Claimed by My Bestie's Alpha Daddy novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Now he was here. Brazen, confident, watching.

I was assigned to process David’s team for entry. Jason didn’t approach me directly-didn’t have to. His silence said enough.

David, though, wasn’t as quiet.

He caught me just outside the east wing elevator, voice slick with false charm.

“You’re getting quite cozy with the King,” he said, his voice slow and dripping with mock concern. “It’d be a

shame if the press got ahold of the rumors I’ve heard-about the way you look at him. Makes one wonder what kind of qualifications you really needed for the job.”

I said nothing. The worst part was that I knew staying silent wouldn’t protect me. But I couldn’t give him more.

He leaned in slightly. “I could ruin you with one whisper. They’ll hear Clearwater, then we’ll both find out what they remember.”

Before I could figure out what that meant, Richard stepped into view from a side corridor.

“Is there a problem?” His voice was ice.

David turned, all smiles. “Not at all. Just catching up.”

David left like he hadn’t just threatened me.

Richard didn’t follow. He looked at me instead. “Are you alright?”

I nodded once. Tight. “You shouldn’t have to deal with that,” he said.

“Then don’t let him near me again.”

Word of the confrontation spread around our team faster than I expected. No one brought it up to my face, but I

saw it in the way people stood closer around me. Nathan brought me into his logistics team without

explanation. Emma didn’t ask questions—she just started walking me from meeting to meeting.

Solidarity didn’t always come loud. Sometimes it was a coffee on my desk or a printout already highlighted

before I could ask for it.

But the whispers kept growing.

1/2

Chapter 44

+25 BONUS One evening, as I stepped out of Richard’s suite and back into the corridor, the butler caught my eye. His mouth twisted. “You must think you’re clever.”

I didn’t even flinch. Just looked him straight in the eye. “I’m just dropping off a file.”

The next morning, David started hovering. It was subtle. Intentional. He brushed too close in passing, always just enough to make it look accidental. He leaned in when he didn’t need to, close enough that I could feel his breath on my neck as he commented on files he had no reason to be reviewing. He paused behind me when I was seated, standing just a second too long before pretending he’d been called away.

It wasn’t just about power-it was about showing me he could take up space around me whenever he wanted.

That he knew no one would stop him unless I made a scene.

And every time he lingered too close, I caught the glint of satisfaction in his eyes. Like he knew the rumors too. Like he wanted to make me question what people were already whispering: that I was Richard’s pet, that I was

hopelessly in love with him. That one day he might take advantage of that.

I logged every instance. Documented it cleanly. Then sent the file to Emma and Nathan.

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