Page 57 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

A beat of silence.

Finally, she pulls her gaze from the screen and looks at me again.

There’s something unreadable in her expression. Something guarded.

“Us?”

She says the word like it’s foreign. Like it doesn’t belong in her mouth. Then, she shakes her head—sharper this time, more decisive.

“If you’re not here to talk about work, then there’s nothing for us to talk about, Mr. Valkov.”

I inhale deeply, trying to steady myself, trying to find the right words.

Another step closer. Not too much, just enough. My voice is gentler now, careful.

“Katherine, I know I hurt you. I know I was terrible to you before I left. But please, you have to hear me out. You have to let me explain.”

Her head tilts ever so slightly, her jaw tightening.

“I don’t have to listen to anything that isn’t related to our business arrangement.”

Her words cut clean and sharp, each syllable carrying a bite, as if the very suggestion that shehasto listen to me grates against her.

I exhale, the breath leaving me in a slow sigh.

I just need her to listen. Just for a moment.

“Haven’t I earned that much?” I press. “I helped save the company. I stopped the board from replacing you. I even got rid of Frank—”

Her eyes flash, her expression twisting into something between disbelief and irritation.

I don’t know why she’s looking at me like that. I’m not throwing any of this in her face. I’m just stating facts and making a case for her to at least hear what I have to say.

“At the very least, I think I’ve earned a minute to explain myself. To tell you why I did what I did.”

She lets out a scoff, shaking her head like I’ve just said something blasphemous.

“Oh, so you think I should be grateful? Is that it?” She leans back, crossing her arms, her voice laced with sarcasm. “You think I should throw my hands in the air and give you a hug?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m—”

“No, Alex.”

The way she says my name—it’s sharp, final.

“You don’t get to come in here and make any demands of me.”

It stings, the way she speaks to me like this. Like I’m just some outsider forcing my way into her world. But a small part of me—the desperate part—is at least relieved she called me Alex and not Mr. Valkov.

“You show up here, flanked by your guards, like you’re making some kind of power move. You take over my board. You use a crisis to impose your will on my company, making them push for a member’s removal—”

Something in me tugs at that statement.

“Frank?” I cut in. “I did that to protect you. He wanted you out more than anyone, and he was stealing from the company. I did that for you.”

She doesn’t even hesitate.

“Did you ask me?”

---