Chapter 150
Victor’s POV
My dinner meeting had wrapped up, and I was walking out of Gilded when I spotted William walking toward me.
“Victor, I’m glad I ran into you,” he said. “We need to talk about Daisy.”
Before I could speak, the valet pulled up with my car. I handed them a tip and told William to climb in.
I drove a few blocks to a city park. It was almost dark, so it was easy to find a parking slot.
William and I got out of the car, and I beeped on the security system with my key fob before we began to walk through the park.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked.
“Have you noticed how different Daisy is these days?” he asked.
“In what way?” I inquired.
“She’s turning into… one of us. And that’s not who Daisy is,” William replied. “All she thinks about anymore is business, contacts, and raising money.”
“She recently accomplished something many Alphas only dream about,” I explained. “And she did it while under attack from a leader of the Alpha business world.”
“I understand that,” William said. “But I think she’s going too far. If it keeps up, she’s going to burn out. She needs more in her life than business matters.”
Did Daisy’s new status and popularity threaten William, or did he have a valid point? I needed to keep an eye on the matter.
“William, her success is new to her.” I walked to a bench and sat on the backrest. “Give her some time to find her optimal work/life balance. Someday she is going to be an important Luna.”
William joined me on the back of the bench and stared at the sidewalk. “She hardly had any time to speak to me this evening because she was in a hurry to get back to some Alpha girls that are befriending her.”
“The girls came to her office before we left for the day,” I told him. “It’s a good thing for Daisy to have female friends of her own class. Her friendship with Amy is causing her a lot of grief lately. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice for her to have more than one friend?”
William gave me a stern look, and I knew I should better explain my opinion.
“The Alpha girls are now her peers,” I continued. “Amy is a decent, hardworking girl, but Daisy currently has more in common with Megan Thomas and the others.”
“Maybe I’m worried for nothing,” William admitted.
“Maybe,” I agreed. “But we will keep an eye on things and intervene if necessary. For now, let Daisy make all the new friends and contacts she can. She might need a favor from one of them someday.”
“Yeah, it never hurts to have friends in many places,” William mused. He suddenly looked up. “You don’t think they are trying to use her, do you?”
“It’s possible,” I said. “Daisy has a powerful position, yet she is more naïve than she realizes.”
“We can’t let them do anything to hurt her,” William said.
I got up and started back to my car. “We must keep watch over her without becoming intrusive to her new friendships. Daisy’s pride and confidence would be bruised if she heard this conversation.”
“You are right,” William admitted. “I’ll be more careful not to seem like I’m second-guessing her judgment.”
“But if one of us notices her going too far, I will speak to her about it,” I promised.
“That’s all I can ask,” William said and clapped me on my back.
I returned him to Gilded and went to my apartment. I needed to get some rest for the long day ahead of me tomorrow.
After a long, hot shower, I climbed into my king-sized bed, flipped on the TV, and fell asleep while watching an old movie. The last thing I heard before dozing off was a man declaring his love for a woman who loved another man.
In the morning, I woke before my alarm and headed for my home gym before showering and going to my kitchen.
After coffee, juice, eggs, and bacon, I was ready to leave for my office. I would work several hours before it was time to pick up Daisy from school.
Picking her up was a habit now. I instinctively knew when it was time without looking at my watch. She was a habit that was going to be hard to break.
I arrived on time at Alex’s mansion to pick up Daisy. She looked stunning when she came down the stairs in a light green cocktail dress.
Her face and form were absolute perfection, and it took me a moment to stop staring.
Does she know how beautiful and enticing she is? What a change this was from the awkward girl with the thick glasses and a mop of unruly hair I first met.
“You look beautiful,” I told her and offered her my arm.
After escorting her to my car and helping her into the passenger seat, I drove to the party being held at the home of a rival company CEO.
All heads turned when we arrived at the party. Within twenty seconds, Daisy was surrounded by Alphas vying for her attention.
Some of them were the same insidious Alphas William and I warned her about at the charity ball. They were despicable users who would turn on her the second they got what they wanted.
They had done it to others.
“It’s nice to see you again,” one of them said as he began pulling her away from the others. He reeked of deceit while wearing a cheap suit and a bogus smile.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when Daisy walked away from me with him!
He steered Daisy by her elbow toward his accomplice, an older Alpha who had recently bankrupted a company that trusted him to be their COO.
“Ah, Miss Wilson,” the older cheat purred. “I’ve been wanting to ask your opinion on an idea I have that should prove profitable.”
I had to step in before he stole her company’s secrets or talked her into investing in a bogus company.
I strolled over and whispered into her ear. “Daisy, I told you about these people’s reputation.”
Her expression froze before she excused herself and walked away with me.
“Are you sure they’re that bad?” She asked. “They seem so nice.”
“I’m positive,” I replied. “If you don’t believe me, ask Jack Smith. They just fleeced him for a quarter million dollars.”
Daisy was quiet as we went to the buffet table and chose a few appetizers to nibble on. I intended to ask her to dance next.
This event wasn’t a ball, but there was a small dance floor set up near the bar. I knew she loved to dance, and I enjoyed dancing with her just as much.
But before the last morsel of our appetizers was gone, she was once again surrounded by young Alphas, both male and female.
After failing to get her attention, I wandered to a group of acquaintances and discussed the stock market.
Yet, like mine, every eye in the room was on her.
It was impossible to get her attention until the party guests began leaving. I made it to her side in time to hear the sleazy younger businessman ask if he could take her home.
“I’m sure it’s not out of my way,” he told her.
I was stunned when Daisy seemed to be considering it.
“I’ll be taking her home,” I insisted.
Daisy and the young male seemed startled by my declaration. She stared at me, seemingly disturbed by my words, but he walked away.
Her jaw was set tightly as we walked to my car, and the drive to her home was again silent. Daisy waited until we arrived at her front door before telling me what was on her mind.
“How could you embarrass me that way?” She declared. “I’m not a child.”
Her words surprised me, and it took me a moment to respond.
“Daisy, I can’t believe you even consider getting into a car with that sleaze.”
“I’m tired of everyone telling me what to do.” She exited the car and slammed the door before rushing into the mansion.
There would be no talking to her right now. But we will be talking tomorrow.
