After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 21

**The Billionaire Who Claimed My Heart and Who Broke Fate for Me**
**Chapter 21**
**Elle’s POV**

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I felt the weight of countless stares surrounding me in the dining area. The sudden hush that fell over the room was almost oppressive, the clinking of silverware and murmurs of conversation abruptly ceasing, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. It felt as though dozens of eyes were boring into my back, their gazes like daggers piercing through the fabric of my composure. My palms began to sweat, betraying the turmoil churning within me.

“I don’t owe you any explanation, Ms. Stone,” I asserted, striving to maintain a steady tone despite the knot tightening in my stomach. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass myself further by losing my lunch in front of an audience that was all too eager to witness my downfall.

“You absolutely do!” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom as she leaned in closer, her breath hot against my face.

“It’s really no concern of yours,” I replied, attempting to diffuse the tension that crackled between us like static electricity. My heart raced uncomfortably, and I instinctively placed a protective hand over my stomach. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

I tried to navigate around her, but Kayla shifted her position, effectively blocking my path with her body. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and her lips formed a thin, hostile line that radiated disdain.

“Not until you tell me exactly how a nobody from the back office suddenly gets access to the executive level,” Kayla demanded, stepping closer until I could feel her breath on my face, tainted with malice. “Everyone knows you’re just some human charity case from the edge district. Did you blackmail someone? Or is the rumor true that you’re sleeping your way up?”

Her words struck me like a slap, more painful than I cared to admit. The whispers had trailed behind me ever since my unexpected promotion, but hearing them articulated so boldly and publicly made my cheeks flush with humiliation. Nearby, a small group of human employees had gathered, their eyes gleaming with undisguised interest, some even smirking at my expense.

How could I possibly articulate this mess? What could I say? Sorry, but the Alpha accidentally walked into the wrong hotel room, slept with the wrong woman, and now I’m pregnant with his child, so we’re stuck together? The sheer absurdity of my reality was not something I could—or should—broadcast to the entire company. The truth sounded more ludicrous than any rumor they could concoct.

I attempted to maneuver around her once again, my pregnancy hormones making it increasingly difficult to keep my composure. Part of me wanted to break down in tears, while another part longed to scream right back at her.

In that moment, Kayla completely lost her cool. Her face twisted with rage, red blotches blooming on her neck and cheeks. Before I could even process her movements, she raised her hand, palm open, and swung it toward my face.

“You little bitch!” she spat, her voice laced with venom.

Time seemed to stretch and slow to a crawl. I could see her hand slicing through the air toward me, the hatred radiating from her eyes palpable. I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut and bracing for the impact. My arms instinctively wrapped around my midsection, protecting the life growing within me rather than defending my face. I felt utterly powerless—any sudden movement could jeopardize the baby. I just had to endure it.

But the slap never landed.

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