The moment that voice echoed behind me, I froze.
Slowly, I turned around.
Elias was sitting on the sofa in the manager’s office, one leg crossed, posture effortlessly regal. His broad shoulders filled the space, and his dark suit clung to him perfectly, sharp enough to cut through the air itself. The last time I saw him, three years ago, he’d been a handsome boy with a quiet, frightening intensity. Now he looked like a man sculpted by power and vengeance, older and impossibly handsome.
His hair was neatly brushed back, showing the strong line of his jaw. The faint scar under his eye was still there, but instead of making him look flawed, it made him look dangerous. Even sitting still, his presence filled the room, commanding and suffocating all at once.
I swallowed hard, unable to look away. My hands trembled.
He smiled faintly, that terrifyingly calm kind of smile. “It’s been a while, Naomi.”
My throat tightened and I couldn’t even manage a proper greeting. I just stared, every muscle stiff with panic in me.
He rose from the sofa. Each step he took toward me made my pulse quicken. I could almost hear the echo of my heartbeat in my ears.
“Why did you run away so fast?” he asked quietly. His voice was soft but it carried the weight of authority of an Alpha who never needed to raise his tone to be obeyed. “Do you know how hard it is for an Alpha to spend his rut without his mate?”
My breath hitched. So…he knew it was me. Then, did he also know about my father? About the accident?
My mind raced in panic. If he knows, he’ll destroy me. He’ll destroy everything left of me.
“I…I didn’t know you were—” I stammered, trying to take a step back, but he closed the distance.
He tilted his head, studying me with those piercing eyes. “You didn’t know what? That you were supposed to stay and fulfill your responsibilities?”
Before I could react, his hand caught my wrist.
“Let go of me,” I whispered. “Please.”
He simply turned and pulled me along, leading me out of the office as if I weighed nothing. I struggled, but his hand only tightened. My heart pounded as the staff looked away, pretending not to see. No one dared to interfere. I could see it in their faces filled with fear. Nobody goes against an S-tier Alpha.
“Elias , stop! Please! You can’t just—”
He didn’t stop until we reached the black luxury car waiting outside. He opened the door and all but pushed me inside. The car door slammed shut.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke. “You didn’t know someone was in heat that night?”
I turned toward him to explain. “I swear, I didn’t! I was told to take the drinks there and I didn’t even know it was you! I didn’t even know anyone was—”
He cut me off with a low growl. He turned to face me, his stare burning through my skin. “Why did you run away three years ago?”
“I…” I couldn’t speak. My lips parted, but no sound came out. My chest tightened as memories flooded back, my father’s voice telling me to run, and the night I left without saying goodbye.
Elias let out a bitter laugh. “So that’s it? You would rather live in poverty, hiding like some stray, than stay with me?”
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I nodded silently.
His expression darkened. “You really did run away on purpose then.”
“I had no c-choice,”
He looked away. “You always had a choice.”
I didn’t dare to speak. Then, suddenly, he reached into the compartment beside him and pulled out a stack of papers. He threw them onto my lap.
“Sign it.”
I blinked in confusion. “What…what is this?”
“The payment,” he said coldly. “For spending my rut with me. You’ll find a house, money, everything you could want.”
My stomach turned. “You’re…you’re paying me?”
“Think of it as compensation. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“No,” I whispered. “I don’t want your money.”
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping dangerously low. “Are you sure that’s your final decision?”
I nodded, barely able to breathe.
His gaze lingered on me for a moment and then he exhaled sharply and leaned back in his seat. “Fine.”
He didn’t speak another word as I stepped out of the car.
The next few days were a blur. The manager fired me. My landlord threw me out when I couldn’t pay rent. Mira offered me her place to stay for a while. But I was still looking for a new job day and night.
One night, as I walked down a street, a sleek black car pulled up beside me. Before I could react, someone grabbed me and pulled me inside.
When I woke up, I was sitting in a luxurious restaurant. And across from me sat a man with a charming smile, Elias ’s cousin.
I recognized him instantly. He’d always been jealous of Elias .
He greeted me smoothly. “I was beginning to think you’d never wake up.”
I frowned. “Why did you bring me here?”
His smirk widening. “Because you failed at your job.”
My confusion deepened. “Job? What are you talking about?”
He chuckled darkly. “You were supposed to sue him, darling. After that night, the plan was simple, the omega sues the Alpha to make his reputation crumble, and I finally get what I deserve. But it seems the omega happened to be you.”
My blood ran cold. “You planned all of this?”
He shrugged. “It was supposed to be easy. But you ruined everything. Now I’m giving you a chance to make up for it. Help me finish what I started and I’ll pay you well.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re sick.”
He laughed. “Think carefully, Naomi. You’ve lost everything. What else do you have to lose?”
I said through clenched teeth, standing up. “I’ll never help you.”
He raised a brow, amused. “We’ll see.”
I turned and ran out before he could say another word. My heart pounded as I weaved through the streets, checking over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following me.
__________
Elias ’s pov :
I sat behind my desk, my fingers drumming lightly against the desk. Papers lay untouched in front of me. I hadn’t been able to focus all morning since that night.

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