Chapter 10

The problem with Conrad Elliot, besides the fact that he was a politician, was that he was perfect.

Perfect for what Gabriella needed. Perfect for achieving all of her goals.

He was charming, witty, and fun. He was an Alpha with true charisma, able to ease anyone into a deal. He was already on their payroll and agreed with her father—and herself for that matter—that, sometimes, things needed to get a little dirty if you wanted it to be done properly. He was handsome, he was gentle, he was enjoying listening to her thoughts on the wine and the music and their dinner. He was everything she could hope for in a husband.

He even had the pesky little she wasn’t an Omega problem solved, so she wouldn’t need to deal with any of his Alpha needs . His Omega wife, as she understood it, had passed a few years earlier. It was a freak accident, per the news, a tragedy Conrad didn’t like to speak on, according to her father.

That would mean no need to worry about him taking the injections, as his need to rut would be his choice, as his Alpha side would spend the rest of his existence mourning his loss.

They could really work together. A true partnership. He could charm, and she could execute. He would even have his hands off the family business, wanting plausible deniability. Worst case scenario, according to him, he could claim he was bamboozled by his wife’s beauty.

Gabriella had laughed at his compliment and tipped her head, approving. Yes, he was perfect. He would do well as her husband. He would stay the hell out of her way, which was confusing, given how her father wanted her to marry because she was supposed to marry someone who would help her command respect. But something was keeping her from questioning it.

The third problem, beyond him being a politician and being perfect was...

He wasn’t Matthew.

Matthew, who was wearing a perfectly fitting black suit, showing how wide and strong and tall he was.

Matthew, who was glaring at the back of Conrad’s head between his long stares at her.

Matthew, who had frozen when she stepped out of the house and then complimented her perfume when he helped her into the car.

Matthew, who had grabbed her hand just before he helped her from the vehicle at the restaurant and asked if she was really going to go on this date.

Matthew, who was now filling the entire restaurant with his Alpha pheromones, likely because he was jealous.

Of course he was jealous. She was on a date with a perfect Alpha, wearing her favorite dress with a deep v in the front, her favorite perfume, and no underwear. He was being forced to watch as she was being charmed by her date, with no clue that any scents of arousal from her were because of him, and not the man across from her. She wanted him so badly she was nervous she would have a spot visible on the back of her dress when she stood. If she wasn’t careful, her lust and desire would be strong enough that Conrad would be able to smell it over the food and wine and get the wrong impression.

She would probably end up marrying him, as he was a better choice than all of the others, but she would have to work out some sort of deal. He would maybe, one day, want or need to rut again—however that worked—and would have to find himself an Omega. In the meantime, she would busy herself with the man she wanted. The Alpha she wanted. The Alpha she was wondering if she could somehow have.

Because wouldn’t that be the ultimate choice? The way to solve all of her problems? She could become engaged to one of her father’s enforcers, who already knew the business and had no aims for power himself. Her father even liked him. They could date for a while so others could grow used to the idea, and he could worship her in bed, be her bodyguard, sit at the table, tell what he overheard others whispering...

And when he, one day, would find an Omega, his Omega, she would let him go. Her jealousy would have to suck it up. Even though it would probably kill her.

She would let him go if she absolutely had to. By then, her power would be locked in, and she would be in control and survive somehow.

“Gabriella, you look unwell. Is something wrong with your dessert?” Conrad asked, bringing her back into the moment.

She shook her head and forced a smile, which softened into a real one. How kind of him to even notice her feeling unwell. He really was sort of perfect.

“No, not at all,” she answered, shaking her head again and setting down her spoon. “Sorry. I’m just... a lot on my mind.”

“I imagine so.” He set down his spoon. “I heard about the raid on Morcan’s warehouse. I can’t do anything about it, of course but—”

Gabriella knew nothing about any raid on Jannick Morcan’s warehouses, but she wouldn’t let Conrad know that, nor was she going cry any tears about it. She nodded again, glad he provided an excuse for her. “No, of course not. You shouldn’t bother with things that can’t be helped. But, it’s more than that. I worry about my father getting older and knowing what a heavy mantle I have to take on for myself. I think it’s why he wants me to date so badly, so I can share the burden but—”

“But I don’t think you actually need to share it,” Conrad pointed out, his brows raising. “I know I don’t know the ins and outs of your day to day but, you seem practical enough, well educated, well spoken, and ready to take on the duties. What you need now is time, which, your father is not a young man, but he’s in good health, is he not? I’m surprised he even asked if I would be interested, to be honest. I would think you would have more important things to concern yourself with than dating.”

