Chapter 2

At the entrance, a tall, sharply dressed man stood with one hand resting on his watch. "You're ten minutes late. If this happens again, your bonus for the month is gone." "It's only 8:40, the launch doesn’t start until 9. How am I late?" I pulled out my phone to counter. "The launch requires you to be here half an hour earlier for preparation. Don’t you know that?" "Sorry, Mr. Carter. We'll get ready right away." Lily tugged at my arm, signaling me to stop arguing. Once we were in the studio, I couldn’t help but complain. "Maxwell Carter’s mouth really overshadows his handsome face." "Well, he’s serious about his work. I think that’s a good thing," Lily defended him. "You…" Just as I was about to tease Lily, I spotted an unwelcome guest. The person I hated most back in school was here at the launch event. "Just bumped your head and came to work? Trying to act weak in front of Alpha Victor to make him feel sorry for you?" Grace Miller sneered, her nostrils so high I could almost see her nose hairs. I couldn’t stand her smug attitude. I moved in close and whispered in her ear, "I suggest you don’t fall in love with men too easily. The Alpha Victor you speak of might be a treasure in your eyes, but to me, he’s nothing. And from the looks of your outfit, it seems like you’re the one playing the fragile little thing." Grace’s expression flickered. Just as I was enjoying the sight, two tears suddenly fell from her eyes. I was momentarily confused. Suddenly, a furious voice rang out from behind me. "Seraphina Bennett, when are you going to stop picking on the weak?" I turned around, and there he was—the annoying narcissist, Victor. He certainly looked good, but the moment he spoke, his arrogance, his belief that no one else mattered, made me want to slap myself. How could I have fallen for a guy like him? I must have been blind. "Victor, don’t blame Seraphina Bennett. It’s my fault for not being experienced enough, making her think I didn’t belong at this kind of event," Grace said, her voice trembling with false humility. Victor gently patted her shoulder in comfort. "Are you two done with your performance?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "This is a launch event, not a soap opera. Could you take it somewhere else and not disturb my work?" I brushed past them and joined Lily in the frenzied preparations for the event, though I couldn’t help but notice how Victor’s gaze lingered on me for a long time before he turned away. After a long day’s work, I glanced at my phone—still no unread messages from Alexander Stone. I was about to head out with Lily for a celebratory meal when Victor’s name popped up on the screen. Without a second thought, I hung up immediately. Lily gave me a silent thumbs-up for my action. Then, a series of messages popped up from him: "Seraphina, how dare you hang up on me?" "You better show up right now, or don’t expect me to talk to you again." I quickly typed a response: "Idiot." I thought for sure Victor would get the hint and stop bothering me. But no, more messages flooded in: "Seraphina, I’m drunk, come pick me up." "Aren’t you the one who likes me and wants to be my luna?" "I feel awful right now. Do I really need to beg you?" I stared at the screen, dumbfounded, and turned to Lily. "Is this guy crazy? Even lunatics don’t have mood swings this fast." "Seraphina, don’t tell me you’re softening up. You used to fall for his sweet words every time, like you were addicted to it." Lily looked worried. I patted my chest reassuringly. "Don’t worry. You know I’m not that kind of person." Just as I was about to block his number, a familiar photo appeared, followed by a short video. I tried to keep my anger in check and typed only two words: "Address." Then I turned to Lily. "Sorry, sweetie. I can’t go to dinner with you after all." Lily raised an eyebrow. "What’s going on? Dinner’s not a big deal, but you’re really going to meet Victor, aren’t you?" "Don’t worry. I’m just going to take care of one last thing. You go home and wait for me." With no time to explain further, I got in my car and sped toward the location Victor had sent me.