Training has given her some sort of stability.She had reluctantly listened to Charlotte, and attended the therapy sessions she had booked for her around her Beta training.She would probably be ascending to her title within the month, as long as there were no issues; which there inevitably would be.Conrad sweeps her dark hair over her shoulder, a smirk on her red lips as she walks into the board room."Hello, gentlemen, we're here to discuss your project?" She asks, quirking a brow as she sits into the chair at the top of the table, crossing her legs.She's wearing a red pantsuit that matches her lipstick, and her makeup is immaculate.She rarely goes into the city, but she couldn't rearrange this meeting."Hello, Ms Rosser, it's lovely to see you again," one of the man chirps.Being called 'Ms' Rosser knocks her for a second; she's always called Beta Rosser, or Deputy Beta Rosser."You too, Mr Clarke. Will we begin? I know we all have better places to be," she proposes, folding her
The dress looks phenomenal.It emphasises the difference between her hips and waist, something that she'd usually avoid, but she's embracing for once.She slicks some more red lipstick on, fluffing her hair and straightening up."Ooh, you look cute. Date?" A woman she recognises from advertising asks with a grin."Yep. Do you think it's okay?" Conrad checks, doing a twirl in the mirror."If you have any jewellery, I think it would make a big difference," the woman suggests, glancing at her watch, "good luck!"Once the door closes, Conrad reaches into her bag, digging along the bottom.She manages to lay her fingers on a set of earrings, quickly putting them into her lobes after taking her boring studs out.Her tattoos peek out from the halterneck of the dress, her back mostly exposed.She inhales slowly, calming her nerves before she walks out of the bathroom.She didn't think it would feel this real; when she suggested it, she didn't actually think he would agree to go.She walks out
As soon as she was back in her room, she had texted Charlotte about the entire date, from what they both wore, to how he spoke to the servers, to what he ordered.Charlotte got more of a run-down than a journalist on a court-case story would have.Charlotte didn't reply; it was after ten, much to her shock.Did we really spend four hours with him?, Jane asks in abject horror.I think we might have. And they were four great hours, Conrad cheers gleefully, kicking off her heels and twirling around her room, her large handbag pressed to her chest as she dances.Hussy, Jane teases playfully, but she's on the exact same page.She's happy, and Conrad is thrilled with that.She's glad they made the decision to go out with Derek.Even if nothing comes of it, she doesn't care,She had fun, and that's just what the doctor ordered.Speaking of the doctor, Jake had been texting her for most of the evening.She had replied whenever she went to the bathroom, and she was enjoying the funny banter th
Her departure had caused some confusion.She had signed on to be there for most of the week, so her abrupt leave had caused some small issues with timetabling.Conrad was just assuming it would probably take the two days in the capital to handle all of the problems associated with ending a mating.It had been almost a month since she had last seen Atlas, and she wasn't looking forward to seeing him again.At the mere thought of having to be in the same room with him, a knot built in her stomach, making her feel ready to throw up.She pulls the car over to the side of the road, opening the window and inhaling deeply to try to calm herself down.The mere thought of seeing him shouldn't upset her this much, but she knows nobody would criticise her for it.The mate bond is different than others, and breaking one is agonising.She's prepared for that pain, and she knows she can handle it; it's the possibility that they're going to be within a few feet of each other for more than a few minu
As soon as they touch down, Jeanne is waiting for them.She had decided to surprise Conrad with a collection car, because she thought it might make it easier for her to sort out her thoughts.They arrived a little early, and Jeanne was secretly relieved about it.She had heard some whispers about Atlas and his little creature, and she wanted to inform Conrad about them before she walked anywhere near the trial."Hey Con," Jeanne calls, waiting for Conrad to emerge fully from the open door.Charlotte drops down first, neither of them waiting for steps to be wheeled over to the aeroplane doorway."Hey, Jeanne. This is Charlotte," Conrad calls back as they get closer.Charlotte gives Jeanne a wave, having heard a lot about her during their separate summer internships.Jeanne knew plenty about Charlotte too, and they briefly hug."I thought we were meeting you at the headquarters," Charlotte says warily, adjusting the backpack on her shoulder as she steps back a little from Jeanne."Yeah,
Charlotte is in a pale floral dress that reaches halfway down her calves, a cropped leather jacket on her top half.Neither of them are particularly ready for the cold.The guards lead them out.As soon as they step out, the bustling, noisy hallway goes completely silent, and she can feel eyes following her as soon as she takes a step.There's a thin walkway between the people lining the hall, and Charlotte determinedly takes the lead, retaking Conrad's hand.Conrad can't stop the amused smile crawling onto her face, and Charlotte sticks her chin out, marching down the hallway.Conrad's heels are the only noise in the corridor."Adamo and Rosser," a man yells, and Conrad's eyes scan the crowd, finally landing on the man with a schedule in his hand.Charlotte allows Conrad to move in front of her, the two of them never releasing hands as they stand in front of the man.She can hear Atlas walking towards them; his footsteps are heavy."Rosser," Conrad states calmly, and the man nods, ra
Conrad moved so fast she swears time had stopped.She had leapt over the barrier between her and Charlotte and Atlas and Meg, with Charlotte throwing herself after her to try to restrain her.She barely manages to grab her friend before Conrad makes it to Atlas, her claws out and her teeth descended."Order," one of the men roars, and a guard comes over to Charlotte, raising a brow."No, it's okay," Charlotte pants, tugging Conrad back.She forces her into her seat, and Conrad yanks her blazer off, her chest heaving with rage and frustration."What do you mean, no?" One of the women asks irritably.Everyone had been hoping this would be a short case so that they could all have the evening off; both candidates had been shown to have new partners and seemed to have no interest in remaining together.That was true for Conrad. She wanted to move on with her life, but Atlas seemed to have other ideas."I do not consent to the dissolution," he simply says, and Conrad can't stop the angry gr
"How have you been?" Carlos asks, and Conrad raises a brow."Fabulous. Obviously. My mate has twins on the way, and I'm living with my parents again. I'm going to become Beta this year. That's it, that's my entire summary of this god-awful year," she beams sarcastically, shaking her head.Carlos raises a brow, walking towards the emptier end of the hallway, leading her along gently."I thought my year had been bad. I've been having a pretty good time in comparison," he chuckles, his dark eyes following her every move.Having those eyes back on her makes her shiver; she remembers the days they would watch her almost constantly, a smirk on the lips a few centimetres below them."How have you been doing?" She questions, leaning her back against the stone walls."I've been hanging on. Sabrina is at boarding school now; she's gotten really tall," he remarks, showing her his phone's lock screen picture."Oh, she's gorgeous," Conrad coos, peering at the little girl who she occasionally mothe