Chapter 34

Claire's POV The restroom was a welcome refuge from the intensity of the ballroom. I pushed through the elegant doors, grateful for a moment to collect myself and process everything that had happened this evening. The space was as luxurious as everything else in the venue—marble countertops, gold fixtures, and soft lighting that was flattering rather than harsh. I was about to enter one of the stalls when I heard familiar voices echoing off the marble walls. A group of women had gathered near the vanity area, their conversation carrying clearly in the acoustics of the restroom. "Did you see who Alpha Theodeore brought tonight?" one voice said, dripping with barely concealed malice. "Some little nobody from a nothing pack." "I heard she's his secretary," another voice chimed in. "Can you imagine? Bringing office staff to an event like this?" I froze, my hand on the stall door, as I realized they were talking about me. "She must be incredibly talented," the first voice continued with a l