chapter 8

Serena pov

But he didn't know that the reason my room was so cluttered was because it was filled with his things. Adrian was a complete workaholic. As his chief secretary, I had to be on call twenty-four hours a day, and my table was piled with files he might need at any moment, the walls were covered in his schedule memos and work plans, my closet held all the formal attire he needed for banquets, and the floor was stacked with gifts he sent to clients… That small rented apartment had become my second office. In the entire place, only the single bed truly belonged to me.

Yet Adrian complained it was too small. After that one visit, he refused to come again.

Before heading out, I called a moving pack office and asked them to send someone over the weekend to help sort things. It was time to clear out everything that wasn't mine.

…

The restaurant Ethan chose was new and apparently quite popular. It was called Noctis.

He must have remembered me mentioning my stomach issues on the phone—all the dishes he ordered were light and soothing. Thoughtful. Truly thoughtful wolf never need to be taught.

I used to convince myself that Adrian was just too focused on work to notice these little details in life, so I told myself not to mind and to accept him as he was.

But today I realized he could specially take Elena to Foundry for replenishing soup because she was on her cycle. He could be thoughtful too.

I had abandoned my usual stern look, shedding the professional suits that felt permanently attached to me, and I even let down the hair I always kept tied up. My already fair, soft skin glowed under the light-colored dress—almost luminous.

Ethan barely recognized me at first. I greeted him first. "Ethan, sorry to keep you waiting."

He stared, stunned, eyes nearly popping. "Serena… this change is huge. I almost didn't know you!"

As I sat, a strand of hair slipped over my shoulder. I tucked it back casually.

"Serena, can I ask you something?" Ethan couldn't hold back.

"Ask away." I was open and relaxed.

"Does your pack office have some weird rule?"

I raised a brow. "Like what?"

"Like making beautiful she-wolves dress down on purpose."

I laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It's not flattery—I just tell the truth."

Top headhunters have exceptional emotional intelligence. In a few sentences, he made the atmosphere easy and warm.

When Damon stepped out of a private room, his eyes were immediately drawn to me by the window. At first, it was just my beauty that caught him.

I was seated perfectly. Large floor-to-ceiling windows let in the slanting evening sun. Bathed in that light, I had an indescribable divine glow.

Damon froze, then walked toward me unconsciously.

Just then, I glanced in his direction. He stopped abruptly, incredulous—but mostly astonished.

That was… Serena?

She looked like her, but not. In his memory, Serena always dressed like an old relic—stiff, aged beyond her years, no femininity at all.

He had secretly questioned Adrian's taste: with so many beautiful she-wolves around, why choose someone as plain and dowdy as Serena?

Now he realized… he had been naive. Adrian had been eating well all these years.

My eyes met Damon's briefly before shifting away, calm as if he were a stranger.

That irritated him. He had always looked down on me—seeing me as nothing more than Adrian's obedient lapdog. What right did I have to act aloof around him? Or pretend to.

Damon knew Ethan too. He approached deliberately to greet him—and ignored me completely.

"Ethan, long time no see. What are you up to?"

As the second son of the Stone family in the Jendris pack—though a bit aimless—he had connections. Ethan naturally gave him face.

"You know what I do—always out poaching talent."

"Poaching, huh?" Damon gave me a meaningful glance. His smile was mocking, almost sneering.

"Your standards seem a little low these days."

"What do you mean? Serena's highly sought after in the industry!"

Damon didn't bite. "You probably haven't heard. Blackwood Business just brought in top talent from abroad—PhD from Meridona Wellington–Turner School of Business, formerly at Summit Bank. Now director of Investment Department Three."

He smirked, somewhat proud. "That level of talent would be elite even for you."

Ethan was honest. "Definitely elite."

"So yeah—your game needs work." Damon patted his shoulder.

Ethan didn't mind, just smiled. "Thanks for the advice."

After showing off, Damon was refreshed. "Oh, right—I'm an investor here. This meal's on me."

"How embarrassing."

"Don't be shy. I might need you to poach for me someday. Consider it making a friend."

As he left, Damon gave me one last arrogant sweep, probably hoping to see shame or inferiority on my face.

Unfortunately, my expression stayed calm. He caught nothing.

That annoyed him. So the moment he was out, he called Adrian to tattle.

"Adrian, guess who I just saw!"

Adrian was still working late. Too busy to chat, he buzzed the secretarial department. "Serena, bring me a coffee."

Damon paused on the other end. Did Adrian not know Serena had left the office?

Interesting.

While waiting for coffee, Adrian asked, "Who did you see?"

"Ethan." Damon didn't say outright. "He's poaching."

Someone knocked. Adrian called, "Come in."

It was Chloe with the coffee.

Adrian paused, frowning instinctively. "Where's Serena?"

"She's off for the day."

His frown deepened. "She's not working late tonight?"

"No."

Adrian found it odd but didn't dwell—Serena rarely slipped on work. He assumed she had other plans.

He dismissed Chloe, took a sip of coffee. The brows that had relaxed tightened again.

It wasn't the usual taste. He lost interest, set it down untouched, leaned back, pinched the bridge of his nose, and asked Damon, "Poaching who?"

Finally—the point!

Damon couldn't wait. "Ethan's trying to poach Serena!"