Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Elsa

“Speaking of the devil,” I muttered, answering the call with slightly shaking fingers. “Hello, Aiden.”

“Elsa, when are you coming back to the office?” His voice was tense. “We have the Henderson project deadline approaching.”

“I’m sorry, my mother’s been ill. I need a few more days-” I paced nervously, one arm wrapped around my waist.

“I need a specific date, Elsa,” he cut in. “If you can’t come back, I need to hire a new assistant.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “I’ll be back Tuesday next week.” I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.

“Good,” he paused. “And Elsa, if you’re not back by Tuesday, the shares we discussed… well, I’ll consider that conversation never happened.”

My stomach dropped as I ended the call. One more chain around my neck. Fucking perfect. I slipped the phone back into my pocket, my hand trembling so badly I nearly dropped it.

e clay pigeon m

sed shot, my

Joseph de

went poorly for me. My mind scattered in a dozen different directions, I only hit two targets. The shotgun felt heavier with each

mounting. By the end, I was grinding my teeth so hard my jaw ached.

excused himself to take a call, leaving me standing awkwardly with Ava and Emily.

the momentary freedom.

ing up beside me, playing with her manicured nails, “I don’t understand why you always have to compete. With everything

face her. “What do you mean?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

The shooting. With work. With men.” She waved her hand dismissively. “You could just, you know, use your charms. Pout a little, let them feel

Win more often.”

her, unable to believe what I was hearing. Heat rushed to my face as anger bubbled up. “If it’s a competition, you should give it your all. Gender

t matter. My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

at’s such an… omega way of thinking,” she said with a small laugh. “In the real world, we use what we have.

Her words hung between us as Joseph returned. I watched Ava’s face light up, her body language shifting subtly, becoming more deferential. But for a moment, I thought I saw something in her eyes–a flicker of consideration as she glanced back at me, as if seeing something new.

Emily tugged at her shooting gloves, wincing dramatically. “My hands hurt. Women shouldn’t have to handle these things anyway,” she complained, her voice dripping with affected femininity. She flexed her manicured fingers in the air like delicate butterflies.

Ava rolled her eyes. “If you can’t handle the recoil, perhaps you shouldn’t try to grab things that aren’t meant for you. Her gaze flicked exeuningtuully toward the men, then back to Emily with a smirk that made her meaning crystal clear.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from shorting. My fingers drumined nervously against the barrel of my gun as I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the

9:22 am

PPO

ce flushed red, her jaw clenching as she noticed Ava’s outfit change. The other women had ther woman had swapped her

nis dress that showcased her toned legs. The transformation was deliberate a silent deciate a silent declaration of territory that bulky and awkward by comparison.

her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Just a lowly assistant. What are younteWhat are you even doing at a shooting range?

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