Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 11

Liana POV

I am up before dawn. To say that I slept last night, would be a joke. I have been tossing and turning and wrecking my brain for solutions.

Accepting Nina's offer is not a long-term solution. It does not matter when or where Dad gets the operation. There will be bills to pay and I am the only one in my family that can do it. Dad is too sickly to get a loan. Mother has not worked in years and Leon ... well, with his credit record he must consider himself lucky if he gets a loan for a lollipop.

I have made a list of every living relative and friend that I know. And I intend to contact each and every one of them and beg for help.

But before I can do that, I must have a job. None of them will take out a loan on my behalf without a guarantee that I will pay them back.

I know Nina will agree in a heartbeat if I ask her, but I cannot bring myself to do it. She is already supporting me, and I do not want to take advantage of her good heart.

There is only one person that I can think of right now who has the financial means to help me. And as much as I do not want to see him, so much more do I want my father to get the operation.

I take a shower and wash my hair. With utmost care, I apply makeup and style my hair. I put on the only sophisticated outfit I own. It is a simple tightfitting knee-length black dress with a matching jacket. I complete the outfit with sheer stockings and black heels. Satisfied I look at myself in the mirror. I no longer look homeless or hopeless and I pray that it is good enough.

I leave a note for Nina, take my handbag and walk to the Uber that is already waiting for me outside.

**

I get out of the Uber and look up at the gigantic building in front of me. Silver Enterprises. It is the tallest building and right in the centre of the pack's borders.

I take one deep breath, straighten my jacket, pull my shoulders back and walk to reception.

"I would like to see Axel Silvermann," I say with a steady voice and a polite smile.

"Do you have an appointment?" The woman asks stiffly.

"No," my heart drops to my shoes and I say a quick prayer. "But if you could please ask if mister Silvermann is willing to see me for just a moment, I would really appreciate it." "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's a health issue," I interrupt her as my nerves threaten to overtake my last shred of serenity. "Use the words pregnancy and Liana and I assure you; he'll see me."

When I drop the word pregnancy, her eyes widen, and she picks up the phone.

"What's your name?" The woman asks quickly.

"Liana Erickson," I smile sweetly, and I swear she would have dropped out of her chair if she were not holding onto the phone.

After a quick discussion, she puts the phone down and opens a drawer.

"Here's your visitor's pass," she hands me a card. "Take the elevator closest to the stairs."

"Thank you," I smile relieved. "And just to ease your curiosity. No, I'm not pregnant."

"But you said..." the woman goes pale in front of me.

"No," I shake my head. "I asked you to use the word. I never said I'm pregnant."

I turn around and walk towards the elevator. I know I did not have to explain anything to her, but the last thing I need is a bored woman spreading rumours about Axel and a pregnant woman. I need his help, antagonising him with false rumours will not help my

case.

I am surprised to learn that there is only one button to press in the elevator - the top floor. This must be a private elevator. I close my eyes as the doors close and the elevator starts moving. My nerves are shattered. This was the easy part, and I can only pray that I have enough courage to go through with this insane plan of mine and not screw it up.

I reach the top floor way too fast for my liking and I step onto the top floor. The office area screams sophistication and money with its wood and cream décor. My knees feel weak as I walk to the receptionist's desk and report my arrival.

She smiles kindly at me and leads me to Axel's office. She knocks softly and opens the door, showing me in. I nod friendly at her and take a deep breath as I walk inside.

Axel looks up and my breath hitches in my throat when his green eyes meet mine. He gets up from behind his desk and I must swallow hard as male perfection leisurely strolls over to me. His crisp white shirt fits snuggling around his shoulders and biceps, and I cannot keep my mind from wandering back to last night when my hands feasted over his torso.

"This is a surprise," he smiles at me, and my mouth goes dry. "And you're already pregnant? I guess I didn't buy the pills soon enough."

"I'm not pregnant," I pull my hormones together and lift my chin. "That was the only thing I could think of to get past your reception. But don't worry, I did inform them of my ruse."

"Thank you, I guess?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

"Have a seat," he invites.

"Thank you," I accept gratefully. My knees are pure jelly from stress, and I do not know how much longer I will be able to stand.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asks as he takes a seat across from me.

"I need help," my voice is hoarse, and I quickly clear my throat before I look at him. "I desperately need work but with my qualifications, it's not easy. I was hoping you could help me replace something."

"Help me understand," his voice is stern, and I realize I am now dealing with an Alpha and not the man that I spend time with at the bar or in his car. "You're asking me to deny one of my wolves a job and give it to you, a human?"

