Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 41

Liana POV

I cannot tell whether I am anxious or excited to go to work and see Axel. Yesterday's discovery that I am in love with him, caught me by surprise. And as exhilarating as it is to know how I feel about him, so devastating it is because I know it is hopeless. I told Drew not to pick up for work. I want to take the bus. Not that I am avoiding Axel, I am simply buying time to mentally prepare myself. What if I stare at him like a lovesick puppy and embarrass both of us?

"Good morning," I greet Juliana and come to an abrupt standstill when I look at my desk.

"What's this?" I ask as I lean forward to smell the bouquet of orange roses.

"That came for you a minute ago," Juliana smiles. "It's lovely, who's it from?"

"I have no idea," I laugh nervously as I put my handbag down and hang up my jacket. Axel will not dare send me flowers at work, will he? I cannot think of anybody else that would do it. "I was going to ask you that." "Well, read the card and tell me," she laughs.

"I didn't even notice the card," I grin sheepishly as I pick it up and start reading.

There is a language, little known,

Lovers claim it as their own.

Its symbols smile upon the land,

Wrought by nature's wondrous hand;

And in their silent beauty speak,

Of life and joy, to those who seek

For Love Divine and sunny hours

In the language of the flowers.

-The Language of Flowers, London, 1875

You don't want to hear my words.

So, I'll say it with a flower.

Orange roses for the one I desire.

L.C. xoxo

"So," Juliana looks at me eagerly. "Who's it from?"

"I ... uhm, just a guy," I say flustered as I put the card into my handbag.

"Just a guy?" Juliana raises her eyebrows. "Honey, by the look on your face, he's many things and 'just a guy' isn't one of them."

"I've seen him twice, Juliana," I sigh and avoid eye contact as I turn on my computer. "You're reading more into this than there is."

"If you say so," Juliana pouts and I know she does not believe me.

My fingers are slightly trembling as I type in my password. The roses are completely unexpected. Not to mention the note. It is both romantic and disturbing.

I already told Luther I am not interested but it does not seem to deter him one bit. And yes, it is very flattering, but I want Axel ... whom I cannot have.

I know I am an idiot for loving Axel. I am setting myself up for heartache and pain. It would be wise to give up now and seek love elsewhere. With a man like Luther. If only I could switch off my emotions or redirect them. As gorgeous and nice as Luther is, he does not send my heart racing as Axel does.

The phone rings and Juliana answers before I can. She talks to Shelly and looks at me as she puts the phone down.

"Heads up, Axel is on his way and Angela is tagging along," Juliana rolls her eyes.

"Oh, for f**k's sake," I grunt and close my eyes. "It's too early for her."

"As if there's any hour suited for her," Juliana snorts.

"There is," I sigh. "Witching hour."

Juliana bursts out laughing just as the elevator's door opens. My heart skips a beat as Axel steps out of the elevator but calms the second I see Angela.

"Good day, ladies," Axel smiles and goes to stand at Juliana's desk. "You're in good spirits this morning."

"Well, sir, it's a beautiful morning," Juliana swallows the last of her laughter.

"I can only imagine how much since your husband send you roses," Axel smiles leisurely.

"Oh, they're not mine," Juliana laughs. "It's Liana's."

"Interesting," Axel turns to me, and my heart drops to my feet. He does not seem pleased at all. "Did you acquire a love interest over the weekend, Miss Erickson?" "Well, I ..."

"I told you, Axel," Angela cuts me off as she comes to stand next to Axel and glares coldly at me. "She's nothing more than a pretty face with open legs." "Angela!" Axel's voice whips through the air and instantly everybody goes quiet. "I warned you before about your attitude towards my personnel." "I'm sorry," Angela shrugs but she does not look sorry at all. "It slipped out. I'm only looking out for you after Saturday night and ..."

"Get out!" Axel bellows as he points towards the elevator.

"But..."

"Now, Angela," Axel cuts her off. "I had enough."

"Fine," she huffs and pulls her shoulders back. "I'll see you tonight."

Axel gives me a deathly glare as Angela walks away before he marches to his office.

"Juliana," he shouts over his shoulder. "Bring your notepad and hurry."

