Sealed and Stamped

Alana peered up at him, stunned by his words and also confused. She couldn’t understand what he meant by he wasn’t investing in her business. How then did he plan to save her dying company?

“What? What do you mean by that?” Alana questioned, her thick eyebrows furrowing.

Trevor took his phone and dialed a number before placing the phone on speaker. The person on the other side picked in less than half a minute.

“Hello, Mr. Halland.” A thick voice answered, and Alana watched quietly, wanting to know what Trevor was up to.

He seemed like a man of few words. One who talked less and acted more. 

“Mr. Croft. I believe you owe me a deal after the last meeting we had, right?” Trevor leaned back on the chair and crossed his legs as he spoke.

“Y-Yes, of course. I am forever indebted to you for your help.” The man on the other line seemed to be trembling.

“Good. You’re going to invest in a company for me. The biggest one ever. Rest assured, you will get your returns in tenfold. I have faith in this one.” Trevor said, his green eyes boring into Alana.

She looked away, flustered by his intimidating stare. She wasn’t scared of him because she was hardly scared of anyone unless they posed a real threat.

Alana was…intrigued by Trevor. 

His mannerisms. The way he spoke with his deep voice in such an effortless way. The way his presence commanded attention just like in the bar last night.

This was the type of man that any woman would want to have, including her, but she wasn’t taking her chances.

She might not have been in this industry for long but she knew having affections in the business was totally out of the question. Besides, she had approached Trevor solely for the intent on destroying Drake’s company, and nothing else.

There was no room for feelings! No room at all!

“Sure, of course, sir. We can set up a meeting right away.” Mr. Croft answered eagerly and Alana was imagining him nodding his head excessively as he spoke.

“Good.” Trevor gave a similitude of a smile before hanging up the call. “Satisfied?” He raised an eyebrow at Alana.

“Yes, thank you very much.” Alana smiled, breathing out with relief that she had gotten an appointment with an investor.

Once the media released an article that her business was still running, others would come rushing to recall their contract with her. After all, her company had a lot of potential and that was why it had performed extraordinarily in the market in just four years.

“You’re welcome. I only arranged it this way to keep you clean from any affiliation with me. That way, when the scandal comes out and Drake confirms I did it, he wouldn’t come after you or even suspect you.” Trevor told her.

Alana hadn’t even realized Trevor was thinking about her safety when he had called up another investor for her. Contrary to what she had thought, Trevor Halland was a thoughtful man.

“Oh, I see.” Alana nodded, trying her best not to look him in the eye. She had no idea why she was so nervous around him. Usually, she wasn’t like this.

She had been so bold last night when she approached him for a deal. Maybe it was the alcohol working its way up her system that made her brave enough to walk up to him.

Or maybe it was because she was overwhelmed by the news of the last investor pulling away. Either way, there was something that had changed since last night’s encounter with Trevor Halland. And Alana was eager to know what it was.

“Alana, I have shown you what I have in store for you.” Trevor uncrossed his legs, slowly leaning towards her. “Now, what do you have for me?” 

Alana opened her bag and took out a flash drive she had prepared for two weeks now. After she caught Drake in bed with another lady, she had hired a private investigator and paid him loads of money to do one thing–find dirt on her ex.

“This is what I prepared for you.” 

She asked him to get anything damaging on Drake Manchester and Alana wasn’t too shocked when the investigator brought tons of evidence on crimes of embezzlement, physical abuse, blackmailing and some other heinous atrocities.

But Drake had beaten her to it when he planted a spy in her company to add a substance to one of her products which was flagged as dangerous in the market. With that, her sales reduced drastically and all investors pulled out, probably bought by Drake.

Alana was smart enough to know she had no power even with the crucial information in hand, and the wisest thing to do was to hand it over to someone who could launch such a scandal against a successful CEO and get away with it.

Which was why she chose Trevor Halland–Drake’s all time rival.

She believed he was the right person to do it because no one would miss an opportunity to destroy one’s rival when given such a chance. 

And it wasn’t like Drake had been the most honest and civil person. Apart from Trevor, she knew there were tons of CEOs and individuals in the business industry who were waiting to see his downfall.

Alana didn’t know much about how Drake started his company but the private investigator had told her that he trampled on a lot of small businesses, using their resources to build his legacy.

A legacy that was built on the backs of others.

“Here.” Alana dropped the flash drive on the table. “You will find a lot of juicy details on Drake and the crimes he has been committing ever since he was appointed as CEO of his company.” 

“Interesting.” Trevor gave a single nod before taking the flash. “And how did you manage to get all these?” He asked, staring at the red flash drive in his hand.

“I have my ways, Trevor.” Alana shrugged nonchalantly. “Also, here are some pictures of him meeting with a renowned drug dealer.” Alana took out the envelope from her bag.

Alana had no idea Drake was involved with drugs until she saw the pictures. She found it hard to believe that there was a time she thought she loved such a man.

A man who used women however he liked, acquired money from illegal means, and was arrogant to the core.

Trevor reached out to collect it, and his long fingers touched hers slightly but he didn’t make a move to pull away. Alana stared back at him, somehow breathless but Trevor’s face was guarded.

He didn’t know how to put it but there was something about this lady that made him feel ignited. He had meant many beautiful ladies but Alana wasn’t just pure beauty.

She had a fierce personality, and a determination to survive which he found very admirable. Although today, she has avoided his eyes more times than he could count.

He knew he could look intimidating, especially when discussing business but he had thought Alana was immune to his domineering presence with the way she walked up to him at the bar last night.

It seemed it had been the effect of the alcohol that prompted her to make such a bold move.

Trevor grabbed the envelope and focused on what he had on his hand. “I see you have come fully prepared.” He nodded with approval and Alana smiled.

“Thank you, Trevor. I can’t wait to see the scandal published on every news outlet and headlines.” Alana said, and he could see the look of victory flashing on her face.