Chapter 48


    48 Birds Of A Feather


    Tia.


    Heading Diamond Corp was sudden and tedious, but I had to do it. I was the only person Luke trusted to


    allow to handle his business, and I understood why. Surrounded by the likes of Stacy, we had to be extra


    vignt. I was the only one with a lot to lose if he got hurt. . Dealing with the board members was easy,


    but there were a lot of unfinished business and contracts to handle. It was as if Alpha Aesop stopped


    paying attention at a point. There was really no reason for him to do so, but he did anyway, and now


    there was a mountain of work to do, files to attend to, and I started hating theputer screen.


    Luke was undergoing training for his takeover. He was already a trained alpha, but they wanted to


    sharpen his skills. He was training along with Caleb and Kirk I was d he chose to keep Kirk as gamma


    in his ranks. The guy was an asset. Alpha Aesop had banned me from getting involved in military


    matters, and I was saddened by it. However, Luke still allowed me to help behind the scenes by running


    things by me and asking for my input, but my days of interrogating and torturing prisoners were over, and


    I missed my dream of being a garnma. I guess the goddess wanted me to be Luna, and here I was. Luke


    was yet to be sworn in, but I knew the time was approaching.


    I was in my office when Alpha Aesop walked in with Monica unannounced. It was awkward, and I did not


    want to deal with him alone. I have never really had to deal with the man alone. Luke or Caleb was


    always there. Ever since the incident when Stacy tried to frame me and have me cast out, I have been


    wary of the man. I had not let it go, and I doubted I would. Somehow I suspected the man knew I was


    wary of him because he put in extra effort to make mefortable, but I wasn’t a fool. The man was a


    sucker for his mate, so I needed to be on my guard. I could understand his rtionship with Stacy; he


    would do anything for her, just like Luke would do anything for me. I think it was the bond thing. It turns


    hard men into softies where their mates are concerned. Luke was a very hard guy, stern and


    unapproachable. I have heard people gossip about us, about how they feel sorry for me that I have to


    deal with such a problematic guy, but Luke was a big Teddy with me, loving and caring, and he would do


    anything for me, so I would often smile about it. It was cool that I was the only one to experience Luke’s


    gentle side. I had even heard a woman wonder how I managed with him in bed. People couldn’t mind


    their business to save the world. I was at the grocery store, and she looked at my small stature and told


    her friend that she felt sorry for me. I was small, quite alright, but I could handle Luke fine. I could


    understand their concern. Of course, they will feel ufortable. I was five feet seven and a size six. On


    the other hand, Elisabeth was five nine and a size ten. She could handle a six-foot-five-inch man easier


    than I could in their heads. The thought of everything made me smile internally as I stood to greet my


    father-inw and former alpha.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    “Good afternoon, Alpha,” I said, and he smiled at me.


    “You know calling me father won’t hurt. I know James is still alive, but you have two fathers now,” he said


    with a big smile, and I reciprocated the smile. There was a time that smile would have made me rxed


    but not after that event at his house.


    Luke looked a lot like his father, and I could see what he would like in a few years. Alpha Aesop was still


    a very handsome man and couldpete with his sons easily. The goddess blessed their family with


    good looks. “The board tells me you are settling in well, and you are handling the business


    professionally, ” he said, passing me apliment, and I thanked him. “Is there anything you aren’t


    capable of, Tia?” he asked, and I did not know how to answer that question because I sucked at many


    things.


    “Anyway, how is your holiday going with Luke? You guys do not spend much time in the mansion


    anymore and haven’te by since thest breakfast we had; I am beginning to suspect Stacy might be


    telling the truth when she said you two have secretly moved out,” he said, and I knew what he was trying


    to do. Was that why he came to my office with Monica? I was ufortable having conversations with


    the girl present. She seemed more like a spy than anything to me, and with Stacy’s money issues, I


    honestly did not want her around. “No, Alpha, father,” I said, correcting myself. It sounded alien to me,


    but I had to make the man happy. “All our things are still in the mansion. It is just that we want to bond.


    We wanted to get to do things normal couples do and spend time together. For example, I did not know


    Luke made awesome steak until we went to our holiday house.” I said, and he raised an eyebrow


    because he didn’t know that either.


    “I guess the mansion makes it difficult for you to y house,” He agreed and then leaned forward.


    “Tia, I hope you and Luke are trying for a baby?” he asked, and I cringed.


    “Yes, we are,” I managed to answer, and he nodded with approval.


    “Good because I really want grandchildren. Legitimate ones. I want Luke to have someone that would


    seed him, and I know you can have strong, intelligent children, Tia,” He said, and all I could manage


    was a thank you. The man was too forwards for my liking. Wanting to change the topic, I looked at


    Monica.


    “May I help you?” I asked her wanting her to leave my office. She started acting nervous all of a sudden.


