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.

I closed my eyes for half a

own money. From my own savings. It didn’t cost

said, jaw tight. “Why here? Why this

think I needed to.” I turned toward him.

sharpened. “So that’s what this is

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

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

I didn’t respond.

than this piece of property you brought. All I did that was

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

second, then pushed it gently back into his lap. “Alpha Ethan

“You know I didn’t mean it like

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

unzipped my purse and dropped his card inside. “If I ever need your mon-

bag, but

trust me at all,

I paused. “You live your life the way want to, anyways. You can keep

didn’t speak. I pulled my hand

My phone buzzed.

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

Ethan noticed.

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13:29

narrowed. “Who is

flipped the screen toward

said, making sure he could hear the

He hesitated.

serious,” I said, already

“Hey, Amelia. I’m with Ethan” I hoped

deal.

came through the line, slightly surprised. “Oh, I didn’t know you were with Ethan. Never mind,

replied quickly. “Sent all mine for cleaning.

it sent over.”

puzzled. “Since when

rather

had no comeback for that. The best way to shut people like him would be to ask

engine. “I’ll drop you

I still

worry. I’ll have someone

I stayed quiet.

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

into the main road. I let out the

he’d ex- plode the moment he found out about the divorce filing. And I

planned

Somewhere far. Somewhere I could