Elaine's breath caught as her gaze met Dante's.
Even when she stood a few inches taller than Xylia, and in her heels, the top of her head wouldn't hit his chin at all.
She had the strong urge to avert her gaze and focus it at eye level on his black tie, but it felt like he'd be winning something if he looked away, so Elaine held his stare.
Elaine's tone was as polite as it always was in company. "Alpha Kim, It's a pleasure—"
"I know. We've already met."
We—what?
His indifferent voice ran down her spine, with a strange thrill following in its wake.
He'd hardly said anything, but it now felt like she was standing on hot coals.
As if a six-foot diameter around him was claimed by Kim no matter where he stood. Alison frowned in confusion.
"When did you two have the chance to meet?"
Elaine swallowed.
Something amusing and dangerous played in Dante's gaze. "Earlier at the convenience store Remember, Elaine?" Her heartbeats collided with a crash.
Her name rolled off his tongue like he was more than familiar with it.
Heck! How did Alpha get could ended up in a convenience store?
Allison stiffened beside her, and she knew why he did: he thought she had done something inappropriate with their alpha, like his tone had suggested.
I'm not like your spoiled shameless daughter, dad! Is what she wanted to tell but she couldn't.
Elaine blinked.
This was due to a really short, not even hostile glare? This man had found out her weakness and was now playing with her.
Frustration clawed at her chest. Elaine couldn't very well go and make this situation worse by disagreeing with her father, who would most likely believe in her now.
And so, she forced her voice into the lightest tone she could muster. "Yes, uh… we indeed have met… before, Dad...."
Elaine realised her mistake too late.
She had shuttered.
Alpha Dante pulled a hand out of his pocket and ran a thumb across his bottom lip, giving his head a small shake.
He looked impressed that he had played along, but almost disappointed at what a poor job she had done.
A cold whisper ran through her blood as her father looked between them like he was unsure.
"Anyways, it's good that you both had meet before. Elaine, dear. We have collaborated with Kim Industries. To select the Vice President of our company you both sister's will be given test in Kim's."
"What?" Elaine couldn't help to hide her shock. "Dad what type of collaboration is this?"
"Don't be so shocked. Kim is the top most best companies in the world. Being intern in their company means you will be taught many advanced concepts. We will be making some changes in our companies so you better work hard at Kim." Her father said.
Still in shocked, Elaine raised her head and looked at the very problem of this night.
She was informed that she had to face this man, their ruthless Alpha and had to worked under him?
Oh.
Someone save her!
"It's an honor to have you here Alpha Kim. Excuse me for a while. Elaine entertain our guest Her father excused himself to welcome someone, offering a warm smile as he left them alone.
"Dad…" she called him wanting to stop him but in the end, offered a polite smile in return even when she wanted to yell at him to collaborating with a company of her ex.
"So, how will you entertain me?" Dante smiled at her looking in her eyes, one hand in his pocket while other hand holding glass.
She took a sip of her champagne, her eyes briefly avoiding the man's intense gaze.
Dante's expression remained calm, but Elaine could detect a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He extended his hand toward her, she look at it and back in his eyes.
She had to shake his hand otherwise it would look like she was insulting their alpha in front of everyone.
Strangely, his touch sending a jolt of familiarity through her. "Nice to meet you again, Elaine," he said, his tone a blend of formality and a hint of something she couldn't quite decipher.
She shook his hand briefly, her mind racing to find the right words. "Likewise," she replied, leaving the sentence open-ended.
"Quite the party, isn't it?"
Elaine nodded, finding solace in discussing something safe and mundane. "Yes, my father certainly knows how to throw an extravagant party."
A brief chuckle escaped Dante's lips. "Some things never change," he mused, his eyes scanning the crowd before returning to Elaine's face. "You look different, though. More confident."
Elaine's fingers tightened around her champagne flute. She was acutely aware of Dante's gaze, the scrutiny that felt both uncomfortable and oddly comforting.
"Life has a way of shaping us," she replied, her words carrying a touch of guarded vulnerability.
He nodded in understanding, his lips forming a thoughtful smile. "Indeed it does."
Elaine took a steadying breath, her curiosity getting the best of her. "What about you, Alpha Dante? How have you been?" Ignoring the tension between them she chose to ask him random questions.
"I'm in front of you, Ms. Elaine." He answered tilted his head to the side and asked. "How about you?"
Elaine saw how he handsome he looked when his short hair strand fell on his forehead
She broke the eye contact, looked around and took a moment to compose herself before responding. "I'm doing well, actually. Working on a new book."
