The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

All of that was the front I put up outwardly, while I tried to convince her, and myself, that I was unbothered she had made other plans, even after we had tentatively talked about this.

Inside, buried deep within me and kept under lock and key, a twinge of hurt stabbed uncomfortably into my chest. Even as I tried to think logically, it was difficult not to feel rejected.

I kept all of this hidden away though, never allowing anything but friendliness to cross over my face.

I couldn’t deny my curiosity. What other plans could she have made that would have taken importance over this celebration with me? Was it something with Ava?

Before I could ask, William walked into the office like he belonged there. Like he had done this a thousand times before, all calm and cool. He barely even glanced at me before looking at Vanessa and smiling. Though, I noticed, his smile seemed a bit tighter than I had seen it in the past. 1

Perhaps I made him uncomfortable.

Good.

Immediately, I scolded myself for the childish thinking. Why did I take pleasure from that? William was a work colleague and someone important to Vanessa. Their relationship wasn’t my business. I shouldn’t care about this at all outside of a work- related setting.

And yet…

“You ready, Nessa?” he asked.

The nickname irked me to my core.

“I’m just packing up. Give me a moment.” She moved through the room, filing our contract before collecting her things. “I have to step out for a minute. I’ll be right back.” She glanced between William and me with some worry, but William just shrugged. I stood stoic, not really reacting.

Vanessa stepped out of the room, and I noticed Claire in the doorway, glancing in.

I felt uncomfortable, unsure what to say or do. Should I just leave? Would it be rude to do so without saying goodbye to Vanessa first? I should have left before she stepped out but it was too late for that now.

William, Claire and I were just awkwardly standing there, so I spoke up, in part because I wanted to fill the voice and in part because my curiosity was nagging me.

“You two have plans tonight?” I asked William, unable to stop myself.

“We’re having a big dinner tonight,” William said. “It’s a special day.”

I checked the date and at once regretted it. I hadn’t realized it until now, but today was Laila’s birthday.

A pang echoed through my chest, which immediately tightened.

“What are you celebrating?” I asked.

William laughed a little. There was an edge to it, like it wasn’t quite genuine. “It’s a secret.”

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Claire, who was at the doorway, presumably having walked with William over here, laughed lightly. Her laughter was indeed genuine, as was the light in her eyes as she looked around the room.

“You are dressed so nicely today, William. And you say it’s a big day. Could it be that you are officially proposing today, with a ring and everything?”

I froze, ice water filling my veins, changing me into a giant ice statue.

+25 Bonus

I had heard that they were engaged, but it was true that I hadn’t seen Vanessa with a ring even after hearing that. I knew that didn’t always mean anything. Sometimes couples didn’t exchange rings.

But, maybe I had been secretly hoping that the lack of a ring meant that the engagement wasn’t serious. Now, it seemed, even if that hadn’t been the case before that it could be now.

My stomach twisted uncomfortably. I wanted to be sick, but I held it all down.

I just stood there. Unmoving and miserable.

+25 Bonus

Chapter 88

Laila’s POV

I returned to my office with my things just as Jason was excusing himself. We nearly walked right into each other in the doorway.

“Alpha Jason, I’m sorry. I should have escorted you out before – ”

“It’s fine,” he told me. “I hope you have a good night. I’m very… happy for you.” He couldn’t look me in the eye as he said this, which I thought was strange. Something was clearly bothering him. Could it just be because William was here?

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” he replied, still not looking at me. “If you will please excuse me. I can see myself out.”

“Yes, right.” I stepped to the side. “I hope we can talk soon. We can reschedule –”

“It’s fine,” he said somewhat gruffly, again cutting me off. “Please don’t let me interfere with your plans.”

With that, he moved past me. Claire cast me a somewhat apologetic look before chasing after him to properly see him from the building. I was glad she was extending this curtesy, as it seemed he truly didn’t want to talk to me. 2

As I walked into my office, William was standing there, smirking smugly like he was quite proud of himself. I still didn’t understand what had just happened. 1

“Did something happen with Jason?” I asked William.

“Claire made a teasing comment that he didn’t like,” he replied.

I had a hard time picturing Claire saying anything offensive, so I asked, “What did she say?”

“She talked about our engagement.”

I glanced back through the door, just in time to see Jason reach the elevators. There was a definitive slump to his shoulders, and his head hung a little. To anyone else, to anyone who didn’t know him, this might have seemed normal. Just a man about his business.

To me, I knew how confidently and proudly Jason carried himself, so I could see that something was wrong. It couldn’t have been because of what William was suggesting. Jason wouldn’t care about my engagement to William so much that it would actually affect him. There had to be something else. But what?

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