Chapter 3: He Loves Someone Else

Emily's POV

“Emily, don’t you have anything a little… sexier to wear?” Adam said with a sniff of disdain as we walked toward the restaurant.

I wanted to snap back, “Pretty sure my job description doesn’t include dressing up to flirt with clients.” But I swallowed the words.

I didn’t have a wolf. People like me were always looked down on. I’d never been invited to the fancy company events, let alone owned anything glamorous to wear.

Honestly, I couldn’t even afford it.

Adam glanced at me and sighed dramatically. “Forget it. No time to change now anyway.”

I bit my lip. “Adam… why do I even have to be there tonight?”

He didn’t stop walking. “I looked into it—you and Alexander went to school together, right?”

I stiffened.

“If you can leverage that connection, maybe it’ll help push this project forward. Even if it was years ago, it’s still better than being total strangers.”

I exhaled. So… it wasn’t Alexander who specifically asked for me. That was a relief.

“Your job tonight is simple,” Adam added. “Establish rapport. Remind him you have a history. Make him like us.”

I nodded, forcing a polite smile.

But inside, I was screaming.

A schoolmate connection?

More like a one-night stand connection.

When we arrived, the private dining room door opened—and there he was.

Alexander Blackwood.

Seated alone, sharp in a tailored suit, looking ten times colder than he did during the day.

The moment I stepped inside, I kept my head down like it was glued to my chest. I didn’t dare meet his eyes.

“Mr. Blackwood! Such a pleasure.” Adam strode forward, all smiles and eager handshakes. “This is Emily Jones, our project lead. And what a coincidence—you two are former classmates!”

I felt his eyes land on me. My heartbeat nearly stopped.

“Hello,” he said. His voice was clipped, icy.

I looked up just enough to offer a strained smile. “Good evening, Mr. Blackwood.”

Our eyes met—and for a brief second, I saw a flicker in his expression. Recognition? Resentment?

But it vanished instantly.

“Have a seat,” he said coolly.

Adam wasted no time dragging me to the chair beside Alexander.

I nearly died inside.

Next to him? Really?

I sat stiffly, keeping as much space between us as I could. Still, I could smell him—that familiar, dangerous scent.

Flashes from last night hit me like lightning.

“Emily,” Adam said suddenly, trying to keep things light, “do you and Alexander have any fun stories from school?”

I nearly choked on my tea. “Oh… that was a long time ago. Nothing too memorable.”

Alexander remained silent, swirling champagne in his glass like I didn’t exist.

Adam gave me a look—Say something.

I opened my mouth, then shut it again. His gaze was unreadable. I couldn’t do it.

The silence that followed was unbearable. I stared at my plate, chewing slowly, cautiously. Anything to avoid drawing attention.

Alexander kept to himself too, only answering Adam’s questions in short, polite replies. No effort, no warmth.

Every minute at that table felt like a lifetime.

Finally, Adam steered the conversation to business. “So, Mr. Blackwood, what’s your impression of our proposal?”

“Not bad,” he said flatly.

“Then… can we move forward?”

“We’ll see.”

Adam’s smile froze. That vague answer said everything.

I glanced at Alexander. His expression was still cold, unreadable. Like the man from last night had never existed.

When dinner ended, Alexander stood. “That’s all for now. I have other matters to attend to.”

He left without a backward glance, no small talk, not even a nod.

Just like that, he was gone.

Adam and I sat there in stunned silence. Then Adam turned to me, furious.

“I told you to liven the mood! You didn’t even try to smile!”

“You just sat there like a statue! Can’t even string two words together?”

“A mutt like you thinks you can give Alexander attitude?! Maybe it’s time I reconsider your position!”

He slammed the door behind him as he stormed out. The sound echoed, sharp and final.

I sat frozen, surrounded by untouched dishes and cold wine. My chest felt hollow.

Strangely, I didn’t cry. My eyes stung, but no tears came.

In this world, the lower your status, the lower you had to bow. I knew that when I joined this industry.

Being shouted at, humiliated—it was part of the deal.

But Alexander’s indifference?

That cut deep.

I thought… I thought after what happened last night, he’d at least acknowledge me. Maybe spare me some dignity.

But he looked at me like I was a stranger. No—worse than a stranger.

Maybe to him, I was nothing. Just a mistake. A one-night distraction, easily discarded.

Back at the hotel, I trudged to my room like a ghost. My phone buzzed the second I walked in.

It was Sara.

“Emily, I just saw Adam’s face. What happened?? Did the dinner tank?”

I stared at the message, then typed:

“Tried to seduce the CEO to land a deal. Didn’t work.”

I added after a beat:

“Alexander’s immune to that kind of trick.”

Sara replied instantly:

“That might not be it. Just heard Alexander already has someone he likes. That’s probably why he’s so cold.”

The message felt like a dagger twisting in my chest.

“Think about it,” she added. “He’s the Alpha heir. He could have anyone he wants.”

Her words echoed in my head.

Suddenly, I remembered the tattoo I saw on his chest last night—just beneath his collarbone.

A small number: 0820.

I’d thought it was just a design, but now… it felt like more.

My mom once said she wanted to get my birthday—1120—tattooed somewhere discreet.

0820. Someone’s birthday?

I grabbed my phone and opened a browser, searching for Alexander’s personal info.

His birthday: November 15th.

I checked his parents’ birthdays too. No match.

Then it had to belong to someone else.

Someone important.

My stomach turned.

Had I slept with someone who was already in love?

That would make me the worst kind of woman.

Damn it. I should’ve asked first.

Should’ve stopped him.

Was he thinking about her last night? Did he think I was her? Or was it just drunken impulse?

My mind spun with questions I couldn’t answer.

Exhausted, I stumbled to the shower and let the water numb me. Then I curled into bed, my brain still fogged with confusion.

But when I closed my eyes, his touch came back to me.

His lips. His hands. His voice in the dark…

I drifted off, haunted by memories I didn’t want but couldn’t forget.

Sometime later, my phone buzzed again. I blinked awake.

Five missed calls. All from the same number.

And one text.

“Come find me when you wake up. I’m Alexander.”