“He’s worse than a grandmother, honestly,” she pointed out, rolling her eyes. “And of course, I can’t just date like a normal person. It has to be someone within the family, someone with connections, someone who would make a good business partner ,and—”

“And someone you can easily control, right?” His eye twinkled. “Or, perhaps someone who will stay out of your way?”

“Hmm,” Gabriella murmured. “I think you know exactly what I have in mind.”

Conrad chuckled, then shifted in his seat before glancing over his shoulder. She knew exactly where he was looking—or more like who he was looking at.

Matthew was still fuming, even though his face was blank.

“Do you have a question?” Gabriella hinted as she raised her brow.

Conrad cleared his throat and leaned in, his gaze not quite meeting hers. “I am aware there is... competition for your hand. Might I ask how it is... Uhh...”

“You’re a politician, Conrad. You’re supposed to be good with your words. Go ahead and finish your question.”

Conrad shifted and sipped from his nearly empty wine. “I suspect that I do not stand much of a chance.”

“Why on earth would you even say that?” she asked, raising her brow. “No. Please allow me to clear the air. You have a right to know, as you have been more than honest with me, about where everything stands. My father has paraded a number of idiots in front of me. You are the first to have any sort of a brain and the first to ask what I even want. I would say right now, you’re at the very top of the list.”

He shook his head, chuckling. “I... think there might be more to the competition than that. Or, another play in the game.”

His eyes darted to his left, as though gesturing over his shoulder.

Matthew. Right.

“Ahh.” She glanced down at her hands, then leaned in before smiling at Conrad. “Perhaps. But, doubtful. There are reasons—”

“Miss Santorini. You are exceptionally beautiful. You are intelligent. You are practical. You are commanding. You will make a fearsome head of your family and would be a jewel on any man’s arm. Should you choose me, I would be a fortunate man indeed but ...”

The word hung in the air, and Gabriella took a deep breath.

“You should sort your affairs and make your decisions. The sort of husband you desire... the partner you are seeking... Well, I shall keep this between us.”

“Oh?”

“Your father, while in good health, will eventually need to pass the mantle to his heir in time. I gain nothing from betraying your trust now and sit myself at a strong point in the future, should I support you. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Ah. The play, then. The politician was going to keep her bodyguard’s jealous tantrum to himself in exchange for her continued support in the years to come. That was easy.

“Completely. Thank you, for this rather insightful discussion.”

Conrad swallowed the last of his wine and set it down, shaking his head slightly. “Gabriella, you have no idea.”

Later that night, Conrad helped her slip into her coat, then bid her farewell with a soft kiss on each cheek.

Matthew stood behind her, waiting to take her out to the car. If she didn’t know any better, she would think the Alpha had growled, but she had to be imagining it. His jealousy—because that was what it had to be at this point—was out of control. She truly did need to handle this.

The problem was, she had no idea how. Matthew’s pheromones were doing the exact opposite of what they should have been doing, luring her in rather than warning her to stay away. Now that she was beside him, close enough that she could smell the man alongside the Alpha, she was ready to act. The day before, at the shooting range, had told her a lot about him, but it was during the night she had come to her true realization.

Matthew was in her skin and in her dreams and in her mind in a way that only fucking him out of her system would solve.

She had already hoped and suspected he was attracted to her, given their weird little dance, with him avoiding her and teasing her, with him listening to her and getting to know her and then glaring at her.

And after her date, she knew the truth.

Matthew wanted her. Her, a Beta. An Alpha was attracted to her. Desired her. Even wanted to fight another Alpha for her.

And she was going to take it. Desperately. Immediately.

She had no plan on how to tell him—because what was there to even say? She was aching for him, and he wanted her.

Why shouldn’t they? Why couldn’t they? Her father never had to know.

She needed to say something. Somehow. To get the ball rolling.

Only as they climbed into the car, all she could think was to tease him.

