CHAPTER 8- Just because I'm a beta²

James was on the phone with Caesar while navigating through the city streets toward the company.

"When are you going to grow out of this? It’s been over a week already. Why don’t you just go back to the mansion and sort things out with your parents?"

Even though Caesar wasn’t physically there, James could practically hear him rolling his eyes on the other end.

"Don’t worry," James muttered, gripping the wheel tighter. "I’ll grow out of it eventually."

"Who knows?" James continued dryly, focusing on the road ahead. "Maybe, just like them, I’ll finally have time for my family after I retire too."

Caesar was more than just a close colleague. He was an Alpha, a family friend, someone who had been by James' side since childhood. Their parents moved in the same circles, and the two of them had practically grown up together, attending the same elite schools, sharing the same expectations. So, if anyone understood James’ life—the loneliness that came with having parents whose faces were only seen in magazines—it was Caesar.

Caesar sighed.

"They’re only looking out for you, Jamie."

James scoffed, the bitterness seeping into his voice.

"That’s where you’re wrong. They’re only looking out for themselves. They finalized and announced my marriage without even telling me beforehand."

"Wait—what?!"

"I thought I could keep it from Riley, but somehow… he found out. And then—"

"Riley?" Caesar cut in, sounding surprised. "You mean your assistant?"

"…Was my assistant." James' jaw tightened as the memory surfaced, the sting of the slap still vivid in his mind.

"And apparently, an audacious one." He muttered, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. "I’ve never been hit by anyone before. I shouldn’t have let him go so easily."

Laughter erupted on the other end.

"No way—he slapped you?!"

"Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything," James bit out, his annoyance growing.

"Shut the fuck up!" he snapped when Caesar kept laughing.

"Okay, okay," Caesar said between chuckles. "But seriously, for a moment there, I thought you were upset about the marriage because you had feelings for Riley."

There was a beat of silence.

"…What?"

James stopped at a red light, watching pedestrians cross as the words lingered in the air.

"Don’t be ridiculous," he finally said, scoffing. "Sure, I’ve played around with betas, but I’m not crazy enough to actually settle down with one."

"Right. Well, I guess what happened was for the best. Riley’s gone, so just forget about him. It’s not like you to lose your shit over some chick."

James inhaled deeply, as if that would settle the unease twisting in his gut.

"You know what? You’re right. I must’ve lost my temper because I was the one being dumped. I shouldn’t waste my time thinking ab—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Something—or rather, someone—had caught his eye.

"Jamie?" Caesar’s voice crackled through the speaker. "Jamie, are you still there?"

But James didn’t respond.

Across the street, stepping out of a coffee shop, was Riley.

And he wasn’t alone.

He was with him.

Zane Carper.

James’ biggest business rival.

The sight of them together—laughing, chatting like old friends—made something ugly churn in his chest. Riley, who had stormed out of his office that morning, looking hurt and broken, now appeared perfectly fine. Radiant, even.

As if he had already moved on.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," James muttered, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

It hadn’t even been seven hours.

That fucking son of a—

THWACK!

"…!!!"

A loud impact jolted him back to reality. A rock had struck his car window.

James flinched, realizing too late that he had been sitting at a green light for too long.

The blaring horns of angry drivers behind him filled the air.

HONK! HONK!

BEEP! BEEEEP!

"MOVE IT, ASSHOLE!" a truck driver hollered from behind.

The commotion had drawn attention—including Riley’s.

James’ breath hitched when Riley glanced in his direction. Panicked, he immediately ducked into his seat, forgetting one critical fact—

His car had privacy glass.

No one could see him inside.

Fuck.

Flustered, James straightened up and slammed his foot on the accelerator, speeding away before he could embarrass himself any further.

...****************...

Meanwhile…

Presley smirked, watching the car peel off in the distance. He couldn’t see through the tinted windows, but he didn’t need to. He knew exactly whose car that was.

"Wonder what that was about?" Zane mused, sipping his coffee.

"Who knows?" Presley shrugged, swirling the ice in his latte.

Then, as if just to twist the knife a little deeper, Presley leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Zane’s cheek.

"Thanks for the treat."

Before Zane could offer him a ride home, Presley was already walking away, leaving behind nothing but a lingering smirk.

«Desire: +45»

...****************...

(A Few Minutes Later…)

James parked his car in a lot near his company, but instead of stepping out, he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

That moment—Riley kissing Zane—kept replaying in his head, over and over.

‘Even if he’s moved on, that has nothing to do with me. We’re over. Whatever he does with his life… has nothing to do with me.’

But then, a different question wormed its way into his mind.

‘…Then why did I hide?’

His chest tightened.

‘I… I just didn’t want him to get the wrong idea—that I was following him after we broke up. That’s all. Nothing more.’

But his own logic felt hollow.

"UGH!! Forget it!" He growled, shoving open the car door and slamming it shut.

His phone rang again. Caesar.

With a deep sigh, James answered.

"What the hell happened? Why did you suddenly go silent?!"

"It was nothing, Caesar. I’m sorry for making you worry."

A long pause.

"…You’re lying."

James swallowed hard. A lump formed in his throat.

"Do you really think I’m that clueless? I heard you blurt ‘Riley’ before the line went dead. Tell me the truth."

James tensed.

"Of course I said Riley—we were just talking about him, weren’t we? You’re overthinking it."

"If I’m overthinking it, then why the hell are you yelling?"

James clenched his jaw.

"Forget it. I can’t talk right now."

"James, don’t you dare hang—"

Click.

James ended the call.

And for the first time in a long time, he didn’t know if he was more frustrated with Riley—

—Or himself.

...----------------...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***