Page 61 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

That should be my focus. That should be the thing occupying my mind.

But it’s not.

Because for the past two weeks, I’ve had to deal with him.

Alex.

Every day, he’s there. Sitting across from me at board meetings, hovering on the edges of my work life like an unavoidable shadow. As if I don’t already have enough reminders of how I let myself be fooled by him.

And then, there are the flowers.

Roses. Lilies. Orchids. Some sent to my office, others delivered straight to my penthouse, because apparently, he refuses to acknowledge personal space. Always with a note. Always with some variation ofWe need to talk or Please hear me out.As if some beautifully arranged bouquet can erase the betrayal.

Well. That all stops today.

I march down the hallway, my hands tightening around the folder I’m holding. The board meeting is about to start, and this is it. This is the day I put an end to whatever game he thinks he’s playing.

The doors to the boardroom swing open as I push through them, and I barely slow my stride as I move toward my seat at the head of the long, gleaming table.

“Good morning,” I say, offering a curt nod to the board members as I pass.

They’re all here—every single one of them seated, ready, folders open, pens in hand. The usual suspects. The people who run this company alongside me, the ones who almost tore me down, and now pretend like they never considered it.

And then there’s him.

Alex is seated at the opposite end of the table, directly across from me, just like always.

I don’t look at him. Not really. Just a glance. Just enough to note that for once, he had the sense not to bring his bodyguards with him today. At least there’s that.

I settle into my chair, straightening my papers in front of me.

“Alright,” I say, letting my voice cut cleanly through the murmurs of small talk still lingering in the room. “Let’s begin.”

Andrew is the first to speak, as usual. It’s routine—he always kicks things off with an update on the company’s current standing. But today, his voice carries a little extra enthusiasm, the kind of energy that comes from delivering nothing but good news. He sounds like a man who loves what he’s about to say.

“Good morning, everyone,” he begins, clearing his throat slightly before launching in. “I’d like to start by bringing the board up to speed with the developments that have come as a result of our partnership with Mr. Alex Valkov.”

At that, he gestures toward Alex, who sits there, as unreadable as ever. His expression is calm, composed—polished, even.

Andrew continues, his excitement building.

“First of all, the numbers are looking excellent. We are not just out of the woods—we are well clear of bankruptcy. And it gets even better. We’re currently turning profits that actually surpass some of our best-performing periods. But the real excitement? The projections.”

A ripple moves through the room. The murmurs start—low but unmistakably pleased. I can already see it, the subtle changes in posture, the approving nods, the pleased glances exchanged between board members.

Andrew barely pauses before driving the point home. “As things stand, we are on track to generate record-breaking revenues in the next quarter.”

Now, the reactions are more pronounced—pleased whispers, smiles forming, some even leaning forward in their seats. It’s the kind of news they love to hear. The kind that fills their pockets.

Andrew presses on, his energy only growing. “The transfer of assets and infrastructure to the real estate holdings in Europe—which Mr. Valkov so graciously allowed us to use—has been a game changer. It’s opened our eyes to the potential and possibilities of expanding into the European market.

“Additionally, through Mr. Valkov’s connections, we’ve built solid working relationships with contractors in Europe. The benefits of continuing down this path are undeniable. We’ve found a viable market. There’s access to affordable labor, access to affordable materials. A European base, along with long-term expansion, presents enormous opportunities.”

More approving nods. More murmurs of agreement. They’re practically glowing now, every single one of them. This is what they wanted. More money. Bigger opportunities.

I, however, keep my expression neutral. Still. Unmoved.

Andrew continues, still beaming. “In short, we are in a remarkably stable position. Arguably better off than we were before the crisis even began. With our current financial standing, we can not only sustain our European presence but even revisit the Asian expansion plan in the near future.”

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