#Chapter 87: Web of Lies


    Karl


    As I pull Gianna into the dimly lit study, the atmosphere is filled with a tension that’s been brewing for


    weeks now, maybe even longer. The door clicks shut behind us, sealing us off from the guests, the


    judgment, and the murmurs.


    For a moment, we are suspended in a bubble of silence, and I finally address what’s been gnawing at


    me.


    “A pathetic housemaid?” I ask.


    Gianna shoots me a quizzical look, but I can see the gears turning in her head. She’s trying not to


    disy emotion, which is just a dead giveaway. “A… what?” she asks, taking a step back.


    I take another step toward her, closing the gap once again. “Don’t y dumb,” I growl. “Is that really


    what you called her?”


    “Called who?” Gianna’s voice begins to rise ever so slightly.


    “Abby, of course,” I say, folding my arms across my chest.


    For a few moments, Gianna is silent. Then, mustering a tense smile, she cocks her head to the side.


    “I’m sorry, Karl, but I have no clue what you’re talking about.”


    I feel exasperated. Here I am, caught between my so-called ‘loyal’ secretary and the woman who I


    want to win back. In the back of my mind, I can feel my wolf, urging me to go with my gut and take


    Abby’s side.


    “Gianna, what exactly is your issue with Abby?” The question spills out of my mouth before I can stop


    it, like a tidal wave of annoyance and anger.


    She avoids eye contact, feigning a look of innocence that I know is far from the truth. “Issue? Karl, I


    have no idea what you’re talking about. You must be mistaken.”


    I lock my gaze onto hers, narrowing my eyes. “Don’t lie, Gianna. It doesn’t suit you. Do you honestly


    think I didn’t notice your little performance tonight? Trying to take her seat? Making faces? Refusing to


    touch the food?”


    She meets my gaze for a moment, her eyes twinkling with a hint of defiance before looking away. “I


    don’t have a ‘problem’ with Abby. I’m simply cautious, that’s all. Isn’t that what you pay me for? To be


    vignt for you?”


    My arms fold across my chest. “Vignt? Is that what you call it? It seems more like you’re just


    indignant and petty.”


    She tilts her head, allowing a slight smirk to cross her face. “Indignant is a strong word.”


    “Perhaps, but it’s urate,” I growl. “You’ve been throwing shade at Abby all evening, and I can’t help


    but wonder why. Abby has been nothing but polite and courteous, yet you treat her like she’s beneath


    you. Why is that?”


    Gianna hesitates for a moment, her eyes darting away from mine as though she’s searching for a way


    out of this conversation. “Well, can you me me?” she finally blurts out. “She must be hiding


    something. No one is that perfect.”


    I step closer, my Alpha aura amplifying, letting her know that her half-baked excuses won’t work with


    me. “That’s a dangerous assumption to make, Gianna. Now, be honest with me: What’s really going


    on?”


    Gianna shifts her weight ufortably, and I can almost hear the cogs in her mind whirring as she


    decides how much to reveal. Finally, she relents, sighing in a defeated manner. “Alright, fine. I don’t


    want you getting back together with her, okay? Is that what you want to hear?”


    The admission throws me off guard, and for a moment, I’m speechless. “Why? What could you possibly


    have against that?”


    She crosses her arms, matching my stance. “Karl, let’s be real. Abby was a part of your past. A past


    filled withplications and drama. I just think you can do better. Much better.”


    An incredulousugh escapes my lips. “Better? And since when did my personal life be your


    concern?”


    Her voice lowers, almost to a whisper. “Look, I’ve worked closely with you for years, Karl. I care about


    the wellbeing of this pack, and by extension, you. She is just a wrench being thrown into your


    livelihood.”


    Her words throw me off. How long has this been going on? How long had Gianna secretly been wishing


    that Abby wasn’t in the picture? And how many lengths has she attempted to go to in order to ensure


    that Abby can’t be in the picture?


    I lean in, my voice tinged with both annoyance and incredulity. “My choices, especially about who I


    choose as my Luna, are not up for debate or discussion. Not by you, not by anyone. I intend to bring


    Abby back into my life. She deserves that spot, and nothing you say or do will change that. Do you


    understand?”


    But then, just as I think I have a handle on the situation, Gianna''s next words hit me like a tidal wave.


    “Fine,” she says, huffing. “You’re a man, you can make your own decisions. But Karl, there’s something


    else.”


    I sigh. “What is it?”


    Gianna pauses for a few moments. The silence feels almost too heavy, but as she utters her next


    words, I wish that she hadn’t. “It’s not just that I think you can do better. I...I have feelings for you, Karl.”


    My eyes widen, my mouth agape as I process her revtion. “What? Is that true?”


    She looks away momentarily, her face flushed. “Yes. It’s been true for a long time, actually. Years.”


    “Years?” I find myself incredulous and bewildered. “Why am I hearing about this now? Howe I


    never noticed?”


    Sheughs bitterly. “Why would you? You had everything you wanted. You had Abby, you had your


    pack. Where did I fit into that grand scheme of things? I was just your secretary, someone who took


    care of your schedules, meetings, and paperwork. So, I kept it hidden. My feelings, my longing,


    everything.”


    I fall silent, my mind racing to make sense of this sudden andplex twist. My hand involuntarily goes


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    up to rub my temples as I try to process her words, to sift through theyers of emotional and ethical


    dilemmas they present.


    Seizing the momentary pause, Gianna suddenly rushes toward me, arms outstretched, as if attempting


    a hug. “Karl, all I want is to be with you. And I’ve seen the way you look at me. I know you have those


    feelings for me, too.”


    But she’s dead wrong. As her arms wrap around me, I react without thinking. Startled, my reflexes kick


    in, and I find myself shoving her away. “Have you gone mad?” I nearly shout.


    However, she stumbles, her ridiculously high heels teetering dangerously as she almost crashes to the


    ground. Instinctively, I reach out and grab her arm, steadying her before she falls. “I’m sorry, I didn’t


    mean to—”


    “Karl—”


    She looks up, and for a fleeting moment, our faces are dangerously close. As though she feels


    emboldened, or perhaps just desperate, she leans in, tilting her chin up.


    Before I can stop her, her lips meet mine. I’m suddenly caught in a tangle that I didn’t mean to be a part


    of, and I’m too stunned to even pull away, which makes her seem to believe that I wanted this. Her kiss


    grows more fervent.


    And to make matters worse, the door bursts open before I have a chance toe to my senses and


    push her away.


    Gerald, my loyal butler, steps in. I manage to shove Gianna away, causing her to fall backwards on my


    desk, sending papers scattering across the floor.


    But when I see the look on his face—one of urgency, almost panic—I find myself momentarily


    forgetting about what happened with Gianna.


    “Gerald?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I then see Abby being pulled along behind him, his fingers


    gripping her arm all too tightly. “What is this about?”


    Abby’s eyes meet mine, filled with aplicated mix of confusion, guilt, and agony as she sees me pull


    away from Gianna, her lipstick smeared across my face.


    “Karl,” Gerald interrupts, clearly unperturbed by the scene before him, “I caught Abby trying to steal


    information from yourputer.”