99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 138

Liam’s gaze stayed on me, filled with questions he didn’t dare ask.

Then it darted greedily back to Jack-who he now knew was the head of Reese Group.

I was in agonizing disgust watching Liam swoon over the idea of recruiting Jack and the business.

“What’s wrong, Alpha Sterling? You haven’t accepted the offer I have given yet. I am not in the business of waiting for gratitude.” Jack caught his hesitation, pride glinting faintly at the corner of his lips.

“Unless you are refusing me?” Jack bowed slightly.

I read every shifting emotion in Liam’s eyes-shock, greed, hesitation.

My heart turned colder.

Yes, I had never told him about Calgary or spoken a word about the Reese Group; deep down, I had always known he never truly cared about learning my past and had only ever skimmed the surface.

He didn’t believe there was anything special about me, so he never asked.

A bitter, cutting laugh slipped from my lips.

“Liam, if you want to get close to my cousin, then stay. Enjoy your dinner with Satan! Liyah and I are leaving now. Jack, tell your men to step aside-or I’ll call the police.”

My words pierced him.

“That’s not what I meant, Claire. If you don’t want to stay, then of course I’ll leave with you. Mr. Reese, perhaps another time we can dine together and discuss business.”

Jack’s face darkened, a smile stretching thin across his anger.

“So my hospitality isn’t appreciated. Very well, but there will not be another offer made, Alpha Sterling. This is a profitable opportunity missed. I hope she is worth keeping. Now go!”

He flicked his hand, and the bodyguards finally stepped aside.

My face was made of stone as I strode away with Liyah by my side. Liam, of course, hurried after us, trying to smooth over this colossal mess we had made.

But this time, Liyah and I didn’t give him the chance to explain his version of what happened.

We stormed out of the building, jumped into Liyah’s parked car, speeding away like we were escaping from the Devil himself, and perhaps after what I just witnessed, we were.

Either way, I didn’t want to spend another suffocating second in that place, nor did I wish to exchange even one more word with Liam. I saw the way his face lit up at the prospects of dealing with someone as lowdown and criminal as Jack.

I wasn’t interested in being anyone’s pawn. Not anymore.

I had already blocked Liam’s number.

But that didn’t stop him from taking another route and repeatedly calling Liyah instead.

After several attempts, Liyah finally picked up with an annoyed groan. Irritation oozed from her as much as it did from me.

She clicked the button for her Bluetooth, and Liam’s voice filled the car.

“Put Claire on the phone, I need to explain things.” Liam rushed out frantically.

“Liam, will you give it a rest? This is considered harassment, you realize that, right? Wasn’t your pathetic performance back there enough? It’s like you are so scared that we may not realize just how much of a piece of s**t you really are, you strive to keep proving it more and more.”

“Liyah, I really didn’t know things between Claire and her cousin were that ugly. I’m sorry. Could you please tell Claire I apologize?” Liam begged.

“Not everything can be fixed with an apology, Liam. You would think you’d have learned that by now, considering your rejection status.” Liyah sneered.

“If you had cared even a little more about Claire in the past, if you had bothered to learn even the slightest bit more about her, you never would have made such a stupid mistake! After all these years, you, as her mate, don’t even measure up to me-a mere friend. I understand her better than you ever will!”

“You’re right, okay. I’m sorry,” Liam quickly admitted, scrambling to defend himself. “I know I didn’t understand her enough. It’s my fault. Just tell Claire not to be mad at me. I’ll find a way to make it up to her, 1-”

“Liam, how do you still not get it?” Liyah was so furious that she swerved between cars, clenching the wheel so tightly that blood couldn’t circulate.

“Claire doesn’t need you to make anything up to her anymore! She gave you chance after chance, and you never treasured them. Now you’ve lost the right to fix anything! Stop bothering her, and stop bothering me!

If you’re that desperate for a woman, go back to the sea urchin you announced as your Luna! Stop calling me, goodbye!”

Liyah hung up on him, her chest heaving in anger.

She turned, about to complain, when she suddenly noticed my eyes brimming with tears.

The car had slowed without me even realizing it.

“Claire,” Liyah’s heart clenched in pain. “I don’t know how you endured all those years with him. Mates should be screened and have their IQ tested before they’re allowed to mark, in my opinion. I don’t know what the heck the Goddess was thinking with this match, honestly!”

I shook my head and forced a small smile.