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Chapter 111

last update Last Updated: 2024-11-27 05:51:37

"Do you always drink your coffee black, or are you trying to make a point?" Ethan teased as he leaned back into his chair and nodded toward Alexander's still-full cup.

Alexander quirked a smile, and for a moment, a spark of amusement danced in his eyes before he replied, "Let's just say that it is an acquired taste-like working with Rafael."

Ethan chuckled low and soothingly, breaking the tension in the air of what was, for all intents and purposes, a sterile meeting room. "Well, you've already got that part figured out. Dealing with Rafael is definitely not for the faint of heart."

Alexander raised his cup in a mock toast. "To survival, then.”

"To survival," Ethan finally said, smiling, clinking his water bottle against Alexander's cup.

They were at that place in time where the light teasing between them, which had been going on for weeks, had almost attained a point of normality. Business dominated their meetings, but somehow, they would always manage to discuss sport, holidays, or
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    "You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Alexander's voice was placid but the tautness of his gaze betrayed his unease.Bernice looked up from the stack of papers she had been faking to read in the lounge of Rafael's company. "Noticed what?" she asked, but the sharpness told he surely knew exactly what Alexander meant.Alexander let loose a deep sigh and leaned back into the doorframe. "It's the black SUV across the street every morning, or some guy in the blue jacket showing up to the coffee shop, always with a newspaper but never turning the pages."Bernice stiffened. She went to the window and peered on to the morning street. "You are paranoid," she replied. the catch just a little in her voice.“Am I?" Alexander crossed the room and sat opposite her. Smoothing his voice, he weighed it as he said, "Bernice, this is no coincidence. We are being watched."Bernice laid the papers down, her hands shaking very slightly. "I figured that out already," she finally admitted. "I saw someone fol

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    "You're saying we bait them?" Bernice's voice was a sharp whisper as she leaned across the table toward Alexander."It's the only way to flush them out," Alexander said, his tone even but firm. He turned to Liam, seated beside him, arms across his chest in deep contemplation. "What do you think, Liam?"Liam's eyebrow arched, his keen eyes darting from one to another. "It's a risk," he said finally. "It's also effective, if we do it right."Bernice frowned, her fingers tapping on the table. "And if we don't?""They'll know we're onto them," Liam said sharply. "Which will make them more cautious. But right now they're sloppy-they think you haven't noticed them. That's our advantage.:Sloppy?" Bernice huffed. "They've been following us for days and we didn't even catch onto them until now.""That's because they've been subtle," Liam replied, correcting her. "But subtle isn't the same thing as perfect. Everyone screws up and these fellows are no different."Alexander nodded. "Then we mak

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    "Don't lose them," Alexander growled low, his hands laid on the headboard of the car. "I am trying," Liam returned cheerfully, his eyes riveted to the black sedan ahead of them. It danced through the late evening traffic with quick grace, its movements casual but calculated."They are trained to handle this kind of situation," Bernice said briefly. "They see us as soon as we get a little too close."Alexander threw a quick glance in her direction, his jaw clenching. "That is why we keep our distance. If we lose them now, this will be all for nothing.""Relax," Liam shot back, more nasty than anything. "I have done this before."Alexander lifted an eyebrow up. "Oh, have you?""No," she said dryly. "But I have seen it in movies. How hard can it be?”Alexander couldn't help but bark a short, mirthless laugh. "Great. We're into Hollywood logic now."********Down a quieter street their car turned, the bright blinking lights of the city giving way to the soft glow of residential buildin

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    "You're avoiding Mr Fernandez, Bernice."Gabriel thundered in the large office as he handed her the heap of unsigned papers. Bernice sat at her desk, barely looking up, her pen tapping on a piece of paper which she hadn't written on in the last ten minutes."I am not avoiding anybody," she returned composedly, "I'm only trying to sort things out effectively."An eyebrow arched. "Effectively? Rafael's refusal to sign those says otherwise."Bernice let out a sharp exhalation; frustration bubbled just beneath the surface of her cool veneer as she looked down at the papers Gabriel set before her, all marked with glaring red tabs for signatures Rafael had withheld on purpose."He knows these are critical," she muttered mostly to herself.Gabriel nodded knowingly. "Which is precisely why he's stalling. He wants to see you, Bernice.”"I don't have time to play his games," she said shortly, though even within her own mind the words tumbling forth from her lips sounded a great deal more akin t

