Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 282

Chapter 282

Elsa

As I was sad, my phone rang. An unknown number. I answered it, my breathing still uneven from suppressed rage.

“Ms. Hale?” A smooth male voice greeted me. “This is Joseph Moonlight. I understand you’re looking for new employment opportunities

I froze, glancing back at Aiden’s closed door. How had Joseph known so quickly? My free hand gripped the hallway railing, knuckles turning white.

“Mr. Moonlight. Yes, I am considering my options.” My voice sounded distant to my own ears.

“I’d like to offer you a position as my senior assistant. Double the salary you received at Stone Enterprises, with your own office and a

company car.”

The offer was absurdly generous. Too generous. I bit my lower lip hard enough to taste blood.

“That’s very kind,” I replied cautiously. “May I ask why you’re interested in hiring me specifically?”

Joseph chuckled. “Your reputation precedes you. Stone’s control over you is… aggressive, I admit. But that doesn’t have to be permanent. “

I remained silent, processing his words. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it through the phone.

“Even Moon Shadow companies would hesitate to hire you directly,” he continued. “Drake’s reach is extensive. But I’m in a unique position

to offer protection.”

My throat tightened. “And what would you expect in return for this protection?” My voice had dropped to barely above a whisper.

“Just your loyalty and expertise. For now.” His tone shifted slightly. “I understand your mother is still receiving treatment That must be

quite expensive.”

My grip on the phone tightened until my fingers ached. He was hitting below the belt, reminding me of my vulnerability. A wave of nausea rolled through me.

Think about my offer, Ms. Hale, Joseph said smoothly. Not everyone gets the chance to escape from someone as donare as Drake F give you three days to consider

The call ended. My legs wobbled, and I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes brietty.

Mom, please stop trying to feed your

ball, youth taking the spoon from my mother & tiemblul ham, day twoat tightening at her

10:38 Mon, May 11

Chapter 282

stubborn independence. “The doctor said to take it slow.”

We were in a regular hospital room now, a step up from the intensive care unit. My mother’s silver-tinged skin had regained some of its natural color, though the silver poison markings still traced delicate patterns across her neck and chest, visible above the hospital gown.

“I’m not completely helpless,” she protested weakly, but allowed me to spoon some applesauce into her mouth, her eyes flashing with momentary frustration.

The sight of her struggling with such a simple task made my chest ache so badly I had to bite my lip to keep from showing my distress. The artificial heart beating inside her made a faint whirring sound that I could hear with my enhanced wolf hearing.

It was keeping her alive, but the strain on her body was immense. Silver poisoning had damaged most of her organs, and this mechanical heart was the only thing preventing complete system failure.

“How are things with your job search?” she asked after swallowing with visible effort, a dribble of applesauce escaping the corner of her

mouth.

I forced a smile, wiping the spill with a napkin, my hand lingering on her cheek. “Actually, I’ve gotten an offer. From Joseph Moonlight.”

Her eyes widened. “Moonlight Real Estate? That’s… unexpected.”

“I know,” I said, pulling back and nervously tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “But it’s a good opportunity. Senior assistant position, double my previous salary, company car…”

“And what does Drake think about this?” The question was cautious, her eyes studying my reaction.

“Drake doesn’t get to have an opinion about my career anymore.” My voice came out harder than I intended, my fist clenching around the spoon until my knuckles turned white. “Besides, he’s been surprisingly quiet these past few days. The arrogant bastard hasn’t even

bothered to check in.”

That was strange, actually. No calls, no texts, not even his usual surveillance reports from Taylor. A small, childish part of me was almost disappointed. Had he given up that easily?

“That doesn’t sound like him,” my mother said, echoing my thoughts, her hand reaching for mine.

“Maybe he’s finally realized I’m serious about moving on.” I shrugged, trying to appear more confident than I felt, nervously tucking my hair behind my ear. “Anyway, I’ve decided to take Joseph’s offer. In fact, I called him this morning to accept.

What I didn’t tell her was that I’d also considered Joseph’s offer because I suspected Drake would use his influence to block any other employment opportunities in the city.

My mother reached for my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. Just be careful, Elsa. The Moonlights have their own agenda. Nobody offers that kind of package without expecting something in return.

P

10:38 Mon, May 11

香港:

Chapter 282

‘I know,” I said, squeezing her hand gently, my throat tightening with emotion. “But right now, I need the stability. And the money.”

The truth was, I didn’t have the luxury of waiting for the perfect opportunity. Her medical bills were astronomical, and even with pack medical assistance, the specialized treatment for silver poisoning wasn’t fully covered.

“You’ll start tomorrow morning,” Joseph said over the phone, his tone smooth and satisfied. “We have a business summit and dinner event tomorrow afternoon, and I’d like you to accompany me.”

1 sat up straighter on the hospital chair, nearly knocking over my coffee cup in surprise. “Tomorrow? I haven’t even signed a contract yet.”

“We can handle the paperwork in the morning,” he replied dismissively. “My previous assistant prepared everything before she left. Nine AM sharp, Elsa,”

My stomach tightened with anxiety, a cold sweat breaking out across my forehead. I paced the small hospital room, free hand clutching at my necklace. “I’ll be there,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the tension radiating through my body.

After hanging up, I stared at my phone, wondering if I’d just jumped from one controlling alpha to another. But at least Joseph was offering proper compensation and recognition. And he wasn’t trying to own me through a pack bond or contract mate arrangement.

1 glanced at my mother, who had dozed off during my call. The gentle rise and fall of her chest reassured me that I was making the right choice. For her, I would work for the devil himself if necessary.

Thankfully, Drake had remained silent these past days. No attempts to contact me, no threats, no manipulations. Maybe he’d finally gotten the message. Maybe he’d moved on to Vera, deciding I wasn’t worth the trouble anymore.

The thought should have brought relief. Instead, it left a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach that I refused to examine too closely. *Fuck him anyway,” I muttered under my breath, shoving my phone into my pocket with unnecessary force.

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