Billionaire Byte: Geek to Alpha

Bound by Betrayal

Chapter 16:

Nathaniel’s POV

Naomi and I had been growing closer—too close, if I were honest with myself. She was doing well in her role, proving herself capable and sharp. But I kept my heart guarded. After all, she was my mate, and that alone was dangerous enough. Yet, her history as the one who made my life hell during high school was never far from my mind. No matter how much progress we seemed to make, it always hovered there, a reminder that trusting her could come at a cost.

That cost came due today.

Victoria burst into my office, her face pale and trembling as she clutched a folder to her chest. “Nathaniel, we have a problem,” she said, her voice quivering with urgency.

I leaned back in my chair, giving her my full attention. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Naomi,” she said, dropping the folder onto my desk. “She’s been stealing company secrets and selling them to your competitors.”

My chest tightened as I flipped open the folder. Inside were damning documents—emails, transaction logs, and confidential files—all traced back to Naomi’s account. My gut churned.

“What the hell is this?” I growled, my voice low and menacing.

“It’s all there,” Victoria said, placing a trembling hand on my arm. “I didn’t want to believe it, Nathaniel, but I overheard her on the phone, and I followed the trail. She’s been using her access to Project Guardian to leak sensitive information.”

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head. “She wouldn’t…”

“Wouldn’t she?” Victoria pressed. “Think about it, Nathaniel. She’s your mate, but that doesn’t erase who she was—or what she’s capable of. She’s gotten close to you, earned your trust. It all makes sense.”

My wolf, Dom, stirred uneasily in the back of my mind. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s all there in black and white,” I replied to him. The evidence was irrefutable—or so it seemed. And no matter how much progress Naomi and I had made, her betrayal felt like a knife to the chest.

I stormed into the lab where Naomi was working, slamming the folder onto her desk.

“Care to explain this?” I demanded, my voice a thunderclap in the otherwise quiet room.

Naomi looked up, startled. Her green eyes widened as she opened the folder, her expression shifting from confusion to horror.

“I… I don’t understand,” she stammered. “This isn’t mine. I didn’t do this.”

“Don’t lie to me, Naomi,” I snapped, my aura flaring. “I gave you a chance, and this is how you repay me?”

Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she stood her ground. “Nathaniel, I swear, I didn’t do this. Someone is setting me up.”

“Do you really expect me to believe that?” I snarled. “The evidence is right there. Emails, logs—it all points to you.”

“I would never do this to you,” she said, her voice trembling but firm. “You know me.”

“No,” I said coldly, my jaw tightening. “I don’t know you. I thought I did, but clearly, I was wrong.”

Her shoulders sagged as if my words had physically struck her, but she didn’t cry. She simply looked at me with a quiet defiance that only made my anger burn hotter.

“You’re fired,” I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “Gather your things. Security will escort you out.”

Watching her leave should have been satisfying, but it wasn’t. The bond we shared gnawed at me, a constant reminder of what she was supposed to be. My wolf howled in protest, but I pushed him down. I couldn’t think about that now. She had betrayed me—end of story.

But even as I tried to convince myself of her guilt, a nagging doubt lingered. Victoria’s words rang true, but Naomi’s reaction hadn’t matched the guilt of someone caught red-handed. Dom growled in the back of my mind. “You’re being a fool. She’s innocent.”

“If she’s innocent, then why does the evidence say otherwise?” I shot back, though the argument felt hollow.

I made my decision when Victoria suggested turning Naomi over to the council. If Naomi was innocent, the council’s interrogation methods would break her, and I couldn’t allow that—mate bond or not.

Instead, I had my guards collect her from her apartment. She was brought to my penthouse, kicking and protesting the entire way.

When I arrived, she was pacing the living room like a caged animal. Her hair was disheveled, her dress slightly wrinkled from her struggles with the guards, but her eyes were ablaze with fury.

“This is kidnapping!” she spat as I walked in. “You can’t just drag me here like this.”

I crossed my arms, standing tall as I stared her down. “You’re here because it’s better than the alternative.”

“And what’s that?” she snapped. “Throwing me to the council so they can toss me in a cell?”

“Yes,” I said bluntly. “That was the other option. But instead, I’m giving you a choice.”

Her laugh was bitter, almost hysterical. “A choice? Oh, I can’t wait to hear this.”

“You will stay here, under my roof, as my personal maid,” I said coldly. “You won’t leave without my permission, and you’ll follow my rules. Those are your terms. Take them or leave them.”

Her jaw dropped, and she stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “You want me to be your maid?” she said incredulously. “Are you out of your damn mind?”

“I’m protecting you, Naomi,” I said, my voice steady. “Whether you like it or not, this is your best option. If I let you out of my sight, the council will have you locked up until this is resolved. And trust me, you don’t want that.”

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped, the reality sinking in. Her shoulders sagged slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might break. But then she straightened, tilting her chin up in defiance.

“Fine,” she said, her voice laced with venom. “I’ll play your stupid little game. But don’t think for a second that I’m going to grovel at your feet.”

“Good,” I said, smirking faintly despite myself. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

I laid out the rules that night, watching her every reaction as I spoke.

“You’ll stay in the guest room,” I began. “You’ll have access to the kitchen and living areas, but my office and bedroom are off-limits.”

“Fine,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

“You’ll report to me every morning with a summary of what you’ve done and anything you’ve noticed in the penthouse. If you try to leave without permission, the guards will stop you.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

“And lastly,” I added, stepping closer, “you will address me as Mr. Alistair. Always.”

Her laughter was sharp and bitter. “Oh, of course, Mr. Alistair,” she said mockingly. “Anything else? Should I call you ‘Master’ too?”

Dom chuckled in the back of my mind. “She’s got spirit. I like her.”

“Careful, Naomi,” I warned, my voice low. “I’m being generous, but that doesn’t mean my patience is infinite.”

She met my gaze, her green eyes blazing. “Generous?” she repeated. “You accused me of a crime I didn’t commit, dragged me here like a prisoner, and now you want me to serve you? Yeah, you’re so generous, Nathaniel.”

“Mr. Alistair,” I corrected, enjoying the way her jaw tightened.

She spun around and stormed off toward the guest room, slamming the door behind her. I stood in the living room for a moment, the tension still thick in the air. Dom growled lowly. “She’s ours. You’re being a fool.”

“She’s a traitor,” I muttered under my breath, though the words felt hollow. Pouring myself a glass of whiskey, I stared out at the city lights. Naomi infuriated me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the pull I felt toward her.

This arrangement might have been a way to keep her close during the investigation, but part of me couldn’t help but wonder if I had other, more selfish reasons. Reasons I wasn’t ready to admit—not to her, and certainly not to myself.