Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 03

Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 03

Julian was ten minutes late before the Zoom call started.

When his screen turned on, he was in the conference room of the Crestmoon Pack Group headquarters.

Tessa was sitting right next to him, wrapped in that same white cashmere scarf.

She smiled at the camera.

“Aurora, long time no see. You look a bit haggard in Paris.”

I flipped open my notebook.

“Let’s get started.”

Julian frowned.

“Don’t you have anything else to say?”

I looked at him.

“What do you want to hear, Alpha?”

My tone was flat.

Once upon a time, when I called him Alpha, it always had a soft, intimate dependency in it. Now, it was nothing but polite distance.

The conference room went quiet for a beat.

Julian’s face darkened a bit.

Tessa jumped in to smooth things over immediately.

“Alpha, don’t be like that. Aurora must be still mad at me, I know.”

She pulled the scarf higher around her neck, her voice soft and just sweet enough.

“Aurora, it was my fault the other day. But the past can’t be changed, don’t blame Alpha. It was hard for him back then too.”

I clicked my pen cap closed.

“Ms. Voss, today we’re talking design, not old Pack Hospital drama.”

Someone on the other end coughed into their hand.

Julian’s eyes went cold.

“Aurora, watch your language.”

I lifted my chin.

“She can say it at my three-year courtship anniversary party, can’t I ask her to stay quiet during this meeting?”

Tessa’s eyes filled with tears instantly.

“That’s not what I meant. I just thought since the theme is Old Flame Reunited, my experience might help with the design.”

Julian pushed a glass of warm water over to her.

“Don’t cry.”

Then he looked at me.

“Tessa is the guest muse for this project. You need to listen to her input.”

I pulled up my design draft.

“Fine.”

I shared my draft to the screen.

“I recommend changing the theme to Broken Circle. Old flames aren’t meant to reunite, they’re meant to miss each other. Cut the ring band in the middle, connect the two ends with cold white gold, keep the gap visible on purpose.”

The marketing director from Crestmoon Pack Group lit up.

“This concept is really high-end.”

Tessa just laughed softly.

“But wouldn’t a gap mean incomplete? Didn’t Alpha say he wanted the collection to feel bittersweet but ultimately whole?”

Julian stared at the screen, his tone cool.

“Change it to a full circle.”

I said, “A full circle has no memorable hook.”

“We’re selling for profit, not catering to your personal mood.”

My wolf laughed low and cold in my chest.

So he didn’t miss the point of my design. He just panicked when my gap stung Tessa, and rushed to make me sand all the edges smooth.

He rapped his knuckles on the table.

“Aurora, you’ve been off your game lately. Stop being so stubborn.”

I stared at his hand.

That same hand used to hold mine while we sketched ring designs.

He once said, “Your designs have edge and light—they’re my favorite.”

Now he wanted me to sand down the edge to fit Tessa’s perfect little picture.

My advisor spoke up from the side.

“Alpha Julian, Aurora’s concept fits international aesthetics far better.”

Julian’s expression didn’t shift.

“Crestmoon territory’s market is handled by Crestmoon Pack Group. I said change it, so it changes.”

Tessa mumbled softly.

“Maybe just let it go? Aurora doesn’t like me anyway, she’ll never listen to anything I say.”

Julian looked at me.

“Apologize to Tessa.”

I thought I’d misheard.

“What?”

“She only gave a suggestion, and you humiliated her in front of everyone.”

I laughed.

“Julian, you’re telling me to apologize to her in front of the entire meeting?”

“This is a professional setting.”

“So what?”

He stared me down, every word sharp and clear.

“So don’t make me think you don’t even have basic professional decency.”

No one in the conference room said a word.

Tessa kept her eyes down, but the corner of her mouth tugged up just barely.

I turned off the projector.

“Ms. Voss, I’m sorry.”

The tension in Julian’s shoulders softened.

I kept going.

“I’m sorry I underestimated how good you are at wrapping personal drama up as professional feedback.”

Tessa went pale.

Julian shot to his feet.

“Aurora Brooks!”

I pulled off my headset.

“This meeting is adjourned. I’ll send revised notes in writing.”

Before I hung up, I heard Julian’s voice, tight with rage.

“You’d better think long and hard about the consequences!”

The screen went black.

My advisor was quiet for a minute, then asked, “Has he ever talked to you like that before?”

I looked at my own hand.

My fingertips were ice-cold.

“No.”

He used to introduce me to everyone.

He’d say, “This is Aurora. She’s the most important person to me, and the best designer I know.”

Now the most important person had turned into a contractor he could dress down in public.

My phone lit up.

A text from Julian.

[Apologize to Tessa formally by tonight, or I’m replacing you as co-lead designer.]

I stared at it for a long time, then texted back.

[Do whatever you want.]

Five minutes later, an internal Crestmoon Pack Group email hit my inbox, copied to all stakeholders.

[Lead Creative Designer: Tessa Voss.]

[Special Advisor: Aurora Brooks.]