Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 32

Liana POV

"I'm not ready for this," I mumble to myself when I wake up.

I spent the entire Sunday preparing myself mentally and still, I have 'the first day at work' jitters. But I am equally as excited for this new chapter.

I jump out of bed and get ready for the day. I pick out a black pants suit with a white blouse to wear. I roll my eyes when I look at myself in the mirror and reach for the concealer to hide the hickey that Axel left - again!

By the time Drew stops in front of my cottage, I have been ready for half an hour. With confidence - and a stomach full of butterflies - I walk to the car.

"Good morning, Miss," Drew greets me formally as he opens the back door for me, and I bite back my smile.

"Thank you, kind Sir," I wink at him as I get into the car next to Axel.

"Morning," Axel hardly looks my way as he keeps on paging through a document and my stomach drops to my feet. The day has not even started, and he already sounds difficult.

"Hi," I say softly and ignore him. Whatever is in that document, he does not like it one bit. The last thing he needs right now, is me making small talk.

My cell phone chimes in my handbag, and I quickly take it out. I smile when I read Nina's message wishing me luck on my first day, and I arrange a lunch date with her. I am still non the wiser about Wilson and Stacey and it is weighing heavily on me that I am keeping such a big secret from my best friend.

"Drew," I lean forward. "Please drop me off here, I'll walk the last block."

"What for?" Axel frowns as Drew pulls over.

"Can you imagine how it's going to look if we arrive in the same car?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Like I'm giving you a ride," Axel snorts. "Many employees carpool."

"Not with the Alpha," I say firmly. "I'm already the odd one out because I'm human, and I'm the new girl. I'm sure as hell not going to paint a red target on my back as the Alpha's pet."

"Liana, you're being dramatic," Axel growls dissatisfied.

"No, I'm not," I open my door and climb out. "Favouritism from the boss is the fastest way to isolation."

"Liana ..."

I cut him off by closing the door and start walking. He can be as mad as he wants. He will eventually get over it. But my time at Silver Enterprises will be one long hell if anybody so much as gets a whiff of my connection with Axel.

I report at reception and after completing a mountain of paperwork at human resources, I get my pass and walk to Axel's office.

"Is it always this chilly in here?" I ask Juliana as she shows me my desk. I cannot remember that it was this cold the last time I was here. But to be fair, last time I had to make a life-altering decision and the temperature was the least of my worries.

"Yes," she laughs softly. "Wolves have a higher body temperature, and we like things cool. You'll have to get used to wearing jackets and jerseys if you want to work here."

"And gloves," I roll my eyes as I rub my hands together.

**

After two hours my fingers are cramping from all the notes that I have taken down. Juliana continues at a merciless speed, and I am battling to keep up.

"Mister Silvermann's office," Juliana answers the phone and puts the line on speakerphone so that I can better observe.

"Juliana," Shelly speaks. "Here's a Mrs Erickson to see Liana."

"Don't send her up," I say quickly, and Juliana looks puzzled at me. "I'm coming."

I disconnect the call before either of them can say anything. Of all the places my mother could visit me, she picks Silver Enterprises. She never visited me before at my previous employment and I know this is not an emergency, she would have called. "Dammit," I grunt as I stand up.

"Liana, relax," Juliana laughs. "You're allowed to receive visitors. Especially if it's your mother."

"Believe me, you don't want her here," I scoff as I dash for the elevators.

I do not even have to wonder why she is here. Money.

I smile stiffly when I see Mother and walk towards her. Without attracting any attention to us, I take her by the elbow and steer her away from the crowd towards a corner.

"This is a surprise," I smile politely.

"You never call, so I decided to come and see you," Mother grimaces.

"Mother, that's not true," I sigh. "I phone daily."

"You phone your father, not me," she argues.

"Okay," I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. "I'll alternate calls from now on."

"So," she looks around the building. "This is where you work now?"

"Yes," I nod. "And I need to get back to it."

"Fine," she rolls her eyes. "I can see you're busy. I won't keep you any longer. You haven't sent money in a week and we're a little short."

