Chapter 27 — Coccette POV
Betha crosses her arms and gives me the kind of look a tired mother gives her third disappointment of the day.
"So let me get this straight… We have a meeting with Frost RIGHT NOW, and you forgot to tell me?"
I nod with full confidence. "Correct. He wants an update on the pizza project."
Betha rolls her eyes so violently I'm afraid they'll leave her skull and walk out.
"He wants an update just so he can sabotage you. That frosty little bastard."
She takes a dramatic sip of her coffee, pinky raised like she's auditioning for Petty Royalty.
"And let me guess… that witch Anika will be there too?"
I arch a brow. "Obviously."
She copies me, mocking every syllable. "Obviously, yeah."
I continue, "Alex will come too. He's on our team… And Alaric will be there."
Betha freezes. Smiles. Smirks.
"Ohhhh, Alaric. The man you kissed. Haven't seen him since that day, huh?"
Her smile then dies instantly.
"ALEX," she adds like his mere existence personally offended her bloodline.
I wave her off. "He kissed me. And no, I haven't seen him."
"Yeah, but you LET him," she fires back.
I ignore her.
"Anyway — let's go before Frost sends us to HR for breathing wrong."
We head down the hallway — long carpet, overpriced art pretending to be important, and the classic smell of anxiety plus air-conditioning.
Betha mutters, "If Anika gives me one dirty look today, I swear—"
"Just breathe," I tell her.
"I AM breathing. Aggressively."
I push the door open.
On the right: Frost, Alaric, Anika — looking like the final boss, the handsome side quest, and the toxic DLC.
On the left: Alex, smiling like a golden retriever who finally learned "sit."
"Hey boss. Hey Betha," he beams.
Betha ignores him with Olympic accuracy.
Then she spots Alaric — and her entire soul reboots.
Her face: 🥰
Her brain: ERROR 404
Her smile: Illegal in 32 countries
Betha leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"Coccette, if you don't want him," she murmured, "give me Alaric and I'll trade you… this one."
She pointed dramatically at Alex like she was choosing fruit at the market.
I sighed. "Betha, please. Shut up and sit down."
Alaric raises an eyebrow, unsure if flattered or frightened.
We sit.
Frost speaks in his usual CEO-on-ice tone:
"I hear you're working hard on your… pizza project."
Anika laughs that villain laugh she definitely rehearses in the mirror.
"A pizza project. How adorable. Like a children's activity."
I smile sweetly.
"Oh? A kids' thing? Strange… since pizza was invented around the same time you were born, Anika."
Silence.
Beautiful, crunchy silence.
Alaric smiles behind his hand.
Alex snorts.
Frost gives me the patented "God I hate you but that was good" stare.
And Betha—
Betha detonates.
She hits the table. "she might even be OLDER than pizza !"
"Betha," I whisper, "we are trying to keep our jobs."
Anika snaps like a cheap hair clip.
"Yes, just like YOU and your friend don't understand professionalism, Coccette."
She stands, placing one hand on the table like she's about to launch a TED talk in pure hatred.
"There are people here who clearly need EDUCATION."
Her eyes land on Betha.
Then she drops the poison:
"Or maybe even YOU, Coccette — since your dead father didn't bother to educate you."
The room drops to arctic temperatures.
I stand slowly.
"Don't talk about my father with that filthy mouth."
She smirks.
"And I'll say it again. And again. What will you do? Nothing."
I step closer.
"Oh sweetie, this confidence is adorable — especially coming from someone whose father tried to SELL her to pay off his debts."
Her soul leaves her body.
Her face reddens.
Her hand rises to slap me—
Time slows.
I brace for impact—
But the hit never comes.
Instead, her wrist is suddenly caught mid-air by a hand.
A strong grip.
Firm.
Unmoving.
But I can't see who it belongs to — Betha was beside me a second ago, Alex is across the table, Alaric is too far—
Anika's eyes widen.
Her hand trembles inside that grip.
And then, slowly, the body steps into view.
Betha.
Her expression?
Pure fury.
"How DARE you try to touch her in front of ME?"
Then— SLAP.
A perfectly executed, cinema-worthy slap that echoes like a gunshot.
Before anyone reacts, Betha grabs Anika's hair with both hands like she's claiming a prize.
Anika shrieks.
Alex panics.
Alaric laughs like he's watching the best movie of the year.
Frost looks horrified, but maybe 7% impressed.
---
Flashback — 10 Years Ago
Principal's Office.
Director Paul sighs.
"Bethany Kelman, second time this week you slapped Emily Irkinz."
I sit quietly, fighting tears.
Betha grabs my hand.
"She said Coccette wasn't loved. That she didn't belong. Sir, look at her — she's the prettiest girl in school. Emily is jealous and cruel."
Director Paul rubs his temples.
"Still, you can't just—"
"Emily is the bully," Betha interrupts. "Not Coccette."
He sighs.
"Next time, try not to slap."
Betha leans toward me.
"If she doesn't hurt you, I don't hurt her."
---
Back to Present
Betha is still holding a fistful of Anika's hair like she's about to auction it.
I grab her arm.
"Betha! Stop! It's fine! Let go!"
She finally releases her — while still keeping a small piece of hair as a souvenir.
Anika runs to Frost.
"Did you see that?! She HIT me! Frost— ba... be ...— I mean Frost—"
Frost clears his throat.
"This is unacceptable behavior. Betha… you're fired."
Betha scoffs.
"Did Anika order you to say that?"
Frost's jaw ticks.
I step forward.
"If Betha is fired, I take my percentage and leave the company."
Alex stands immediately.
"Me too!"
Betha sighs. "Shut up, Alex, it's your first day."
Alex beams.
"I follow my people."
Then — unexpectedly — Alaric stands.
Still wiping tears from laughing.
"Same for me. If Betha goes, I go. She's such a fun person here."
The entire room stares.
Alaric continues casually:
"And honestly? Anika started it. She should be the one fired."
Me + Anika (same word, different emotions):
"What."
Anika points at her swollen cheek.
"She slapped me! Look!"
"Anika," Alaric says, "control your personal drama."
He turns to us.
"Coccette. Betha. Alex. Meeting canceled. Let's go."
He holds the door open.
Frost and Anika don't move.
We walk out.
Alaric closes the door behind him.
I turn to him.
"Thank you, Alaric…"
Betha, dreamy as ever:
"Yes… THANK YOU…"
He steps close, gently grabs my cheeks between his fingers, smirking.
"You're welcome, foxy."
Then he leaves, hands in pockets, looking like trouble.
Betha squeals.
"Oh THAT was hot. I'm rooting for him."
I smack her arm.
"Betha, shut up."
She laughs.
"Okay."
I sigh, smiling.
"Thank you, sis."
She beams.
"Always here for you."