Page 50 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

Alex lets the murmurs settle before speaking again, his tone growing even more commanding now that the proof is in front of everyone. “Now, about the plan.” He leans forward slightly, his voice cutting through the air.

“As you’ll see, I’m proposing that Pinnacle Group move the assets needed for the intended Asian expansion to my properties in Europe. You can establish your infrastructure there until your relations with the Asian partners are repaired and the expansion can be resumed.” He pauses for a beat before continuing, each word heavy with authority. “As for the financial investment, the figure I’m willing to commit is in that file. And it is more than enough to stave off bankruptcy. This won’t just keep the company alive, it will help it thrive.”

My eyes flick back down to the numbers, scanning the page again. The figures here… they’re beyond anything I could’ve hoped for from the combined input of everyone I invited for that gala. He’s not just offering cash, but access to his real estate—properties in Europe, at no cost. That’s… huge.

Whispers explode around the room again. Eyes dart back and forth. People are talking, exchanging glances, but Frank cuts through the noise. His voice is sharp, cutting. “And… why are you doing this?” His question hangs in the room. “The file doesn’t state what you stand to benefit from all of this.”

Alex turns his head, locking eyes with Frank, and for a moment, I see the faintest flicker of amusement on his face. “All I require,” he says slowly, his tone cool, “is a role as a director, and a seat on the board. At least until the company stabilizes.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then one of the other board members speaks up immediately, his voice dripping with approval. “That sounds like a more than fair deal.”

Frank’s head whips around, his eyes narrowing to slits, sending daggers across the room. He glares at the board member who spoke, but the moment passes.

His attention snaps back to Alex, and now there’s an edge in his voice. “For months, you worked here as a janitor. A janitor. And then out of nowhere, you show up with deep pockets, properties, connections… Care to explain why you were posing as a janitor for so long?”

Alex doesn’t flinch. He barely reacts. He gives a small shrug, that same cocky smirk curling on his lips. “I was working on my acting skills,” he says with a casual tilt of his head.

A modest chuckle comes from one of the board members, though Frank’s glare intensifies, if anything. Alex leans back slightly, his expression turning to something colder, more serious.

“You can keep asking me questions about things that aren’t relevant, Frank. Or we can focus on what is relevant.” His voice is firm now, like an iron rod. “My terms have been stated. The real question is: What does the board decide?”

And then, just like that, he moves his gaze, fixing it straight on me.

“What does the CEO decide. Katherine?” Hearing him say my name again sends a fresh wave of angst through me. My jaw tightens, and I feel my nails dig into the table as I rest my hands there, trying to ground myself.

The memory of the last time he looked at me, that coldness in his eyes as he told me I was nothing but a pawn in his plan—it comes rushing back, and this time, the fury mixes with something I don’t quite understand.

Before I can even form a response, Lawrence speaks up. His voice is deep, filled with that aged, practiced authority that never fails to command attention. “The deal you’ve proposed looks good,” he says, eyes narrowing slightly.

“But we may have a change of leadership after today.” He turns slowly, almost dramatically, to me. “I intend to move forward with a vote of no confidence against the current CEO for leading the company to this position in the first place.”

My heart races. But I keep my face steady. I knew this was coming.

Alex’s brow lifts slightly, like he’s intrigued, but there’s no panic in his voice when he responds. “Oh,” he says with a calmness that could freeze ice. He turns in his seat, resting his hands on the table as he looks at Lawrence. “Well, then I’d like to add something at this juncture.” His voice doesn’t rise, but it carries significance. “I will only move forward with my offer under the current leadership. If Katherine is not CEO of Pinnacle Group, then my offer is off the table.”

A gasp ripples through the room, and my eyes widen despite myself.

What is he doing? Why is he doing this? Is this part of his plan? Another mission of his that I still don’t understand?

I quickly shove down the surprise, trying to mask it. I force my expression back into neutrality.

The entire atmosphere in the boardroom changes again. The tension, thick enough to choke on, coils around the air like a live wire. The board members—those same men who had spent months doubting me, challenging me, waiting for me to fail—are now all looking at Lawrence, their eyes wide with expectation.

Lawrence doesn’t speak. Not immediately. But I can see it—the wheels turning in his head, the calculations being made behind that unreadable expression of his. He’s always been a sharp old bastard, and right now, he’s putting the pieces together, seeing exactly what’s happening here.

He knows the board wants Alex’s deal.

They might not like me. Hell, they’ve made that clear more times than I can count. But if there’s one thing they dislike even more, it’s losing money. And if Pinnacle Group goes bankrupt, every single one of them takes a hit where it hurts the most—their pockets.

Alex is offering the only way out.

And Lawrence, ever the survivor, has seen which way the tide is turning.

“Well then,” he finally says, his voice measured, deliberate. “In the interest of the company, I officially withdraw my motion for a vote of no confidence.”

There’s a moment of stunned silence—then, a collective exhale from the room. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A ripple of relief passing through the board like a current.

Across the table, Alex smiles.“Excellent,” he says smoothly, leaning back in his seat, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. “Now, since that’s out of the way, can—”

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