In Bed with the Alpha Boss: A CEO Werewolf Romance Chapter 19

Chapter 19- Daddy Dearest
Gabrielle.
1/6
I spin around and make out the silhouette of Henry, my adoptive father, sitting in the shadows of the porch. He throws his cigarette away and walks slowly toward me.
“Wha-what are you doing here?”
“Look at you. Being driven home in a limousine.” There is malice in his smirk. “Is that the man who’s been keeping you afloat these days?”
“What? No!” I exclaim. “How could you accuse me of that?”
He shrugs. “Hey, you’re a grown woman, my dear. So, I don’t have a say in your life choices. I won’t even judge. As long as you are happy, I’m happy.”
I raise a suspicious brow at him. For as long as I can remember, my father is a hopeless drunkard and a gambling addict. Whenever he comes to visit, it’s always because he needed something from me.
“Do you mean, as long as I keep you happy,” I say with an accusing tone.
“I’ve always known you were a smart girl,” he laughs. “And you are right. I need some money.”
gave you barely a week ago?”
meres the 20 thousand dollars I
“That was a week ago, kiddo. You see I have some people who won’t get off my back unless I pay them.”
I have completely lost hope in my father. Before, I had always been giving him the benefit of the doubt. But for the past years, it had always been like this. He gambles and he drinks, he causes trouble. I have lost count of the times I have bailed him out of jail for petty things like bar fights, or illegal gambling. My money would have been better off being donated to the orphanage. At least I would be saving meaningful lives, instead of helping my father throw his life away.
“I’m sorry, I have no money this time,” I say.
“Hey, I know that there’s something going on between you and your boss. Sebastian King, was it? He’s pretty big shot. Yeah, I know you’re having an affair with him.”
My eyes widen in shock. “No, that’s not…”
“Don’t even try to deny it, kiddo. Twice I’ve seen him coming out of your apartment at questionable hours of the morning. And I can tell he’s pretty h**ked on you. I’m sure he won’t hesitate to give you some money if you asked.”
“No, that’s no longer the case. I’m no longer his secretary! I quit. I am jobless and I don’t even have money saved up.”
Chapter 19- Daddy Dearest
3/6
It’s true. I am almost broke. All the money that Sebastian gave me was either donated to charity or given to my father during his occasional visits.
“Why the hell would you quit such a great job?”
“I am miserable there, Dad!” I explained. In a way it is true. My colleagues respect me because they know I’m good at what I do, but now, I know that they have all been suspecting that I’m banging the boss. I’ve been in love with my boss, who didn’t and would never return my feelings. And now, my boss’s mother practically told me that if I hadn’t resigned by myself, I would need to be eliminated.
But instead of feeling sorry, my father threw his hands impatiently in the air. “That’s s**pid! A high-paying job could never make you miserable. You just have to endure! Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position right now?”
“Then they can have my job! I’m done with that company!”
“What about me? How will you support me?”
My head snaps up at him in surprise. “Huh? Since when did we agree that I’d be your life support?”
Anger flares in his eyes. “You heartless ingrate! Have you forgotten? I raised you, I fed you and gave you a home when you’re not even my flesh and blood! Without me, you would have been dead a long time ago!”
Chapter 19- Daddy Dearest
4/6
Some parts of what he said is true. He did raise me even though we’re not related. But it had all been my mother who took care of me. But when her kidneys failed and she got really sick, my father treated me like a sl*ve, like it is my responsibility to take care of him instead.
Memories of my mother flood my mind again. She was as beautiful as she was kind. She was the one who worked hard for the family, while my father kept on drinking and gambling.
I tried to help save my mother because my father wouldn’t do anything. She needed a kidney, so I attempted to give her one of mine. But to my uttermost shock, the test results showed that my kidney wasn’t compatible with hers. That’s when I found out that we weren’t biologically related.
I was so shocked that I refused to admit it at first. But the tests didn’t lie. And later on, I had come to terms with it. I figured it didn’t matter if they weren’t my real parents. They took care of me even though I wasn’t their own. And that was more than enough.
“I know that I owe you and Mom my life,” I mutter. “I will always be thankful for that.”
“See? Then why aren’t you giving me money now?”
“Because I don’t have it!” I cry. “You finished it all last time!”
“That was only 20 thousand!” he argues. “With your high-paying job and the trinkets you should receive from your boss for giving him a good time, you expect me to believe that
Chapter 19- Daddy Dearest
you’ve only saved 20 thousand dollars? Come on!”
5/6
“20 thousand is a lot of money” I argue. “And my boss does not give me trinkets! Even if he does, I will never accept it.”
“I don’t care!” he growls. “I am deep s*it, and as the daughter I raised, it’s your responsibility to save me.”
I sigh, feeling his desperation weighing heavy on me. “How much do you need this time?”
“Two hundred thousand dollars in three days! Or I’ll expose you
to the media.”
“Really? You’re resulting to blackmail?” I can hardly believe what I’m hearing.
“I’m desperate. It’s either your reputation or my life!” he boomed.
“You’ll expose me for what? You have nothing on me! And why would the media even pay attention to me? I’m practically a nobody!”
“You probably are no one. But I bet everybody would pay attention to the juicy details of your boss’s affair with his secretary.”
I froze in my place. He’s got to be kidding, right?
Seeing my reaction, Henry gives me a malicious smile. “Atta, kiddo. I knew you would listen.”
Chapter 19- Daddy Dearest
Then he leaves.
I stare into space, still iced from his words. I can’t let him do that. That would destroy Sebastian and his company. And I would have no chance of ever finding another job again.
6/6
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. Still in a daze, I press the answer button.
“Elle!” I hear Maya’s frantic voice on the other line. “You have to turn on the news. Now!”