Alpha’s Rue: His Shunned Luna (Athena Enchanted) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

“My Ellie?” Noah calls, stealing me away from my thoughts.

I look up, the glass in my hand nearly slipping but I set it down carefully. “Hmm?”

“Are you okay?” She asks, the concern in her voice alarming and deep.

I nod, “Yes?” I say, but it comes off as more of a question. I’m unsure if she was talking while she was spaced out.

“You seem off lately,” she says. “I know you’re putting forth an effort to smile more but my baby, I can see through you, I know you and right now? I know you’re not you.”

“I’m fine,” I say, forcing yet another smile.

“Are you sure? You’re not acting like yourself, you often have an excuse not to party with me, but you’re available at any time now, and you ordered bourbon.” She winces.

I shrug, “Well, that’s what happens when you’re married, domesticated into a bored housewife, and evil Luna.”

“My Aeliana,” she quietly says, her gaze sympathetic.

I hate that, I’ve never liked the moments in which people look at me with pity, but I swallow it down, I know she means well. “I promise I’m fine, my Noah.”

“You don’t seem fine, you seem forlorn.” She insists, “You know that you can talk to me, right?”

I nod, “I do, and I promise. I’m fine.”

Noah frowns, unconvinced. “Swear.”

I put a hand to my chest, “I swear, cross my heart, hope to die.” I say, and goddess knows, I do hope for it but I’m not that lucky. That’s way too easy. “Have you decided which membership account you’d like to open?”

She nods, “VVIP of course,” she smiles.

“Excellent,” I nod. “But you do know that means you have to pay for it even when you’re not using it?”

She leans back, tapping her cheek with the end of a pen. “I plan on using it, your brother-in-law is adorable, and the service seems to be amazing. Did you see how fast they brought the pen after I pressed the button?”

She requested a pen? And someone brought it to her? How the hell did I miss all that happening? How long was it spaced out for? And why? I can’t even recount what my thoughts were the whole time she was reading four documents. Fuck.

I reach for my glass and down it all in one go.

It burns a little too hard on the way down. Noah’s jaw drops, but she doesn’t say anything. Nothing about the liquor at least. “This seems like a chill spot, I can get used to it. What do you say we make it ours?” She asks, staring expectantly.

“I like that idea,” I nod. We already spend so much money at different pubs, might as well keep it in the family. “I think he could use customers,” I tell her, my gaze wandering once again. The clientele seems to have increased by three, but it’s just not right. “I don’t get it, opening night was a huge hit.”

Noah reaches for her phone, “I can help.”

“You can’t buy people drinks to stay here, my Noah.” I smile, she and Damien think alike, and judging by the way

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her smile falls, I’m dead on with my assumption. “I am pretty sure that’s the problem he is facing.”

“Not that, my Ellie.” She shakes her head. “I’ll just post a little riddle, and they’ll come find me, but the reward is whoever finds me first gets free drinks and second through fifth people who find me can get pictures and a drink.” She says, typing into her phone. A moment later, she flips the screen around and I’m staring at one of the pictures I took of her posted on the Internet, with a clue and a paragraph.

“Nice, I’m sure Damien will appreciate it.”

“Speaking of appreciation,” she sets her phone down. “Have you read his membership contracts?”

“No,” I frown. When I signed up, I actually signed up without reading. That and my marriage licence are the only documents that I have ever signed without skimming or thoroughly reading through.

Noah tsks, “No wonder business is down. This is not binding, so many loopholes, and if his clients ever get into any accidents, or brawls, he can easily get sued.”

I sigh.

A moment later, Damien appears, right on time. “How are you finding everything, potential client?”

“D, sit down,” I command.

“Something wrong?”

“Yes,” I tell him. “You’re going to have to bring your existing contracts, and we can review them. Has a lawyer seen them?”

Damien nods, “Yeah. My boy Douglas.”

“That’s the problem, stop hiring friends,” Noah warns, using her teacher voice, the one that quiets a lecture hall. “This is a business, not a charity organisation, and judging by your contract, you don’t seem to grasp that.”

“Harsh,” he winces, his eyes shifting between us.

“I’ll tone down a bit,” Noah smiles. “But only if you tell me no customer has withdrawn their membership and taken full payment back.”

“They have,” he says, slowly sitting down. “Several.”

“Let’s change that,” she commands. “You need new contracts.”

“Are you a lawyer?”

“Professor,” she corrects him. “But I can help, I’ve sat through enough court, and lawsuits, so I basically qualify, and my Ellie is crazy smart.” She grins. “So, you’re in good hands.”

“Four beautiful, delicate hands.” He says, winking at her.

“I don’t flirt with my clients.” Noah pouts.

Damien laughs, “I’m married, with kids.”

“Oh, that poor woman.” She gasps, “Now I really have to help you. I can in no good faith let a fellow woman suffer, she needs to shop, and you’re not making shit from the freebies, and top customer gifts? You poor poor boy.” She tsks, “And I do mean poor because that’s what you’ll be soon.”

“Is she always like this?” He turns to me. I nod, and he smiles, “I like that.” He says, trying to pour himself a

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