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?

Internally, I groaned, the irritation that had been simmering since the ice cream parlor now reaching a boiling point.

The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Finally, Ivan spoke, his voice laced with surprise. "Alex. I didn't expect you to be here. Do you need something?"

Alex's gaze flickered to Ivan, then back to me. A ghost of a smile played on his lips, a smirk that felt like a deliberate jab. "I heard there was an important meeting today," he drawled, his voice devoid of warmth. "So, here I am."

Ivan frowned, confusion clouding his features. "You don't attend meetings. That's not how this works."

"Well," Alex drawled, his voice dripping with condescension, "I tried getting in touch with your personal assistant to inform her of the change in how things will be run from now on, but there was no answer. You should really consider hiring someone more competent."

His words were a thinly veiled insult, a jab directed straight at me. My fists clenched at my side, the urge to retort a fierce battle within me. He was clearly trying to get under my skin, and judging by the heat rising in my cheeks, he was succeeding.

Neither of us responded, the air thick with unspoken tension until Ivan spoke again. "This isn't part of the deal, and my assistant does a very good job. Maybe it's people who show up uninvited that make things more difficult."

The retort 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 is in an hour," he announced," guess I should make myself comfortable."

With that, Alex sauntered further into the room, his eyes 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 sigh of exaggerated contentment, My jaw clenched tight. It wasn't just the unexpected arrival that irked me, though that was certainly 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 the entire situation like a personal playground.

Ivan couldn't take it anymore. A frown etched itself onto his forehead, mirroring the deepening furrow between my brows. "Alex," he began, his voice tight with controlled anger, "this isn't how it was supposed to work.

Chapter 116

Alex leaned back in the chair, a picture of nonchalance. He shrugged one shoulder, the movement dismissive. "Last I checked," he drawled, his voice laced with a smug satisfaction that grated on 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 have the right to make certain decisions?"

My eyes widened in surprise. This was news to me. Forty-five percent? Ivan had offered Alex such a significant stake in the company?

"Forty-five percent?" I blurted out, unable to contain my surprise any longer. All eyes turned to me, Alex's smirk widening a fraction, while Ivan's expression remained guarded.

He cleared his throat, his gaze flickering between me and Alex. "Yes," he admitted, his voice strained. "It was a necessary step to keep the company afloat."

"But that doesn't mean you can waltz in here and start attending meetings," Ivan continued, his voice gaining strength as his anger simmered. "We need to talk about things first, discuss procedure and protocol."

Alex scoffed, a dismissive sound that did little to cool the rising heat in Ivan's voice. "Procedure and protocol? We both know the company needs fresh ideas, a new approach. And I happen to have a wealth of experience in this industry."

Ivan clenched and unclenched his jaw, a silent battle raging within him. Probably on whether or not to punch Alex. The silence stretched, thick with tension.

Ivan seemingly winning the battle to stay calm let out a breath, "I appreciate your offer. But attending meetings wasn't part of the deal. We need to establish some ground rules here, some boundaries."

Alex's smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. But 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 a seat and discuss this like civilized adults?"

He turned to me, his voice dropping with mockery, "We are trying to have an important conversation here? Is there a reason you are still standing there?"

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Fury surged through me, hot and primal. I narrowed my eyes, the anger hardening my features. It felt like?

ve was clenching them so tight they might stay that way forever. "

In the whirlwind of emotions, Alex seemed to have gotten exactly what he wanted A slow, infuriating smile spread across his face, but he didn't respond to my outburst.

I whipped my gaze towards Ivan, my voice tight with frustration. "Tell him to leave."

Ivan looked between us, his expression a mask of conflicting emotions. With a resigned sigh, he finally spoke. "He can stay here and wait for the meeting."

My jaw dropped. Did he just...? This was my office, our office! Blink after shocked blink, I stared at him, feeling like he'd slapped me.

The smile on Alex's face widened, a smug victory lighting his eyes. Furious and defeated in equal measure, I stormed towards my bag, shoving things in haphazardly.

"You know what?" I spat, my voice tight. "I'll take that offer to go home."

I stormed towards the door, yanking it open with enough force that it rattled against the wall. Just before I slammed it shut behind me, a jolt ripped through me. A fleeting brush of Alex's psychic presence, a forgotten connection that had suddenly flared to life. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that I froze, rooted to the spot for a moment.

"You look more beautiful when you're angry, Silver," his voice echoed in my head, a phantom whisper before it vanished as quickly as it came.

And then the door shut behind me.

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