    The bitch didn’t bother to greet me when she entered the office, and I took offence at her tant


    disrespect. “Matter of fact, I asked her toe with me,” Alpha Aesop said, but I already knew. “Well, in


    that case, it is quite disrespectful of her not to greet me,” I said boldly. “That is true,” Alpha Aesop said, “I


    was too happy about the developments that I overlooked the disrespect.


    “You better learn to respect your Luna,” he said to her, and I did not care. “I am sorry, Luna Tia. I just did


    not want to interrupt your conversation with Uncle Aesop,” she said with an innocent expression, and I


    wasn’t a fool. The look wasn’t for me. It was for her ‘Uncle Aesop’.


    “I found that Monica is still working as an intern, and I wanted her to work closely with Gail. I know you


    weren’tfortable with her working with Luke but now that you are here, I think


    you should bump her up. She is highly qualified, and she would do a great job. The best people you can


    trust are your family, Tia. That is why Luke handed thepany to you.” he said, and this man must


    have smoked something beforeing to my office. Monica wasn’t my family. She was his family.


    “I do not think it is wise to have her here. Luke isn’tfortable having Stacy’s rtives close to his


    business, and now that Stacy is in dire need of the money, I do not trust her intention,” I said boldly, and


    the man looked disappointed. He felt insulted by my words, and I could see it. It was as if the man


    expected me to be obedient. It was clear he wasn’t asking; he wasmanding. In his mind, when he


    tells me to jump, I should ask him how high. “When I purchased you for my son, I believed you to be a


    sweet girl. I honestly believed you soften him up a bit, but you are just as cold as he is,” he said, and I


    bowed my head. “Alpha, you do not expect a child you never showed love to be kind. Love brings


    kindness. You believed all the lies Stacy told about him and humiliated him for it. Luke isn’t hard or


    wicked; he is just guarded, and so am I. I had a lot of respect for you, and I still do, but what you did to


    me at the breakfast table that day when your wife concocted lies about me still lingers on my mind. The


    only person that believed me was my husband. You were ready to cut me off, and when the truth came


    out, Stacy got a p on the wrist for it. I cannot have Monica working closely with Gail because if she


    does something, she will get a p on the wrist. After all, I can’t deal with a staff that her wrongs will


    have no consequence. Rmend someone else, but she stays on the ground floor. If she doesn’t like


    it, she can work in West Corps or any otherpany, but working with me is off-limits. I already have a


    lot to deal with; I can’t be watching my back simultaneously. Besides, she has her designs on my


    husband whom you purchased me for, and I cannot have that,” I said, and the woman was stunned.


    “You amaze me, Tia. I did not know you were like this,” he said, and I shook my head.


    “Your family made me like this. You bought me for your son because Stacy did not want me with Caleb.


    You know Luke will not let Monica work with Gail, so you approached me, knowing you could scare me


    into epting. When you first suggested this to Luke, I remember your words, and he said no. You told


    Stacy it was Luke’spany, and she should ept the kind gesture, so why are you trying to force me


    into doing what you couldn’t force your son into doing? Other than me not wanting her here, what do you


    think Luke would do when he finds out I let the niece of the woman that maltreated him work closely with


    his secretary giving that same womanplete insight into how thepany is run. Stacy helped Miles


    steal from thispany, and at the rate, they were going, they would have run it down. I am dealing with


    the mess right now. A lot of upleted contracts and substandard output. You did nothing about it. I


    can’t risk it, alpha. You can hate and call me names, but I won’t do it,” I said to him firmly, and he stood


    up and walked to the window beside me where I sat. I was afraid, but I hid my fears. I honestly thought


    he would hit me. I could feel his anger. He stared out at the skylines, and the horizon was clear. Diamond


    corp was the tallest building in that vicinity.


    “I built thispany from the ground up. Chloe owned the capital, but I was the entrepreneur, and she


    supported me. Giving thispany to Luke was an act of appreciation and love. Chloe was with me for


    only four years, and Stacy has been with me for twenty-three years. I hope you understand where I am


    driving. I will not ask you nicely the next time Tia. I might be fond of Luke and like you, but I know when


    to draw the line. Monica works with Gail,


    and that is final,” he said, and I nodded. “Very well then, I think you should take it up with Luke before


    she resumes work. I do not own thepany. I am just holding the office for my husband, and she can


    start work when Luke says so.” I said to him, and he looked at me.


    “You aren’t a gentle soul, Tia. You are conniving and maniptive. You are hell-bent on embarrassing me


    on this knowing your husband will say no, and even if he would have said yes, you can still tell him to say


    no. Do not push me. My key mark might no longer be active, and I might not have that power over you,


    but I can still make your life unbearable. I bought you for him. Remember, he was seeing someone he


    was crazy about then, and yet he let her go even before anything happened between you two. I can end


    this union, mated or not. Luke is still my son, and he will still try to please me. After all, you are not even


    pregnant yet and is ex is heavily pregnant and living in my home. If you push me, I will make him leave


    you, Tia.” he said, and I realised Stacy had rubbed off on him.