One Night

Chapter 110

Audrey

I sat behind my desk, pinching the bridge of my nose as I stared absentmindedly out the window. The voices from the video meeting droned on, barely registering in my mind; rather, 1 was focused on the city skyline that was stretched out below me, a maze of glass and steel that usually filled me with awe and maybe even a little pride.

Today, it only reminded me of how trapped 1 felt.

These past few weeks had been absolute hell. With each passing day, I felt more and more like a coward. The decisions I had made felt like a leaden weight in my stomach, rendering me unable to breathe, unable to eat. I had lost weight, lost sleep, lost sanity.

But what choice did I have? What could I possibly do to fix this mess that I had created?

My mind drifted back to that fateful day at Claudia’s house. The day everything fell apart. I could still smell the fresh-cut grass, feel the warm sun on my skin, taste the lingering sweetness of Audrey’s lips on mine.

“I know what you did in the woods,” Fiona had said, her voice dripping with venom. She had cornered me as soon as Audrey left, her eyes gleaming with malicious triumph as she sniffed my neck like a dog. “I can smell that human girl all over you.”

I had tried to play dumb, even though I was certain she could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’m not sure if I know what you’re talking about,” I said, wrenching myself away from her and turning.

But she wasn’t fooled. Her hand caught my wrist, her long nails digging in. She leaned in close, her nose nearly touching my

neck.

I shuddered. I could feel her inhale deeply, sniffing me again. I felt like a piece of meat.

“My, my,” Fiona purred, reaching out to swipe her finger along my neck. It came away with a smudge of pink. “If you’re going to f**k a human girl, at least don’t do it on my mother’s property. And maybe learn to clean up properly afterward.”

My stomach plummeted. Audrey’s lip gloss; I had missed a spot.

I had snapped then, finally fed up with the charade. Time to do what I came here to do,

“That’s it, Fiona. We’re done, I said, grabbing a napkin off the table and wiping my neck. “I never had any intention of marrying you, and frankly, I despise everything about you.”

Her face had contorted with rage, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palms. “You can’t be serious. You would choose that little human w**e over me?”

“In a heartbeat,” I had growled, not bothering to hide my disdain “Audrey may be human, but she has more personality in her little finger than you do in your entire body. You’re nothing but a spoiled, cruel heiress who has never worked for anything in her life.”

For a moment, Fiona had looked stunned, as if she couldn’t believe anyone would dare speak to her that way.

But then, her expression hardened, a cruel smile twisting her lips

“Fine. If that’s how you want to play it, I make sure everyone knows about your little affair with your student”

My blood had run cold, the warmth of the sun suddenly feeling like it was burning my icy skin. “What are you talking

about

“Oh, please,” Fiona had scoffed, tossing a lock of platinum hair over her shoulder. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? You’ve been f**king

13:00 Wed, Sep 18

Chapter 110

one of your students. How scandalous.”

I was too stutined to speak. Fiona had merely chuckled, sauntering over to one of the garden chairs and plopping down. As she crossed her legs, she hiked up her skirt a bit, exposing her thighs. I couldn’t tell if it was a pathetic attempt at seducing me or a reminder that she could do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

“Fiona-

“A human girl, no less,” she cut me off, clicking her tongue. “How do you think that will look, hram? The great Alpha, CEO, and professor Edwin Brooks, sleeping with a girl young enough to be his daughter. And while engaged; talk about a cherry

on top.”

I had felt the color drain from my face, my mouth going dry. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“If you don’t think I would, then you must not know me at all,” Fiona had smirked, examining her nails as if we were discussing something no more trivial than the weather. “Say goodbye to your career as a professor. And your reputation as: an Alpha? Ruined. You might even lose the rights to your pack to one of your brothers. I wonder how they’ll feel about their big brother’s… indiscretions.”

I had squared my shoulders, trying to call her bluff. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. “I don’t care about my status. Do your worst.”

But Fiona had one more card to play. Her voice had dropped to a menacing whisper, her eyes glittering with malice. “You think I’m done?” she had hissed. “I’ll ruin the human plaything’s life, too.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” she had said, still examining her nails. “I’ll make sure she gets kicked out of Grayspring. I’ll destroy her reputation. She’ll never succeed in the fashion world. As a human, she’ll be stuck serving werewolves for the rest of her miserable life. Is that what you want for your precious Audrey?”

I had felt like I had been punched in the chest, all the air leaving my lungs. Threatening me was one thing, but Audrey…

“You can’t do that.”

Fiona had just smiled, her expression cold and triumphant as ever. “Watch me. I have connections you couldn’t even dream of, Edwin.” She rose, smoothing down her skirt, and turned on her heel.

“One word from me,” she called as she sauntered away, “and your little human’s life is over. Unless.”

She paused, shooting me a smirk over her shoulder.

“Unless I marry you.” I had said.

“Bingo.”

Now, a month and some change later, I felt more broken and empty than ever. Audrey was furious with me, and rightfully so. She had turned in her final assignment early and blocked my number and email. Not that I could reach out to her anyway. If I did, Fiona would make good on her threats.

And the thought of Audrey suffering because of me…. I couldn’t handle it.

So I had agreed to Fiona’s stipulations. Keep my distance from Audrey, marry the spoiled heiress, and Audrey wouldn’t be punished. A price that I would happily pay; for her safety and success, I would give my freedom.

Even if it meant never speaking to her again.

Even if it meant quarrying a woman that I despised.

3/3

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Chapter 110

“Mr. Brooks? Mr. Brooks, are you still with us?”

69%1

I blinked, suddenly aware that the other executives on the video call were staring at me expectantly through the screen.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, reaching for my mouse. “My connection seems to be acting up. I think I’ll have to call it a day.”

Without waiting for a response, I ended the call, embarrassed by my lapse in attention. This couldn’t go on. I needed to clear my head before I completely ruined my business as well as my personal life.

I stood up, grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair. A drive might help. Anything to get out of this stuffy office and away from the constant reminders of my failures.

As I was about to leave, there was a knock on my door. My assistant poked her head in, holding a leather bound folder in her hand

“Mr. Brooks? I have the first round of intern reports for you,” she said, holding the folder out for me.

I sighed, taking the folder. I hated the thought of opening it-because it meant that I would have to see Audrey’s face-but duty called.

I collapsed back into my chair with a huff, the leather creaking under my weight. Flipping the folder open, my eyes scanned the list of names, immediately searching for the one that had been haunting my thoughts.

There it was. Audrey Thatcher.

I couldn’t help but smile as I saw her ID picture. She looked beautiful, of course. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a stark Leontrast to how she had looked the last time I saw her.

The memory of her hurt expression that day at Claudia’s house flashed through my mind, making my chest ache, but she looked… happy now. And that was enough for me.

But my smile faded as I read the note next to her name: “Problematic; on probation.”

“Oh, Audrey,” I whispered, snapping the folder shut. “What did you do?”

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