The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

As I approached, through the window, I saw Claire standing there, shifting uncomfortably, with deep worried lines on her face.

I knocked on the door and she jumped.

“Come in,” Adelaide called.

I opened the door and stepped inside.

Adelaide was sitting at the far end of the long table. A laptop and some papers were in front of her, but she wasn’t touching or looking at them. Instead, her hands were on her lap, and her gaze shifted from Claire to me.

“Oh, Vanessa. Good morning,” Adelaide said.

“Good morning, Aunt,” I said. “I was hoping to have my assistant back.”

“You can hope for that, but it’s not possible,” Adelaide said. “I need someone to help me, and who better than your own assistant? I’m sure you don’t mind.”

I did mind. A lot. Claire was a great assistant, and her assistance was vital to my own work. But Adelaide currently held all of the cards, and if I went against her, I knew she would only make my life more miserable.

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I remembered the two security guards following me to my car. They had to have done so under her direction, to strike fear in me. “Claire,” Adelaide said, while I hesitated. “Why don’t you go refresh my coffee while I speak privately with my niece?” She gestured toward her coffee mug on the table, but made no move to grab it and hand it to Claire. Claire had to go and take it for

herself.

“At once, ma’am.”

As Claire turned, she met my gaze and gave me a pleading expression. Then she walked out the door.

When she was gone, I said, “With respect, Aunt, Claire helps me tremendously…”

“Then she will do the same for me.”

“I’m afraid that I really need my assistant,” I pressed. “She has full duties with me.”

“You’ll be fine,” she said. “You’ve been at this job for a long time. You should be capable on your own. I’m knew at this, and need the best to help me succeed. You do want this company to succeed, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.”

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“Then you won’t mind,” Adelaide said definitely, as if choosing to end the conversation with or without my consent. “Really, Vanessa. Sometimes I wonder if you don’t like me.”

I paled slightly, feeling sick. “What makes you say that?”

“The way you don’t seem to care about my comfort. I know you don’t mean to be selfish, but it comes off that way, when you say things like you are.”

“I didn’t mean to –

“}

“I have your coffee refreshed!” Claire said pleasantly as she returned into the office. Her voice was tight, though, stressed. She was clearly trying to make the best of a bad situation though.

“That was suspiciously fast,” Adelaide said.

“A fresh pot just finished brewing.” Claire brought the mug closer.

Adelaide lifted a sharp brow. “Don’t tell me you poured me a cup from the community pot?”

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Claire hesitated. “I added the sugar and milk how you like it.”

Adelaide looked at Claire skeptically, but still held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

Claire scurried forward. She handed Adelaide the mug. Adelaide sipped from the mug, and then hissed.

“This is the worst tasting coffee 1 have ever tasted,” she snapped.

Claire reached to take the mug back, but before she could, Adelaide threw the mug onto the ground. It shattered, ceramic shards and hot coffee spilling everywhere.

“Foolish girl!” Adelaide shouted, standing “Look what you’ve done! Clean this up at once.”

“It was an accident,” I said, stopping Claire before she could reach down and collect the shards with her bare hands as she had seemed about to do.

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