Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 276: The sly investor.

Leilani.

It’s been a couple of days since my uncomfortable situation, aka the heat, and even up until now, I would be lying if I said I didn’t still feel tingles in my groin whenever I moved. Or that my breasts still weren’t sore and heavy from the after effects of my unfulfilled heat cycle.

I set my tablet down onto the table and squeezed my eyes shut. My head ached like a fucking bitch and the technical problem in front of me looked so massive, no one would ever believe I’ve solved far worse in a far shorter time.

"Should I get you a glass of water?" Yvette asked, snapping me out of my haze, and when I looked up to find her staring down at me worriedly, I nodded.

"Yes please."

She left my office almost instantly only to return a few minutes later, not with a glass of water but a bottle. She muttered; "This is it, ma’am. And forgive me for saying this but I think you need a break."

I think you need a break.

I think you should go home.

I think you should take some time off to rest.

I think... I think.

For a couple of days now, that’s the only thing I’ve been hearing from everyone and frankly, it was beginning to make me feel less and less of myself with each time I heard it, especially since it’s the only kind of advice they seem to have left to give me— not like I could blame them though, I’ve been pushing myself a bit too hard recently; Because truthfully, that has been the only way to keep my mind off everything.

It was the only way to keep my brain off thinking about the fact that I had become prey to someone else who wasn’t Darius or Chalice. Then there was Darius’ proposition as well...

I unclasped the bottle’s cover and took a large gulp, and when I was done with that, I set it down and sighed; "Thank you for the advice Yvette, but no."

She shook her head, her eyes dimming in a way that showed just how worried she was about me. "But..."

"But nothing, Yvette. Jay put me in charge because he knows that I can do it. These past few days, I cannot help but feel like I’ve been lagging and pulling you all behind with me. And for that reason, I need to get us back on track." I cut in, interrupting her, also not missing the way my voice trembled slightly.

However, just as I turned away from her to return to my tablet, she mumbled; "Okay, but remember that you have a meeting by 12."

"Another meeting?" I hissed, feeling a terrible headache start to brew at the back of my skull. "...I thought that the ones with the Smiths and the Montgomery’s were all for today?"

"No, it isn’t. I was planning to go in your stead but since you’re feeling up to it, you should. This one however is with the Landry group and the new investors for the smart traffic project and NASIT. The ones willing to give us the multi million dollar deal." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

My heart literally stopped. I gasped; "Really?"

"Yes ma’am!" She answered with a small smile, and at her words, I quickly turned to look at the time and when I realized that I had less than thirty minutes to be ready before this meeting starts, I jumped to my feet and immediately began to pack up the scattered folder on my desk, my voice trembling as I rushed out;

"I need to freshen up and get my files ready. Help me with that."

She paused. "Help you with freshening up or getting the files ready?"

"Getting the files ready!" I gritted out and she nodded.

"Okay ma’am,"

"And Yvette..." my voice trailed off, causing her to halt her movement. She turned to me slowly and bowed her head.

"Ma’am?"

"Thank you for looking out for me."

"I’ll always do that..." she replied, her voice soft. "Also, Alpha Frostclaw made me promise to always take care of you around here."

I froze. "Really?"

"Yep!" She answered coolly, and with that, walked out of the room without sparing another glance at me as if she hadn’t just thrown a literal canon ball at me.

I sighed and plopped right back into my chair.

—

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... I have been feeling guilty. Very guilty.

Why?

Because for some reason, ever since learning about the task that Jarek had put Yvette on, there was now a constant voice at the back of my head reminding me of how much of a selfish individual I was.

It made me feel bad for not thinking or worrying about him as much as I should, and now, as I walked through these urban styled white overly clean halls leading to the conference room, I didn’t feel the kind of confidence I would usually feel.

I felt like an imposter instead. Like a thief.

I felt like the kind of friend who would take you hiking on a sunny day only to abandon you there without water or sunscreen.

"You could back out, Ma’am. Trust me, I can handle it." Yvette’s voice seeped into the fug now surrounding my mind, and when I turned to look at her, I realized once again that she seemed worried. She was chewing on her bottom lip and shook her head slightly when she noticed me staring.

I sighed. "I can handle myself."

"But you seem off. Your face is pale and your lips..."

"I can handle myself." I repeated again.

But even after saying that, I didn’t feel any better. I still felt like a piece of shit and had to clutch onto my bracelet to calm my racing heart— it held no significant emotional value, it was just a habit.

When we finally arrived at the meeting hall, my feelings were all over the place as I pushed the large double doors open, but as soon as I stepped into the room, I froze.

My breath hitched in my chest and hell, even my throat experienced a sudden kind of dryness. My tongue was also suddenly heavy as I rasped; "Alpha Landry, Alpha Morningstar."

At the sound of my voice, both men looked up and my heart— already beating so hard like a motherfucker— plunged deep into my stomach when Darius’ purple eyes met mine.

He smiled, exposing his pearly whites. "Oh, it’s you! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms Sinclair."

"I believe that we’ve met before." I said coldly, then taking my seat, I asked; "What brings you here?"

"I am the investor."

"He is the investor for the smart traffic and NASIT project." Yvette answered, and as soon as I heard those words, my heart began to race.

No way!

Those words, so softly said, made my heart plummet into an abyss. My body trembled slightly but managing to school my features into one of indifference, I shrugged; "Oh,"

Darius, as if understanding the thoughts going through my head smiled at me... and... did I ever tell you guys that I now hated his smile?

Yes? Yes?

If I didn’t, then this is the perfect opportunity to tell you all of how much I hated it.

A frown creased my forehead as I slowly made my way to my chair, not missing the way his eyes followed my every movement like a predator stalking its prey.

Due to the way I now hyperventilated— or maybe not, I barely heard most of the things being said between them. I couldn’t pay attention to their so-called innovative ideas and I could barely look up without feeling Darius’ eyes on me.

"What do you think, Ms Sinclair?" His rich voice seeped into my ears, snapping me out of my daze. But because I had no idea what they were talking about, my mouth hung open.

"Oh,"

"He is asking for your input. He wants to know what features you would implement into NASIT that will distinguish it from every other projects under its category." Alpha Richard Landry explained softly and I smiled, mouthing the words; "thank you," to him, before turning to Darius.

"It has an omniscient AI model known as I-me that would make it act as both a friend and an agent." I said softly. "I am designing NASIT in such a way that it would be safe to use domestically. It is a all round model that can be used at work places, schools and even in your kitchens."

"That sounds promising. But can you sell the idea to me?" He snapped, and from the look on his face, I immediately knew that all he was doing was an attempt to get under my skin— and it was working.

I sighed. "Yes, I can." I drawled, slowly rising to my feet just as the projector behind me came on, displaying images and the template of NASIT.

But he wasn’t even looking at it or at me.

He waved his hand in my face and hissed; "Can this meeting be adjourned? I’d like to talk about this so called NASIT another time... but with YOU, Ms Sinclair... alone."

I swallowed.