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    "He's trying to get into your head again, isn't he."Alexander's tone was cool, yet an edge of exasperation curled the corners of his words down as Bernice paced the length of the temporary apartment's living room. In her clutches were the papers Rafael finally signed, her knuckles white from the tension."I didn't let him get to me," she spat back. Though the obvious edge in her voice spoke volumes that belied her assertion. "He's impossible to deal with, Alexander. He refuses to separate business from personal grudges."Alexander leaned back against the wall with arms crossed. "He knows how to push your buttons. And you let him win every time you let it show."Bernice whirled on him, ablaze. "You think I don't know that? Whether he starts playing these mind games, how hard it is to keep calm-do you have any idea?"Alexander took another step closer to her; his face softened. "I know it is, and that is why I'm here, to make sure you don't face him alone.”She shook her head, the smal

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    "We can't just sit here, Ethan! Can't you see what's going on?" Olivia's voice finally cracked as she paced the length of the penthouse, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. "Alexander isn't here for a business deal. He's here for us. For me!"Ethan sat on the couch, fingers tightly laced. His jaw clenched while he watched Olivia unravel. "We don't have proof of that," he replied carefully."We don't need any proof!" she snarled, whirling on him. "Use your eyes, Ethan. He's always around Bernice. He's charming you and you're blind if you think this is just about business.""Calm down," Ethan said, firm tone replacing the playful one, commanding. "Paranoia isn't going to solve anything. What do you want me to do? Take him out?" As if he didn't know, having done it lots of times before.”"Don't tempt me," Olivia muttered darkly, crossing her arms. "But no, that would be too messy. We need to be smarter than that."Ethan's eyes slitted. "Alright, what's your brilliant pl

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  • His uncle's sweetheart    Chapter 119

    "Alexander," Rafael's voice flowed with artificial politeness, but the sliver of a glare that sliced through Alexander spoke volumes. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unannounced visit?" He eased back in his chair, his fingers tapping relaxed rhythms against the gleaming surface of his desk as he looked at Alexander with a smirk.Alexander entered the room with purpose, the soft thud of the door closing behind him signaling that this wasn’t going to be a cordial discussion. His eyes, dark with barely restrained anger, locked onto Rafael’s. "You know exactly why I’m here," he said, his tone cold and measured. "We need to talk about Bernice—and the way you’ve been deliberately making her work impossible."Rafael raised an eyebrow-weighing look in reply to Alexander's words. "Bernice again," he murmured, the shape of a mocking smile curving his lips. "She does seem to take up quite a lot of your time and consideration, doesn't she? And yet I don't perceive that her work, or her

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    "Is everyone in position?" Rafael's voice sliced the tense air like a knife as his eyes scrutinised the dimly lit industrial warehouse ahead.Detective Marcus adjusted his earpiece. "Yes. My team has got the perimeter covered. When they hand over Luca, we move in."Rafael's jaw clamped down as he turned to Alexander and Liam. Both of them stood close, their faces taut and resolute. For once, they had the same purpose in mind.Alexander shifted weight. "This better work. If anything happens to Luca-""It won't," Rafael cut in. His tone was final. "We will get my son back tonight.""Your son?" Alexander sneered. "Don't forget Bernice's stake in this thing. She is the only one here holding things together while you play the hero."Rafael's eyes darkened. "This isn't the time for petty arguments. Luca's life is at stake."Liam's voice cut in them, raising a hand. "Enough. We focus on the rescue. Settle your issues later."There was no sound for a moment, but for the distant thrum of the c

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    "Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" Rafael asked as his hand rested on Bernice's waist, standing by the car outside the hospital. His touch was warm, familiar, and far too comforting for Bernice's liking."I'm fine, Rafael," Bernice said finally, though conviction eluded her tone. She stepped back, releasing his hold.Rafael laughed low, a knowing kind of sound. "You did that very same thing last night, remember? Right before you-""Stop." Bernice's eyes went wide as she scanned the car park, her cheeks ablaze with color. She did not need to be reminded how she let her guard down.His teasing grin deepened. "What, before you told me you loved me?""I didn't mean it," she muttered without looking his way.“Are you sure about that?" Rafael leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "Because it sounded pretty real when you said it in my arms."Her breath hitched, and she shoved him lightly. "Go to work, Rafael."He laughed, stepping back but not before giving her one last, long look. "

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