"Mother, I was nearly killed," I hiss furiously at her. This woman's audacity has no end. "I didn't work last week, and I don't have money."

"But you work here now," Mother looks at me as if I am the unreasonable one.

"For like two fucking hours," I lose my temper. "I haven't earned anything."

"Sure," she pouts and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "You don't have money for your parents, but you can afford to buy fancy new clothes."

"I borrowed these," I lie smoothly. If she learns about Wyatt's repayment, she will insist on more. And I am not counting on Wyatt. Knowing him, he will replace a way to miss payments or to completely get out of it. The only reason I got the first instalment, is all thanks to Axel. "I will send you money at the end of the week when I receive my pay cheque."

"Can't you ask for an advance?" She asks as if it is the most obvious solution.

"Mother, have some dignity," I hiss at her. "And no, I can't. I'm still paying off Dad's surgery, remember?"

"So, your dignity is worth more than your starving parents?" She raises her eyebrows.

"You're not starving," I rub my temples where a headache is developing. "Dad told me you still have plenty of food."

"Bah! What does he know?" Mother scoffs. "Rice and pasta aren't enough. We need meat and vegetables."

"Well, it will have to do for now," I say with determination. I would have robbed a bank if it were my father standing here. But not her and Leon. They are wasteful and lazy. "I'm going back to work now because if I don't, I will be fired and then we'll all starve." "Liana," she calls me when I start walking away and I turn back to her. "I don't have money to get back home."

"Wait here," I grunt as I walk back to my office.

My entire body is quivering with anger. How did my sweet father end up with such a wretched witch? I know she is my mother but for f**k's sake. I am nothing but an ATM to her. And I might have minded less if I did not know that she is supporting my spineless brother with my money.

Juliana gives me one look before she turns away as I march into the office. I grab twenty dollars from my purse and walk back to Mother. I just know she is going to bitch because it is not a hundred. And yes, I do have a hundred and yes, I will survive without it, but this is more than money to me. She does not respect or appreciate me. And the more I give, the more she will take.

"This is all I have on me," I hold out the money and she looks at it with disgust.

"Leon needs shoes," she says as she takes the money.

"Tell him to get a job and work for it," I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"That's unfair," Mother looks at me appalled. "You know very well things don't come as easy for him as it does for you."

"Easy?" I nearly levitate out of anger. "When were things ever easy for me, Mother? When I worked two jobs as a scholar to help support the household and still got straight A's? Or the time that I had to sacrifice my dream to go to college because Leon was picked for the football team, and he needed money for his gear and upcoming tours?"

"It's not his fault his football career was cut short because of an injury," Mother's face turns red from anger. "You were always envious of your brother."

"He broke his leg, not his neck," I grunt. "Nothing is stopping him from replaceing a job."

"It's your obligation as the eldest to help out," she glares at me. "I didn't raise you to be selfish."

"Discussing this with you is futile," I sigh. "You either won't or can't be reasonable, and I don't have time for this. I need to get back to work."

"How much will you send Friday?" Her eyes sparkle when she asks the question.

"The usual, Mother," I sigh exhausted. She simply does not stop.

"But you have this new fancy job," she says with big eyes. "Surely they pay better than the restaurant."

"Yes, but by the time the loan is deducted, I have less than before," I smile sarcastically. "But..."

"But leave now or I'll get security to escort you out," my voice is low from bottled-up anger.

"You'll never do that to your own mother," she gasps.

"Try me," I sneer. "I had enough, Mother. You're pushing me too far. All you care about is how much I can give you. You didn't even call me after I was attacked to hear if I'm okay or if you can help me. Instead, a neighbour's wife took care of me. And the saddest part of all is that I did not even expect a call from you. Now, get out before I call security."

"I'm ashamed of you," Mother's eyes well with tears.

"The feeling's mutual," I grimace.

She gives me one last look filled with pain and despair before she turns around and leaves. Exhausted to the bone, I walk back to the office. This is the first time I have ever talked to Mother like this. I never defied her. I just could not take it any longer. But after years of dealing with her, I know this is not the end. No, Mother gets what Mother wants.