Page 5 of My Grumpy Alpha

So I nod my head again and hold out my hand.

“Nevermind, thank you for your time, sir.”

He pauses.

Hesitates just briefly, then starts to move. I immediately think he’s going to try something, instead he stands and pulls a few bills from his pocket and instead of shaking my hand, puts them in my palm.

“Eat.”

“What?”

“Eat.” His nostrils flair.

“Where do you sleep?”

“What?”

“Sleeping. Humans do it to relax and not die. Where. Do. You. Sleep?”

My lower lip trembles because I’m embarrassed to tell him. I’m embarrassed that I’m standing in a multi-million dollar office getting money from the CEO and basically ready to fall to my knees for a job.

He sighs and comes around the desk, then grabs me by the face.

“Breathe.”

It’s strange. When someone gives you permission to do something that your body should naturally already be doing but suddenly you feel like you can.

You can breathe.

I take a deep breath in as more tears fall and open my eyes.

“Better?” He asks, he’s touching me but I’m not afraid. It’s not aggressive, it’s caring in nature and it makes me want to lean in a little bit more, to a complete stranger, because he gave me permission to be human.

I nod my head and whisper, “Yes.”

“Good girl.” He gently pulls his hands back.

“Take the money, grab some food.” He leans over and presses a button on his phone.

“Gabe, can you please grab the fob key for the apartment on six?”

“Right away,” he answers back.

Within seconds, Gabe, with his short black hair and black-rimmed glasses, walks in. He’s beautiful too, but they don’t look related even though they’re brothers. Gabe looks like he’s from Asian descent and Eli, the CEO, looks more mixed with his strong features, but I can’t quite pinpoint what his background even is.

“Thank you.” Eli grabs the key and presses it into the same palm that has the money.

“Gabe’s going to show you where to bring your things. The apartment building is across the street, all employees get free housing, you start at six.”

“At night?”

He smirks.

“In the morning.”

Gabe cracks a smile.

“Sorry, he just has weird hours.”