Page 29 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

I take his hand, holding onto him like he’s the only thing keeping me sane. And in this moment, maybe he is.

Chapter Nine

Katherine

The past few weeks have been a storm, just as I predicted the moment Lawrence fixed me with that piercing stare during the dinner. He didn’t even have to say a word—I knew exactly what was coming. And I was right.

Scrutiny from him and the elders has been relentless. They’ve woven their disapproval into every corner of my life. Board meetings that were supposed to be about quarterly projections have somehow turned into impromptu interventions about my personal life. They’ve cornered me in my office, even arranged formal sit-downs with Alex like it’s some twisted job interview.

The speeches are always the same. How unbecoming it is for someone like me to be with someone like him. How a janitor isn’t good enough for the future of the company, let alone my life. The sheer audacity makes my blood boil every single time.

Damn them. Damn them all.

I’ve told them repeatedly to back off, that it’s none of their business. I was single, now I’m not—that should’ve been the end of it. But their pressure is unrelenting, and it’s draining me more than I’d care to admit.

And then there’s Frank.Oh, Frank.

It’s as if he’s taken it upon himself to personally torment Alex. Every dry joke, every condescending jab—it’s all designed to rile me up. “Janitor, you missed a spot,” he’ll say as Alex walks by, doing his rounds. Alex barely even acknowledges it. He just carries on, calm and unbothered. But it grinds at me so much.

I take a deep breath, letting the rhythm of my footsteps center me as I head to my office. It’s the start of another workday, andall I want is to get through it without any confrontations or smug quips from Frank or Lawrence.

Just one peaceful day—please.

I turn the handle and step inside, but the second I do, I sense something. The room isn’t empty. I can feel it. My hand instinctively moves to the light switch, and the overhead lights hum to life.

There, by my desk, stands Alex.

I arch a brow in surprise. We just stand there for a moment, the silence stretching. His face is composed, unreadable for a beat, but then he cracks it with a soft, “Good morning, Katherine.”

“Alex?” My tone is more curious than anything else. “I thought your shift doesn’t start till tonight.”

He nods, slow and deliberate. “It doesn’t. I forgot my cell phone here yesterday, and by the time I realized, it was too late to come back. So I figured I’d swing by this morning.”

“And tidy the office while you’re at it,” I observe, noticing how spotless everything looks.

A small, warm feeling stirs in my chest. Even when he has no reason to, Alex goes out of his way to be helpful. He could’ve just grabbed his phone and left, but no—he straightened up the space too. And through all the humiliation Frank’s been hurling his way, he hasn’t so much as flinched. He’s handled it with grace, all because of a situation I pulled him into.

I smile, the warmth in my chest spreading.

Alex nods, stepping away from the desk and heading for the door. But just as his hand brushes the handle, I call out. “Alex…”

He turns back, his eyes meeting mine with that same steady warmth.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “For being kind. For being… you.”

For a second, I’m afraid the words don’t convey enough, that they don’t fully express the gratitude swirling inside me. But his expression turns, and he nods, offering me one of those rare smiles.

“Dinner tonight?” he asks, his tone light.

“Always,” I reply, the corner of my mouth quirking up.

With a gentle click, the door closes behind him, leaving me alone. The space feels quieter now, but lighter, as though just seeing him has eased me a little.

I sink into my chair and start up my computer, slipping into my usual morning routine of sorting through emails. Most of it is standard: invoices, reports, a few memos that require approval. But then something unusual catches my eye.

A file sitting squarely on my desktop, one I don’t recall putting there. The title reads Financial Dept Doc.

Curiosity sparks, and I click on it without hesitation.

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