Chosen by the Beast Alpha

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Lena’s POV

"You know, you and Dominic go way back, so that basically makes us friends too." Lena leaned forward a little, her voice soft and friendly, almost cozy. "I’ve actually been meaning to ask—what kind of man are you into? Maybe I know someone who’d be a good match."

Eliza wasn’t clueless. Not even close. She knew exactly what Lena was doing.

"For now, I’m focused on my career. I don’t really have time to think about anything else."

"That makes sense." Lena smiled lightly, casual on the surface. "When you left your ex, you walked away with a pretty huge settlement, right? Independent woman, building your own empire, living your best life." She gave a small laugh. "Honestly, with that kind of money, you could have any man you wanted. If I had your bank account, no way I’d settle for just one."

Eliza looked genuinely caught off guard, like she hadn’t expected Lena to say something that blunt out loud. A second later, she recovered and said, "Relationships are overrated anyway, especially when the two people involved aren’t in love. Something like that never lasts. Falling apart is only a matter of time."

Lena nodded right away. "Couldn’t agree more."

Eliza kept looking at her, searching her face for a crack, some weak point, anything she could use. She found nothing.

"Actually, I told Dominic today that we might not stay together forever." Lena said it lazily, almost like she was gossiping with a close friend, open and unbothered.

A flicker lit up in Eliza’s eyes. It was quick, but Lena caught it. Her face, though, stayed perfectly blank. "Really? You two look so happy."

"A lifetime is long." Lena’s tone stayed airy, but every word landed clean. "Being with one person forever can get boring. Even if no one tries to come between us, we could still wear each other out in the end."

She looked straight at Eliza and smiled. "So if you still like him, just wait. When Dominic and I are over, you can go ahead and try. That way no one can call you a homewrecker."

All the color drained from Eliza’s face in an instant.

Lena sat there looking harmless, head tilted slightly, smiling like some innocent little lamb.

Then the study door opened.

She rose at once, her voice turning syrup-sweet. "Baby."

She walked over to Dominic, slipped her arm through his, and let out a tiny sleepy yawn. From the corner of her eye, she caught Eliza’s expression. It looked like she’d just swallowed broken glass.

"Eliza came to see you. I’ll wait for you in the bedroom." Lena kissed his cheek, then brushed her lips near his skin and whispered, "Don’t keep me waiting too long."

Then she turned and walked out without looking back, leaving the two of them alone.

Yes. She had done that on purpose. She wanted Eliza and Dominic to have a little time alone.

She could barely think straight. She was standing in someone else’s house, branded like an intruder, watching her partner walk out with that cool, steady confidence of someone who knew exactly where she stood and knew nobody could shake it.

Even alone with Dominic, Eliza still couldn’t reach him. Not emotionally. Not physically. Deep down, she knew that too.

Lena lay on the bed, strangely calm. Not even a flicker of anxiety. She didn’t even care enough to eavesdrop.

She scrolled through videos on her phone, sent Anna a funny clip, then just waited.

She hadn’t been at it long before Dominic came in.

She looked up. "She left?"

"You sound disappointed."

"I just didn’t think it’d be that fast." She pushed herself upright and forced a thin smile. "Did you miss me? Is that why you were in such a hurry to get rid of her?"

Dominic let out a quiet scoff. "The meeting’s only paused."

"You paused a meeting for her?" she asked right away.

He only stared at her, saying nothing.

His gaze darkened by the second, heavier, colder. There was something dangerous sitting behind it, like a blade still in its sheath.

She had seen that look in nature documentaries. A predator locking onto prey, body drawn tight, ready to spring at any second.

She wasn’t scared. If anything, the more his eyes narrowed on her, the harder and faster her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Dominic."

His stare looked like a storm about to break, currents churning under the surface, power building and building.

Her lips parted a little. Almost without thinking, the tip of her tongue brushed across her lower lip. She looked at him with eyes that carried innocence and ruin all at once.

She knew exactly what she was doing. She was baiting him, and yeah, it was working.

His breathing turned rougher, both fists clenched hard at his sides. Heat seemed to roll off him in waves. She could feel the strain inside him, desire and reason crashing into each other, neither willing to back down.

