99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 80

The words looked like they struck Liam with Thor’s freaking hammer.

He looked shattered by my implication. Or perhaps because it was in public with others in the restaurant to possibly catch wind of his dirty secrets.

After all, Liam would do anything to maintain his public image.

“Is this how you treat your most valuable client?” Both Merlin and I looked at him in disbelief at his outburst.

A towering figure shadowed behind the screen had caught my attention after the clanking sound of cutlery slammed down from within the table neighbouring us.

All three of us looked up at once.

There stood Lucien, cutting an imposing figure in his razor-sharp charcoal suit, his broad shoulders and icy demeanor commanding instant respect.

His deep chocolate eyes swept the room like a predator sizing up prey, his gaze alone enough to steal the air from our lungs.

Merlin was the one to recover first, his face splitting into an ingratiating grin as he scrambled to his feet so fast his chair screeched against the floor.

“Alpha Thorne! What an honour to have you here! Please, do join us!”

Liam’s face went slack with shock, then twisted into suspicion. Lucien’s gaze, however, swept past Liam as if he were nothing more than furniture. f0r more updates, visit j[o]b_n{i}b-.-c(o)m His attention was locked onto me alone.I rose instinctively, my eyes widening, then dropping to his chest, remembering the wounds he had taken for me during the bear attack.

I knew his wolf had already begun to heal him right after he was freed, but I hoped he still went and had it checked out by a doctor.

I wanted to speak on it, but with others present, I held back my concerns and offered only a slight nod.

Lucien’s voice was steel, brooking no argument.

“Ms. Reese, regarding our collaboration. You have proven yourself capable of being my designer, so I’m adding a new project to your workload. I need conceptual furniture designs for the key areas of the office within the packhouse. Want the contract? Come with me now.”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

He wanted a more furniture-centric design concept for the Crown of Thornes packhouse?

Lucien was actually offering me such a prestigious project?!

Why?

Had he… heard every word Liam said? Was this his way of rescuing me from that humiliating situation?

A whirlwind of questions raced through my mind. I stood frozen, utterly speechless.

Liam’s face turned to stone, his eyes bulging in disbelief.

Moments ago, he had been playing the “important client” card, pressuring me, only for Lucien to mention a project so far beyond Liam’s league casually it was laughable.

Humiliation would be burning through him like wildfire. His fingers dug into the edge of the table until his knuckles turned bone-white.

Merlin’s heart pounded like a drum.

He could not believe that I, still new to the company, had impressed Alpha Lucien Thorne this much.

Shock quickly gave way to exhilaration. I could practically see the dollar signs in his eyes as he looked between me and Lucien.

The Crown of Thornes Packhouse redesign? This was not just any project-it was like winning the business lottery for Moonves.

Merlin stared at me, burning with barely contained excitement.

Seeing my hesitation, he quickly nudged me, terrified of offending our powerful patron.

“Claire, Alpha Thorne’s urgency shows his trust in you. Don’t let him down.”

Locking eyes with Lucien’s intense gaze, I forced my racing heart to steady.

“Of course, Alpha Thorne. Your projects will always come first; there is no question about that. As you require me now, I’ll accompany you immediately.”

Comes first.

I could see that those two words hit like a knockout punch, shattering Liam’s pathetic client superiority complex. Serves him right after what he attempted to do.

Liam stood there, paralyzed, his breath catching like a fishbone in his throat.

“Thank you for your time here, Mr. White. I will update you on this new contract shortly. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Sir.”

With a sharp click of my purse clasp, I turned without a backward glance and followed Lucien out.

I smiled as I walked away, knowing that Liam would still be standing there, staring blankly at our retreating figures. He would now understand his place on my priority list.

As we were just about to turn the corner, I heard Merlin turn his attention back to Liam.

“Alpha Sterling, please, enjoy the dishes! This… this is truly an unexpected jackpot. Having Claire work on the Crown of Thornes project is a massive breakthrough for my company-it’ll take our partnership to the next level! This only feeds into the portion I contribute to the pack fund. Shouldn’t you be happy, Alpha?”

I sat on the passenger side of Luciens. I continued to steal glances at Lucien’s profile, all sharp angles and glacial tension. “Lucien,” I ventured, “how’s your chest wound?”

There was no reply. Why was I not surprised?

“Why were you in that private room earlier? Do you often eat alone?”

Still Silence.

I drew a steadying breath. “At the dinner, I realized you stepped in to help me. I really appreciated what did back there. Thank you for that. But, I have to ask if you genuinely intend to award Moonves furniture the Crown of Thrones packhouse project?”

His stony silence hung between us like a lead curtain. Lucien kept his eyes locked ahead, stone-faced and unreadable.

My stomach dropped as the words died in my throat, my gaze turning to the rain-streaked window.

I didn’t understand how this man could go so cold without a second’s notice. I’m close to removing the stick and shoving a termonature up his arse instead. At least then I’d know the mood he’d be in whenever I approached.

At the imagery, I smirked, but quickly bit it back.

The black sedan rolled into the dimly lit parking lot of the Pinecrest Villas with eerie quiet. The engine barely clicked off before Lucien flung the door open and vanished into the shadows without a backward glance.

I followed, my heels clicking sharply through the empty concrete cavern, the sound hauntingly loud in the silence.

Lucien walked with his jaw clenched, brows drawn tight, radiating a frost that killed any attempt at conversation.

The tension pressed in on me, questions burning my tongue. Something seemed off with him; he wasn’t this silent when he was with me. He always had a barb or rebuttal, no matter what.

Suddenly-

His full weight slammed into me. My arms buckled as I barely caught him, my voice pitching frantically. “Lucien! Oh my Goddess, what’s wrong?”

A broken rasp. “I… I’m in pain, Claire.”

Then I saw it-the crimson stain creeping across his shirt. Blood.

All that cold detachment? Just him gritting through the pain. I knew something was wrong. I wish I had pried more earlier.

“Dammit, Lucien. Tell me the truth,” I spoke sternly despite the shake in my voice, “you didn’t go to the doctors after the bear attack to have your stomach checked out, did you?”