Taming My Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 3

I rolled my shoulders back after hours of hunching over the computer, my focus deep in the analysis of this company's previous campaign and customer behavior. My goal was to enhance the upcoming campaign in every possible way, and thankfully, a few bright ideas had emerged that might just prove beneficial.

"Wow, you're really good at what you're doing," a voice broke through my concentration.

I jumped, startled to hear Emma's voice from behind me. Spinning around in my office chair, I looked at her, a mix of surprise and amusement on my face. "You almost gave me a heart attack," I said, shaking my head. "It's nothing, really," I shrugged, glancing back at my computer. "Any digital marketing analyst could pull this off, if not do it better."

Emma narrowed her eyes playfully at me. "Aren't you the most humble person ever?" she asked, her tone teasing. "Do you want to get some coffee? You've been working without a break for hours now."

Caffeine definitely sounded good right about now. "Where do we get it? Is there a café nearby or something?"

She looked at me as if I had sprouted another head before comprehension dawned on her. "Oh, I forgot you're new here. Sweetheart, this is Zahn Innovations. We have our own café on the tenth floor," she revealed with a smile. "Plus, there's a discussion area, a mini gym, and even an arcade!"

I gaped at her, genuinely surprised. "That's incredible! How have I not known about that yet?"

Emma grimaced a bit. "Well, it hasn't even been a week since you started, and the only thing you've been doing is working tirelessly." She gave me a playful nudge. "Come on, take a break! I heard there's a new handsome barista there. I'm going to check him out and see if he lives up to the hype."

I chuckled at her candidness. "Yeah, that sounds like a really important task," I said, putting my computer to sleep before turning my attention back to her. "Shall we then?"

Emma pulled me to my feet, effortlessly linking her arm with mine, and began to stroll forward, dragging me along with her. "We shall. Who knows? If you're lucky, the barista might be single and might even find you attractive," she teased, a playful giggle escaping her lips.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen," I muttered under my breath, causing her to halt in her tracks, and I followed suit.

"Why do you say that? Are you already in a relationship?" she inquired, genuine curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, feeling a bit vulnerable as I replied, "I've never been in a relationship. No boy has ever found me attractive, I suppose." I shrugged, trying to downplay the weight of my words.

Emma looked at me in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? You—" she paused, recalibrating her thoughts. "Never mind. People don't have great taste these days anyway," she shook her head, determination lighting up her expression. "You know what? This might be the perfect time for you to start going on blind dates!" she declared, resuming our steps with renewed energy.

We made our way down to the tenth floor, a convenient descent since my office was on the eleventh. I was taken aback by the impressive array of facilities available on that floor. I made a mental note to visit often, especially to indulge in that inviting massage chair.

It looked so cozy.

The pantry section was outrageous, brimming with an assortment of snacks and beverages designed to fuel us on the go. Emma revealed that everything was complimentary, ours to enjoy whenever we pleased.

"It feels like we're in a mall rather than an office," I remarked quietly to Emma as she placed her order for coffee. The only expense we incurred was for the café's coffee, which was managed by an external vendor. Despite that, we only paid half the price.

The other half was graciously covered by the company.

"This tastes great," I said, taking a sip of my iced coffee and nodding in approval.

Emma grinned widely. "I told you it would be good," she replied, glancing at her smartwatch. "Oh gosh, I almost forgot! I have to meet with HR for a moment."

"Oh, then I guess I'll head up first," I said, offering her a warm smile as she waved me off.

I stepped toward the elevator, relieved to find it empty at that moment. As I waited for my turn, I took a sip of my cold coffee, enjoying the brief solitude. When the elevator doors slid open, I entered without a second thought.

It was only after I stepped inside that I realized I was not alone.

A palpable energy filled the small metal box, making me feel increasingly small and vulnerable. I glanced to my left, and my breath hitched as I locked eyes with a pair of piercing green orbs that seemed to see right through me.

It was the same man from the pharmacy just a few days ago.

Startled, I stumbled back a step, my coffee nearly slipping from my grasp. I tightened my grip on the cup and quickly averted my gaze, though not before catching the way he was intently observing me.

I attempted to step out of the elevator, but the doors were already sliding shut. In a heartbeat, I felt the familiar lurch as the elevator began to ascend.

Gahhh!

