<b>Chapter </b><b>100 </b>


    Olivia didn’t hesitate before jumping to her feet. She fixed <b>a </b>smile on her face for effect and reached for the wine ss<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Our </b>Alpha isn’t feeling well today and really shouldn’t be drinking<b>. </b>


    I’ll be happy to take his ce.”


    Her heart hammered against her ribs as she lifted the ss to


    her lips. But before the contents could flow into her mouth, the


    ss was suddenly snatched from her grasp.


    “You don’t have to drink. Sit down,” Alexander said, putting the


    ss back on the table.


    What was that about? Yve piped up.


    I don’t know, Olivia responded. He seemed indifferent to me.


    No. He sounded concerned. Protective even. I don’t understand


    why.


    However, it wasn’t just Yve who’d noticed Alexander’s


    confusing tone. The entire room had gonepletely silent. No


    one said a single word. The only sound was that of Ethan’s teeth


    clenching as he gripped the ss in his hand so tightly that


    Olivia feared it might shatter.


    Others wore varying facial expressions. Korbin and Felix


    frowned at them. Ben seemed thoughtful. And Gal, his eyes


    constantly darted around the room, as he pretended not to have


    seen the interaction.


    His behavior still wasn’t clear to Olivia even as she sat down


    obediently beside him. She stole nces at his side profile,


    searching for some clue to decode what had transpired. But


    Xander wasn’t revealing anything.


    Korbin finally broke the agonizing silence. “Looks like you’re


    quite thepassionate leader, Alpha Alexander,” he said with


    a casual, yful tone.


    The statement was far from innocent. Korbin was trying to


    create a reality that painted Alexander as a man who wouldn’t spare Ben Wilde even five minutes of his time. Yet, here he was


    intervening on behalf of a woman.


    Alexander smiled faintly. He perfectly understood the game Korbin was ying. “Perhaps you could assist me instead,” he said smoothly, gesturing toward the abandoned wine ss in front of him. “I find myself… indisposed.”


    As if to emphasize his point, Alexander turned slightly and released a series of weak coughs into his hand. Korbin’s jaw tightened. It was a clearmand, and he couldn’t think of <i>a </i>way to refuse without tantly disrespecting a powerful


    Alpha.


    He reached for the ss angrily and drained it in one swift motion. His face grew even redder as the liquid went down his throat. Once the ss was empty, he set it on the table with


    more force than necessary.


    Felix observed the interaction warily. He wasn’t here to lock horns with Alpha Alexander, he was here because the Green


    group had rejected his proposals repeatedly.


    It was only a few days ago, at some forgettableworking event, that he’d encountered Ben Wilde. Ben had been surprisingly receptive to Felix’s situation. “I know Alexander personally,” he’d said after downing his fifth ss of whiskey. “I can arrange a meeting. These things are all about knowing the


    right people, after all.”


    The truth was, Korbin had been brought along to ensure


    everything went smoothly. But things were going anything but.


    So far, it appeared to Felix that Alexander wasn’t giving anyone


    the time of day. Instead, his attention seemed to be somewhere.


    Particrly, the dark–haired secretary seated on his right side.


    It begged the question; Was the great Alpha Alexander truly


    smitten with this woman?


    Ben Wilde had musings of his own. This meeting wasn’t going


    how he wanted it to. The people were too tense, wolf instincts


    were at high alert.


    To ease the tension, he burst intoughter and pped his


    hands loudly. “You’re absolutely right of course. It really isn’t


    advisable to drink when one isn’t feeling well.” He then turned


    to his secretary who had remained standing at attention near


    the wine bottles. He waved his hand at the younger man.


    “Please, stand down.”


    Despite Ben’s eptance of Alexander’s state of health, it was


    clear to everyone in the room that the Alpha’s performance


    hadn’t convinced a single soul.


    But Ben had to y his cards right. He was well aware that


    Green group was under Alexander’s control. He couldn’t risk


    offending him.


    It was toote for that.


    “Mr Wilde.” Alexander fixed a polite smile on his face as he


    addressed Ben. However, there was a certain chill in his eyes


    that indicated he was in a far from pleasant mood. “I do


    appreciate advance notice when additional parties will be


    joining our discussions.”


    To his credit, Ban maintained his cheerful demeanor. “I


    apologize, Alpha. I was only concerned you won’t show up.”


    Felix jumped in immediately. “Alexander, I was hoping for another opportunity to discuss the loan for our project. I can promise you that it won’t interfere with the project’s progress in