All Chapters of Taming the Alpha CEO: Mine to Ruin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“HOLY SHIT!” I stumble backward, nearly tripping, pointing at him with a finger. “What the—your EARS—and that’s a TAIL—you have a fucking TAIL!” “Fuck,” he mutters and then louder, “FUCK!” and I’ve never heard him sound like this, his ears are flattening against his head like a guilty dog. “You’re a—you’re some kind of—” I can’t finish the sentence because I don’t know what he is, my brain is offering up words like monster and creature and none of them feel adequate for what I’m looking at. He advances toward me, every instinct in my body scream run, and I back toward the door but he’s faster, his hand shooting out to grab my shoulders, and I can feel the heat of his palms through my blouse. “SHUT UP! Someone will hear you—” “Don’t TOUCH me!” I shove him hard, and I’m running on pure adrenaline now, the kind that makes people jump out of burning buildings, and he actually stumbles back a step, surprise flashing across his face. “You—you—WHAT ARE YOU?!” “You nee

We walk to a private elevator where he pulls out a key card from his wallet and swipes it and the doors open immediately. I step inside and watch him follow and the doors close, suddenly we’re in an enclosed space lined with mirrors on all sides. I can see myself and I look exactly like someone who’s having the worst night of her life, exhausted and scared. I can also see him next to me-and so much larger than me in this small space, and I’m five foot six and he’s at least six four and the height difference is obvious. The elevator dings and the doors open to a foyer with marble floors and a single door at the end, and he walks to it and unlocks it and holds it open waiting for me. The penthouse is exactly what I expected and somehow worse, modern, minimalist, expensive in a way that makes my apartment look like a cardboard box it has floor to ceiling windows showing a panoramic view of Seattle at night, and the whole space is open concept with the living room flowing into di

The email comes through at 11:47 PM on Saturday night while I’m lying in bed staring at my ceiling and wondering if I just made the biggest mistake of my life. The subject line just says “Employment Terms” and when I open it my heart starts pounding because this is real now, this is actually happening. Ms. Astrid Voss, Effective immediately, the following terms will apply to your continued employment at Lunar Corp: Position: Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Annual Salary: $85,000 (per your request) Office Location: Suite 4501, adjacent to executive office, 45th floor Working Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday (no unpaid overtime will be required or permitted) Benefits Package: Four weeks paid time off annually, company mobile device, parking validation, access to executive dining facilities Reporting Structure: You will report directly to the CEO and will no longer be assigned to the Creative Department or any supervisory personnel t

“Ms. Voss, my office, now.” His voice through the intercom is deadly calm and somehow that’s worse than if he was yelling, and my legs feel like jelly as I stand up and walk toward his door. I can see him through the glass sitting at his desk with that cup in front of him, and his jaw is clenched so tight I can see the muscle jumping, oh god I’m going to get fired on my first day. I open the door and step inside then close it behind me. “I can explain—” I start but he holds up one hand and I stop talking. “Explain what exactly, Ms. Voss?” “I didn’t mean to—” “You didn’t mean to?” He stands up and picks up the cup. “Taste it.” “What?” “I said taste it, surely you won’t mind drinking it yourself.” He walks around his desk toward me holding out the cup and I take a step back. “I made a mistake, I wasn’t thinking straight—” “Taste. It.” He’s right in front of me now holding the cup out and his eyes are that cold gray that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated an

I close my laptop at exactly 6:01 PM because that’s when my contract says I can leave and I’m not staying one second longer in this building where my boss locks himself in his office to avoid me. The elevator ride down feels longer than usual and I’m exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with actual work, and when the doors open to the lobby I just want to go home and sleep for twelve hours straight. “Astrid?” I freeze because I know that voice and I haven’t heard it in months and I was really hoping I’d never hear it again. Jake is standing by the security desk wearing jeans and a leather jacket that I bought him for his birthday last year, and he’s smiling that apologetic smile that used to work on me before I realized he used it every time he got caught doing something shitty. “Hey,” he says and walks toward me like we’re old friends instead of exes who haven’t spoken since he stormed out of my apartment. “I was hoping I’d catch you.” “How did you find me?” “Len