“Here’s a drink to excellence! 1″Beulah shouted, slamming her glass with Karen’s. Part of her drink spilled onto the table.
Karen laughed heartily, drinking some of the cherry sunset she had ordered. “It’s just a promotion. It’s not exactly something….”
“What?!” Beulah laughed. “Girl you need to give yourself more credit! You are a wonderful person! And you deserve it!”
Karen laughed shyly. “Thank you…”
After work she was so excited to tell Beulah the events of the day, about her promotion being finalized now. l Beulah wasted no time coming over and taking her out for some drinks. She ignored all of Karen’s protests about it being the middle of the week and about her having work the next day.
And so here they were. In an elite bar, drinking expensive bubbly drinks and listening to the soft ambient music while talking about their day.
“I didn’t think I would get it.” Karen said, trailing her finger over the lip of the glass. “I really annoyed the CEO. I said a bunch of things I shouldn’t have and…. well he deserved it! He was just so .. argh!”
Beulah shook her head and waved dismissively. “Whatever! You probably made a strong impression on him!”
Karen thought about it. It was probably that. She didn’t want to think about Kai tonight. Perhaps tomorrow she could face him. But for tonight, she wanted to just have fun with Beulah.
“So tell me.” Beulah said and wiggled her brows suggestively. “Is the mysterious CEO handsome and dark and brooding and just so irresistible while also being filthy rich at once?”
Karen thought about Kai. He was all those things. But he was the last man she wanted to be with.
Karen rolled her eyes. “He was the worst! Rude and annoying and just so…”
“Irresistible?” Beulah finished, her eyes wide.
Karen drank some of her drink. It was her fourth one. But she wasn’t bothered about it. She was a werewolf, and her Alcoa tolerance was very high. It would take more than three glasses of alcohol to get her drunk.
“He is handsome ” Karen said with a half smile. “But not my type.”
Beulah rolled her eyes. She pulled back and drank some of her martini. “That’s why you’re single.” She said and clicked her teeth. “Always not your type.”
“Hello ladies!” A man said beside them. “May I buy you a drink?”
Karen turned, ready to flip off who ever it was. Her shape remark died on her lips the moment she saw who it was.
“Jasper?!” She gasped, her eyes wide with surprise.
“You know him?” Beulah asked, a grimace on her face.
Karen nodded. “He’s my colleague at work!”
“Hello,” Jasper said, extending a hand for Beulah. “I’m jasper.”
“Beulah,.” She said pointedly, ignoring his hand.
He slowly drew his hand back and turned to Karen. “So, can I get you both a drink.”
Karen shook her head. “I’m sorry, we’ve passed out limit for tonight.”
“Yeah and I have work tomorrow.” Beulah said. Karen knew she had no work tomorrow.
Jasper nodded and tried not to look disappointed. “Alright. I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”
Karen nodded and waved. “Have a nice night.”
He nodded and walked away.
“He’s weird.” Beulah said and sipped on her drink. “I don’t think you should be around him.”
Karen rolled her eyes. “Jasper? Please. He’s like a harmless puppy!”
“Whatever.” Beulah replied. “You know what? Let’s go home. We’ll do this properly on Friday night.”
Karen sighed. “That’s exactly what I said!”
***
The next day, Karen woke up late.
She shot out of bed lightening fast, horrified to know that she had overslept. Sometimes alcohol could put her to sleep, but she has to know how much she would drink.
David was up and patiently waiting for her. She ran around the house, getting him ready for school and then getting herself ready for work and then forgetting her keys.
By the time she was already done, it was nine thirty.
She drove David to school and dropped him off, apologizing to his teacher for the lateness. With no time to get her morning coffee she drove straight to work.
She raced through the halls, turning down sharp corners and nearly bumping into people. She prayed silently that she would make it without any complications.
She got to her office and rushed in, breathing heavily and gasping. Suddenly all eyes turned to her. She felt a bit embarrassed by how much they were staring at her.
This was the first time in her work life that she had ever gone late to work. Not for any reason had she ever done that.
She pushed her hair out of her face and wiped her sweaty forehead. “Hello,” She said her tone chipper.
Mr Wood walked up to her, his eyes dark and warning.
“You’re late.” Mr Wood said in a clipped tone.
“I’m so sorry I overslept and I….”
“Save it for the boss.” Mr Woods said. “There’s a meeting right now and you’re not in attendance!”
Karen gasped, horror filled her eyes. She had completely forgotten that there was a meeting she was to attend first thing in the morning.
“Oh my goodness.” She gasped. She quickly smoothened her outfit and her hair. “I’ll be going right away!”
“You should!”
She rushed to her desk and dropped her bag. She retouched her face a bit and headed down to the meeting room, walking briskly but not running.
She got to the meeting hall and opened the door. All heads inside turned to her, their stares judging.
She could just hear their thoughts. ‘She just got promoted and she’s slacking off.’
Karen put on a smile. “Good morning,” She said. She took a step about to go inside.
“Stop right there.” Kai’s voice said making her freeze.
She cursed herself at how quickly she reacted to his voice. Old habits did die hard huh.
She looked at him. There was no denying now. He had recognized her. She could tell by the arrogant smirk on his face, those beautiful eyes of his mocking her.
“Hello, Karen.” He said. “Wasn’t it just yesterday you were boasting about your competence?”
Karen instantly knew that he would eat her alive.
She turned to look at Nicolas, always surely by Kai’s right hand. The beta smiled at her and waved leisurely. Karen looked away from him and focused her eyes on Kai.
“Mr Sylvester,” She said through clenched teeth. “I apologize for my lateness today. And I assure you that it won’t happen again. ”
“Oh no, you don’t get to walk to your seat.” Kai said with a dark chuckle.
Karen paused and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
She didn’t miss the twitch in his jaw. She guessed that after all these years he still hated being questioned.
“Crawl to your seat.” He said.
Heads turned to him, eyes wide with shock. Karen felt her cheeks heat up at the command. The people present in the room stared at her with wide eyes, but neither of them dared speak a word or raise a complaint.
“Crawl…” She whispered. And in that moment she was reminded of her life as his slave. Constantly living in the fear of him. Always obedient. Always bowing and answering him with ‘yes alpha.’
She wasn’t the weak slave she was anymore. She wasn’t Karen Winterblood. She was Karen Osborne. And such nonsense was in the past.
Karen raised her chin in defiance her eyes flashing. “You can go fuck yourself, Alpha Kai.” She spat his name in anger. “This isn’t your damned pack anymore.”
She heard the gasps of astonishment from the meeting board. Kai’s eyes widened a bit, a look of shock flashing through them.
“I don’t even know why I’m entertaining this attitude.” She said with a loud sigh. “I quit. You can take your position and everything else and shove it.”
“Oh now so quick now.” He said as she turned to leave.
“What?” She spat back. She was taken aback when she saw the devilish look in his eyes.
“You can’t leave. You can’t quit. Not so easy.”
Karen narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Nicolas, kindly read the terms of agreement to her.”
“Of course,” Nicolas said, pure amusement in his voice. Karen felt angry that he was enjoying this a bit too much.
“Terms of agreement for promotion of Karen Osborne from Assistant Manager to Manager. The probation period is to last a period of six months in which no resignation is allowed. Failure to comply with this will result in a fine of fifty million dollars..”
Karen gasped. “fifty million?!”
“You see,” Kai said. “You can’t leave. Thank you Nicolas.”
“You’re welcome, Mr Sylvester.”