99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 78

“Wrong, Alpha Sterling. I am your ex-mate.” The correction came sharp as a whip from me as soon as I heard those horrid words slip from his mouth.

Merlin stood frozen, momentarily speechless.

“Perhaps we should continue this privately, Mr. White?”Liam cleared his throat awkwardly; he didn’t like that I called him out publicly. It would be embarassing for the Alpha pride within him.

Forcing a smile, Merlin ushered Liam into his office, gesturing for me to follow.

“You still haven’t answered my question, Mr. White.” Liam struck first.

As Merlin opened his mouth, I snapped.

“I applied here myself. This had nothing to do with the CEO and certainly nothing to do with you, ex-mate.

Liam, you need to read the room and stay away from me!” I spat the last word like poison.

The title hit Liam like a slap.

Shifting into domineering mode, he reached for my hand in front of Merlin.

“Don’t embarrass yourself, sweetheart. Let’s not air our dirty laundry in public. Mr. White does not need to know the intimate details of our relationship. It’s unprofessional.”

I jerked my hand back lightning-fast. “To be frank, you’re the one who aired s**t out in front of others. I rejected your straying ass weeks ago, and now you show up here and cause drama. You are the unprofessional one, Liam, not me.”

Undeterred, Liam ignored my words and turned the pressure on the CEO. “What position does my mate-l mean-Claire hold here?”

“She’s on the design team,” Merlin hurried to explain, “though her skills-”

“Design?” Liam’s brows knotted instantly. “The future Luna Sterling, slumming it at some boutique agency?

This was unacceptable and unbecoming of her station!”

Drawing himself up with aristocratic hauteur, he declared. “Mr. White, the Sterling Moon pack has real opportunities for her. This-”

My voice lashed out. “Dream on, Liam. I’d sooner quit than work for you. Let that sink in. Stop pushing me, Liam. You won’t like how I respond if you do!”

Merlin’s gaze flickered between us. As an Elite family with the Sterling Moon pack, Merlin would feel conflicted on the side to support in this matter. I felt sorry that he was even caught in the middle.

“Let me be frank, that employee had no right to treat her like a subordinate. I won’t tolerate Claire working under those conditions.” Liam snapped.

“I’ve heard about the design department issues. Queenie’s behaviour was unacceptable, and she will face consequences.” Merlin backpedalled, hands raised.

“Consequences?” Liam loomed closer, a shark scenting blood. “That’s inadequate! I want you to fire her.”

Merlin rubbed his temple, pained. “Alpha Sterling, Queenie is my cousin. My aunt would never-”

“This isn’t your decision to make, Liam!” My hand hit the table with a c***k; then I turned to Merlin with forced calm. “With all respect, sir, I’m staying here. I have no intentions of quitting just because of Liam or Queenie. One wants the other, and the other doesn’t know what the hell he wants. Their drama is not my drama.”

I watched as Merlin’s gaze drifted down to the white bandage on my arm and the mottled bruises creeping past my cuff.

“Claire, those injuries look severe. I need you to explain to me exactly what happened to you. Better yet, why are you here and not in the hospital?”

I shrugged. “It’s nothing, Sir. It is just a minor accident during yesterday’s client site visit. Plus Queenie told me if I didn’t come in today straight from the hospital, then I would be fired-”

Before I could finish, Liam’s face paled. “Client? Don’t tell me you’re doing business with the Thornes! Merlin, you took a commission from Lucien Thorne while your family holds ties to my family’s pack?!”

“Liam, leave. This is a business discussion. Stop obstructing. Moonves is operating on neutral territory, so they are permitted to take clients from other residing packs, even if you have issues. Mr. White isn’t selling pack secrets here. Grow up!” I exhaled through my nose, unimpressed.

Yet despite my dismissals, he remained planted like an oak, unmoving.

“So you spend your days working with Merlin White, the eligible cosmopolitan bachelor, and your nights next to Lucien Thorne, the notorious tycoon? You’re really setting up the benches for success, aren’t you,

Claire?”

Exasperated, I relented. Beneath Liam’s scorching scrutiny, I delivered a terse rundown of yesterday’s events at the Crown of Thornes territory.

Merlin turned ashen when he heard that I had been thrown into the bear cage.

“They call him the Alpha of Hell,” he muttered, hands trembling. “I didn’t buy it during negotiations, but this… this is next-level savage, Claire, I’m sorry you had to face this madness on your first day. I-”

“Just surface wounds,” I cut in with forced calm. “A few days and-”

“Surface wounds?!” Liam’s fist slammed onto the table with a bang, veins throbbing at his temples. “Pull her off this job NOW, Merlin! She’s not going near that psychopath again!”

My glare should’ve left third-degree burns.

Liam only straightened taller, pinning Merlin with a stare that brooked no argument. The air crackled like live wires.

Merlin watched our silent showdown, then folded instantly. “Of course, Alpha Sterling. Queenie will reassign Ms. Reese to simpler-”

Merlin blinked. “But Lucien’s practically feral-”

“You can’t send in weaking designers.” I flashed a razor-edged grin. “If you do, you might as well chew cardboard. Lucien will work with me. The bear incident was never meant to go as far as it did, it was a flauk. I am not backing down, he is my client!”

Liam’s jaw twitched. Was that a jab at him?

“When will you understand that knowing that you are near Lucien-” he growled, fists clenched, “I’ll lose it!”

Seeing Merlin occupy himself through Liam’s incessant whining, I took a page from his book and I examined my nails as if they were the most fascinating thing in this room.

“Then be insane. I stopped caring a long time ago, Liam. You have no one else to blame but yourself for that. Now, you can go streak through Piccadilly Circus for all I care.”

Liam was left speechless.

Merlin nearly laughed but quickly covered his mouth. I held a smile.

Merlin raised the teapot hastily. “Now, both of you, calm down. How about we drink some this delicious tea. This is good tea-well-aged black tea, not like some… fresh teas. Infused with calming herbs, I think it might be useful here. Don’t you agree?”

Liam glared at me and said petulantly, “Well, maybe I should have the green stuff then! Seems like everything’s turning green on me anyway!”

I shot back without hesitation, “You don’t even make sense, you’re such a fool, Liam! Why must you always cause drama when the room just wants things to be calm?”

Merlin’s hand froze mid-pour, the teapot hovering awkwardly.

After a long pause, Liam suddenly smacked his forehead as if hit by a sudden realization. He stood up abruptly, his voice rising sharply. “Claire, you’re absolutely determined to work here, aren’t you?!”

“Damn right I am!” I shot him a dagger-sharp glare.

But why do I have a bad feeling about this sudden switch with him?