Chapter 4 - The UltimatumAs soon as the front door clicked shut, Alexander strode over to the pantry door and pulled it open. Chloe stepped out, her face pale, her eyes wide with terror.
"He knows," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "He saw me, or at least he suspects something. Alexander, this is over. I have to leave. Tonight."
"You are not going anywhere," Alexander said firmly, blocking her path to the exit.
"Are you insane?" Chloe raised her voice, frustration finally boiling over. "Julian is looking for any excuse to strip you of your CEO position. If he finds out we have feelings for each other, he will destroy me to get to you. I won't be the weapon used to bring you down!"
Alexander grabbed her shoulders, his grip steady and unyielding. "Look at me, Chloe. Julian thinks he holds all the cards, but he's walking straight into a trap I've been setting for months. He's been embezzling funds from the subsidiary accounts, and I have the financial audits locked in my safe. Tomorrow morning, the board meets. Julian thinks he's staging a coup, but it's actually his final day at Vance Enterprises."
Chloe stared at him, stunned. "You... you knew he was spying on you?"
"I knew he was plotting," Alexander said softly, his thumb gently wiping away a stray tear on her cheek. "I just needed him to make his move so I could cut him out permanently. But I didn't plan on you getting caught in the crossfire. That's why I was crying, Chloe. Not because of corporate stress, but because I was terrified Julian would use you to hurt me, and I wouldn't be able to protect you in time."
For the first time, the massive weight of his lonely, guarded world made sense to her. He wasn't just a cold billionaire; he was a man surrounded by sharks, desperately trying to keep a pure piece of his soul safe.
May you like
"What do we do now?" Chloe asked quietly, leaning ever so slightly into his touch.
"We finish this," Alexander replied, his eyes burning with determination. "Together."
