The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 50

Jason’s POV

Twenty minutes I’d been hunting for her.

The afternoon session should’ve kicked off ten minutes ago, but Vanessa Harper? Gone. She had completely disappeared.

Marcus tracked me down in the west corridor. “Common areas are clear. Her assistant mentioned making some calls, but she

never returned.”

My gut twisted. Something felt wrong. I couldn’t explain it.

Ever since I saw her in the gardens, something felt off…

“Try the residential wing.”

“Alpha, there’s no way she’d—”

“Never mind, I’ll check it.”

I let the strange nagging feeling I felt lead me there in a hurry, forcing me to take the back stairs two at a time.

But something tugged at my instincts. A feeling I couldn’t shake.

The door to Laila’s room was open when I approached.

Sitting on my bed with her shoulders hunched was Vanessa.

In her hands, she held the photo of me and Laila from that summer fair.

Tears welled in her eyes, with some trailing down her cheeks.

Ice flooded my veins. Then came the fire.

“What are you doing?”

She jumped to her feet. Guilt plastered across every feature. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I…”

Those brown eyes went wide.

“I was looking for the bathroom. Must’ve gotten turned around.”

“Lost.” I closed the distance between us. “In the private residential wing. Behind a coded door.”

୮

“It was open already…”

I moved toward her, unsure what to believe. Why would the door be opened? Could the maid really have left it unlocked?

Or was there something else going on here?

“Who are you?”

“I’m Vanessa Harper. We’ve covered this-

I gestured toward the shelf. “Explain why you’re crying over a bookmark made by a girl who died six years back.”

She flinched. Tiny movement. Almost invisible.

But 1 caught it anyway.

“You’re being paranoid. I should return to the meeting

Chapter50

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“The meeting can wait.” My grip tightened slightly on her wrist–not painful, just inescapable. “Answer the question. Why were you crying?”

“I wasn’t crying. There’s just something in the air in here. I must be allergic to it. It’s making my eyes water.”

What kind of lame lie was that? It was the kind of excuse you would use on a child.

1

I fell silent, feeling like I was just making a fool of myself. I needed something better than that or he was never going to believe

1. me. 1

“The honest truth is that I miss Ava. Ava once made a very similar bookmark to his. The separation is getting to me.”

Jason watched me. His face was still stern but his eyes softened ever so slightly. “Why not bring her up here with you? She would be welcome.”

“I couldn’t. She would disrupt our meetings.”

Jason frowned as he considered this. “Instead, bring her to the celebration banquet tomorrow night, the one we will be holding after the contract is successfully signed.” 1

I didn’t know if that was a good idea, but for now, I said, “I’ll think about it.”

He nodded. Then a sort of awkwardness fell over us.

“I am sorry for coming in here,” I said. “I shouldn’t have let my curiosity get the better of me. Your privacy is yours, and… I’m sorry to have intruded.”

“It’s fine,” he said, his eyes hardening again. “Just don’t come in here again.”

Laila’s POV

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking when I returned to the conference room.

Claire glanced up immediately. “You okay? You look pale.‘

“Fine. Just needed air.”

The lie tasted like ash in my mouth.

Jason caught me in his room. Demanded answers I couldn’t possibly give.

I’d barely escaped intact.

The afternoon session dragged endlessly. Contract details, revenue projections, implementation of umefines.

I forced focus. Participated. Acted normal.

But Jason’s eyes burned into me constantly. Watching, calculating.

Finally, mercifully, the meeting ended.

“Thank you all for your time,” I said, professional smile locked firmly in place. “I’m looking forward to a successful partnership.

31

Jason stood. “Let me walk you out.”

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