Chapter 8

Claire's POV The interview room was pristine—all glass and steel, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. I sat with my back straight, résumé neatly placed on the polished table before me, trying not to fidget with the hem of Jennifer's borrowed suit jacket. Twenty minutes had passed since the receptionist led me here. The prolonged wait only heightened my suspicion that this was indeed some elaborate humiliation orchestrated by Adrian. Perhaps he'd arranged for me to sit here, hopeful and desperate, only to have an HR representative eventually inform me that there had been a "mistake" with my application. I was contemplating whether to simply leave when the door opened. A low, familiar voice broke the silence. "My apologies for keeping you waiting." My head snapped up, heart stuttering in my chest. Theo stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and powerful frame. He looked even more handsome in this professional setting, his commanding presence filling the room. "Theo?" I blurted, shock momentarily overriding my professionalism. Did Theo have a partnership with the Crescent Wolf Pack? Why was he here? My mind raced with questions as he took the seat across from me. To my surprise, he maintained absolute professionalism throughout the interview. His questions were thorough and focused entirely on my qualifications and experience. No reference to our previous encounters, no hint of personal connection—it was as if we were strangers meeting for the first time. I had prepared extensively for this interview, reviewing common questions with Jennifer the night before. Despite my initial shock, I found myself answering confidently, drawing on my academic experiences where I lacked professional administrative background. After thirty minutes of questioning, Theo leaned back in his chair. "Well," he said, his expression giving nothing away, "I believe you'd be a suitable fit for the position. The job would be as my personal secretary, with the salary as stated in the email." Relief flooded through me. This would solve my financial problems—at least for now. "Thank you," I said, trying to maintain my composure. "One more thing," he added, his tone neutral. "VM Group has a strict policy against office romances. Any personal relationships between employees, especially those in direct reporting lines, are grounds for immediate termination." The statement was delivered without inflection, but the message was unmistakable. Whatever had transpired between us before was to remain firmly in the past. Part of me felt relieved at the clear boundary, but another part—a part I didn't want to acknowledge—felt a twinge of disappointment. "I understand," I assured him. "That won't be an issue." "Good. Then follow me to your workspace." I followed him through corridors and up in an elevator that required his keycard. As we ascended, I gathered my courage to ask about what I'd seen in the lobby. "I noticed the Crescent Moon Pack symbol downstairs," I said carefully. "Is VM Group connected to them?" His expression turned ambiguous. "VM Group has various partnerships," he replied, neither confirming nor denying the connection. The elevator doors opened onto the top floor. Theo led me down a hushed corridor toward an imposing office at the end. A sleek desk sat positioned outside, clearly my intended workspace. "This will be your station," he said, indicating the desk. He opened the office door, revealing a spacious corner office with panoramic views of the city. I stepped inside, trying to process everything. If Theo worked on the executive floor and had his own personal secretary, he must hold a significant position. As my eyes scanned the impressive office, I began to formulate another question about his connection to the Crescent Moon Pack. "What exactly is your relationship with—" The office door burst open, cutting off my question. I turned to see Adrian striding in, his face dark with fury. He stopped short when he saw me, shock and rage battling across his features. "Dad," he spat, "what the hell is she doing here?" Dad. The single word hit me like a physical blow. My knees weakened as the full implication crashed over me. Theo was Adrian's father. The man I'd kissed, the man I'd propositioned—was the father of the man who had publicly humiliated me. I felt lightheaded, nearly stumbling as the room seemed to tilt around me. I clutched the edge of a nearby chair to steady myself. Theo frowned, visibly displeased by the interruption. "Adrian, why are you barging into my office unannounced?" Adrian ignored the question, his contemptuous gaze fixed on me. "I see how it is," he sneered. "After I rejected you, you decided to target my father? You're nothing but a gold-digger." "That's not true!" I protested, finding my voice despite the shock. "I didn't know—" "Fire her," Adrian demanded, cutting me off. "She's just using you to get to me, or to our money." I tried again to defend myself, but the words died in my throat as I caught Theo's gaze. His expression was unreadable as he looked between Adrian and me, his jaw tight. A wave of genuine despair washed over me. This was it—I would be fired before I'd even started. Who would believe my version of events over Adrian's? I was just an Omega from a nobody pack. Adrian was the Crescent Moon Pack heir, and Theo was his father, the Alpha. My father's treatment, my last chance at a legitimate job—all vanishing before my eyes. As Theo continued to study me silently, I felt the last fragments of hope crumbling away.