Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 17

I placed the box on a shelf in my new apartment.

I didn’t open it again. Didn’t even brush the dust from the corners. I wasn’t going to throw it away or burn it either. That memory-what we buried-it wasn’t just about Ethan. That paper held a version of me too. A girl who used to believe in something.

My phone vibrated. Ethan.

I stared at the screen. He’d been calling more often lately. Maybe he could feel it too-that we were done. That this thing between us was already dead. I didn’t answer. I didn’t hang up either. Just let it ring until it stopped.

A few seconds later, I got a new text. From Mike.

“Mr. Green will be attending a meeting at Ashmoon Hotel on Friday afternoon. You may deliver the suit at that time.”

Ashmoon Hotel? That’s… secluded.

My brows furrowed. Why would Alexander want to meet me at a hotel? And why now? I didn’t want to read too much into it. I wasn’t naive, and I sure as hell wasn’t desperate. But it did feel strange.

Still, I didn’t reply. Not right away. I needed to think.

Two hours later, I pulled out of the Duskhollow Pines gate, sunglasses on and my hair pulled into a neat low bun. But my fingers slammed the brakes the moment I saw that familiar blood-red Ferrari parked down the road.

My heart sank.

Ethan.

He was leaning against the side, smoking. His expression behind the curtain of smoke wasn’t hard to read. He was pissed off and intentionally was parked in my way.

I knew I couldn’t avoid this. I parked behind him, grabbed my bag, walked over, and slid into the passenger seat with- out being invited.

I spoke first. “Why are you here?”

His

eyes

didn’t move. “You tell me, Olivia. What the hell are you doing here?”

I frowned: “You followed me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the phone from his dash and threw it into my lap. “Explain.”

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13:29

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I looked down. On the screen was a list of property owners in Duskhollow Pines.

was there. I closed my eyes for half a second, then met

money. From my own savings. It

said, jaw tight. “Why here? Why this building?

I didn’t think I needed to.” I turned toward him. “Do I need your permis- sion to

what this

years. Building your projects. Following your orders. I

looked away and let out a short laugh-more like a scoff. “You think I ever held you back? Every gift I gave you -each necklace,

I didn’t respond.

you wear are all expensive than this piece of property you brought. All I did that was for

his wallet from his back pocket, yanked out his black card, and shoved it toward me. “Take it. Go buy ten

stared at the card for a second, then pushed it gently back into his lap. “Alpha Ethan is very

thinned. “You know I didn’t

choose to continue to put up with his betrayal and be an emotionless gold-digger. But I didn’t want to live like that. I had a self-esteem and a conscience, unlike

my purse and dropped his card inside. “If I ever

my bag, but

me

the way want to, anyways. You can

I

My phone buzzed.

didn’t reply to his text earlier, maybe he was confirming via

Ethan noticed.

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13:29

eyes narrowed. “Who is

flipped the screen toward

he could hear

He hesitated.

I said, already

Amelia. I’m with Ethan” I hoped she could get me and won’t

deal.

were with Ethan. Never

replied quickly. “Sent all mine for

have it sent over.”

me, puzzled. “Since

rather we

that. The best way to shut people like him would be to ask rhetorical

the engine.

But I still have my

I’ll have someone bring your

I stayed quiet.

back was tense. I pretended to scroll through my phone just to avoid looking at

into the main road. I

days, I stayed indoors. Didn’t step outside. Didn’t want to risk Ethan seeing me again. I knew he’d ex- plode the moment he found out about

I planned a

I could be