Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 48

**Chapter 48: Why Did She Have to Come Back?**

**Natalie’s POV**

Samuel’s voice cut through the silence, calm and measured, as he presented what he believed to be a reasonable proposition. Yet, the disdain flickering in his eyes betrayed his true intentions—he wanted me to surrender without a hint of resistance.

He had truly outdone himself this time, presenting me with the most troublesome subsidiary of the Moon-Shadowed Pack. The financial drought had persisted for a grueling six months, partners had come and gone like shadows, and even his elite team of professionals seemed utterly baffled by the situation.

As I flipped through the file, my gaze fell upon a particular name on the list of potential partners: “the Pynchon Group of Obsidian Pack.” A smile crept onto my lips, one that I couldn’t suppress.

This convoluted mess Samuel had thrust upon me? Even a substantial influx of cash might not be enough to pull it back from the precipice of failure. But then I realized, the core deal of this project was the very one I had managed at the Richardson Group—the one that Aaliyah had recently flubbed—the collaboration with the Pynchon Group of Obsidian Pack.

Jerome Pynchon, the formidable Alpha of Obsidian Pack, had always placed his trust in my capabilities. While Landon and Aaliyah had poured their hearts and souls into this endeavor, they had failed to seal the deal. Now, this was my golden opportunity to extricate myself from this quagmire.

In the realm of managing projects like this in the country, I had always been at the top of my game. And this project? It was my prey, and I was resolute in my determination to claim it. Snatching it away from the Richardson Group would not only salvage this subsidiary of the Scott Group but also deliver a stinging blow to both Landon and Aaliyah.

Meeting Samuel’s scrutinizing gaze, I offered him a confident smile that belied the storm brewing within me. “If you believe I can handle this, then count me in. But let me be clear, it will be on my terms or not at all.”

Samuel was right about one thing: the Moon-Shadowed Pack had a reputation for being ruthlessly strict when it came to promotions. Even he had clawed his way up from the depths, earning his place through a series of hard-fought victories. If I wanted to take the reins of the pack, I had to silence not only Samuel and Penelope but anyone who dared to doubt me.

“Alright then,” Samuel drawled, as if he had anticipated my response, or perhaps he was simply waiting for my inevitable downfall.

“But I need some assurances. If I pull this off alone, what level of management authority can I expect?” I needed clarity on the stakes involved.

Samuel’s expression twisted into a sneer, as if my inquiry was the pinnacle of arrogance. He pulled out his phone with a flourish, tapping a few times before sending a document to my computer.

“Here’s the deal. Sign it, and it’s official. Once you’re done, you’ll be on equal footing with me. But remember, my mother still holds some key cards of the pack, ones that are beyond my reach.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, I had already clicked “Sign.” The confirming beep echoed in the room, sealing our agreement.

A glimmer of amusement danced in Samuel’s eyes as he observed my swift action. He glanced at his sleek watch, a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, and by the way, you have one week. No extensions. Good luck, Natalie.”

A week? It was clear he was practically salivating at the prospect of watching me fail.

“Maybe he’s finally moved on and found a new mate,” another chimed in, her tone laced with intrigue.

“Cut the nonsense! Landon has always been a well-behaved young man,” I snapped, lunging forward to seize the photos from the servant’s trembling hands.

The moment my eyes landed on the woman’s face, it felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me. It was Aaliyah! That Omega who had plagued our family for years, only to vanish for half a decade, now resurfacing like a haunting specter.

Aaliyah had first entered our lives as Landon’s tutor. Initially, the Richardson family had held her in high regard. However, it didn’t take long for Landon’s grandfather to notice the inappropriate chemistry brewing between them. His rage had been so intense that he nearly exiled her from Maritime City.

I thought that chapter of our lives was closed. But when Landon went off to college, she had followed him, securing a teaching position there. Their relationship had reignited, and it took every ounce of effort from our family to keep them apart. Eventually, Landon had met Natalie, a girl from a humble background, but at least someone we deemed “untainted.”

Landon’s grandfather had been so concerned about Aaliyah’s influence that he had left a will instructing his wife to safeguard the family fortune, a constant reminder of the threat she posed.

My hands shook as I rifled through the photos. To my utter disbelief, the images had been taken right inside Landon’s home! Aaliyah hadn’t just returned; she had made herself comfortable.

From the moment I laid eyes on those photographs, a seething rage consumed me. After all these years, why did she have to come back? Was she truly intent on dismantling the Richardson family?