Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 159

**Chapter 159: An Apology to a Stomach**

**Deanna’s POV:**

The atmosphere at Bluewave Studio buzzed with a sense of anticipation as I stepped inside. Maggie was diligently sifting through a mountain of papers and blueprints, her brow furrowed in concentration. But the moment she caught sight of me, her expression brightened, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes.

“Deanna, I’ve already scheduled that appointment with Maurice, just like you asked,” she informed me, her voice laced with a mix of excitement and concern.

I nodded, feeling a rush of determination course through me. “Okay. Let’s go,” I replied, my mind racing with possibilities.

Maggie’s gaze turned inquisitive, her brow raised. “Deanna, are you worried that Maurice won’t let us compete today? That would really disappoint Zelena,” she said, her voice tinged with apprehension.

I shot her a playful glance, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Looks like it’s all on you now,” I teased, a lightness in my tone that masked the anxiety simmering beneath the surface.

With that, I pivoted on my heel and made my way toward the parking lot, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and dread. Maggie hurried after me, her footsteps quickening as she called out.

“No, no! I’m just the assistant here. Don’t put that kind of pressure on me!” she exclaimed, half-laughing, half-serious.

A short while later, we arrived at the towering edifice of Skyline Construction. The building loomed above us, its glass façade reflecting the afternoon sun. After explaining our purpose at the front desk, we settled into a tense silence, anticipation hanging in the air like a thick fog.

Suddenly, Maggie’s grip tightened around my arm, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper. “Deanna, that’s Zelena’s scumbag ex-husband, Felix! What is he doing here?”

I followed her gaze, my stomach twisting in knots. There he stood, a man clad in a sharp blue suit, his appearance deceptively polished. But it was his eyes—cold, calculating, and shrewd—that sent a chill down my spine.

Maggie’s teeth clenched, and she hissed, “I knew it. Zelena had this Skyline Construction project all set, and then he swoops in to ruin everything. It must have been him.”

Felix’s eyes locked onto us, and a flicker of disdain crossed his features when he recognized Maggie. He approached with an air of arrogance, adjusting the cufflinks on his suit as if he were preparing for a grand performance.

“So, Zelena still hasn’t given up? Sending you two here now? Tell her to stop wasting her time,” he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.

Maggie’s anger flared. “You jerk! Stealing Zelena’s family assets wasn’t enough? Now you’re kicking her while she’s down? The Moon Goddess will punish a disloyal werewolf like you!”

Felix’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Careful, little human. Don’t get too bold. I can make sure you learn the hard way what it means to suffer in werewolf society.”

Maurice glanced up briefly, his expression a mixture of indifference and mild curiosity. “Hello, Mr. Gross,” Deanna said, her voice steady, despite the tension in the room.

Maurice’s voice was rough, tinged with mockery. “Look at you two, so lucky. I even drank the wine for you,” he remarked, a sardonic smile creeping across his face.

Deanna responded with a smile of her own, determined to keep the mood light. “It was just a game. You were generous to go easy on us.”

“You made me get my stomach pumped!” he retorted, his tone playful yet edged with irritation.

Maggie muttered under her breath, “Well, otherwise it would’ve been me and Deanna getting our stomachs pumped.”

Deanna maintained her composure, the tension in her shoulders easing. “Even though we weren’t the ones who hurt your stomach, I still apologize to it,” she said, her voice sincere.

Maurice snorted, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as his expression softened slightly. He couldn’t unleash his frustration on the Alpha of the Mooncrown Pack, so he redirected it toward them instead.

With a determined glint in her eye, Deanna cut to the chase. “Mr. Gross, you mentioned that our studio could enter the final round directly. Does that offer still hold?”