Ruby's POV
"Wait, let me get this straight. This man had his hands all over you in the back of his car, and then he just pushed you away like you meant nothing?" Cloe's voice cracked with disbelief.
Twenty minutes had passed since I'd arrived at her apartment, now buried in one of her enormous sweatshirts with a hot cup of chamomile tea warming my palms.
My mind was still spinning from everything that had transpired.
"Exactly," I mumbled into the steam. "God knows what goes through his head."
"What a complete bastard," she snorted. "But seriously, this is so unlike you. You were with that loser Stanley for four years without even sleeping with him, which was actually smart considering how things turned out, and now you're suddenly all over some random guy in his backseat?"
I parted my lips but couldn't find words.
She wasn't wrong.
"I have no clue. Maybe seeing Stanley about to get married just broke something in me. Maybe I wanted to mess around with someone gorgeous just to spite him. Looking back, it was completely insane."
Her eyes lit up as she wiggled her eyebrows. "So he was gorgeous then?"
Heat rushed to my face as my thoughts wandered back to him.
Those intense silver eyes, his perfectly sculpted mouth against my throat, those powerful arms that lifted me like I was weightless. God, I need to stop this.
"Yes. Devastatingly so," I whispered, burying my burning cheeks behind the mug.
Cloe exploded with laughter. "Now that's what I'm talking about! That's exactly what you need right now. A ridiculously hot rebound to erase that pathetic Stanley from your memory. Forget your whole 'saving myself for marriage' thing. Life's too short."
I managed a thin smile.
Truth was, I didn't need some rebound fling. I needed employment, income, and somewhere to live. Elias Karl was like craving caviar when you can't afford bread.
"So do you even know who this mystery man was?" she pressed.
I wavered. Just then, the doorbell chimed.
She bounced up to answer it and returned minutes later dragging my suitcases, her expression completely stunned.
"Holy shit. You're never going to believe what just happened outside."
"Um, my luggage arrived?" I teased.
"Two massive guys in designer suits with visible weapons! And a freaking limousine! They addressed me as 'ma'am' and said they hoped Miss Ruby would have a pleasant evening. Now you..."
She pounced on me, gripping my shoulders and shaking.
"Tell me immediately who the hell you were with!"
I shrieked as she tackled me onto the couch, both of us dissolving into breathless giggles.
"Alright, alright, I'll confess. It was Elias Karl."
His name barely escaped my lips.
Because honestly, I was still processing it myself.
Cloe went rigid, her eyes bulging. "Elias Karl? THE Elias Karl? Our Alpha? The head of Zenith Corporation?"
"And Stanley's future brother-in-law. Now you understand how idiotic I was?"
She released a bloodcurdling scream. Then she seized my hands, her face glowing with excitement. "Oh my God! Ruby, do you realize what this means? Alpha Elias has never even offered his coat to those supermodels he dates. He's interested in you. You're different!"
"No," I said sharply. "If I was different, he wouldn't have shoved me off his lap when I started unbuttoning his shirt."
"Maybe he had urgent business..."
"Stop, Cloe. Let's face reality. Men like him don't fall for women like me." I sipped my tea, masking the pain in my chest.
Hell, even Stanley considered me beneath him.
What possibility did I have with Elias Karl?
"Don't talk nonsense, Ruby. You're beautiful. And brilliant and incredible and... WAIT! I just had the most amazing idea."
"What now?"
"That arrogant prick Stanley thinks you're just some naive small-town girl who wasn't worthy of him, right? But imagine if you ended up with Alpha Elias? It would be simple since he's already captivated. Oh, it would demolish Stanley. That asshole would never recover."
Fine.
I'd be dishonest if I claimed that exact fantasy hadn't flashed through my mind when Elias kissed me back.
What woman hasn't fantasized about landing the perfect man and getting the most spectacular revenge?
But fantasies were luxuries I couldn't afford. Reality was already crushing me.
"Appealing. But right now I need employment and enough money to keep Grandma in that hospital bed. Chasing wealthy men isn't exactly my priority."
Cloe's expression softened. "So what's your plan? I could try finding you work, but I'm just at a coffee shop, and with your qualifications, you deserve better."
I embraced her. "Thank you. I mean it. I'll work something out. Zenith owes me severance after firing me, so I'm going to HR tomorrow to collect."
If I could secure that money, at least I'd survive the next wave of Grandma's medical expenses.
The following morning, I arrived at Zenith punctually.
But the moment Naia entered with the HR director, my stomach dropped.
"Why is she here?" I demanded icily.
"I'll clarify shortly," HR responded with a practiced, artificial smile as she settled across from me. "So Miss Ross, I understand you're here regarding severance?"
"Correct. So let's skip the pleasantries. Hand me the check and I'll leave."
"Unfortunately, severance only applies when the company terminates employment without justification. In your situation, it seems you were dismissed for misconduct."
Misconduct?
What the hell.
"Stanley made an impulsive decision and fired me. What misconduct?"
"But Mr. Mitchell's account differs. He provided documentation showing you made a catastrophic error on a client proposal, omitting several zeros. It cost the company millions. Here's the email evidence."
She slid a printed page across the table.
I swear I'd never composed this email. But there it was, my name in the sender field.
Absolutely impossible.
Stanley fabricated this.
"Additionally, Mr. Mitchell reported you displayed a hostile attitude toward colleagues. Quote: impatient and condescending. Naia's here to corroborate."
Naia twisted her hair and smirked. "Absolutely. Ruby was impossible to work with."
I shot up so violently my chair scraped loudly. "The only thing I refused to participate in with you was flirting with the boss in the break room!"
"Liar!" she shrieked. "And I asked Stanley. He never called my voice annoying!"
Jesus. I couldn't believe her stupidity.
"Sit down, Miss Ross," HR commanded. "Currently, you're not receiving severance, and we're considering legal action to recover damages. If you grasp the gravity here, sign this acknowledgment..."
"Does Alpha Elias know about this?" I interrupted.
Both women froze. After an extended silence, HR finally spoke. "What does Alpha Elias have to do with this?"
"He owns Zenith, correct? Does he know his staff is abusing authority and illegally terminating dedicated employees?"
HR scowled. Naia snorted loudly. "Please. Don't pretend you know Alpha Elias."
"What if I do? What if I report this to him and you're the one who gets fired?"
She cackled in my face. "Oh, you mean you've seen him on television?"
"Let's find out."
I shoved my chair back and marched out, heading directly for the CEO's private elevator down the corridor. HR chased after me, calling my name frantically.
I was too enraged to care about consequences. All I wanted was to burn this whole place down.
Two security guards flanked the elevator.
"I need to see Alpha Elias," I announced.
"Appointment?"
"No, but I guarantee he knows me. Just tell him it's Ruby from yesterday. He'll remember."
"You're not the first woman claiming that," one sneered.
"Come on, Miss Ross," HR snapped, attempting to pull me back. "This is becoming absurd. Return, sign the document. Accept responsibility for your error."
"I didn't send that email. It was Stanley framing me! I'll report all of you."
"Alpha Elias has no time for your complaints, your visits, or your petty drama!"
"I believe only I have the authority to determine that," a frigid voice declared behind us.