Cecilia’s pov
Mindy froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
I watched as Remy’s face twitched with shock.
His careful plan was crumbling right before our eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Everyone expected Alpha Sebastian to be a gentleman.
Everyone thought he would protect this innocent young woman.
But reality had other plans.
The awkwardness hung thick in the air-like watching a meticulously rehearsed play where one actor suddenly goes off-script, leaving the rest of the cast stumbling in uncertainty.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
[That’s my boss, venomous as wolfsbane!]
Relief washed through me.
For a moment there, I’d actually worried he might be interested in the girl.
Honestly, if he’d fallen for this obvious trap, I’d have had no choice but to mourn his lack of judgment and watch him get played.
As his secretary, what else could I possibly do?
Mindy remained standing, looking like she might collapse at any moment.
"Come on, get Mindy a chair," Remy barked, his displeasure evident in his sharp tone.
The secretary scurried away and returned with a chair, placing it at the angle between Alpha Sebastian and Remy.
Like a caring big sister, she guided the young girl to her seat.
Once seated, Mindy folded her hands primly in her lap, keeping her knees pressed tightly together.
She was nothing like the other nine women with their seductive poses and suggestive glances.
Perhaps that was the difference men saw in her.
While the secretary was simply doing her job, the other eight beauties were playing their parts perfectly.
Their contempt wasn’t an act—I could almost hear their thoughts: [We may be flirtatious, but at least we’re not pretending to be innocent.]
The conversation resumed, everyone drinking and chatting while Alpha Sebastian completely ignored the girl beside him.
"Remy," Alpha Sebastian said, mimicking Remy’s wine-swirling gesture with a hint of playful mockery, , "what’s the story with this Mindy?"
Remy leaned forward, too eagerly. "Ah, Mindy. Tragic case. She’s the daughter of one of my late employees. Father’s dead, mother’s in the hospital, no money, no support. Trying to pay for college while caring for her mom. Now there’s a surgery—twenty grand. It’s heartbreaking, really."
He sighed deeply, as if the weight of her tragedy rested on his very shoulders.
Mindy looked like she wanted to disappear.
Alpha Sebastian didn’t speak right away. The room held its breath.
Finally, he tilted his head, swirling the wine in his glass.
"This Romanée-Conti," he said thoughtfully, "must be worth a million dollars."
Remy blinked. "sorry?"
"Ah, the irony," Alpha Sebastian continued, setting his glass down with deliberate care.
"One bottle of wine could fund her surgery, tuition, probably buy her an apartment too. We capitalists are so heartless."
Remy’s face stiffened.
"Tell me, Remy," Alpha Sebastian said, faux-concerned, "do you need an priest? I’m worried Mindy’s father might strangle you in your sleep."
Remy coughed, hard.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. My boss was savage.
Around the room, a few others shifted, clearly struggling to hold it together. Mindy’s face was buried in her lap.
Remy forced a smile. "Alpha Sebastian, you certainly don’t hold back. I never said I wouldn’t help. I’ve offered, but the girl’s proud. Still—" he gave a theatrical sigh, "—you’ve shamed me. I’ll take care of the bill tomorrow."
Alpha Sebastian raised his glass. "I misjudged you, Remy. I’m touched."
He took a slow sip.
"Just one sip?" Remy said, trying to recover. "Come now, that’s hardly enough punishment."
"Gulping would be disrespectful," Alpha Sebastian replied smoothly.
"It’s just a bottle of wine," Remy muttered.
Alpha Sebastian’s smile faded slightly. "True. But when you realize this half-glass costs ten thousand dollars, and finishing both would be twenty... Well, it starts to feel like blood money." He glanced sideways. "Don’t you agree?"
Remy rubbed his temples, finally quiet.
[This guy’s mouth should be sewn shut!] his expression seemed to say.
I had a sudden vision of Alpha Sebastian dominating college debate competitions.
I almost felt sorry for Remy—why did he have to provoke Alpha Sebastian in the first place?
With Remy defeated, no one else dared to challenge Alpha Sebastian.
The Alpha was truly terrifying in his own way.
He reminded me of someone watching from above, seeing through everyone’s games with perfect clarity, yet choosing not to expose them brutally.
Instead, he played along like a cat toying with mice, letting them realize only at the end that they were the ones being played.
"It’s nine-thirty already. It’s getting late, and I need to rest," Alpha Sebastian announced as he rose from the sofa.
Remy stood up as well, and everyone else followed suit.
"Nine-thirty and you’re going to bed already?" Remy asked.
"Early to bed for good health," Alpha Sebastian replied with a pleasant smile, then added with mock consolation, "You could try to fix things, Remy."
Remy was seething inside but held his composure. "Alpha Sebastian, I’m practically your elder. I even held you when you were small. You should be kinder to your elders, or you’ll hurt our feelings."
His eyes actually reddened at the edges.
[What an actor!] I thought, disgusted.
Alpha Sebastian’s smile was enigmatic. "And how should I be kind, Uncle Remy?"
Everyone looked confused by the sudden change in address.
Remy took a calming breath. "Since we have this rare opportunity, let’s forget about the wine and have a late supper together."
Without waiting for Alpha Sebastian’s refusal, he began directing everyone toward the dining room, discreetly exchanging a meaningful glance with someone across the room.
I didn’t miss that exchange. Whatever game Remy was playing, it was far from over.