99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 96

I returned to my desk as Liam and Queenie walked out of the company, one behind the other.

Wasn’t he pouring his heart out to me this morning? Yet now he was so eager to pick up Queenie after work?

I was glad that I hadn’t fallen for his sweet talk. Otherwise, I would have been made to look like the laughingstock again.

I couldn’t help but mutter to myself as I quickly packed my things to leave.

As I was walking towards the front entrance through the lobby, I watched as Liam, who was originally opening the car door for Queenie to slide in, now turned his focus to the car waiting behind him.

In the next moment, Liam walked straight to the Lincoln, lightly tapping on the window.

The back window of the Lincoln slowly rolled down, revealing Lucien’s chiselled jaw and tightly pressed lips.

My breath caught for a split second.

I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I had a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t friendly, and I was most likely the subject of the conversation.

Suddenly, Lucien’s gaze shifted past Liam and focused on me.

He raised his hand slightly to signal his assistant, John, who was waiting in the driver’s seat of the car.

John immediately understood, stepped out, and approached me respectfully, opening the back door of the

Lincoln with a slight bow.

“Ms. Reese, please get in.”

I had no idea why Lucien was here or why he was suddenly picking me up.

However, out of politeness, I followed John to the Lincoln.

Liam stood frozen.

I watched as his body twitched, fighting against the movements, instinctively wanting to stop me as I walked over, but what reason would he have?

Watching Alpha Thorne’s assistant personally invite me into the car, Queenie was left dumbfounded.

After all, I was the same woman she had mocked as the discarded ex-mate, and was actually being picked up by Alpha Lucien Thorne himself?

I ignored Queenie and waved at Lucien in the car. “Lucien, what brings you here?”

“Claire, get in the car.” Lucien’s gaze was indifferent, revealing no emotion.

“No thanks, Lucien. I drove here myself.” I calmly declined since I was unsure of Lucien’s intentions.

Upon hearing my refusal to Lucien, Liam couldn’t hide the smirk on his face.

“Exactly, Claire drove herself. No need to trouble you, Lucien.”

At that moment, I was already walking toward my own car.

Just as I opened my car door, Lucien’s long arm reached around me and his strong hand pressed against it, stopping me from getting in.

Lucien said in a low voice that brooked no argument, “I’ll arrange to have someone drive your car back, Claire. We have somewhere to be now.”

He leaned in close, and I could smell the fresh scent of pine coming from him. The more I was around him, breathing in this scent, the safer I want to feel.

“But Lucien, you need to tell me where we’re going first.”

Lucien didn’t bother to explain. “You’ll find out once you get in the car, Claire. Enough stalling, you don’t want to be late for this.”

With a firm grip, he wrapped his arm around my waist, leading me toward the Lincoln without giving me a chance to protest.

I stiffened for a moment but didn’t resist, allowing him to guide me to his awaiting car.

“Claire!” Liam shouted, his voice a mix of shock and anger.

I hesitated for a moment but didn’t turn back, sitting in the spacious backseat of the Lincoln.

The door closed silently behind us.

It was the end of the workday, and other colleagues from Moonves were gradually leaving the building.

Even though the car was soundproof, I could tell that there was a deathly silence around.

My colleagues weren’t surprised that Alpha heir Liam Sterling had come to collect Queenie Taylor from work. She’d made sure the entire company knew she had him in her sights, and now her hard work of grafting was working.

What they were surprised by was that I, Claire Reese, the victim of many of Queenie’s bullying and slander around the office, was being picked up by the notorious Alpha Lucien Thorne. Lucien held a significantly higher status and influence than Liam could ever hope for.

I could see it on their faces as they stood planted in mortified shock.

Liam was in no better state.

I watched Liam stomp over to his Porsche, yanking open the car door and shooting a furious glance at Queenie, signalling her to get in.

Queenie, frightened by Liam’s terrifying expression, dared not breathe.

What was that saying, play stupid games, win stupid prizes? Well, she won him. Congrats?

Lucien drove us away from the scene.

I leaned back against the soft leather seat, staring out at the rapidly passing scenery, lost in thought.

Lucien remained silent.

He sat back, eyes closed, his profile appearing even sharper and more defined in the dim light of the car.

After a long while, I finally spoke. “Lucien, why did you come to pick me up?”

Lucien slowly opened his eyes, “If I hadn’t come, I feared your ex-mate would embarrass you today. He seems to enjoy choosing other she-wolves over you one minute while professing his undying devotion the next.”

“So, I should thank you for saving me.”

“You have plenty of reasons to thank me, Claire. More than you suspect, I think. I’m taking you to see something interesting.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “What kind of interesting thing?”

Lucien’s lips curled into a mysterious smile as he closed his eyes again. “You’ll know when we get there.”

We fianlly arrived at a newly built luxury hotel.

“Lucien, where are we going?” I asked again.

“I told you, I’m taking you to see a show. I promise, you’ll understand once we get there.”

As the elevator doors opened silently, I followed Lucien out, catching a glimpse of the flickering security cameras on the wall, causing my heart to race.

Instinctively, I slowed my pace, creating some distance between us. If anyone were to spot us, they would think the worst.

Despite my slower pace, Lucien didn’t pause. He continued striding directly toward the presidential suite at the end of the hall.

Just as his hand was about to touch the door, I suddenly grabbed his wrist as if shocked.

“Lucien,” my voice trembled slightly, “this isn’t appropriate. My reputation is continuously being dragged through the mud lately through no fault of my own, I can’t-”

Lucien stopped, turning to me with a devious smirk. “Oh? What’s inappropriate about it?”

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling. “W-We are two adults heading into a hotel room. What do you mean, what is inappropriate?”

Lucien’s gaze felt electric, as if he could see right through me. Maybe he could, I wouldn’t be surprised. I felt my face flush.

Lucien said nothing, simply withdrawing his wrist and pushing the door open. His gaze remained fixed on me, though. He never looked away for a second.

“Come in,” Lucien’s voice was low and calm.

I bit my lip, unsure of Lucien’s intentions. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew that I should turn around and leave, but ultimately, I stepped into the room.