"Is it?" Alpha's eyes narrowed at her.
"—Why did you send me the article?" She finally looked in his eyes and asked what was in her mind from the start.
He raised his brows, he thought. 'So she figured out.'
Dante took a breath looking around, he answered truthfully. "I have warned you before but you didn't listen to my advice so I have to show you how much you have lost." His eyes met her and for a moment Elaine couldn't say a word.
There was a sense of wonderment in his eyes. She felt her heart beat raising in her chest.
It was true. Dante did warned her about Enzo but as a stupid girl was blinded by love. She didn't believed his words and even slap him for forcing her to breakup with his nephew, Enzo.
She had slapped the future Alpha, three years ago!
What she had done?
Though, Dante was Enzo's father's cousin. They still stay in a same old Kim mansion and had a great relationship in clan.
Before their conversation could delve deeper, a familiar voice interrupted them.
Elaine's stepmother approached, a charming smile on her lips. "Alpha Dante, is it really you? How have you been?"
"I'm fine." Dante answered without breaking her eye contact with Elaine.
When her stepmother turned her attention to Elaine, she mustered a smile that barely concealed her unease to introduce them.
As if sensing the tension, Stephanie shifted the conversation. "Alpha Dante, is she making your bore here?"
"Not at all."
Her stepmother pressed her lips but smiled. "Are you still enjoying your bachelor life? Have you found your mate yet?" This question was not just for making a conversation, but the meaning behind it was enough for both of them to know.
Dante's expression didn't change as he sipped from his glass in his hand and replied nonchalantly. "Well, not for much longer."
"Oh that's a relief knowing younger is getting married. I was hoping I can find you… what?" Stephanie glared, when Elaine stopped her from blurting out what she wanted to. "I haven't said anything wrong. Have I?" She looked at Dante with questionable look.
"No obviously not." He shook his head mildly making the later smirk at Elaine, however. "But I don't like hearing someone talk about my personal life. I never gave anyone this right so how dare you tried to talk to me like you are important to me?"
How dare she questioned the alpha about his nonexistent mate!
"I'm sorry Alpha Kim. I thought… hmm please excuse me!" Stephanie ran away as far as she can from the sight of Dante's.
Elaine sighed watching her running, shaking the tail of fox.
She was really a cunning fox!
She heard Dante cleared his throat. "You were asking me…?"
"Nothing." Elaine stopped him. "I would like you to stop choosing topic of my personal life as a conversation." She faked a smile.
"Very well."
"Enjoy the party, Alpha Kim." Elaine wished and walked away without a second glance at the man.
Dante lips curled up in a smirk but then his gaze darkened when he saw someone approaching her.
"Elaine!" She heard familiar voice and stopped facing the person she didn't wanted to see at all.
"Enzo…" Elaine called him.
"How are you?" He asked rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"I'm doing good. What about you? Oh… congratulations!" She smiled at him.
"Elaine… about that… I…"
"Darling!" Xylia's voice rang behind Enzo as later turn to face his fiancee with a grim expression. "Oh, I haven't saw you talking to my fiancee, big sister. What are you both talking?" She looked at Enzo with a sweet smile at which he also smiled a little.
Elaine stared at Xylia for a second longer, arms crossed around her chest as she snorted.
"I was congratulating him and telling him how useless he is to find a woman like you as his fiancee. Oh, don't get angry. I haven't finished yet… but again he is also a useless jerk who can cheat behind his girlfriend's back so… you both made for each other indeed…"
Elaine glared at both before she turned around and walked away from there leaving new couple in shock.
Enzo's brows frown in surprise and confusion.
"How did she knew you cheated on her?" Xylia asked softly, making Enzo cringe at her voice but he didn't react much.
"I don't know."
"Hm! She didn't even respect you. I'm sorry darling on behalf of her. My big sister hadn't been home ever she turned 15. She lacks manners."
"Hmm." Was what Enzo replied still watching the huge door Elaine exited just now.
.
Elaine wandered through the crowd, her steps aimless as her mind raced. The news of Enzo's impending engagement caught her off guard, igniting feelings she thought she had buried.
She walked out of the hall and found a quiet corner, leaning against a wall to collect her thoughts.
As the night carried on around her, Elaine couldn't shake the weight of what she had learned. The memory of their time together and the bond they had shared was no joke.
Even when Dante's warning rang in her mind back then she still tried to trust this bastard.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her mouth and she tried to break free only for a man to tighten its grip that made her lost her consciousness.