CHAPTER 328: BINDING ME TO YOU

Katelyn pressed enter as she sent the last email of the day. She gazed at the clock and smiled. Finally, she was free. The weekend was here and she had decided to spend it with Amelie.

She collected her things, ready to leave, not caring if Sage would still work or leave. Walking to the elevator, she reached her hand to the button to press it when a voice came from behind her.

"Secretary Katelyn, the Director wants you in his office," the man, who was a colleague, informed her.

’What does he want now?’ Katelyn thought and rolled her eyes before heading to the office, where Sage was awaiting her. She gently knocked on the door and walked inside after pushing the door open.

"What do you want now? I’ve finished my work," Katelyn replied.

"We have to leave for a business meeting immediately," Sage replied, lifting his gaze from the computer screen. "It’s in the other city," he pronounced.

"I’ve to spend this weekend with my family. I am not going for any business meeting anywhere," Katelyn refused.

"You’re truly unprofessional," he remarked coldly. "Do you think it’s fun for me to entertain your tantrums? There’s a limit to it. Aren’t you already twenty-four? Why do you act like a teenager?" Sage frowned at her.

"That’s because you always pick on me," Katelyn said. "Especially after I rejected you, your ego got hurt."

"Kate, I never picked on you. In fact, you’re lucky that I’ve put an assistant along with you to distribute your work," Sage pronounced, his hands clasping together on the desk as he leaned forward. "You think you’re doing a favor to me or your father by doing work. Princess or not, learn to respect every work you do."

She turned quiet. ’Why does he always scold me? Is he my mentor?’ Katelyn thought.

Sage then lifted from his chair and heard the phone vibrating in Katelyn’s purse. "Answer your call," he said, walking to the adjacent room in the office space.

Katelyn pulled out the phone from inside her purse and saw it was from his father. Excited, she picked up the call and greeted Raidan.

"Kate, is your work over? I suppose it is," Raidan said from the other side.

"Yes, it has finished, Dad," Katelyn replied. "Why did you call? Are you missing me?"

Raidan smiled faintly.

"I wanted to let you know that I spoke with Sage’s father. Kate, I can’t turn my back on the promise I made to William. You haven’t given me a real reason why Sage isn’t the man you want. And you haven’t told me if there’s someone else in your heart. Your mother and I want to see you married soon. With your brother’s wedding next week... I trust you understand what I mean."

Katelyn’s hand tightened into a fist by her side. "Yes, Dad."

"If not Sage, then I’ll look for someone else, someone more suitable to your choice. Of course, it will still be an alpha. Why don’t you give it a month? Sometimes, what feels bitter in the beginning can turn sweet with time," Raidan advised.

Her mood soured instantly. She wanted to keep her temper in check, but silence was impossible.

"What will happen after a month, Dad?" Katelyn asked. "Will I suddenly be able to pull this off? Or will you and Mom keep forcing me, no matter what I say?"

"Kate... let’s answer your question after one month," Raidan replied, avoiding a direct clash.

"Fine! My answer isn’t going to change," Katelyn said with conviction. She exhaled sharply. "I’ll hang up now. I have to leave immediately for a business meeting."

She ended the call, lowering the phone from her ear, her chest tight with frustration.

Just then, Sage emerged from the office, a duffel bag in hand, his usual calm composure in place.

"Let’s go," he said, walking past her toward his desk without a second glance.

Katelyn swallowed her anger, unwilling to argue further, and followed him out. At the elevator, she pressed the button. The doors slid open, and the two stepped in, an unspoken tension pressing in around them as the doors closed.

The silence was heavy until Katelyn broke it.

"What did your father tell my father?" she demanded as if accusing him of destroying things for her.

"I don’t know," Sage lied.

Katelyn turned her head, fixing him with a steady glare. "You’re binding me to you, Sage... knowing full well that I don’t like you. And I never will."

Sage met her glare without flinching. Slowly, he closed the space between them. Katelyn instinctively retreated until the cold steel wall pressed against her back. His piercing gaze locked onto hers.

"Kate," Sage began. "You’re testing me now. Who’s to say your heart won’t change? Everything you think you know about me—" he leaned closer, his tone darkening, "—is nothing more than gossip. The real me is still unknown... to you, and to everyone else."

Katelyn let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "The real you?" Her lips curved into a bitter smile. "Don’t flatter yourself, Sage. Your real self isn’t hidden at all. It’s right here: arrogant, self-absorbed, and so convinced the world should bend around you."

"Aren’t you the same?" Sage asked her. "You also think that the world should revolve around you. And about arrogant behavior, I must say you’ve exceeded my expectations yesterday. You threw away something so important to me. Kate, ask your heart once what it feels like to hurt the person with something they hold dear. I must say I’ve never expected such cruelty from you. You may not understand the value of a mother, but I do. What you did yesterday showed you only care for yourself, not others. That’s the real you. Since you’ve heard rumors about me, I’ve also heard the same for you. You tried harming Amelie using Gabriel’s ex. You knew what you were doing, yet you didn’t stop."

Katelyn clenched her fists as tears brimmed in her eyes. The elevator’s doors opened at the right time and Sage took a step back, walking out.