred date for commercial dinner events, and he even gave her the bonus that should have been awarded to me for my hard work.

Jonah’s constant protection fed Sapphire’s arrogance, which grew rapidly at work. She started ordering department heads around and approving documents she had no authority to approve. She even barged into a high‑level meeting once while claiming she was Jonah’s mate.

The assistant came to me often to vent her frustrations, but I always gave her the same answer. “Do not worry.”

I meant it because I would be on a plane in a few days.

My indifference to everything only fueled Sapphire’s anger.

One afternoon, she finally snapped. She slammed my office door open. “Jonah already told you to go home and reflect on what happened.” Her shrill voice hurt my ears and made her look more like a shrew than an innocent young woman. “Why are you still here, taking up an office that does not belong to you and refusing to leave?”

I closed my laptop slowly. “Sapphire, do you really think you can replace me because Jonah gave you a little attention? I am a core executive of the Werewolf Council with a Founding Seal. That seal gives me the right to vote for the next chairman. That is power you can never steal.”

I walked around the table and stopped in front of her. “If you are in such a hurry to get rid of me, take a bet with me.” I smiled. “If Jonah willingly gives you his Chairman Seal, I will resign. I will give up all my shares, titles, and authority.

“If he refuses to give you the seal, you will disappear from my sight.”

It was the first time Sapphire looked unsure, but her pride returned quickly. “Fine,” she said with her chin raised. “It is a bet.”

Two days later, my office door opened again. Sapphire entered with Jonah behind her. She marched to my table and slammed something onto it. A golden seal spun across the surface before coming to a stop.

It was the Chairman Seal, the highest authority in the Werewolf Council.

Sapphire smiled with triumph. “You lost.”

Jonah stood behind her with his arms crossed. He sighed. “It is time to end this, Jade. Sapphire is young and still learning. She does not have your cunning or your years of experience at negotiation tables. This bet was never fair. I would not have given her the seal if you had not forced her into a corner.

“As for you,” his voice lowered, “if you apologize for your recent behavior, I will take the seal back. I will still acknowledge you, and we can continue with our original plan for the mate bonding ritual. I will even buy you a bigger ring.”

Sapphire’s eyes widened with shock, and she glared at me with hatred. I only looked at Jonah. He had handed the Council’s most powerful token to a secretary with ordinary abilities just to make me apologize and admit defeat. He still believed I would compromise, the same way I always had.

I could not believe he thought I was throwing a tantrum. I started laughing. I laughed so hard that tears fell. “That is not necessary. I do not need your pity.” I walked to the table and pulled out a transfer agreement. I signed it without hesitation. “I accept the results of the bet. I lost, and I will leave as promised.”

The pen screeched across the paper in the silent room.

Jonah looked stunned. He never expected that I would rather leave the Werewolf Council than apologize. “Fine,” he snapped. “You signed it willingly. Do not regret this.”

He pushed the door open and shouted into the corridor, “From now on, Jade Lowry’s title, subordinates, and authority will be transferred to Sapphire Kale.”

My assistant’s face fell.

Several Council members rushed to flatter Sapphire.

“Let me know if you need anything, Sapphire.”

“What are you waiting for? Clear the office for Sapphire. Jade is no longer a Council member.”

A group of bootlickers rushed in. They grabbed my files, my nameplate, and a picture of Jonah and me from years ago, and they threw everything into an old cardboard box.

I looked at Sapphire, who could not stop smiling. I did not argue or retaliate. I wiped away my last tear and walked out. Confused voices rose behind me as I pushed open the door to the office of the Werewolf Council chairman. I walked straight to the large chair that represented the highest authority and sat down comfortably.

Jonah and Sapphire ran in behind me with shocked expressions. I took out a document stamped with all the proper seals.

“Effective immediately, you have been removed from your position as Werewolf Council Chairman, Jonah Gregor.”