Tess proceeded to share how she was Alexander’s former secretary and had tried various tricks and tips to get him into bed with her so she could marry him. However, all her attempts failed, and in the end, she was dismissed from her position and given another role within the company. She was still grateful because he could have fired her completely. "I guess he still has a bit of humanity in him," Claire thought to herself after hearing Tess’s story. "That’s how I know he’ll never look at you, even if you try," Tess concluded with a bright smile. This made Claire wonder what her fate with him would be and made her more determined to keep her job at all costs. Her contract would soon be over, and there was no hope of Alexander ever having a change of heart toward her, not that she wanted him to, or so she thought. On their way back to the office, Claire received a call from Alexander, asking her to come up to his office. She excused herself from Tess and took another elevator to
When they arrived home, everything was already packed for their overnight stay in Paris. Claire barely had time to shower and change her clothes due to Alexander’s rush. Once they finally got into the car, she had a quick conversation with her mum over the phone, explaining that she was on a work trip and would be back tomorrow. "If you're worried about leaving your mum by herself, I can send Mrs. Hamptons to stay with her," Alexander said, noticing the worried look on Claire's face. "That would be a great idea if my mum knew I was married to a billionaire, but she doesn’t. So, let's keep it at that. Nice idea, though." They soon arrived at the airport and were warmly ushered to the lounge. It didn’t take long before they were transported by car to the departure terminal, where they would board Alexander’s private jet. Despite knowing how wealthy he was, Claire never failed to be amazed every time. Claire looked around in awe as they settled into the private jet. The interior
Claire was flustered, both from the mistake and from how close Alexander was almost naked. "They look the same, that's why I made a mistake," she muttered, trying to slip past him to retrieve her own luggage. But Alexander blocked her way, leaning in even closer.Her breath hitched from how close he was.“What’s wrong? It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve seen me like this,” he teased in a playful voice enjoying her reaction.Claire gulped while looking everywhere except his face. "Yes, it's not the first time, but please make it the last," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.Alexander’s lips curved into a smirk. “I’ll see what I can do,”She quickly rushed past him, grabbed her luggage, and went back to her room. Slamming the door behind her, she placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm her loudly beating heart.She got into the shower, singing as she washed to distract herself from thinking about Alexander’s broad chest and toned abs. She dressed quickly, wanting to
Morgan looked shocked and quickly dropped his hand from her waist. He moved closer to Alexander, whispering, “What do you think you’re doing? Do you really think I’ll agree to sign this deal after this?” “You’re the one who put your hands on my employee without her consent. How dare you? I came here solely out of respect for the relationship your father and mine built. Even though I know your company is crumbling, and your only hope is to invest in mine, I’m glad I now have a valid excuse not fo save your shorty company now.” Morgan scoffed. "Steele... you bastard." "Thank you for being such a jerk," Alexander replied, his voice cold. He grabbed Claire's wrist, who was still frozen in place. “Let’s go.” As they turned to leave, Morgan’s voice rang out behind them, “Steele! You think I’ll let this slide?” Alexander stopped abruptly, letting go of Claire's hand. Without a word, he grabbed a champagne glass from a nearby table and tossed the contents into Morgan’s face. "That’s
Claire barely slept a wink all night, torn between anger at Alexander for not letting her finish and dreading facing him the next day. The day finally broke, and sunlight streamed through the window. “It’s morning,” she muttered to herself, dragging herself out of bed and into the bathroom for a shower. After getting ready, she paced back and forth in her room for a while, gathering the courage to open the door. Just as she did, she came face to face with Alexander with his hand raised, about to knock. "I was going to inform you that our flight got delayed by four hours, so do whatever you want with that info," he said before turning and heading straight back to his room. Claire scoffed, feeling her anger rising. She knew she'd suffocate if she stayed in the suite with him, so she decided to explore the city. It was her first time there anyway. She went back into her room, grabbed her purse and phone, and was already in the elevator when she texted him, "I'll be back an hour befo
Claire was rushed to the hospital by paramedics after the incident. Alexander had called emergency services and cradled her in his arms, whispering, “Claire, stay with me,” over and over until they arrived, ignoring Morgan’s repeated offers to drive her to the hospital.When the paramedics arrived, Alexander stepped back, allowing them to take over. They carefully placed Claire on a stretcher and into the ambulance, and he climbed in with them. As the paramedics treated her head injury, Alexander held her hand tightly, his clothes stained with her blood.She was rushed into the ER at the hospital, and a nurse approached Alexander, asking about his relationship to the patient.“I’m her husband,” he replied sharply.“Come with me, you’ll need to sign some papers.” He followed the nurse, completing all the necessary paperwork. After about thirty to forty minutes of waiting impatiently in the lobby, the doctor who had attended to Claire finally appeared.As soon as Alexander saw the docto