Her pulse pounded like crazy as she waited for him to cross the room and put his hands on her.

He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing once. He looked like he was one second away from completely losing it.

Right then, the phone in the study started ringing. The sharp sound sliced through the room like a knife.

My whole mood crashed on the spot.

Dominic Voss’s fist tightened, then slowly loosened. The anger burning in his eyes faded with it. "I need to go back to sleep."

I snatched the blanket up, dragged it over my head, and kicked the mattress three times under the covers.

He watched the angry little lump under the blanket toss around, and I swear, just before the door clicked shut, I heard the faintest laugh.

I threw the blanket off, sat up, and chugged half a glass of water in one go.

Was this seriously going to happen?

I texted Anna.

["I’m losing my mind."]

["What happened?"]

["He was right there, looking at me like he wanted to devour me alive. And then his phone rang."]

["Oh no."]

["I’m about to explode."]

Anna took a moment, then replied, ["Next time, sit on his lap, undo his belt, tie his hands behind his back. Turn off the camera. Nobody will see. It’ll be insanely hot."]

The image flashed through my head, and my cheeks instantly burned.

Me, tying up Dominic Voss? That would require his cooperation. If he didn’t go along with it, there was no way I could stop him.

["Where do you even learn this stuff?"]

["Movies. I haven’t eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run."]

["And I’m supposed to believe that?"]

["Believe it or not, but don’t just talk big—do it. I swear he won’t be able to focus on that meeting at all."]

Lena bit her lip. ["No. I need to play this smarter. If it wasn’t important, he wouldn’t still be on a conference call in the middle of the night. Men like bold women, sure, but what they like even more is a bold woman who knows when to pull back."]

["Then stop sulking like some lonely partner and just go to sleep."]

She set the phone down, hugged the pillow tight, and switched off the light.

The harder she tried to fall asleep, the more awake she became. Anna’s advice kept looping in her head. Dominic with his hands clasped behind his back, her pressed over him, his gray eyes burning into her—

At some point, she finally drifted off. She had no idea when.

Dominic’s POV

The session ended at four in the morning.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose. But in his head, there was only Lena’s face. The way she looked at him, lips slightly parted, eyes bright, teeth catching on her lower lip.

She was probably asleep by now.

He took a shower, but instead of going to the bedroom, he stayed in the study.

At daybreak, he made oatmeal, brewed coffee, and had fresh pastries sent over from the bakery down the street.

Lena came out after the food was ready. She looked at him and asked, "You didn’t sleep all night?"

He ladled a spoonful of oatmeal into a bowl. "No."

She sat down, took a sip, then bit into a croissant, all while keeping her eyes fixed on him.

"Dominic, serious question. How exactly did you manage to resist temptation last night?"

He nearly choked on his coffee. "Don’t talk while you’re eating."

She narrowed her eyes. "What, is that croissant more tempting than I am?"

"It fills my stomach."

"Ha." She laughed, but there was a clear edge to it, sharp and annoyed.

That’s right. Pastries had an actual purpose. She didn’t. At least, not one he could casually acknowledge over breakfast.

Lena took a savage bite out of her croissant and shot him a glare. "Do you seriously not get what I want?"

Dominic’s face didn’t move. "What do you think?"

"I think you don’t."

"Trying to piss me off won’t work." He wasn’t taking the bait. "Don’t you have work today?"

"I just want to know," she said, lowering her voice, "if it were Eliza, would you still be able to keep your cool?"

He should’ve seen that one coming. But as far as Eliza went, it was way too early for this.

He looked at her steadily. "Why are you so set on making yourself miserable?"

That hit. Anger flashed across her face. She shoved the rest of the croissant into her mouth, drained her oatmeal, got to her feet, snatched up her bag and shoes, and headed for the door.

"I’ll drive you."

"No need." She spun around so fast it was almost sharp, eyes blazing. "And don’t pick me up tonight either. I’m not coming home."

Dominic leaned against the counter, cool as ever. "Where are you going?"

"Out." She yanked the door open and gave him a smile sharp enough to cut glass. "Hope you enjoy your meeting."

The door slammed shut.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!