Page 51 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

“Bullshit!”

Frank’s voice slices through the moment like a blade, shattering the fragile air of resolution that had just settled.

The entire room stills.

Every head turns toward him.

His face is flushed with anger, jaw tight, hands gripping the table so hard his knuckles have gone white.

“The vote must go ahead,” he snaps, his voice rising.

Lawrence moves slightly in his seat, his expression turning wary. “Frank—”

“No,” Frank cuts him off, his voice sharp, almost frantic. “This farce has to stop. She has almost run this company into the ground, and today is the day it ends.”

My brow lifts slightly.Almost run the company into the ground?As if he isn’t the reason we’re in this mess to begin with?

But I say nothing.

Lawrence sighs, the kind of sigh that says he’s trying to keep his patience intact. “Frank, calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Frank shouts, his voice booming through the room.

The other board members move uncomfortably, casting nervous glances at one another. Some of them look shocked, others wary, as if unsure whether to intervene or let Frank dig his own grave.

Across from me, Alex is still sitting back, arms crossed, looking thoroughly entertained by the entire spectacle. Like he’s watching a particularly amusing play unfold.

Frank exhales hard through his nose, eyes burning with frustration. “If you don’t have the stones to go through with it, I will,” he spits, shoving back his chair as he stands. “I am officially moving a motion of no confidence against the CEO.”

His gaze tilts then, snapping toward Alex like a venomous strike. “And you—” he jabs a finger toward him “—can’t just waltz in here and dictate how we run this company just because you’re throwing money at it.”

Alex raises an eyebrow, looking genuinely amused now. “I haven’t dictated anything,” he says, voice calm, almost lazy. “I’ve simply stated that if Katherine is removed as CEO, my offer is off the table. You’re more than welcome to carry on with your vote.”

Silence.

The tenseness is a living, breathing thing, curling around the room, pressing in from all sides.

I take a steady breath, then clear my throat.

All eyes snap to me now.

“Gentlemen,” I begin, keeping my tone even, steady, unbothered even as my pulse kicks up a notch. “In line with company policy, in the event of a no-confidence vote at board level, we will carry out the vote simply and immediately.”

I pause, let that settle. Then, with my back straight and my gaze unwavering, I say, “All in support of the vote of no confidence in my leadership, please make a show of hands.”

I brace myself.

Frank’s hand shoots up immediately. His is the only hand up.

Even Lawrence—who had been the one to initiate this whole thing—doesn’t raise his hand.

Frank’s face visibly darkens, a flush creeping up his neck, his breathing going shallow with barely contained rage.

“Well,” I start, my voice light, almost indifferent, “I guess that settles tha—”

“Cowards!”

The word explodes from Frank like a bomb, cutting through the air, echoing against the walls.

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