I lower my gaze and start fumbling with my fingers on my lap. I am acutely aware that this action betrays my lack of confidence and nervousness, but I cannot pretend any longer. I am emotionally drained and have nothing left to fight with. I have been taking hit after hit since I caught Wyatt cheating on me, and I am dangerously close to a mental breakdown.

"I wouldn't have asked if I had a choice," I say after a moment and look at him. With nothing left to lose, I tell him everything. From me leaving my work to be with Wyatt to being unsuccessful in replaceing another job due to my father's health condition. "I will continue looking for work in the city and will leave these borders as soon as I can. I promise. But I'm in desperate need of employment in order for me to get a loan and pay for my father's surgery." Axel POV

There it is, I smirk victoriously. I knew it, she wanted money. Women think they are mysterious but, in the end, they are all the same. Granted, she wants to earn the money, but it boils down to the same thing. You sleep with them, and then they figure they can demand the moon and stars.

That does not change the fact that she is fucking gorgeous, and the mate bond is making it incredibly hard to resist her. I cannot keep my eyes off Liana as she tells me her story. She looks absolutely gorgeous today and I have a hard time controlling my wolf. He wants his mate badly.

I spent the whole of last night and this morning investigating her. It is a task Nick usually does, but since I intend to keep Liana a secret until I am sure of her, I must do the investigation by myself.

Thanks to my research, I know she is telling the truth. I also know that she is withholding the truth about her brother. He is not good company to keep, and I do not want him near my borders.

The more she talks, the happier I become. When Mia swindled me for money, I had to take it. I was not allowed to act on my rage, but this time... this time I am presented with the perfect opportunity. I do not have to roll over and pay. I will test Liana. If she accepts my offer, I know she is just like the rest of her species - greedy.

"I will cover your father's expenses," I smile at her and the relief on her face is immediate.

"Thank you," she says gratefully. "I promise I will repay every cent with interest."

"On one condition," her face falters when I utter the words. "You will be mine for the next six months."

"I... I do not understand," she says hesitantly and frowns.

"It's quite simple," I smile as satisfaction nestles in me. "You will live in a cottage on my premises and will be ready whenever I need you."

"To do what?" Her eyes start blazing at me.

"Whatever I tell you to do," my voice is low as I lean closer to her. "Including pleasures of the body."

"Are you fucking insane?" She explodes and jumps up. "You want me to become your personal call girl? Locked up in a cottage until the desire hits you? That's... that's slavery."

"You're being paid," I lean back and look up at her furious face. "So, it's not slavery."

"It is prostitution," she hisses at me. "And illegal."

"By definition, yes," I shrug nonchalantly. "Or you could choose to see it as paying off a loan. We're just cutting out the middleman - namely a job."

"Why?" She seems to be on the verge of tears. "Why must we cut out the middleman? I would much rather work and then repay you."

"Because I don't have any other work for you," I reply. "You have no other skill or qualification that I'm interested in."

"But I can learn," she pleads desperately. "Please, I'll repay you triple and not double. Even if I must work for you until I die. Please, give me a chance."

"No," my voice is steady even if my heart softens a little as I listen to her begging. Maybe she is not like the rest of them.

No, I reprimand myself. Do not fall for a pretty face again. I was not always this cruel and heartless, but experience has taught me to toughen up.

"What am I supposed to do when I'm locked up in that cottage?" She asks as tears well up in her eyes. "Lay in bed until you decide it's time for a quickie?"

"Liana, I never said you'll be locked up," I say patiently as I get up and walk to her. "You're still free to come and go as you please, but I expect you to be home at night. Also, you're not allowed to engage in any s****l activities with other men." "I'm not like that, I ..."

"You slept with me out of anger," I cut her off as I wipe the tear off her face with my thumb. "I don't want you to do the same to me out of revenge."

"And I can continue looking for work?" She asks through clenched teeth. "Even within the borders?"

"Yes," I confirm and put my hands in my pockets.

"And if I get a job, I can move out and repay you like a normal person?" She asks hopefully.

"No," I shake my head. "This agreement is fixed for six months."

"I... I need to think about it," she pulls herself together. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Liana," I take her wrist and pull her against my chest. She looks questioningly at me with her beautiful blue eyes, and I kiss her urgently. I relish in the sparks of kissing my mate for just a moment before I let her go. "You have forty-eight hours to decide." She does not reply as she takes her handbag and gets out of my office as fast as she can.