Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 18

Olivia’s POV

Amelia kept calling repeatedly. I let it ring, half-hoping she’d give up. But when she called again and I still didn’t an- swer, she sent a sharp text instead.

“Be at Ashmoon Hotel by 7:00 p.m. tonight. Or the original $150 million settlement stands. Don’t test my patience.”

It was the kind of message you’d expect from someone who had the Hawthorne name tied around their neck like a sword. I stared at the phone for a second before putting it down on the coffee table.

Ava’s voice echoed in my head-“Be careful with Amelia.”

Maybe tonight’s meeting wasn’t just about documents. Maybe she would try to downplay me and trap me into some- thing.

I didn’t respond yet.

Just then, a new message lit up my phone. This one was from Mike.

“Miss Whitmore, has Mr. Green’s suit been scheduled for return? I can coordinate timing if needed.”

Right. The suit. I could’ve just handed it to the property staff and let them drop it off upstairs. After all, Alexander lived one floor above me now. But something about that felt… too casual. Too cold. And frankly, I didn’t want to come off as dismissive, not to someone like him.

I sat back and thought it through. Deliver the suit personally. Keep it quick, professional, polite. And since I was al- ready heading out to meet Amelia, I might as well line it all up.

I texted Mike back:

“8:00 p.m. tonight. I’ll drop it off in person.”

After that, I headed upstairs to get dressed. Light makeup. Neutral tones. A white blouse, clean black slacks. No per- fume. Nothing that could be mistaken for “trying.”

I packed the suit carefully in a garment bag and left the house. But I didn’t head straight for Alexander.

First, I drove to my parents’ place.

I’d caught a car idling outside Duskhollow Pines earlier. Nothing conclusive, but the way it kept its distance and didn’ t pull away even after ten minutes-it was enough to make me cautious. That incident with Ethan outside the complex had already reminded me that privacy wasn’t something I could rely on anymore. Especially not with a soon-to-be ex- husband who still acted like I was his Luna.

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13:29

the drive, Ethan called. I considered ignoring him, but that

you napping?” he asked

voice even. “I’m dropping off the suit at my

pause. He

“Just that?” he asked.

“Just that.”

I knew better-he’d have someone watching me before

my childhood home, it was already late afternoon. My mother, Polin, opened the door and

a lock of

a day

aside, letting me in. “You’ve lost weight again.

“If he wasn’t, I’d

narrowed her

“I

she could go any further. “Relax, Mom. I’m just joking.” I changed the subject

to tell my parents yet. Not until everything was finalized. Not until I had papers in hand. Until then, I’d keep it to myself. One last responsibility before I closed

home food. Comfortable silence. I

and said, “I’m meeting a friend tonight.

My parents nodded.

said goodbye to

closed, I pulled a mask from my purse and slid it on, then added a black cap. Staying

slipped out through the back door. A second later, a car turned down the block, but I

lead

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13:29

Chapter 18

the

and discreet affairs. The kind of place where people wore smiles like

at the front desk. “It’s for Mr. Green,” I said softly. “Please have someone

That was the vibe of this place. I checked my phone and mes- saged Amelia to say I’d arrived. Within a minute,

up neatly. The scent of rose and cardamom clung faintly to the air around her. She smiled, but there was no

calmly, gesturing to the seat across from

with pleasantries. “Where’s the agreement?” I asked, keeping my voice flat. “I don’t have time to play

motioning to the pot between us.