Olivia’s POV


    Lily leaned forward, her eyes bright. “Yes, Luna. That chief secretary position at Green Group would be amazing for


    you.”


    I gave a small smile. “It sounds good.”


    Someone else spoke up. “Do we even know what Alexander Green looks like? I wonder if he’s good looking.”


    Lily shrugged. “I heard the Green family has four kids, but only the two oldest have been seen in public. The youngest two are… well, no one knows much.”


    The othersughed a little at that. But their curiosity made me sigh inside. They still had fantasies-like love was something you could chase. I wasn’t there anymore. I didn’t want it.


    I just wanted a fresh start. My own business. My own freedom.


    I knew once I divorced Ethan, I wouldn’t have anyone backing me up. So I had to expand my ownwork. Build something from scratch. Even if it meant using every connection I had.


    That evening, I decided to call Rose Brown. She was one of those people who always knew what was happening in the city. If anyone could help, it was her.


    She picked up right away. “Olivia! It’s been ages. How are you?”


    I kept my voice casual. “Hey, Rose. I’m fine. Actually… I wanted to ask you something.”


    “Of course. Ask right away.”


    “What do you know about this mysterious CEO of the Green group?” I asked her.


    “Interesting,” her tone shifted, teasing. “Are you sure Ethan won’t be jealous?”


    I let out a dryugh. “He’s too busy with someone else these days.”


    P


    Rose was silent for a beat, then she let out a soft “Ah… so it’s really happening. I just heard rumors about your break up.”


    “It’s not public yet,” I said.


    “Ethan’s such an asshole,” she said firmly.


    I smiled faintly. “I know. That’s why I’m making some ns for myself.”


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    13:19


    She sounded curious. “What kind of ns?”


    I told her about the Green Group. “I heard their CEO is looking for a secretary. I thought… maybe I could give it a


    shot.”


    Rose whistled. “Ambitious. So… are you hoping to get the man, or just the job?”


    I didn’t even hesitate. “I’m dedicating the rest of my life to making money, Rose. That’s all.”


    Sheughed softly. “I’ll make sure you get that interview. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”


    “Thank you,” I said. And I meant it:


    After the call ended, I sat down at myptop. I typed Alexander Green’s name into the search bar, but there wasn’t much. Barely any photos. A few business articles, all about Green Group’s expansion.


    No personal details. No interviews. Nothing.


    I sat back and stared at the screen. So this was the man behind Green Group. Mysterious. Private.


    Suddenly, Ethan pushed the door open and walked in. I closed myptop.


    We each had our own den in the house now. We used to spend all our evenings together, but not anymore. Ever since the love faded, we barely shared a room once we were home.


    I looked up. “What’s up?” I asked.


    时


    “What do you mean?” Ethan paused, then raised an eyebrow. “Do I need a reason toe in?”


    I gave a small shrug. “Of course not. The Alpha can go wherever he wants, right?”


    He frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to theptop in front of me. “What are you working on?”


    “Nothing important,” I said, my tone t.


    He didn’t push it. “I came here to talk to you,” he said. “About Chole.”


    I felt my whole face tighten. “What about her?”


    “She wants to work in the program department,” Ethan said.


    I stared at him. “Seriously? Out of all the departments, she wants to ruin that one? My department?”


    Ethan’s expression darkened. “She’s not trying to ruin it. She wants to learn. She wants to contribute.”


    I scoffed. “Oh, sure. She can contribute to any department she wants. Just not mine.”


    “It’s not your department anymore,” he said, his voice turning colder, more like an Alpha’smand. “You don’t work there anymore. You don’t own it.”


    I clenched my teeth, feeling a dull ache at the back of my throat. I couldn’t argue with that. Hawthrone Group was his,


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    13:19


    not mine. My opinion didn’t matter.


    Ethan went on, his tone softer. “Don’t think of her badly. She’s not trying to harm anybody. I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause trouble. I’ll keep an eye on her.”


    I looked down at my hands. “Whatever you say,” I muttered.


    He exhaled, a trace of impatience in his eyes. “Olivia, I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to get angry again. I know how you feel about her, but I need you to understand.”


    “Understand what?” I asked, my voice calm but cold.


    He gave me a look like I was missing something obvious. “My pack and Windsor pack are business partners. I can’t risk that partnership falling apart over something small.”


    I let out a short, humorlessugh. When people were really angry, they startedughing.


    Three dayster, I went back to the office for the job transition.


    I walked into what used to be my office, and there was Chole sitting in my chair like she owned it. She wore a new Chanel suit, looking so smug I wanted to p it off her face. The ce looked different too-she’d thrown out every- thing that had been mine. Even the trophies I’d won for the department were gone. All my small reminders of how hard I’d worked, gone without a second thought.


    The people from the secretariat kept giving me sympathetic looks whenever they passed by. One of them whispered to me that Chole didn’t even know how to work the printer. All she did was y video games on her phone andugh at stupid videos.


    I tried to keep my face nk as I went through the handover. I gathered up the important papers I needed to finish my exit paperwork.


    That’s when Chole looked up from her phone and smirked at me. “So, Olivia,” she said, her voice dripping fake sweetness, “how do you feel?”


    I didn’t bother to answer right away. I closed thest file and turned to her calmly. “How do I feel?” I said. “I lost my husband and my job. It took me years to get them, but you managed to take everything from me in a snap.’


    Chole’s lips curved up in a cold smile. “Do you know why that is?” she asked.


    I said nothing. Just watched her, waiting for her to spit out her poison.


    “1


    She leaned back in my chair like she belonged there. “Because I’m an Alpha’s daughter,” she said inly. “And you’ re not.”


    She paused for a second, letting it sink in. “I’ve seen a lot of women like you in my circle. So beautiful, so deter- mined, always trying to w their way up. But you know what? You’re just something for men to y with. That’s all you’ll ever be.”


    Chole’s smile widened as she tilted her head. “Tell me, Olivia,” she said softly, “what made you ever think the


    Hawthrone family would ept someone like you?”