Fated: An Alpha Male Romance by K. Alex Walker Read Free Book Online

doctors had proposed. Grandma Evelyn had also said that she hadn’t been worried because Eli and Gia were, as you know, rooted.
    Eli, like Kai, had beautiful almond-brown skin and the glittering sapphire eyes that they also shared with his grandmother and twin sister. Those same eyes were now gazing at Gia as though not another living soul was in the room. Roderick had never looked at me like that in the entire time we were together, including when we first met, but I’d never noticed until that moment.
    “Excuse me, you two,” my mother said, snapping at Eli and Gia. “We are in public so please act like it. Look at Alexandra and Roderick. Gia, why can’t you be more like your sister?”
    Her eyes flickered over to me and she smiled. I wanted to throw up, very violently, all over the intricately decorated tabletop. I often wished that I could let them know how much I wanted to be more like Gia and shuck the perception of perfection that they held of me. Just once, I wished that I could care more about how I saw myself rather than how other people regarded me.
    “We’re married, Mother,” Gia answered, and I closed my eyes because I knew that something characteristically “Gia” was going to follow.
    “Married people want to leave boring, pretentious functions so that they can go home and screw each other’s brains out.”
    My father’s head turned as he became aware of the conversation. A scathing look of disapproval was directed towards Gia which she brushed off with graceful ease. I would have already been cowering underneath the table. Even the thought of being a disappointment to my father was enough to throw my stomach into knots.
    My decision not to pursue a PhD after getting my Masters had resulted in an Iliad -length tale of disappointment from my parents, but it was quickly curbed when I’d lied and told them that it was because I’d met Roderick and wanted to help him focus on his campaign. In actuality, the passion just hadn’t been there anymore. Academic stress, coupled with the social stress of having to uphold a certain image whether in public or private, threw me into a good old-fashioned burnout. Yet, the minute I’d mentioned giving up a personal endeavor in favor of the career of my significant other…I’d never before seen my father so pleased.
    “How are you and your sister so different?” Roderick asked, leaning close to my ear. He wasn’t expecting a response as the question was really code for “I’m so glad that you’re not like your sister.”
    Right on time, a server whisked by to refill my champagne glass. I’d planned to drink just enough to numbly flit about the room, smiling and thanking attendees who supported the community board’s mission, but with the way the night was headed, I felt like I would eventually have to go in search of harder liquor.
    “Grandma looks so happy,” Gia said, pointing with her chin. I looked over the rim of my glass to find our grandmother, this time decked out in a blush-colored dress and long white gloves, giggling in Ethan’s close embrace. Ethan dipped her gently and when he brought her back up, her hand went to her chest as she reddened. I remembered his step-grandfather comment and smiled.
    “Alle,” she suddenly called, waving at me. “Come on over and say hello to Dr. Stewart.”
    Both my father and Roderick looked at me.
    “Is that the same Dr. Stewart that sits on the board?” Roderick asked.
    “Yes,” I answered, not at all surprised that Roderick hadn’t recognized the man that I’d introduced him to on three separate occasions.
    Roderick tapped his chin. “Hmm.”
    “I don’t feel comfortable asking him to donate money to your campaign, Rick,” I acknowledged. My breaths suddenly became shallow as Ethan stood watching, waiting for me to walk over.
    “But this ninth-ward thing is his brainchild, Alexandra. If I could get on this project, do you know what that could do for my image?”
    “Yes, a photo of you