Tug Of War - Coming Back Soon

Chapter Nine

Inaaya rubbed the blurriness out of her eyes as a wide yawn escaped her lips. She arched her back while cracking her neck from side to side before pushing the laptop further away on the bed. Her left foot had fallen asleep, causing her to stumble as she stood up. She stomped her foot a couple times before kicking her leg in the air, trying to regain the feeling in her asleep foot.

It had been four hours since breakfast, the exact time Inaaya spent sending out job applications as a Digital Marketing Manager yet again. On her second day at the castle, she had requested access to a laptop with internet connection and Axel had come through. However, five days later, she still had no luck with any of her applications. Her last few days were spent job searching, spending time in the rec room and of course, flashing the stop sign whenever moments between her and Axel became too intimate.

Now though, Inaaya adamantly decided she needed to earn her keep one way or another. She couldn't just take advantage of Axel and his pack. After all, her decision of staying was more for her own sake than anyone else's.

She closed the laptop lid, heading into the ensuite bathroom through the walk-in closet, just like it was in Axel's room. She splashed her face with cold water and patted it dry, hoping it would make her look fresher than she felt. Brushing her hair up into a ponytail, she overlooked her outfit for any flaws. Apart from a couple wrinkles on her grey shirt, her outfit was immaculate.

She didn't have many outfits in her luggage, seeing as the trip was never meant to be extended until further notice. A shopping spree was in order. One she would have to put off till she found a job. But to get a job, she would need to get an interview first. And in case she did get an interview, she would need new, professional clothes to attend. She sighed. She was running in circles here.

Inaaya wore her black ballet flats, the only pair she had, before exiting and locking her room. Even though Axel was the Beta, the second in command of this pack, she thought it better than to go to him for what she had in mind. In the last six days, no matter how many times she had asked how she could pull her weight, he had only brushed her off saying she didn't need to. No, she needed to reach higher, seek out his Alphas.

Remembering her tour of the castle with Jermaine, Inaaya walked towards the direction of the Alphas' offices. She knew she would have a better chance of finding them there than at their room at this hour. Since she was hoping to speak with Diella instead of Eliseo, she knocked on her door first.

"Come in," a female voice called from inside and Inaaya opened the door. Inaaya didn't want to encroach on Dielle's privacy, so instead she stood by the door, letting it close softly behind her. The room she stepped inside of was effortlessly sophisticated. The walls were made of natural wood with several inbuilt shelves and a white curved ceiling adjoined them. She could see her reflection in the brown marble flooring of the room, the way her hair frizzled and her eyes looked tired.

The ticking of the clock and scratching of pen on a paper were the only sounds that could be heard inside the office until Dielle spoke. "Inaaya?" she asked, surprised. "Come, sit."

Dielle's face held a welcoming smile, causing Inaaya to return a polite one. She gingerly walked towards the mahogany desk and occupied one of the two beige chairs kept across from Dielle's. Light rays of sun shone on her face from the large circular window behind Dielle, causing a warmth to spread through her body.

"What brings you by?" Dielle asked, signing a paper before filing it away. Then, the red-haired woman gave Inaaya her undivided attention.

"I wanted to personally thank you for your hospitality," Inaaya said, leaning slightly forward in her chair. Dielle smiled and nodded. "And I wanted to ask how I could earn my keep here," Inaaya added, making Dielle pause in her movements. She looked at Inaaya with curiosity apparent in her green eyes.