Bonds

Chapter 116

-Maya’s POV-

My hand hovered over the pen, reaching for it with the intention of jotting down a note. But instead of a smooth connection between my fingers and the plastic, my hand knocked over the entire cup that held all the pens on my desk. The clatter echoed in the sudden silence, rolling pens scattering across the surface.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, crouching down to gather the runaway writing instruments. My movements were clumsy, jerky even, a reflection of the turmoil brewing inside me. Just an hour ago, I’d been at the ice cream parlor with my friends, trying to decipher the. Now, I was back at the office, the mental door between me and my wolf still firmly slammed shut. Dealing with that would have to wait. Right now, all I could manage was basic functionality, and even that seemed like a massive effort.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ivan’s voice broke through my haze of frustration. It wasn’t the first time he’d asked that question since I’d returned from lunch, his concern evident in his tone. It was a valid question, I knew. My usual efficiency had taken a turn, replaced by a string of fumbled tasks and near–misses.

I managed to pack the pens back into the cup, offering him a strained smile. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I mumbled, the word lacking conviction even to my

own ears.

He wasn’t convinced. Pushing himself away from his desk, he walked towards me, his face etched with worry. “If you’re not feeling well, you should go home. You haven’t been yourself since we got here.”

I sighed, a heavy exhale that seemed to carry the weight of the world. “I’m not sick, Ivan. It’s just…my mind is all over the place right now. And honestly, being at home wouldn’t change that. That’s not why I don’t want to leave. It’s just…” My voice trailed off, the frustration bubbling over. “I don’t want you to keep doing me favors just because we’re married. I want to work hard and earn my place here. Just because you own the company doesn’t mean I should get a free pass.”

He nodded, his understanding evident. But even as his words soothed the irritation simmering beneath the surface, his actions spoke a different language. His hands came to rest on my shoulders, a comforting gesture that sent a jolt through me. “Maybe we could occupy your mind with something else,” he suggested with a smirk.

The playful glint in his eyes usually sent a thrill down my spine. Today, it felt like a misplaced note in a somber symphony. But before I could respond, a throat cleared from behind us, sharp and deliberate.

We both turned in unison, and my stomach lurched. Standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable, was Alex.

What was he doing here now?

since the ice cream parlor now reaching a

stretched, thick and heavy. Finally, Ivan spoke, his voice laced with surprise. “Alex. I didn’t expect you to be here. Do you need

to me. A ghost of a smile played on his lips, a smirk that felt like

his features. “You don’t attend meetings. That’s not how this

the change in how things will be run from now on, but there was no answer. You should really consider hiring someone more

My fists clenched at my side, the urge to retort a fierce

until Ivan spoke again. “This isn’t part of the deal, and my assistant

was clear, a defense of my work and a subtle jab at Alex’s intrusion. Yet, Alex seemed unfazed. He simply ignored the comment, sliding further into the office with an air of entitlement. “I believe the meeting

scanning the space before settling on a plush armchair positioned directly across from Ivan’s desk. Ignoring the empty chair beside me the one usually reserved for my presence during important discussions – he plopped himself down with a

a factor. It was the way he carried himself, the casual arrogance that reeked of entitlement. Here he was, waltzing into a meeting he wasn’t invited to, treating

his forehead, mirroring the deepening furrow between my brows. “Alex,” he began, his

Chapter 116

my nerves, “you offered me 45 percent of this company in exchange for my money. It is still yours, that much is true. But with that kind of investment, wouldn’t you say I

news to me. Forty–five percent? Ivan had offered Alex such a significant stake in

blurted out, unable to contain my surprise any longer. All eyes turned to me, Alex’s smirk widening a fraction,

flickering between me and Alex. “Yes,” he admitted, his voice strained. “It was a necessary step to keep

afloat.”

doesn’t mean you can waltz in here and start attending meetings,” Ivan continued, his voice gaining strength

We both know the

within him. Probably on

tension.

breath, “I appreciate your offer. But attending meetings wasn’t part of the deal. We need to establish some ground rules here,

it was quickly replaced by a calculated neutrality. “Of course,” he conceded, his voice smooth as silk. “Boundaries are important. But let’s not be hasty.Why don’t we all take

civilized adults?”