Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 87: Web of Lies

Karl

As I pull Gianna into the dimly lit study, the atmosphere is filled with a tension that’s been brewing for

weeks now, maybe even longer. The door clicks shut behind us, sealing us off from the guests, the

judgment, and the murmurs.

For a moment, we are suspended in a bubble of silence, and I finally address what’s been gnawing at

me.

“A pathetic housemaid?” I ask.

Gianna shoots me a quizzical look, but I can see the gears turning in her head. She’s trying not to

display emotion, which is just a dead giveaway. “A… what?” she asks, taking a step back.

I take another step toward her, closing the gap once again. “Don’t play dumb,” I growl. “Is that really

what you called her?”

“Called who?” Gianna’s voice begins to rise ever so slightly.

“Abby, of course,” I say, folding my arms across my chest.

For a few moments, Gianna is silent. Then, mustering a tense smile, she cocks her head to the side.

“I’m sorry, Karl, but I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

I feel exasperated. Here I am, caught between my so-called ‘loyal’ secretary and the woman who I

want to win back. In the back of my mind, I can feel my wolf, urging me to go with my gut and take

Abby’s side.

“Gianna, what exactly is your issue with Abby?” The question spills out of my mouth before I can stop

it, like a tidal wave of annoyance and anger.

She avoids eye contact, feigning a look of innocence that I know is far from the truth. “Issue? Karl, I

have no idea what you’re talking about. You must be mistaken.”

I lock my gaze onto hers, narrowing my eyes. “Don’t lie, Gianna. It doesn’t suit you. Do you honestly

think I didn’t notice your little performance tonight? Trying to take her seat? Making faces? Refusing to

touch the food?”

She meets my gaze for a moment, her eyes twi nkling with a hint of defiance before looking away. “I

don’t have a ‘problem’ with Abby. I’m simply cautious, that’s all. Isn’t that what you pay me for? To be

vigilant for you?”

My arms fold across my chest. “Vigilant? Is that what you call it? It seems more like you’re just

indignant and petty.”

She tilts her head, allowing a slight smirk to cross her face. “Indignant is a strong word.”

“Perhaps, but it’s accurate,” I growl. “You’ve been throwing shade at Abby all evening, and I can’t help

but wonder why. Abby has been nothing but polite and courteous, yet you treat her like she’s beneath

you. Why is that?”

Gianna hesitates for a moment, her eyes darting away from mine as though she’s searching for a way

out of this conversation. “Well, can you blame me?” she finally blurts out. “She must be hiding

something. No one is that perfect.”

I step closer, my Alpha aura amplifying, letting her know that her half-baked excuses won’t work with

me. “That’s a dangerous assumption to make, Gianna. Now, be honest with me: What’s really going

on?”

Gianna shifts her weight uncomfortably, and I can almost hear the cogs in her mind whirring as she

decides how much to reveal. Finally, she relents, sighing in a defeated manner. “Alright, fine. I don’t

want you getting back together with her, okay? Is that what you want to hear?”

The admission throws me off guard, and for a moment, I’m speechless. “Why? What could you possibly

have against that?”

She crosses her arms, matching my stance. “Karl, let’s be real. Abby was a part of your past. A past

filled with complications and drama. I just think you can do better. Much better.”

An incredulous laugh escapes my lips. “Better? And since when did my personal life become your

concern?”

Her voice lowers, almost to a whisper. “Look, I’ve worked closely with you for years, Karl. I care about

the wellbeing of this pack, and by extension, you. She is just a wrench being thrown into your

livelihood.”

Her words throw me off. How long has this been going on? How long had Gianna secretly been wishing

that Abby wasn’t in the picture? And how many lengths has she attempted to go to in order to ensure

that Abby can’t be in the picture?

I lean in, my voice tinged with both annoyance and incredulity. “My choices, especially about who I

choose as my Luna, are not up for debate or discussion. Not by you, not by anyone. I intend to bring

Abby back into my life. She deserves that spot, and nothing you say or do will change that. Do you

understand?”

But then, just as I think I have a handle on the situation, Gianna’s next words hit me like a tidal wave.

“Fine,” she says, huffing. “You’re a man, you can make your own decisions. But Karl, there’s something

else.”

I sigh. “What is it?”

Gianna pauses for a few moments. The silence feels almost too heavy, but as she utters her next

words, I wish that she hadn’t. “It’s not just that I think you can do better. I…I have feelings for you, Karl.”

My eyes widen, my mouth agape as I process her revelation. “What? Is that true?”

She looks away momentarily, her face flushed. “Yes. It’s been true for a long time, actually. Years.”

“Years?” I find myself incredulous and bewildered. “Why am I hearing about this now? How come I

never noticed?”

She laughs bitterly. “Why would you? You had everything you wanted. You had Abby, you had your

pack. Where did I fit into that grand scheme of things? I was just your secretary, someone who took

care of your schedules, meetings, and paperwork. So, I kept it hidden. My feelings, my longing,

everything.”

I fall silent, my mind racing to make sense of this sudden and complex twist. My hand involuntarily goes

up to rub my temples as I try to process her words, to sift through the layers of emotional and ethical

dilemmas they present.

Seizing the momentary pause, Gianna suddenly rushes toward me, arms outstretched, as if attempting

a hug. “Karl, all I want is to be with you. And I’ve seen the way you look at me. I know you have those

feelings for me, too.”

But she’s dead wrong. As her arms wrap around me, I react without thinking. Startled, my reflexes kick

in, and I find myself shoving her away. “Have you gone mad?” I nearly shout.

However, she stumbles, her ridiculously high heels teetering dangerously as she almost crashes to the

ground. Instinctively, I reach out and grab her arm, steadying her before she falls. “I’m sorry, I didn’t

mean to—”

“Karl—”

She looks up, and for a fleeting moment, our faces are dangerously close. As though she feels

emboldened, or perhaps just desperate, she leans in, tilting her chin up.

Before I can stop her, her lips meet mine. I’m suddenly caught in a tangle that I didn’t mean to be a part

of, and I’m too stunned to even pull away, which makes her seem to believe that I wanted this. Her kiss

grows more fervent.

And to make matters worse, the door bursts open before I have a chance to come to my senses and

push her away.

Gerald, my loyal butler, steps in. I manage to shove Gianna away, causing her to fall backwards on my

desk, sending papers sc attering across the floor.

But when I see the look on his face—one of urgency, almost panic—I find myself momentarily

forgetting about what happened with Gianna.

“Gerald?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I then see Abby being pulled along behind him, his fingers

gripping her arm all too tightly. “What is this about?”

Abby’s eyes meet mine, filled with a complicated mix of confusion, guilt, and agony as she sees me pull

away from Gianna, her lipstick smeared across my face.

“Karl,” Gerald interrupts, clearly unperturbed by the scene before him, “I caught Abby trying to steal

information from your computer.”