Playing The Alphas

SAMANTHA

Since I stood my ground, Molly seemed even more irritated. With her lips pursed, she crossed her arms and declared confidently, "Go ahead and look into it then. I’ve done nothing wrong. What do I have to fear?" Her voice was steady, but I could see the flicker of unease in her eyes. She was putting on a brave front, but she knew she was guilty.

Following Jayce’s instructions, and with Molly’s consent, Daisy wiped her sweat and directed her team to inspect the equipment. Her hands trembled as she gave the orders, and I could tell she was terrified of being blamed. Shortly after, the person who was in charge of the equipment hurried over. He was a wiry man with nervous eyes, and he seemed to avoid looking directly at anyone.

After examining the rope, he reported to Jayce with respect, "Your Highness, the rope failed because it was old. It hasn’t been properly maintained in quite some time."

I was skeptical of this explanation and felt frustrated. How could it be such a ludicrous reason? Every other section of the safety rope was intact except for one that had snapped. The break was clean, deliberate. Clearly, this was done intentionally. A rope that had simply worn out would have shown fraying along its entire length, not a single, precise cut.

Despite my suspicions, the inspector had delivered his opinion. Arguing against it seemed pointless. I glanced at Molly, who smirked victoriously at me. She taunted, "You’re thinking too much. Who would waste their effort on a mere sex slave?"

Her words were meant to wound, to remind me of my place. However, her demeanor only deepened my suspicion that she bribed the inspector. The way he had delivered his report so quickly, so confidently, suggested he had been coached. Regrettably, I lacked proof. Moreover, my low status left me powerless to pursue the matter further.

I clenched my fists, silently vowing to find justice someday. My nails dug into my palms, the pain grounding me. I would not forget this. I would not let them get away with it.

Just when it seemed everything was settled, Jayce let out a sly chuckle. Raising an eyebrow, he looked at me and then slowly said to the staff, "If it’s truly due to old equipment, then every staff member here, including you, Daisy, must be punished."

Daisy and the workers instantly panicked. Their faces went pale, and I could see the terror spreading through them like wildfire. In almost no time, they fell to their knees before Jayce. Shaking, they pleaded, "Your... Your Highness..."

Jayce waved his hand impatiently and warned with a cold tone, "One more word and I’ll double your punishment."

Daisy and the rest fell silent. They felt like crying but were unable to let the tears out. Despair was evident on their faces. They knew they were being made scapegoats, but they also knew there was nothing they could do about it.

Molly, on the other hand, seemed even more pleased with herself. She shot me a challenging look as if to say, "I did it. What are you going to do about it?" Her eyes gleamed with triumph, and I could see the satisfaction radiating from her.

I quietly looked down. It didn’t matter. I was confident that I’d have many opportunities to outsmart her in the future. Today had not gone according to her plan, and that was a victory in itself. I would bide my time, gather my strength, and wait for the perfect moment to strike back.

Then, unexpectedly, a woman inquired, "What about today’s competition? Who won?"

The question hung in the air, and I felt the tension rise once more. Everyone turned their attention to the climbing wall, then back to me and Alicia. The competition had been forgotten in the chaos of my fall, but now it was back at the forefront.

"Neither reached the top. Obviously, there is no winner." Molly quickly declared the outcome of the competition before Jayce could speak.

While I generally disliked Molly, I couldn’t help but feel relieved by her announcement. Earlier, I had intentionally avoided reaching the top because I had no desire to spend a night with Jayce. I didn’t want to win or lose. The thought of either outcome was equally horrifying. Therefore, giving up on the competition seemed like the wisest choice.

Molly’s statement also brought relief to Alicia. She relaxed and, catching my gaze, she glared at me. Her eyes were filled with hatred and frustration, but there was also a hint of gratitude. She knew she had been spared from the shame of defeat.

However, Jayce let out a mocking sneer. His voice was thick with anger. "I haven’t declared the winner yet. Who gave you the authority to decide for me?"

His words cast a hush over the scene. No one dared to make a sound. The air grew heavy with tension, and I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares. They were all waiting to see what Jayce would do next.

A sense of unease washed over me. I had a feeling that this issue was far from over. Jayce was not the type to let things slide. He enjoyed control, and he enjoyed watching others squirm. He seemed to notice my uneasy expression. He raised his eyebrows and flashed a smile in my direction.

I shivered and quickly looked away, feeling panicked. That smile was never a good sign. It meant he was up to something, and I was usually the target.

"Alicia lagged earlier and didn’t make it to the top. Clearly, she’s out. Samantha is the winner. What more do you want me to say?" Jayce stated slowly.

"Or wait..." He cooed, with a little grin on his face. "Did you guys expect me to announce something different?"

His stare bored into me like a viper’s, intense and unsettling. True to my fears, he announced the very result I least wanted to hear.