Charles quickly sent the picture to a news reporter, instructing him to create the worst possible story around it and paid a large sum for the favor. The reporter fabricated a story, claiming that “Alexander Steele was arrested in Paris for a violent crime,” and soon, the news was trending on major and minor news platforms. The false report took a toll on the company’s stock price, causing a 3% drop in just an hour, with the decline continuing. Shareholders immediately called for an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis. Alexander’s secretary sent him the documents he requested, along with an update on the company’s dire situation. “Don't worry, I'll handle it myself," Alexander said, ending the call. "You got me good this time, Charles," he murmured to himself, but he wasn’t one to give up easily. From the hotel, he went straight back to the police station to meet with the officers, asking them to introduce him to the best reporter they knew. The reporter came around after
The shareholders were very pleased with the way the matter was handled by Alex because it made the company’s stock skyrocket but the main shock for everyone was the fact that Alexander Steele has a wife! Charles just stood there boiling in anger as the shareholders exited the room one after the other till it was just him and Alexander left in the room. “I must say you got me real good this time and I’ll let it slide but the next time you try something like this you can forget every single thing you own” Alexander said and walked to the door, then stopped and turned around sharply. “And oh, I’m going to make that reporter of yours regret ever writing that story. I’m sure he’ll be grateful to you for helping him ruin his career,”he said finally and walked out, leaving Charles who clenched his fist and punched the table in anger. Alexander heard a clap from behind when he walked out of the conference room and he turned around to see Charlotte. “Just what I expected from Alexand
Alex unfolded the letter with Claire by his side, their shoulders touching as they leaned over the words. His hand tightened slightly on the paper as he read aloud: “I don’t expect forgiveness, nor do I deserve it. What I did, everything I did, was wrong. I’ve spent months reflecting on my actions and the pain I caused both of you. You didn’t deserve any of it. All I can offer now is an apology, but I know words can never undo the harm. Please know I’m truly sorry. —Charles.” A heavy silence settled over them. Claire stared at the letter, her expression unreadable. "What do you think this means?" Alex asked, his voice low, almost hesitant. “After refusing to see me for months” Claire let out a slow breath. "I don’t know. Maybe it’s his way of closing a chapter, or maybe it’s guilt finally catching up to him. Either way, it doesn’t change what he’s done." Alex studied her face for a moment. "Do you think he means it?" She shrugged. "Maybe he does. Maybe it’s just words.
They stood in tense silence, their words still hanging heavy in the air, neither willing to break the stalemate. Finally, Alex scoffed lightly, dragging a hand down his face, breaking the tension between them. “What are we doing?” he muttered, his voice weary. “Yeah,” Claire echoed softly, “what are we doing?” Alex stepped closer, his movements slow, and carefully pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist, but her arms stayed stiff at her sides. “I know you were scared,” he murmured, his voice thick with regret. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I swear to you, it will never happen again.” “You promise?” she whispered, her voice laced with doubt. “Yes,” he said firmly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. “I promise. And I’m sorry about what I said earlier about your ex. That wasn’t fair. None of this is your fault.” Claire’s shoulders softened as her anger gave way to exhaustion. Slowly, she leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist. Alex exhaled deeply i
The sound of the hospital door opening snapped them both out of their reverie. They sprang to their feet in an instant, their eyes fixed on the doctor who stepped into the room, his expression unreadable. Alex’s heart hammered in his chest as he took a step forward, Claire beside him, her hand gripping his. The doctor looked between them, clearing his throat before speaking. "She's stable now, but we’ll need to monitor her closely. The impact was serious, but we've done everything we can for now." The relief that flooded through Alex was almost overwhelming, but his eyes never left the doctor. "Is she going to be okay? Will she make it through?" The doctor nodded slowly, his gaze softening. "It’s too soon to say for certain, but we’re hopeful. She’s a fighter." Claire let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and Alex tightened his grip on her hand and that made her realize they were holding hands. She quickly let go of his hand and Alex looked back confused a
