Chapter 11
Cecilia’s pov
“You’re suggesting our Cecilia should go work as a secretary? Are you out of your mind?” one of my colleagues immediately objected.
“Our Cecilia is talented in every way—young, beautiful, and highly accomplished. Any boss in the business world would be eager to hire her. If she hits the job market, headhunters would be all over her in no time p>
I smiled silently, saying nothing.
Truth was, they underestimated how sharp those headhunters’ noses truly were. About ten days ago, someone had already called me, subtly inquiring about my future career plans. This happened before any whisper of my departure from Blood Moon Pack had gotten out.
The conversation continued to flow around me.
“Don’t be so shortsighted! Being a secretary isn’t just any position—it’s chief secretary to the heir of Silver Peak Pack! That role gives access to Port City’s top tier of power and resources. If she plays her cards right, her future could be limitless,” another colleague argued.
“I know of an overseas company where the chief secretary proved herself so capable that she was promoted to Vice President within years. She even found true love and became the Alpha’s mate,” someone else chimed in.
“Well, if you put it like that, maybe I should apply too,” another joked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“What does this Silver Peak heir even look like? Has anyone seen him? Is he easy on the eyes?” The conversation had clearly shifted toward territory I wasn’t eager to explore.
“No one really knows. Among the four children of the Black family, only the eldest daughter has ever made public appearances. The other three keep a pretty low profile p>
The conversation went off on a tangent from professional concerns.
I couldn’t help but smile wryly at their enthusiasm. Watching them so enamored with romance made me feel like a jaded nun who had already seen through the illusion of worldly attachments.
Love? That was something I would never touch again.
But career opportunities… that was a different story.
I had been contemplating starting my own business, but I’d realized an uncomfortable truth: nearly all my professional connections were tied to Xavier. Once I cut him out completely, who would still give me the time of day? I genuinely needed to strengthen my credentials and build my own network.
Later that evening, I called Yvonne, a well-connected socialite who floated effortlessly through the elite circles werewolf society, to get the scoop on Silver Peak Pack and their mysterious heir.
A lazy laugh traveled through the phone. “Asking about another guy? Aren’t you worried your Alpha mate might get jealous p>
“He can get as jealous as he wants. It’s none of my concern anymore,” I replied coldly.
“Darling, you two… you haven’t really called it quits, have you?” Yvonne asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
“Not officially. Not yet,” I answered carefully.
My subtle response was enough for Yvonne to read between the lines. She sighed deeply. “So the gossip I’ve been hearing checks out after all. Eight years together, and Xavier treats you like this? The man is complete garbage p>
Yvonne had always been refreshingly straightforward. I seized the opportunity to play the victim. “That’s exactly why I need to look out for number one now. I heard that the Silver Peak heir is looking for a secretary. I’m thinking of throwing my hat in the ring p>
“So what’s the deal—you after the man, or his money?” she asked, blunt as ever.
I didn’t even blink. “At this point? Money is my goal p>
“Oh my god,” she burst out laughing—low, rich, and a little wicked. “Girl, say no more. I’ll make sure you meet this cash cow in person p>
“Thank you p>
“You’ll be hearing from me,” she promised before hanging up.
I hung up and sat back down at my desk. A Google search turned up almost nothing about him.
“Sebastian Black I murmured his name, trying to figure out what kind of man this so-called money god really was—before I had to meet him face to face.
Just as I was deep in thought, the door to my study opened.
Xavier walked in from outside.
I quickly shut my laptop.
We each had our own studies in this house. In the early days when our love burned hot and bright, we would always be inseperable. But gradually, we’d transformed into something more resembling a boss and employee—returning home after work to continue giving each other the cold shoulder.
“Do you need something?” I looked up at him.
“Do I need a reason to come in?” His voice carried a challenge.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he glanced at my computer. He’d noticed how I’d slammed it shut the second he walked in, clearly hiding something from him.
He settled into one of the lounge chairs in my study. “There’s something I wanted to run by you first p>
“Shoot,” I said, steeling myself.
Xavier lowered his gaze, contemplating for a few seconds. “Cici wants to join your project department p>
I had already suspected that his unusually polite approach spelled trouble, but his words still felt like a punch to the gut.
