Iris:
My mother denied ever telling Kash about Luka. However, I didn't know how she expected me to believe her.
I knew my mother very well, and I definitely knew she had a thing for lying. Of course, she wouldn't tell me the truth.
I went back to my room and got some good sleep because the next day was going to be a big one.
I was going to work with the models, and we were filming a short clip where we'd apply the first scent we were introducing on them, then let them swim to show that the scent didn't come off even after a while.
There was a lot of testing we needed to show the audience and the buyers.
This scent wasn't just a perfume, it was connected to health, which was why everyone was so excited.
I'd even seen some online comments, and I was really looking forward to talking about them today.
But once I arrived at the office, my mood instantly soured when I saw Lara standing in one of the rooms on the top floor, where Kash's and my offices were.
"No, and no! I told you I will not wear this!" she was yelling at the designer we'd hired for her.
"What's going on?" I asked Walkin.
He was standing outside Kash's room, arms folded over his chest, leaning back against the wall.
He gave me a miserable look and gestured toward Lara.
"It's just Lara being Lara. She's been making those women run in circles for her," he muttered, sounding exhausted and fed up.
"Well, she was your choice," I shrugged, pouting slightly.
As I turned to leave for my office, I heard Walkin speak again.
"I've never been rude to you, have I?" he asked.
I slowed down while putting the key in the lock and turned toward him.
"Not that I recall," I replied, opening the door and stepping into my office.
However, he followed me inside.
"Well, I was always there for you, and I kind of took care of you many times. Didn't I?" he continued. "I'm talking about the past."
He wasn't lying. Walkin was one of the few people who had always been nice to me.
I remembered many moments when I got myself into trouble and Walkin would come to help, especially when Kash wasn't around.
"You did but what's the point of all these questions?" I asked, setting the files down and watching him slide his hands into his pockets.
He shrugged, pouting a little, then shook his head and glanced around.
"Nothing. I just wanted to make it clear there are no hard feelings," he said before turning and leaving.
After a few minutes of thinking about him, I was called to the changing room, what we called the place where the designers were setting out outfits for the models.
As expected, the moment I walked in, I saw Lara fuming red.
"What kind of designer have you even hired?" she snapped. Her tone was dripping with disrespect.
Walkin was already inside, trying to negotiate something with the designer.
"What's wrong with these outfits?" I asked as I looked at them, new ones tossed all over the floor.
"They're not up to my taste," Lara hissed, making me raise an eyebrow and fold my arms over my chest.
"We're asking you to pick a simple swimsuit. What do you suggest? Come on, let's hear your ideas since you know so much about outfits." I matched her tone, tired of how she had reduced the designer to tears.
I hated seeing that poor woman, who had worked so hard to be here, crying.
"What happened? Do you have no suggestions at all? You've been yelling, shouting, and rejecting designs over nothing. Is there any thought in your head at all?"
I turned to face her again after reaching the designer and gently patted her back.
The look on Lara's face was priceless. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists before taking a deep breath and replying, "Well, I'm not a designer."
A strange, almost psychotic smile spread across her lips while her eyes burned with anger.
"Well, then let the designer do her job. Besides, I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting the workers here. They've worked really hard to be here. You have no right to demean them like this. If you don't like something, you're free to communicate with them. But in no way, shape, or form will I let you be disrespectful toward anyone."
I could tell the shock of me yelling at the Alpha King's fiancée had left the entire room silent.
Even Lara didn't say a word. By the time she gathered her thoughts, Kash had already walked into the room.
"Baby!" Lara's tone shifted immediately, dripping with false misery as she approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
She then rested her head against his chest.
"I don't like the swimsuits," she pouted, tilting her head up to look at him.
He still had his hands in his pockets. Kash could be so cold sometimes that I wondered how I ever fell in love with him in the first place.
I didn't remember him being like that before.
Back then, every time he came home, I would run to him, and he would catch me, hugging me tightly.
And if I didn't, he'd find me and hug me anyway.
But now, he just stood there, staring at her before his eyes slowly lifted and met mine.
I quickly looked away, tapping my foot against the floor.
"There's nothing wrong with these swimsuits. We have a designer, she'll pick one, and you'll wear it. Now come on, we're not wasting any more time."
Kash's response not only surprised me but also made Lara instantly pull her hands away from his waist.
She stepped back, startled, as he was already ready to leave.
It seemed like Kash had come to the office in a really bad mood, and I was already suspecting some kind of disaster to happen.
"Fine, I'll pick anything. Everybody leave. I need to change!" Lara shouted.
Walkin and the designer walked out, while I gathered all the outfits she had thrown around, put them neatly back on the racks, and started to leave.
However, just as I was about to walk out, I heard her say something that caught my attention.
"I hope I don't see you flirting around with Kash."