From the periphery of my vision, I dared to steal a glance, hoping the man wouldn’t notice me. My heart nearly stopped when our eyes locked once more, his piercing gaze sending a jolt through me. I quickly looked away, my cheeks warming as I felt a rush of embarrassment.

Desperate to break the tension, I focused on the small LCD screen above, puzzled as to why it was taking so long to ascend just one floor. My heart dropped in alarm when I realized the elevator was actually descending instead.

What on earth is happening?

What am I supposed to do now?

Just when I thought I might succumb to the suffocating uncomfortableness, the elevator came to a sudden and jarring halt, sending me crashing to the ground.

My eyes widened in shock, and a shriek broke free from my lips as I felt my body lurch forward. In that split second, there was nothing I could do but brace myself for the inevitable impact.

I hadn’t even realized I had squeezed my eyes shut in sheer terror until I felt a strong arm wrap around my shoulder, preventing me from hitting the ground. Slowly, I fluttered my eyelids open, fully aware of who had caught me.

Of course, it was him—the only other person in the elevator with me.

A warm, strange tingling sensation enveloped me as he held me gently in his arms, as if I were made of glass. His green eyes shimmered with palpable concern. “Are you okay?” he asked in that deep, soothing voice of his.

Words escaped me, so I simply nodded in response. I cleared my throat, acutely aware that he was still holding me, and attempted to step away from his embrace despite my shaky legs.

“Are you sure you can stand on your own?” he inquired, his gaze laced with worry. His voice was soft and kind, and it made my heart flutter.

I nodded once more, and this time he slowly released me. I leaned against the wall of the elevator, hoping it would lend me some support. Taking a few deep breaths, I reminded myself that I would be fine.

“The elevator broke down,” he said before I had the chance to ask. “It might take some time to fix it.”

A wave of icy dread washed over me. “Ho-How long?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"About an hour or more" He answered.

I frowned, puzzled. How could he possibly know that? It didn’t appear as though he had made any calls since I boarded the elevator. Did elevators in this building often get stuck? The thought lingered in my mind, undefined and unsettling.

My thoughts drifted back to the work that awaited me on my computer. I shook my head in frustration; I should have just stayed at my cubicle instead of venturing out for that coffee. My eyes caught sight of my hand, and a soft chuckle slipped from my lips before I could catch myself—somehow, I was still clutching that cup of coffee.

Miraculously, it had survived the chaos.

"What’s so funny?" the man beside me asked, breaking the moment.

My smile faltered as I looked up at him, taking in the sharp lines of his well-fitted suit and his signature hairstyle. "Nothing," I replied, realizing he was still expecting an answer.

"I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you new?" he inquired, his tone casual yet curious.

I nodded, feeling a rush of uncertainty.

"Which department?" he continued, his interest piqued.

I weighed my options—should I lie or be honest? Ultimately, I chose the truth. He seemed like someone who belonged to this office, and it was likely we would cross paths again. Better to be straightforward.

"I’m a digital marketing analyst," I answered, standing straighter now that my legs felt more at ease. I glanced down at my watch and stifled a groan; it hadn’t even been five minutes yet.

How am I going to survive an hour at this rate?

"I see" Was his brief reply.

I didn't need to glance over to know he was staring at me; his intense gaze seemed to penetrate my very bones. It felt as if he were trying to see right through me, and the weight of his attention was uncomfortably palpable. Yet, as relieved as I was that he didn’t push for more conversation, my heart still raced in response to his presence.

"I saw you at the pharmacy the other night," he stated, breaking the silence.

Just when I thought I could finally breathe a little easier.

"Yeah," I mumbled softly, still averting my gaze from his piercing eyes.

"Are you sick?" he pressed, concern lacing his voice. It struck me—he sounded as though he had known me for years, as if my wellbeing mattered to him. Why would a stranger feel such worry for me?

Or was he simply someone who carried an innate empathy for others?

"I didn't feel well the other night, but I'm okay now," I replied, feeling the heat in my legs from standing still for what felt like an eternity.

"You should sit down if—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the elevator doors suddenly slid open, and I let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God," I muttered under my breath, stepping out of the elevator without glancing back at him.

I could sense his eyes on me as I walked away, and the thought of it sent my heart into a wild flutter. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I headed toward the stairs, determined to push aside the image of his handsome face that lingered in my mind.