Claimed By My Childhood Alpha のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Emma stood outside the gleaming glass tower of Cross Industries, staring up at fifty floors of pure intimidation. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.Two hundred thousand dollars, she reminded herself. Mom dies without this money. Focus.But that text message kept echoing in her head: I told you I'd find you, Emma. See you at 9. - AIt's just a coincidence, she told herself. Some weirdo playing games. Adrian is a common name.So why did her entire body feel like it was vibrating with electricity?Get your shit together, Emma. One interview. Don't screw this up.The lobby made her feel like an imposter - all marble and chrome, filled with beautiful people who probably spent more on coffee than she made in a week. Emma tugged at her thrift store blazer and tried not to feel like everyone could smell the desperation on her."Emma Parker?" A woman approached, a perfectly polished, expensive dress, the kind of con

"Jessica will drive you to collect your things", Adrian said, already back to business mode as he filed the signed contract on his desk. "The penthouse is ready for you."Emma blinked, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "Wait, I'm moving in today?""Tonight," Adrian corrected. "I need you available starting tomorrow morning."He's not wasting any time, Emma thought, panic rising in her chest. "I have to give my landlord notice, pack properly, arrange""Your landlord has been contacted," Adrian interrupted smoothly. "Jessica has the details."Emma stared at him. "You contacted my landlord before I even signed the contract?""I was confident in the outcome." Adrian's golden eyes met hers without a hint of apology.Confident or arrogant? Emma felt her temper flare. "What if I had said no?""You didn't."The calm certainty in his voic

Emma woke up to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and, for a moment, had absolutely no idea where she was. Silk sheets. Huge bed. City view. Then it all came flooding back, Adrian, the contract, moving in, last night's conversation over dinner. He's been in love with me for fifteen years. Emma buried her face in the pillow and groaned. In the harsh light of morning, last night felt like a dream. Had she really sat in Adrian Cross's kitchen and basically admitted she was falling for him too? God, what was I thinking? Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from an unknown number: Good morning. Coffee's ready in the kitchen. Take your time getting ready, we don't need to be in the office until 9. - Adrian He texted me good morning. Emma stared at the message, her heart doing stupid things in her chest. Like

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and Emma trying to pretend like everything was normal while her lips still tingled from Adrian's kiss. Professional boundaries, she kept reminding herself. We're at work. Act professional. But it was hard to act professional when Adrian kept looking at her like she was the most fascinating thing in the room, or when his hand would brush hers as he passed her documents, sending electricity shooting up her arm. Everyone's going to know, Emma thought, catching Jessica's knowing smile. It's probably written all over my face. By six o'clock, most of the office had emptied out. Emma was organizing Adrian's files for the next day when he appeared beside her desk. "Ready for that after-hours work I mentioned?" he asked quietly. Emma's pulse quickened. "What exactly does that involve?" "Come

Emma looked at David and Rebecca, feeling the weight of fifteen pairs of eyes watching her every move. The young man with ancient eyes was rigid with tension, while Rebecca's calloused hands were clenched into fists at her sides.A territorial dispute about workshop space, Emma thought. Okay. I can handle this.But as she focused on them, something strange happened. The emotional currents she'd been sensing became clearer, more specific. From David, she felt frustration mixed with something that felt like... desperation? And from Rebecca, anger layered over what seemed like hurt.There's more to this than just workshop space, Emma realized."Before I can help resolve anything," Emma said carefully, "I need to understand what's really going on. David, can you tell me about the disagreement?"David shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the room at his pack mates. "It's nothing major. Just a scheduling conflict about equipment usage."He's lying, Emma thought immediately. Not maliciousl