"Oh, dear," Juliana whispers as he slams the door shut behind him. "Angela really did it this time. He was in such a good mood and now she ruined it."

I do not respond as I look absentmindedly at my computer screen. Axel made it clear from the very beginning that I am not allowed to get romantically involved with other men and I kept my part of the deal. But with the flowers and Angela's harsh judgement, he might very well think I have overstepped.

"Listen here, missy," Angela hisses and I look up in surprise. I did not hear her come back.

"Weren't you ordered to leave?" I raise my eyebrows. "Or would you like me to ask Axel to repeat himself?"

"Let me make myself clear," Angela sneers as she leans closer to me. "Axel is mine. I get that he's scratching an itch by fucking you occasionally but don't think for a second that it will last. He and I will be engaged by the end of this week and mark my words, you'll be gone before I finish my first glass of champagne."

"Is that supposed to scare me?" I grunt as I slowly raise out of my chair. As much as the idea of her and Axel together irks me, so much more would I like to slap her false eyelashes off her face. And I know she is right, Axel will toss me aside once he is done with me, but I will be damned before I let her know how I feel. "Do you think I care? Look at my flowers, bitch. I already have the next candidate lined up. But for the rest of your life, you will live with the knowledge that I entertained your soon-to-be husband in bed while I won't even remember your name."

I know I struck a nerve when she starts screaming like a mad person and reaches for me over the desk. Quickly I step back and out of her reach. Angela's eyes are wild and crazy as she continues screaming and clawing at me.

"What the fuck?" Axel bellows and within seconds he grabs a still kicking and screaming Angela from behind.

"Enough of this!" He shouts as he drags her towards the elevator. "Calm yourself."

"Axel," Angela starts sobbing and stops resisting him. "She... she said ho... horrible things about ... about you and me and ... and ...

"Really?" I raise my eyebrows and I watch with irritation as she clings to Axel. "You mean the part where I told you that I won't remember your name once you and Axel are married? Or the part where I referred to him as Axel and not Your Highness?" "What?" Axel's head jerks to me and his green eyes are blazing dangerously.

"You know what," I huff as I walk past them. "Calm your fiancé, I need fresh air."

"Liana, come back here," Axel shouts after me but I shake my head and keep walking.

Axel POV

My entire body is trembling with anger as I fight the urge to snap Angela's neck. It will be so easy since she is already in my arms.

"I warned you," Angela cries. "I told you that ..."

"Shut up," I grunt as I shove her into the elevator. "Go home, Angela."

"Why don't you believe me?" She cries anxiously. "You heard what she said and still you won't believe me."

"I heard her loud and clear," I huff as I ball my fists. "But I also know that I send you home and you came back to look for trouble."

"I didn't," she sniffs. "I only talked to her."

"Same thing," I sigh as I stand back for the elevator doors to close.

I pinch my nose bridge and close my eyes as I think about how I am supposed to fix this mess. Everything went smoothly until I stepped into this building.

I take out my phone and call Liana but her phone starts ringing on her desk. Frustrated, I put my phone back in my pocket and walk back to my office. I will talk to her once she calmed down and comes back.

I pause for a second as I look at the roses on her desk and grind my teeth. I know I should not jump to conclusions, but it unsettles me, and I am jealous. I do not even want other men to look at her, let alone send her flowers. And I know a man send it. That is a two-hundred-dollar bouquet and not a token of friendship or appreciation.

"Sir," Juliana looks questioningly at me. "Would you like to continue with the minutes?"

"No," I shake my head. "I need a moment."

I walk past her and close my door before I take a seat. Angela fucked up everything - once again. It took me hours yesterday to convince my parents that Liana and I had a business meeting and that Angela assumed it was a date. I must keep them calm and unsuspecting until we review the contract on Wednesday. I did try and move up the meeting, but Jack has prior engagements and cannot see me until then. And now Angela went and told Liana we are getting married.

If I want Liana to accept me as her mate, I must see things from her point of view. She was already once betrayed by her mate and is cautious when it comes to trust and cheating. How can I expect Liana to trust me when Angela fills her head with talk about marriage?

Just because I want to believe Liana felt the mate bond Saturday night, does not make it so. For all that I know, she is just waiting for our agreement to end before she moves on to the man that sends her flowers.