Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 310

Elsa

Drake’s eyes held mine for a long moment, then he opened his car door and stepped our. Standing before me in his impeccable sutt, he somehow managed to make the sidewalk look like his personal territory.

“Let me take you to dinner,” he said. It wasn’t quite a request, but it wasn’t his usual command either.

“As an apology,” he added when I didn’t respond.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I replied, turning away, my hands clenched into fists at my sides to stop faeir trembling.

“Elsa.” The way he said my name made me pause. “Please.”

I glanced back at him, then at the growing number of curious onlookers. Great. More fodder for the rumor mill. I could already imagine tomorrow’s whispers: “Saw her getting into Stone’s car after work…” My stomach twisted with anxiety.

With a resigned sigh, I walked back to his car. “Fine. But this doesn’t mean shit, you understand? I’m just hungry and tired of fighting.

Drake’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as he held the door for me. I slid into the familiar leather seat, immediately enveloped by his scent. It sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine, and I pressed my thighs together, cursing my body’s involuntary response.

As he settled into the driver’s seat, I turned to him. “Where’s Taylor?”

“Taking Emma home,” Drake replied, pulling smoothly into traffic.

My eyebrows shot up. “You had Taylor babysit her?” I couldn’t keep the incredulous edge from my voice.

“I had him escort her home. There’s a difference.”

I snorted and turned to look out the window, chewing on my lower lip until I tasted blood again.

“Was my apology satisfactory?” Drake asked after a moment of silence.

I turned to stare at him incredulously, my mouth hanging open slightly, but he was focused on the road, his profile sharp and unreadable in the fading light.

r

Words failed me. I shook my head and returned to watching the city pass by outside, acutely aware of his presence beside me, my fingers drumming an

anxious rhythm against my thigh.

Taylor

1 found Emma exactly where Drake said she’d be–slumped over the bar at Moonlight Lounge, surrounded by empty shot glasses. Her blonde hair was disheveled, mascara smudged under her eyes like raccoon marks. She looked nothing like the polished assistant who had started at Stone Enterprises three weeks ago.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples. This was the last thing I needed after twelve hours of damage control from her morning

stunt.

13 am O PO

Chapter 310

prutal betur appikaching. My shoulders tensed or 1 caught the sickly weet scent of ton many fruity

tand teaching her smile and immediately regretting it when she swayed dangerously an her stoot. Time to go.

bed upright, mert unfused as she squinted at me. Taylor? A slow, sloppy smile spread across her face. Did Drake send your? Her words shared shes and I had to lean back to avol the wave of alcohol on her breath,

1 eps ww repression neutral, though my jaw clenched involuntarily. Yes. And I’m not fucking happy about it. I added silently, glancing at my watch. I was supposed to be off the clock three hours ago

He finally realized I’m better than that assistant, didn’t he?‘ She grabbed my arm, her nails digging info my sleeve lite talons. I winced as one broke through the fabric. I knew he would. We belong together, you know. We dated in high school.”

1 gently pried her fingers loose, suppressing an eye roll. ‘We need to leave now.” Before you embarrass yourself–and by extension, the company–any further. I thought, scanning the bar to see how many witnesses there were to her current state.

“No, she pouted, turning back to her drink and nearly knocking it over. “I’m celebrating. Tomorrow’s my birthday. Drake will remember.

Jesus Christ, I thought, exhaling slowly through my nose. The delusion is strong with this one. I’d been working for Drake for five years, and I knew for a tect the barely remembered his own birthday, let alone those of temporary staff.

I took a step back and pulled out my phone, my fingers tapping an irritated rhythm against its case as I texted Drake, updating him on the situation. The three dots appeared immediately–at least someone was prompt–and his response flashed on screen: Let her stay. Watch her until midnight, then make sure

she gets home safely.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I hissed under my breath, staring at the message. My dinner plans with my girlfriend were officially ruined.

I sighed heavily and settled onto the barstool next to Emma, ordering a club søda for myself. The bartender gave me a knowing look–he’d seen plenty of corporate babysitters like me before.

“So,” I said, forcing conversation as Emma swirled her straw in what appeared to be her sixth or seventh drink. “How are you finding Stone Enterprises so

far?”

Emma launched into a rambling monologue about Drake’s apparent secret signals to her, gesturing so wildly I had to catch her drink twice to prevent spillage. My eyes glazed over as I checked my watch every few minutes, feeling each second of my personal time evaporating.

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