Claire wasted no time getting back into her car and driving straight to Alex’s office. It took her a little over thirty minutes to arrive, and she rushed inside without a second thought. When she reached his office, it was empty. Letting out a scream of frustration, she ran her hands through her hair, feeling her composure slipping away. Desperation clawed at her as she fished her phone out of her bag and dialed Vanessa’s number. The line barely rang before Vanessa picked up. “Where is Alex?” Claire demanded without preamble. “Mr. Steele left work right after the meeting concluded about an hour ago,” Vanessa replied calmly. “An hour ago?” Claire repeated. “Yes. Is everything okay?” “He’s not picking his calls. Is there any other way I can reach him?” Vanessa hesitated. “I’ve been trying to pass on some information to him too, but I can’t reach him either. He hasn’t responded to anything.” Claire closed her eyes, frustration boiling over. There was no way to get ahold of h
Claire couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Roy’s mother standing at her doorstep, her face twisted with anger. “What are you doing here?” Claire asked in a sharp voice. “What am I doing here?” Roy’s mother shot back, her tone laced with venom. “My son died because of you. If you hadn’t left him, if only you’d taken him back, he’d still be alive right now!” Claire let out a bitter scoff, folding her arms defensively. “Don’t kid yourself. Your son died because he didn’t know when to back down. That’s not my fault, it was his choice to walk that path.” “You little wench!” Roy’s mother snarled, stepping forward and grabbing the front of Claire’s shirt with trembling hands. “How dare you talk about my son like that?” Claire’s mother became worried as the raised voices reached her. She quickly rose from her seat and began making her way to the door to know what is going on. Claire didn’t flinch under Roy’s mother’s grip. Her voice was low but firm as she asked, “Do you know w
It had been days since the investigation was officially launched, and tension had only grown thicker. The turning point came when an anonymous source submitted damning evidence to the authorities, call logs, text messages, and voicemails between Charlotte and Roy. The material was meticulous, exposing every detail of their plan: from luring Alex to the restaurant to orchestrating the photo and even identifying the person who had taken it. The board had convened once again to address the new developments. Alex walked into the office that morning, accompanied by Claire. She had insisted on coming, though she knew she wouldn’t be allowed into the conference room. Instead, she lingered outside, her nerves fraying as she waited for the meeting to begin. As she paced the hallway, she felt the air shift. When she looked up, Charlotte was walking toward her with her usual confident stride, though her face betrayed the slightest hint of stress. “I see you’re still with him, even after
Alex brought out his phone and placed it on the table before hitting the play button on the recording. The room fell silent as Alex’s voice filled the air, followed by Charlotte’s damning words. Gasps erupted from the board members, their shock evident as they exchanged wide-eyed glances. Charles, visibly flustered, slammed his hand on the table. “This is a desperate attempt to save yourself, Alex! That recording is fake, fabricated to sabotage me because you’re losing your place in the company!” Alex smirked, taking a deliberate step forward, his confidence radiating. “Oh, is that what you think I’m doing, Charles?” He leaned on the table, locking eyes with him. “Funny, because Charlotte would’ve thrown you under the bus if I had reconsidered her little offer.” With a tap on his phone, Alex resumed the recording, letting the incriminating part play. “I might just reconsider if you rethink your decision and choose me instead. We can turn our scandal into a love story.” T
The next day, Claire woke up earlier than usual, determined to make breakfast for Alex. She served him a plate of eggs and toast, but he barely touched it, eating absently while his mind wandered to the impending board meeting. “I could come with you, you know,” Claire offered hesitantly, watching him down the last sip of his coffee. He gave her a soft smile and shook his head. “I appreciate it, but it’s better if you stay here. I’ll handle it.” Claire didn’t press further, though she hated the thought of him facing everything alone. At the office, Alex walked through the building, catching the curious glances of employees who were clearly aware of the ongoing scandal. He ignored them, his focus set on the day ahead. Once in his office, he placed his phone on the desk and called Claire, her voice the only thing that could steady his nerves. “I’m already in,” he told her. “I’ll update you after the meeting.” “Just breathe, Alex. You’ll get through this,” Claire sai
Charles leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face as the board members nodded one after the other, each voicing their agreement. The private meeting had gone exactly as he’d planned. The chaos surrounding Alex’s personal life had provided the perfect opportunity to strike, and now the board was on his side. “It’s settled then,” Charles said, his voice calm but laced with triumph. “We’ll convene tomorrow to finalize the motion. The longer we wait, the more damage this scandal will cause.” One of the senior board members cleared his throat. “We’re only doing this for the sake of the company. Alex has been a good CEO, but we can’t afford to let sentimentality ruin us.” “Exactly,” Charles replied smoothly. “This is about protecting the company and its future. Nothing personal.” After the meeting, Charles stepped out of the conference room, where Charlotte was waiting for him in the hallway. She was leaning casually against the wall, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.