Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

“Time to replace it, don’t you think?” His eyes held a mixture of contempt and something else I couldn’t decipher. “It’s… outdated. Much like your position in my life.”

Just like me. Just like our arrangement.

Just like my stupid, foolish heart that still skips when you look at me like that.

“I suppose it is,” I agreed, dropping my hand.

The drive back from the Stone family compound was silent and tense. I sat as far from Drake as the backseat would allow, staring out the window at the passing streetlights.

2

“The driver,” Drake suddenly addressed his driver, “make a stop at Lunet’s Bakery. I need to pick up some cupcakes for Vera.”

Then he turned to me. “You’ll have to get out here. I’m in a hurry.”

I stared at him in disbelief. We were at least fifteen minutes from my apartment, and my body was still weak from the hospital

stay.

“Are you serious?” I asked, unable to keep the incredulity from my voice. “I just got out of the hospital this morning.”

You absolute bastard. I’m still bleeding, still weak, and you’re dumping me in the middle of nowhere for fucking cupcakes?

Drake’s expression remained impassive. “Vera isn’t feeling well. She needs the cupcakes to help her sleep.”

She isn’t feeling well? What about me? I nearly died from blood loss two days ago, and he’s worried about his precious Vera’s

sweet tooth?

My fists clenched in my lap, nails digging into my palms. The pain was grounding, keeping me from saying things I’d regret.

“Sir,” The driver spoke up hesitantly, “this is the border area between territories. It might be difficult for Ms. Hale to get a car

at this hour.”

“I don’t have time to drop her off,” Drake replied dismissively. “Vera is waiting.”

Of course. Vera was always the priority now.

“Fine,” I said, grabbing my purse. “Stop the car.”

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moment I’m inconvenient.

The driver pulled over reluctantly. As I stepped out into the chilly night air, I had to swallow the lump of humiliation in my throat. I ended up having to pay double the normal fare to convince a taxi driver to take me home.

I didn’t go home. Instead, I directed the taxi to the medical center where Drake had arranged a private recovery room for me.

Not out of concern, I now realized, but to keep me functioning as his assistant.

God forbid I’m not available to answer his calls or fetch his coffee. Heaven help us all if the great Drake Stone has to schedule

his own meetings.

The night nurse looked surprised to see me return so late, but she didn’t ask questions as she helped me into bed and hooked

up an IV to replenish my fluids.

“Dr. Reynolds left instructions in case you returned,” she explained, injecting something into my IV line. “This will help with

the pain and help you sleep.

I nodded gratefully, too exhausted to speak. As the medication flowed through my veins, I felt the tension in my body slowly release. My last thought before drifting off was that I’d be free of all this in two months.

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