“There are so many departments in the company,” my voice instantly turned ice cold, “she wants to choose the project department? What are the odds p>
“Watch your tone.” Xavier’s face immediately darkened, and Alpha’s coercion began to spread through the office, “It’s called being eager to work, she wants to prove her abilities and earn her stripes. This is something to encourage, not your paranoid bullshit p>
I almost laughed at the ridiculous rhetoric. “Prove herself? Well, whatever department she goes to play pretend – I don’t care. But not the project department!” My voice trembled with anger, “That’s my turf! Those are the people who have been with me for years p>
“That’s enough, Cecilia!” He shot to his feet, Alpha’s anger making the room feel like an icebox, “Get real! You’ve quit! You’re no longer part of the Blood Moon Company! The project department isn’t yours anymore p>
It was like something was choking my throat. Yeah, he was right, the Blood Moon Pack was his territory, not mine. What was I? What right did a human who was about to leave have to call the shots? He could hand over my eight years of hard work to his latest fling, and I didn’t even have the right to protest.
Seeing my reaction, Xavier toned down his anger and continued, “Don’t make her out to be some villain. I promise she’s not going there to cause trouble. I’ll keep her in check p>
“Whatever,” I replied, my voice barely audible.
I was exhausted. Past caring.
Frustration roiled in Xavier’s eyes. “The reason I came to tell you this was to head off exactly this reaction—you getting upset. I know you a grudge against Cici. I know you don’t like her. But can’t you consider my tough spot? Our packs are in the middle of a business partnership. Do you expect me to throw a wrench in relations with the Shadow Pack just to coddle your personal feelings p>
I was stunned by his twisted logic.
What had I done wrong?
First, this woman stole my mate, then she swooped in on my career achievements, and now I was expected to grin and bear it?
“Ha A bitter laugh escaped me.
When grief reached its peak, laughter truly became the only response. I could feel my blood pressure spiking.
Three days later, I returned to the company to wrap things up.
Cici swept in wearing a Chanel suit, carrying herself with the swagger of a conqueror as she moved into what had once been my office.
She’d already tossed out all the furniture and decorations. The wall of achievement awards I had accumulated over years of hard work had been casually dumped into a garbage bin.
The entire project department was up in arms.
Everyone had been wondering who would replace me as department head.
They might not have expected someone stronger—but no one was prepared for someone so mind-blowingly incompetent.
As I passed the break room, the door hung slightly ajar. Voices drifted out—low, sharp, unmistakably fed up.
“Did you hear what she pulled this time p>
“Which ’she’?” someone scoffed. “The Alpha’s daughter with the IQ of a potato p>
A few snorts of laughter.
“She downloaded some sketchy game on the office laptop—again. Then had a meltdown until her secretary handed over her own. All the archives? Gone. Years of work, just… wiped out p>
“Let me guess. The secretary got canned p>
“Of course. Can’t have the precious princess deal with the fallout p>
A beat of silence.
“You know she couldn’t even figure out the printer last week? Just… stared at it. Like it might bite her p>
“No one has the guts to say anything. Her last name’s worth more than all our salaries combined p>
I stood by the doorway a moment longer, letting their words settle.
They weren’t wrong.
And that’s what worried me.
This department wasn’t just a cog in the machine—it was the bridge between the wolf clans and the human business world.
It dealt in contracts, alliances, leverage.
Screw it up, and it wouldn’t just reflect on her. It would tank Blood Moon Pack’s credibility across human corporate circles.
And yet here Xavier was—trusting it all to someone who thought a mouse was literally a rodent.
I exhaled slowly, turned to leave, and the coldness in the corridor felt like it was seeping into my bones.
When I walked into the office again, I had my game face on.
My shoulders and back were straight and my voice was level.
I still have a handover to complete.
I had barely picked up the first document when the new supervisor—Cici—cleared her throat.
Then, the little princess began her power trip speech.
“How does it feel, Cecilia?” Cici lounged in what used to be my chair, looking down at me like I was dirt, her wolf’s arrogance radiating from every pore. “You’ve lost your mate and now your job too. Everything you worked so hard for all these years—I can snatch it all away with just the flick of a finger. Want to know why? Because we’re from different worlds. I’m blue blood; you’re nothing. I have powerful wolves backing me; you don’t have anyone on your side p>
She leaned forward, her manicured hands tapping against my former desk.
“In my world, I’ve seen plenty of pretty little things like you. You’re just playthings for Alphas to get their kicks. Did you really think you could be the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack? Know your damn place p>