Page 49 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

He pauses,, his gaze scanning the room as he finishes, “And my name…” He lets the moment stretch.

“…is Alex Valkov.”

Chapter Fourteen

Katherine

I’ve always been the one to arrive last to these board meetings. It’s become kind of my thing—waiting until everyone else is settled in. Sometimes, it’s because I’ve got a mountain of work to power through, other times, I just need a minute to get myself centered before walking in. I prefer knowing they’re all in their seats, locked in, before I show up.

But today is different.

I’m the first one here. I’m early. I lean back slightly in the oversized leather chair, my mind buzzing with a million thoughts from last night. I almost feel like I’m watching this whole thing unfold from the outside. Everything’s surreal, like I’m caught in some strange haze.

Alex came back. Out of nowhere, like he’d been hiding in the shadows this whole time. And when he stepped up onto that stage last night, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought I was hallucinating for a second. I swear, I blinked just to make sure I wasn’t losing it.

There he was, standing tall in front of everyone at the gala, declaring that he was going to save Pinnacle Group. He said he’d provide the investment we needed to keep the business afloat, to pull us back from the brink of bankruptcy.

I couldn’t stick around after that. I had to leave. It was too much to take in. How could he just show up like that? The guy who had played me for a damn fool for months.

One by one, the other board members trickle in, each one taking their seats. They don’t comment on me being here early, though I can see the surprise written all over their faces.

Uncle Lawrence walks in with that usual air of authority he carries around like it’s his birthright. He doesn’t acknowledge me. I don’t acknowledge him. There’s a tension between us now, one that’s practically palpable. He sits a few chairs down from me, keeping his distance.

Frank slides in a minute later, all sharp eyes and tight-lipped energy. I know what’s going on behind that calm face of his, though—he wants me out. Uncle Lawrence has made it crystal clear that he plans to lead a vote of no confidence against me today, and I can’t imagine a single person in this room won’t back him up. They’ve never been on my side.

But even Lawrence? Even Frank? They both seem… uncertain. Everyone’s uneasy. No one knows what’s going to happen. Hell, I don’t even know how this is going to play out.

And then, just like that, the doors swing open.

Alex enters the room with an unmistakable confidence. His hair’s perfectly styled, his black suit looking sharp enough to cut glass. Two massive guys—bodyguards, I’m guessing—flank him on either side.

Both of them are practically as tall as Alex, wearing matching black suits and sunglasses. They don’t look friendly. Hell, they look like they could tear you apart without breaking a sweat. I know what they are, though. I’m the only one in the room who does. Wolf shifters, just like Alex.

I look at him as he takes the seat at the opposite end of the long board table, and I can’t help the feelings that bubble inside me.That raw, unspoken anger, the betrayal. I can feel it crawling up my spine, and my chest tightens, but I don’t look at him long enough to let it consume me. I pull my gaze away and try to focus on something—anything—else.

And then his voice rings out, low and commanding, filling the space. “Well then, everyone’s present. Let’s begin.”

Alex gestures to the two towering bodyguards standing beside him, and without a word, they start moving around the room, passing out thick files to each of the board members. They walk slowly, methodically, like they’re on a mission, making sure each person gets a neat stack of papers.

“You’ll find everything you need in there,” Alex’s voice cuts through the silence, carrying a steady, authoritative edge. “The details of my plan, along with a white paper on some of the companies I own, my properties, and a bank statement. To assure you, I’m fully capable of making the investment necessary.”

His words linger in the air, and there’s a change in the atmosphere in the room. Everyone starts flipping through the papers. A few eyebrows raise. Some of the more seasoned board members exchange glances.

The bodyguard finally reaches me, and with a slight bow of his head, places a file in front of me. I take a quick look around, watching the others skimming through the documents, some looking impressed, others a bit more skeptical. I pick it up slowly, keeping my face neutral.

I freeze for a moment, my breath hitching.

He’s a billionaire.

My mind is trying to process the figures I’m seeing in this file, but Alex’s voice breaks through again, smooth and unfazed. “It’s all verifiable, in case anyone has doubts,” he adds, scanning the room with that cool, piercing gaze.

Andrew, always the techie, has already opened his laptop, his fingers tapping furiously at the keys. He glances up a moment later, his expression morphing from focused to surprised. “Itall checks out,” he mutters, eyes wide. “The properties are all registered under his name.”

The energy in the room changes immediately. The board members start whispering to each other, low murmurs rising and falling like a growing wave. The spark of enthusiasm is palpable now. Their eyes—once skeptical—are starting to light up.

Frank’s face is still locked in confusion, his green eyes narrowing like he’s trying to figure out a puzzle that’s one piece away from completion. Lawrence, on the other hand, just stares at the document in front of him, his fingers slowly tracing the lines as though he’s weighing the stakes of everything.

I keep my expression as neutral as possible, though I feel my pulse quicken.

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