Chapter 173 Return the Gift

When Eira got home, Lila was stretched out on the living room rug with her laptop open on the coffee table, completely absorbed in her draft.

Eira started to speak, but Mrs. Jones pressed a finger to her lips.

"She told me not to interrupt her," the housekeeper whispered.

Eira nodded. Interrupting someone in the middle of a thought was the fastest way to ruin their focus. Mrs. Jones brought her a mug of hot honeysuckle tea, and Eira settled behind the couch to drink it quietly while Lila finished editing.

A few minutes later, Lila threw herself onto her back.

"Finally!"

Mrs. Jones grinned and tipped her chin toward the couch.

Lila turned. "Eira, you’re back!"

She pulled Eira onto the couch and handed her the laptop. "I made all the changes you suggested. Can you look it over?"

Eira adjusted her glasses and read through the draft. After a moment, she nodded.

"Unless Professor Chase finds another problem, you’re ready to submit."

"For real?" Lila beamed. "I knew it. I’m brilliant."

Eira gave her a faint smile.

Mrs. Jones set a bowl of fresh fruit on the coffee table, and Lila immediately grabbed a strawberry.

"So, how was Dr. Shaw’s birthday dinner?" she asked.

"Fine. I ran into Vincent Crawford."

Lila stopped chewing. "He didn’t give you trouble, did he?"

"No. I need to ask you something. Where does your family go when you need someone followed?"

"We keep a private security firm on retainer. They handle Pack business, border patrols, tracking rogues, all of it." Lila studied her face. "You want someone watching Vincent?"

"Yes."

"Ask my brother. He’ll love it." She smirked. "Keeping tabs on a rival Pack’s heir is probably his idea of a relaxing afternoon."

"I’ll cover the cost."

"Then pay Killian directly."

Eira pulled out her phone and sent Alpha Killian a text.

His call came seconds later.

Lila and Mrs. Jones exchanged a knowing look. Alpha Killian never called either of them back that fast.

"Killian," Eira answered.

"You want Vincent watched?" Alpha Killian asked, his voice low and calm. "Do you think Serena will run to him, or will he go looking for her?"

"Both."

"I’ll put a team on him. Standard rate."

"Thank you."

She ended the call, then turned to Mrs. Jones.

"Could you keep track of the grocery expenses for me?"

The housekeeper’s eyes gleamed. "Of course. I can give you a full report at the end of the year. Every receipt, every penny."

"A year is too long. Let’s do it quarterly."

"Deal."

--

The Shaw Estate

Dr. Shaw watched Felix carry the gift Eira had brought him into the study.

"Careful with that," he called. "If you break it, you’re explaining it to her."

Felix looked over his shoulder. "I’m carrying it like it’s made of glass."

"Good. Now get out of my sight."

Felix laughed and disappeared into the study.

Dr. Shaw settled into the living room with a glass of bourbon. A few minutes later, the housekeeper appeared in the doorway.

"Dr. Shaw, someone from Hale Group stopped by earlier."

His expression changed. "Who?"

"He said his name was Sebastian Hale. I didn’t let him through the gate. He waited outside for almost an hour before leaving."

Dr. Shaw’s fingers tightened around his glass. "Did he leave anything?"

"A chair." She hesitated. "A very expensive one. I had the staff bring it inside."

"Send it back."

The housekeeper nodded, but before she could leave, Felix stepped out of the study.

"Send what back?"

"Sebastian left a gift," she explained. "A rosewood armchair."

Felix’s face tightened. "He actually came here?"

"He waited at the gate," the housekeeper said. "He wouldn’t leave until I took the chair."

Dr. Shaw’s eyes turned cold. "Return it tomorrow."

"Of course."

Felix understood immediately. His grandfather wasn’t upset about the chair.

He was upset because Alpha Sebastian had thrown Eira away.

Felix said, "Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll handle it."

--

The next morning, Felix had the armchair delivered to Hale Group.

The receptionist stared at the large wooden crate beside him.

"Is that a delivery?" she asked.

"A return."

She looked at the crate, then at Felix. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No. Call Sebastian Hale and tell him Felix Shaw is here."

The receptionist’s expression changed at once. She picked up the phone.

A few minutes later, security arrived and escorted Felix upstairs.

On the way up, Felix glanced at the receptionist.

"How long have you worked here?"

"About two years."

"You knew Sebastian was married?"

She stared at him. "Married? No. Everyone thinks he’s the most eligible bachelor in the state."

"Everyone?"

"Pretty much. There are rumors he’s seeing someone, but no one knows who."

Felix gave her a small smile. "Interesting."

The elevator doors opened.

Alpha Sebastian was waiting outside his office. Then he saw the crate.

His expression barely changed, but the polite smile he had prepared disappeared.

"Felix," he said. "Come in."

"All right."

Felix walked into the office and shut the door behind him.

"You left this at my grandfather’s house last night," he said. "I’m returning it."

Alpha Sebastian glanced at the crate.

The words sounded polite, but the message was obvious. Dr. Shaw had rejected the gift.

Maybe he had rejected the patent deal too.

"That was inappropriate of me," Alpha Sebastian said. "I apologize."

Felix folded his arms. "It’s a beautiful chair. My grandfather would have liked it."

Alpha Sebastian’s eyes lifted.

"But he won’t be keeping it."

The hope vanished from Alpha Sebastian’s face.

Felix continued, "My grandfather has spent years talking about Eira. She was the student he valued most, apart from Dr. Thorne. He trusted her judgment."

Alpha Sebastian’s expression shifted.

"You only got through his door because Eira put in a good word for you," Felix said. "Then you betrayed her."

Alpha Sebastian went still. "Eira introduced me to Dr. Shaw?"

"You didn’t know?"

Alpha Sebastian said nothing.

Felix gave a short, humorless laugh. "You really never bothered to ask."

Alpha Sebastian had always assumed Serena had made the introduction through her grandfather.

It had never occurred to him that Eira had been the reason Dr. Shaw agreed to see him at all.

Now he realized he had been wrong about that too.