Page 72 of Rivals Next Door

As I gawked at him, I felt heat flood my face.

“I was just… How did you know I was out here?”

He glanced up and down the hall. Pointing a finger, he said, “Security camera.”

That meant he saw me trying to muster the courage to knock. How embarrassing. I followed his gaze, silently musing about not even noticing the inconspicuous device, and then a realization hit.

I gasped loudly. “Oh, my God. The other night, we…”

“No one saw you,” he assured. “I angled my body just right. Anyone watching would think we were just kissing. I promise.”

My eyes narrowed to the smirk lifting his lips. The maverick. He really had no shame. “Thanks, I guess,” I muttered. “Wait a minute, if you saw me that means… Alex, how do you have access to the building’s security system?”

He quirked an eyebrow, and I mentally slapped my forehead. Of course, he could hack anything.

“Why do you have access?” I asked instead.

“It’s convenient.” He shrugged. “I only keep an eye on my door when I’m in Boston. And admittedly, I do look out for miserable Ms. Preston and her cat.”

I shook my head as I let out a little laugh. He tried so hard to be the bad guy when in fact he was incredibly sweet.

In an instant, his amusement vanished. It was replaced by that stony look… The same one he wore when he threatened to take my company. I hated it. “When I didn’t see you for a couple of days, I thought you went back to Massachusetts.”

“I went to see Raymond Walters,” I announced.

His eyebrows elevated. “Didn’t believe me even after I showed you proof?”

“It’s always better to fact-check.”

He hummed out a response. “What are you doing here… at my door?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Goodness, he sounded as if I was the last person he wanted to see. When would Alex stop looking at me with the proverbial side-eye? It was like he expected me to betray him again. That familiar wave of shame hit me every time I thought about that night I broke things off with him.

“I need your help,” I said. “I mean, I figured we could work together.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “On what?”

“May I come in?”

I almost scoffed when he hesitated as if he wanted to say no. However, he blew out a breath and stepped aside… reluctantly. I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I stepped inside. “You know, Alex, I don’t bite.”

He gave me a glare of pure irritation. “Pardon me for being a little wary of the woman who betrayed me.”

The accusation hit hard. I wasn’t sure why I kept letting him run with that narrative. Because it no longer matters, I told myself. My father was dead and gone as was my relationship with Alex.

“I came here to discuss serious business, so hopefully we can put all pettiness aside.”

He responded with a derisive snort. “Get to the point of what you want, Liv. I’ve got a busy day ahead.”

Biting back my flippant retort for his churlish tone, I did as he demanded. “After much thought, I decided that we should do something about Don Weaver. He needs to be exposed and stopped.”

“We?” The word rang with skepticism. “What makes you think I want to help you more than I already have?”

“Because,” I said, ignoring the hurt his questions caused. “The man is a menace to the entire business world and many innocent people who turn to companies like BioTech and Syn-Genix for help.”

Alex’s expression didn’t change, but I knew his detached look was just a front. “I prefer to work alone,” he said after a while.

A knowing smirk lifted my lips. “I knew it. I knew you were already making moves to stop Weaver in his tracks because I know you, Alex.”

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