“Did you really have to glare at him the whole time?” Gabriella asked from the back seat. Matthew tensed up, his shoulders raising, fingers white-knuckling the wheel. “And honestly, the pheromones? I mean, I’m a Beta, and they were still loud.”

“I apologize if they bothered you,” Matthew answered through gritted teeth.

She scoffed and leaned back in her seat, knowing that what she would say next would get the ball rolling.

Perfect.

“Bother me? Not at all. More like, I enjoyed knowing you were jealous.”

The car jerked slightly, not enough to throw her off balance but enough to tell her that her words surprised the Alpha. She waited for him to explain himself, but he was silent. Perhaps she should push further.

“Of all the men my father has forced me to date, he is the one oddity. I don’t understand why Papa would choose him. He’s too smart to be manipulated. He wouldn’t fit Papa’s plans at all, even though he is perfect.”

The car jerked again, and Gabriella smirked.

Good. She was getting to him.

“It’s so sad about his Omega wife, though. She died a few years back in some accident. Of course, that means I won’t have to deal with the ruts. Just normal sex, although I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be with an Alpha who would—”

The car suddenly jerked off the road and onto the shoulder before coming to a halt. If it weren’t for the seatbelt, she would have gone flying forward, but even with it, she had to brace herself with her hands on the back of the passenger seat. She wasn’t shocked, though, and said nothing, waiting for him to say something.

Instead, his jaw was clenched, and she could have sworn he was grinding his teeth. His hands were gripping the steering wheel as he stared forward in absolute silence.

“What was that?” She didn’t want to be the first to speak but how long were they going to sit there in silence. “Hello?”

“Can you shut your mouth for five minutes, so I can drive you home or will I need to gag you?” he asked, still not looking back at her.

She considered the gag but couldn’t agree to that. She wanted her mouth free when he finally cracked, which would be five minutes and one second from that very moment.

Matthew resumed driving, and she sat in silence, watching him as he drove. It was good he had showed up with no team. They were alone, blissfully alone.

She was going to break him.

As soon as they parked in front of the manor, Gabriella opened her mouth to speak. Only he climbed out and opened the second-row door. She was confused because the direction of the house was on the other side of the car but then he climbed in and pulled the door shut.

They were alone, together, sitting in the back of the car, with no one watching or listening or spying on them.

She held her breath, waiting for him to speak.

Only he didn’t. He stared at his knees, breathing hard. Sniffing.

His eyes closed as he took a deep breath, and she was suddenly all too aware of what was lacking underneath her dress. Could he smell her better? Was he now aware of what she wanted?

“So, you think you would enjoy an Alpha,” Matthew said, focus still locked on his knees. She was forced to stare at his side profile, as she wouldn’t move any closer, trying to relax. “They don’t scare you?”

She had to keep breathing, even with the pheromones flooding her senses. If they were this strong for a Beta, she couldn’t imagine how an Omega could handle it. No wonder they would go into heat.

“No. No, Alphas don’t scare me at all.”

He peered at her. More directly, to her lower body. “The pheromones are meant as a warning. To ward people off. If it doesn’t scare you, then what does it do?”

Gabriella took a slow breath to calm her mind, careful to only breathe through her mouth and not her nose. He had given her the perfect opening. She just had to take it.

“Honestly? They excite me.”

He shuddered as he looked away and shook his head. “At dinner. I could smell it. Your reaction to him. He excited you?”

“No.”

His head jerked up. “No?”

“No. He didn’t excite me.”

He was still staring at her, and she smirked, unhooking her seatbelt. She wanted to be free to move closer and pull him in.

“There’s only one Alpha who truly excites me. Only one Alpha that I’m attracted to. He’s the one that makes me wonder what it would be like, to be with an Alpha. He’s the same reason you can smell me so clearly right now because his scent has been surrounding me all evening. And it’s because of this Alpha that I’m not wearing any underwear. Because the thought of anything other than him touching me there is—”

Matthew growled, low and deep, the rumbling hitting her in the pit of her stomach. It made her thighs clench, heart skip a beat, and cunt throb, leaking, aching for something more. She wanted to touch him—needed to—needed her coat off her skin and her dress as well. She was so hot all of a sudden, and she knew the only thing that would cool her would be his touch.

“Gabriella,” he murmured, and he turned toward her. The bulge at the front of his pants fought to break past the zipper, and she wanted to free him, to ease his pain. Ease his pain the same way he would soon ease her own. “You have no idea how much...”

