"Mr. Alexei, will you be coming home tonight?" The voice on the other end came through softly. "Noelle hasn't slept yet. He said he's waiting for you to come back."
"Why is he waiting for me? Tell him to go to bed."
"He got good grades on his exams today, and he's been thinking about you coming home to praise him." The nanny sighed, eyes still fixed on Noelle. "But he made you angry earlier, and now he's blaming himself."
Noelle sat curled on the couch, knees drawn to his chest, his exam paper clutched tightly.
"I'm not angry," Alexei replied in a flat tone.
"Do you have some time right now? How about talking to Noelle for a while? Otherwise, I doubt he'll sleep tonight."
Alexei turned to the driver, still holding the woman.
"Take her away."
The driver nodded.
"Uncle Alexei... Aunty said you're not mad at me."
"That's right." Alexei gave a half-smile. "Call me 'dad.'"
"Dad..."
"Yeah." His voice didn't change. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"... Are you not coming home?"
"I'm coming home later. If you're tired, go to bed."
"Okay." Noelle nodded faintly. "Alright, well, then…"
Alexei was about to hang up when—
"Dad, wait. One more thing."
"The teacher said parents need to sign the exam papers. We're supposed to bring them tomorrow." Noelle's voice was tentative, nervous. He was hoping to hear something from his father—some sign that maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.
"Let Aunty sign it. Go to bed early."
"Oh." Noelle said softly, disappointment clear.
Why did he think anything would change, when his father barely even came home?
"Mr. Alexei."
Alexei, who had turned his back to them, looked over his shoulder.
"Why are you still here?" He walked toward them with growing impatience. "He'll take you there."
"You..."
Alexei's eyes dropped to the bead of sweat trailing down her neck.
She looked away, her eyes were cast to the floor, an almost naive expression played on her face.
She wanted him.
"What's the closest five-star hotel?"
Beep.
The sound of the door unlocking echoed faintly as Alexei opened the door to the hotel room.
He shoved the woman toward the bed. It dipped slightly under her weight, and she let out a small gasp as he loomed over her.
"Spill it." His tone was sharp. "What exactly do you want?"
Her fingers gripped the bedding tightly as she sat up, voice barely a whisper.
"Sir... I... Give me..."
She wanted to ask for his pheromones—but didn't know how to say it without sounding like a whore.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she rubbed her thumb along his belt, letting it brush lower—grazing against him.
Alexei immediately pushed her hand away, sending her sprawling to the floor with a dull thud.
"Ugh!" The sound escaped her lips as she hit the ground.
She started to sit up, but he pressed her back down with his foot.
Cough. Cough.
He placed his foot on her chest, pinning her lightly.
"Who sent you?"
"No one..." she whispered.
Alexei studied her. At first, he'd thought she might simply be sick—that maybe she'd fainted in front of him, and it would've been cruel to walk away. So he'd offered help.
He nudged her chin up with his foot, tilting her face toward him.
But this woman—she didn't seem grateful. She had other plans.
"No one?" His brows lifted. "So, it's the money you're after?"
'Shes actually quite attractive. Curvy. I wouldn't mind paying her well," he thought.
"No... I don't need money," she murmured, letting her fingers trail over his foot, brushing it against her chest and chin.
'I heard the companies in this bidding war were ruthless,' he thought grimly. 'But this... I didn't expect.'
"Hah." He pressed down harder. "I don't care who sent you. Go back and tell them—if they want to win, they'd better do it fair and square. No more of this pathetic crap."
His eyes darkened. "Otherwise, I'll play dirtier than any of them."
He stepped back, removing his foot from her and turning toward the door.
He was almost out when he felt her arms wrap around his waist.
"Sir..." Her grip tightened. "No one... no one sent me..."
Her hands slid up his chest. Her fingers dipped beneath his loosened tie. She could feel the warmth of his breath. She leaned in close to his ear.
She had no idea what she was doing—but somehow, the words left her lips smoothly.
"I don't want money... or anything else... Just a taste of you. Just a little... please."
Her fingers fumbled with his buttons, but before she could get any further, he grabbed her hand.
"Let. Go."
As he turned, she seized the moment—and kissed him.
He hadn't expected it. He pinned her roughly against the wall.
She gasped softly.
"You really are shameless," he muttered, gripping her jaw firmly.
He should've left. Pushed her off. Walked away.
But he didn't.
He was already horny.
His mouth crashed down onto hers, fierce and consuming. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her against him, until she felt his hardness.
One hand slid to her throat. He was about to choke when she pulled back, breathless.
Her cheeks were flushed and her chest heaved as she gasped for air.
He stared—she really didn't breathe while kissing. Maybe she was just drunk?
Didn't matter.
He shrugged off his jacket and let it fall behind him. In one swift motion, he scooped her up. Her arms instinctively wrapped around him.
She inhaled deeply near his neck.
Then she paused.
"You're... a Beta?"
"Stop with the weird cosplay." He carried her to the bed and tossed her onto it. "I don't want to sleep with a mouse."
She stared at him, dazed and flushed. Her body reacted as he leaned over her. It wasn't poetic—it was raw and overwhelming. Her skin prickled, her insides tightened, her breath caught like her body was on fire.
'Can I ease the hear by doing it with a Beta?'
"How much did you drink?" he asked, already unbuttoning his suit jacket. His cold fingertips grazed her earlobe, causing her to shiver.
"I... I don't know..." she breathed. Everything felt unfamiliar. She had no memory of where she is or how she came here. And the way he spoke—it all felt foreign.
"If you're looking for clients at night dressed like that, it's not going to work."
"I know not of these 'clients' you speak of." Her voice was soft and almost confused. She reached for his open shirt. "You talk too much. Just... touch me already."
She was trembling, but not like a seductress.
Who the hell was she? He should stop. He knew he should. But the strange way she asked... it made it worse. He wasn't just hard. He was curious. And that made him reckless.
His kissed her neck, trailing downward until his mouth remained between her legs.