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.

there. I closed my eyes for

said, calmly. “With my own money. From my own savings.

said, jaw tight. “Why here? Why

And I didn’t think I needed to.” I turned toward him. “Do I need

“So that’s what this is about? You

shot back. “I’ve been working for years. Building your

a short laugh-more like a scoff. “You think I ever held you back? Every

I didn’t respond.

kind information, the necklaces you wear are all expensive than this piece of property you brought. All I did that

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

pushed it gently back

know I didn’t

an emotionless gold-digger. But I didn’t want to live like that. I had a self-esteem

don’t want to be bought.” I unzipped my purse and dropped his card inside. “If I

reached to close my bag, but he

me

your life the way want to, anyways. You can

I pulled my hand

My phone buzzed.

Could it be Mike? I didn’t reply to

Ethan noticed.

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13:29

eyes narrowed. “Who is

toward me. Amelia. Thank

making sure he could hear

He hesitated.

serious,” I said,

Ethan” I hoped she

deal.

line, slightly surprised. “Oh, I didn’t know you were with Ethan. Never mind, dear. Just calling about the bag.

quickly. “Sent all mine

have it sent over.” She hung

looked over at me, puzzled. “Since

“Would you rather we fight

best way to shut people like him would be

engine. “I’ll

still have

have someone bring your car

I stayed quiet.

pretended to scroll through my phone just to avoid looking

I watched from the porch as Ethan’s car finally disappeared into the main road. I let out

risk Ethan seeing me again. I knew he’d ex- plode

planned a

Somewhere I could be unreachable for a