Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Kayla looked like she’d swallowed something sour. Her face flushed

an interesting shade of red that almost made me smile.

“Elsa, with all due respect, that’s highway robbery. Mr. Stone was

hoping to negotiate a reasonable-”

“This isn’t a farmers‘ market, Kayla.” I cut her off with a practiced

smile that didn’t reach my eyes, my foot tapping impatiently under

the table. “Our time is valuable, and so are the resources you’re asking

for access to. We’re not here to haggle like we’re buying fucking

produce.”

Shit, maybe that was too harsh. But I couldn’t back down now.

Kayla’s expression remained professionally blank, though I caught

the hint of resignation at the corner of her mouth. She’d been at

Stone Enterprises long enough to know when someone wouldn’t

budge.

“Perhaps we could meet somewhere in the middle?” she tried again,

desperation creeping into her voice. “Say, one and a half times-”

“Double,” I repeated, crossing my legs and leaning back, drumming

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Chapter 183.

my fingernails against the leather portfolio. “Or we walk. There are

three other companies interested in this partnership.” And I need this

deal to work, goddammit. My mother’s life depends on it.

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching our table made my skin

prickle before I even heard his voice. The hairs on the back of my

neck stood up, and my stomach twisted into a painful knot.

“What exactly is going on here?”

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

I didn’t need to turn around to know Drake Stone was standing

behind me, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. My heart

hammered against my ribs as I forced myself to remain composed. I

felt my cheeks flush hot, and I had to fight the urge to either bolt

from the table or throw my water in his smug face.

“Mr. Stone,” Kayla practically jumped to her feet, relief washing over

her face. “We were just discussing the terms for-”

“I know what you were discussing.” Drake’s voice was ice cold as he

moved into my line of sight. His tailored black suit made him look

like he’d stepped out of a luxury advertisement, but his expression

was anything but inviting. “What I’m confused about is why my former assistant thinks she has the authority to set these terms.”

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Chapter 183.

My cheeks burned at the public dressing–down, but I held his gaze,

my jaw clenched so tight I could feel a headache forming. My fingers

curled into fists under the table.

“I’m representing Wilson Industries now,” I spat, unable to keep the

venom from my voice. “We’re interested in partnering with Stone

Enterprises on the silver mine project. And I have every fucking right

to be here.”

Drake’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, a tiny muscle twitching

near his temple. “A secretary making executive decisions? That’s

new.”

“Executive assistant,” I corrected him, the words feeling like acid on my tongue. I leaned forward, my body tense as a bowstring. “And yes, Aiden has given me full negotiating authority. Not that it’s any of

your goddamn business anymore.”

Drake turned to Kayla, dismissing me entirely as if I were nothing more than an annoying insect. My blood boiled in my veins.

“Go speak with Aiden directly,” he told Kayla. “Ask him if he’s interested in participating in the mountain range silver mine development project. If he is, perhaps the price can be more…

reasonable.”

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Chapter 183.

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