Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever-Chapter 169 Good News For Bianca II

SOPHIA’S POV

I called Bianca before I had even finished my tea.

She picked up on the third ring “Hi Sophia."

"How are you this morning?" I asked first, because that came before anything else.

I heard her exhale. "Better. I slept eventually. I also checked the lock about four times before I did, but...better”

"Good." I meant it completely. "I have something to tell you”

“What is it?"

"Marco called this morning. He ran into Thomas – the CEO of the Toer Group, the hospitality company. They’re expanding their hotel restaurant chain and they’re looking for a food content consultant. They need someone to develop recipes and build on-screen content for the brand." I paused. "It’s a real position, Bianca. It’s contracted, properly paid”

Silence.

Then: "Sophia."

"He thought of you immediately. He spoke about your channel, the audience you’re building, the way you talk about food-" I stopped. "He thinks you’re exactly what they’re looking for."

There was another silence, longer this time. I could feel her processing it on the other end of the line.

"Tell me everything," she said.

So I told her. I told her everything Marco had told me – the role, the hotels involved, the content expectations, the compensation.

I told her about the interview process, that it was still early, that nothing was guaranteed but that Thomas was serious and my brother’s recommendation carried real weight with him.

Bianca listened without interrupting, which was how I knew she was genuinely interested. When Bianca was only mildly interested in something, she interrupted constantly with questions. When something interested Bianca deeply, she went quiet and absorbed every word.

When I finished, she said, "The pay he mentioned."

"Yes."

"That’s .... Sophia, that’s almost double what I was making with Marcel’s company."

"I know."

"And it’s mine. It would be completely mine." Her voice had changed again. She sounded happier. "No one could take it from me. No connection to him. No-"

"Nothing," I said. "Clean slate”

"I’d finally be free of him, properly free."

My throat went tight "So you’ll interview?"

"Yes." She squealed "Yes, Sophia. Absolutely yes."

I felt so relieved. My wolf purred with happiness.

"I’ll call Marco right now and confirm. He’ll set up the interview as soon as possible."

"Tell him thank you," Bianca said. She was sniffling now. I could tell she was crying "Tell him - tell him it means everything. That I-"

"I’ll tell him," I said gently. "He knows."

"Sophia,"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for last night, for this morning, for-" She stopped, taking in a deep breath "For not letting me disappear."

I sat with that for a moment. I imagined how much this must mean to her. My eyes burned with tears.

"You were never going to disappear," I said. "I wouldn’t have allowed it."

She laughed and we said goodbye.

I called Marco back immediately. He picked up before it even rang properly, which meant he had been waiting.

"She’s interested," I said. "More than interested. She’s ready."

"Good. I’ll contact Thomas today and get something scheduled early next week if possible."

"Soon is better," I said. "She needs something to look forward to."

"I understand." He paused. "You sound better than you did an hour ago."

I smiled "I am better than I did an hour ago."

"Good. Go to work. I’ll handle this." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Thanks, bro."

"Always," he said, and ended the call.

I gathered my things, checked the bandage on my arm - still secure - and headed downstairs. When I got outside the front door, I stood on the front step for a moment just breathing the air in.

I felt so happy that Bianca had a chance to start afresh, away from Marcel.

I looked forward. That was when I noticed the car parked at the gate. I looked at the man standing beside it.

Lance was leaning against the driver’s side door, dressed for the hospital. He had a paper bag in one hand and a coffee carrier in the other. He stood there, just waiting.

When he saw me walk toward him, he smiled.

He walked toward me.

"Before you say anything," he said, holding out the paper bag, "I was already on this side of the city. And I had a strong suspicion you wouldn’t have eaten a proper breakfast."

I looked at the bag, then at him. "You drove to this side of the city at eight-thirty in the morning."

He shrugged "I was already here," he

I took the bag as I looked at him. Lance was so nice. He didn’t have to come all the way here for me.

Why was he so good to me?

"Lance," I said.

"How’s the arm?" he asked, already moving the conversation forward before I could finish whatever I was going to say.

I let it go. "Better. It felt stiff this morning, but the wound is clean."

"Did you sleep?"

"Eventually."

He held up the coffee carrier. "This is green tea. I assumed you’d say no to coffee given the arm."

He was right. Caffeine and an injury that needed calm healing were not friends. I took the tea. I was grateful for all he had done for me.

"You didn’t have to do this," I said.

"I know." He said with a smile.

"Thank you,"

He nodded "I’m heading to the hospital. Do you want a ride, or are you going to insist on driving with one functional arm?"

I looked at my car, then at him.

"Ride," I said.

He smiled again as he moved to open the passenger door.

-

The drive to the hospital was easy. Lance navigated the morning traffic without stress, one hand on the wheel, and we talked.

He asked about Bianca. I told him about the job opportunity, about the call, about the way she was excited. He listened without interrupting. When I finished he said, "Good. She deserves something that belongs entirely to her."

"She does," I said.

He asked about my graduate school application timeline. I told him I was planning to submit before the end of the month if the divorce paperwork resolved in time to give me clear headspace. He said he thought the timing was right, that my research proposal was strong, that Archer had mentioned me again just last week.

"What did he say?" I asked.

"That he hoped you’d apply before someone else recognised what he already had." Lance kept his eyes on the road, but the tips of his ears went slightly pink. "His words."

I turned to look at him. "That’s a very specific thing to remember verbatim."

"I have a good memory," he said with great dignity.

I looked back at the road with a smile.

The hospital came into view ahead of us.

"Lance," I said, as he pulled toward the entrance.

"Mm."

"Thank you. For this morning. For-" I paused, trying to find the right word. "For being consistent."

He glanced at me.

"Always," he said simply.