He leaned in closer and Gabriella smirked to herself as she moved in. She just needed him to say it. To admit it. And then she could have him. Could fuck him out of her system. Could possess him in the way she ached to.

“I want you, Matthew. I want to know what it would be like with you. And if you want it too, then say yes,” she murmured as she shifted up onto one knee on the seat and moved another hand to the window behind his head. “I know I can’t take you like an Omega would but I think I would happily die trying.”

“You could take me,” he answered, and he shifted on the seat, leaning back as she moved toward him. His hand cupped her hip through her dress, and she sighed in relief, amazed at how something as simple as his fingers pressing into her skin even through fabric could give her pleasure. “Fuck, Gabriella, I’m—”

He pulled her all the way onto his lap, and she gasped, feeling the hardness of his cock through his pants as she shifted her hips. With how aching and hot she was, the soft fabric might as well have been rough. She needed him immediately, even if it could only be in the car, although she would rather he take her somewhere else.

It would have to do for the moment, though, because if she waited much longer, she would die. Without him inside of her, she would actually die.

“Say yes,” she whispered again, leaning so close her lips almost touched his. “Do you want me?”

She wanted him so badly, wished she was an Omega so he could ride out his rut with her. Wished he would push her straight into her heat so he could bend her and breed her. She wanted more than anything for him to flood her senses and control and command her as he marked her as his own.

But as heat flooded her body at the very thought, Matthew went rigid before grasping the car handle. It was like ice had been thrown on her. One minute, she was sitting in his lap and the next, she was being dumped flat onto the seat, with him clamoring out of the vehicle.

It happened so fast she thought something was wrong, that someone was shooting at them or worse. She quickly followed out, only to realize that Matthew climbed into the driver’s seat and locked the door.

She stood there, staring, in shock.

What... the...

“Are you serious?” she gasped, not believing what was happening. If he didn’t want her, then—“If you’re not interested, then you say something before you pull me onto your lap.”

He slammed his hand on the wheel, and she jumped as he cursed and called himself an idiot.

“Okay, if it’s not that you don’t want me, is it because I’m you work for my father? Because I had no intention of telling him. I mean, if that’s the problem.”

“No,” Matthew yelled back and hit the wheel again. “Shut the door, Gabriella.”

“Is it because I’m a Beta?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Is that it?”

She hated that. Hated sounding weak.

Matthew laughed so hard and so loud she took another step back. She found nothing funny about her question, although he seemed to find it hilarious.

“That’s it, then?” She shook her head. “Because I’m a Beta. Wow. I’ve never hated my designation before but suddenly—”

“Go inside before I make a mistake we can’t walk back from.” He started the car. “Inside. Fuck, Gabriella. Just do as you’re told. Go inside the fucking house and—”

“Fine!” She slammed the back door shut. “Fuck you, then. I don’t want to see your face tomorrow so don’t show up.”

Fuck, fucking fuck. How had this all gone so wrong? One second, she was in his lap and the next, out of it. He wanted her but wouldn’t be with her because of her designation? But she was somehow supposed to marry and possibly, one day, have children with Alphas, who all thought her beautiful. How was any of this supposed to work? And what would she do?

He glared at her through the car window, so she finally did as told and walked around the car to head toward the front door. It was strange to open the door for herself, given how there was always an Alpha nearby to do it for her.

Her skin was still burning, but she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She was aching and soaked, and his scent was still flooding her senses, but there was nothing else she could do about it but to run upstairs and open her bedside drawer. She could take away the immediate problem, but that wouldn’t give her true satisfaction.

She had played her hand. It had been a perfect hand. A game-winning hand.

Only for Matthew to suddenly decide to say fuck the game and walk out.

She had played the game perfectly and, in the end, lost entirely.

And now?

Now she had no idea what the fuck to do. Because what the hell was all of that? And how was she supposed to face him again?

She was alone, on fire, aching for a man who had just shoved her off his lap.

And he hadn’t even denied the fact that he wanted her. He was jealous of other men around her. He wanted her, even though she was the boss’s daughter. He wanted her. Even thought she could take all of him. But then, when he could have her, he ran away.

And the problem wasn’t even something she could change.

This was just... fuck.