Peculiar Case of an Alpha (KENTELL)

CHAPTER 08

Ken kept pestering Stell about Reika the very next day. Whether they are already close or if he is interested in her, which he finds ridiculous. It continued for hours until the time that Stell's mind finally ticked off.
It was early afternoon, inside the alpha's office. The man was reporting the status of preparation for the anniversary of Superior son's foundation. Until he stopped when he felt his phone vibrating inside his pocket.
He excused himself to answer the call, still standing in front of his boss' desk where Ken is sitting. He turned off the iPad that he uses for work to focus on the caller.

"Hello?" The beta called and moved his eyes to see Ken. The latter didn't mind and instead wrote some documents on his table.
"Hello? Is this Stell?"
The voice was familiar, and instinctively he asked. "Reika?"
Stell didn't notice, but the younger quickly looked up upon hearing that name. He raised his left brow and listened still. Ken could only rely on his secretary's answers on the phone.

"Oh you remembered me!"
"Of course, why did you call?"
"I was just worried. Since your boss suddenly pulled you yesterday. Did I do something? Did he fire you?"

The man looked back at his Boss. Both stared at each other, but none mentioned a word.
Stell ignored him. "You didn't do anything wrong. And I'm fine, don't worry."
He heard a groan on the line. But it was a rather childish one, that sounded like a squeal to his ear. "Thank god, I was worried since yesterday."
It made the beta chuckle a little that Ken's face turned sour. The older already missed gaze with him and was now distracted by Reika's call. The alpha tilted his head, waiting for the older to finish. He tapped his fingers on the table, starting to get impatient.
"Sorry about that, you asked something before right? About...." Stell peeked at the CEO who was still watching and quickly avoided contact. "About someone.." he continued.
"Oh that?.... On second thought forget about it haha, it was stupid of me to ask anyway.."
"Oh? But didn't you talk to me because of that?"
He heard silence for a while until Reika answered. "No, forget about it."
Stell hummed. "But I still need to compensate right?"
"No-"
"Is this your number?"
"W-well yeah."
"If I'm free we could-" before Stell could even finish, the alpha snatched his phone making him turn around. He was surprised that the younger man is already next to him.

"What are you-" He widened his eyes when he saw how Ken ended the call. The older reacted in a displeasing tone but the man still didn't return his phone. He walked back to his seat, pulled the table's drawer, and threw the gadget inside.
"You were talking too much, we're in the middle of the work."
The beta's brows met each other. "But sir I'm doing my job! I'm trying to recompense by you pushing her."
"I didn't ask to do that Ajero."
"It's common sense!" Stell answered half shouting and continued. "Sir your reputation is at stake here, I'm trying to cease-fire with that girl and here you are being childish. Why are you even like this?"

Ken's lip twitch when he heard the word childish yet again from the beta, his head would boil whenever he hears it coming out on Stell's mouth. Does he really think of him that way? Was he really childish? He couldn't accept that.
The alpha then crossed his arms in irritation. But didn't realize that his mouth opened unaccordingly to his thoughts. Emotions went ahead as he talked back like reading a script.
"You have a lot of nerve talking back at me. I pay you Ajero, I didn't hire someone to easily blurt amateurish words in my face. I'm still your boss, you should even be thankful that you get special pay aside from your regular hours. Learn your place-"
He stopped knowing he didn't mean those words, surprised that it came from his mouth. But it was too late seeing that the older's face scrunched in disapproval. A small silence lingered between them.

Ken quickly felt regretful

"I'm so-"
"No, you were right sir. I'll continue my report." Stell cut him, opening his iPad again to read the report. His voice was cold and emotionless, a tone that Ken haven't heard in a while. The CEO was clueless and awkward to say something in return that he could only listen and act as if he did nothing wrong.