Alex's Morning Storm

Alex.

The steady rhythm of my feet on the treadmill matched the pulsing beat in my ears. Seattle's skyline stretched before me, bathed in the soft light of dawn. My penthouse gym offered a view most would kill for, but my eyes were fixed on the security monitor mounted on the wall.

Vivian stood at the gate, her perfect model poise barely concealing the storm I knew was coming. I sighed, knowing what this meant. The engagement news had reached her. I stepped off the treadmill, grabbing a towel to dry the sweat from my face and chest.

Three. Two. One.

The elevator dinged, and hurricane Vivian burst into my penthouse.

"What the hell is this, Alex?" She thrust her phone in my face, nearly smacking me with it. The headlines screamed about my supposed engagement to Ava Silver. "Is this your idea of a joke?"

I stayed silent, watching her. Sometimes, silence said more than words ever could.

My lack of response only fueled her anger. "I knew it! I knew there was something going on between you and that... that woman!" She spat the word like it was poison.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Me and Ava? The idea was laughable. We could barely be in the same room without arguing.

Vivian's hand connected with my chest, a stinging slap that probably hurt her more than me. "Don't you dare dismiss me, Alex Russo! My friends were right about you. You're just a piece of shit who never commits!"

The words hit harder than her hand, not that I'd let it show. They weren't entirely wrong. I hadn't been able to commit, not since... No. I pushed the thought away, turning towards my bedroom.

Vivian followed, her tirade continuing. I let her words wash over me as I moved through my morning routine. Suit laid out. Shower running.

"Are you even listening to me?" Vivian's voice cracked, anger giving way to hurt.

I turned, catching her flailing hands in one of mine. Our eyes met, and I allowed a small smile to play across my lips. The effect was immediate. Vivian's anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a dazed look I knew all too well.

Gently, I placed her hand over my heart. "You're the only one close to this," I said softly. "Why stress yourself over something that isn't real?"

The spell broke. Vivian blinked, confusion replacing anger. "It's... it's not real?"

I stepped back, running a hand through my hair. Vivian's eyes followed the movement, her gaze lingering on my face. I sighed, turning to look out at the skyline. "No, it's not."

The admission seemed to drain all the fight out of her. Vivian swayed, suddenly unsteady. I caught her, pulling her against me. She buried her face in my chest, her next words muffled. "I... I thought you were leaving me. I was scared."

"I know," I said simply. And I did. Fear of abandonment was an old friend of mine.

An idea struck me, and I felt a genuine smile spread across my face. "Tell you what, I'll treat you to dinner today. You can tell me all about your trip to Paris."

Vivian's face lit up, reminding me of why I'd been drawn to her in the first place. That childlike joy, so at odds with her sophisticated image.

Then she frowned, lower lip jutting out in a pout. "I could tell you now."

"Can't," I said, disentangling myself from her. "Board meeting in thirty."

I turned towards the shower, pulling off my shorts as I went. I could feel Vivian's eyes on me, knew she was watching the play of muscles across my back.

As I stepped into the shower, I allowed myself a moment of reflection. The engagement news was spreading faster than I'd anticipated. And that was perfect. The public would eat up anything, provided it’s appetizing enough for their mind.

I needed to make sure this doesn’t escalate into something else. We only need to keep up the charade, till the Pure Energy Deal was sealed.

The water washed away the last traces of my workout, but did nothing to clear the tangle of thoughts in my head. One thing was certain: today was going to be interesting.

As I turned off the shower and reached for a towel, I caught sight of my reflection in the steamy mirror. The man staring back at me looked composed, in control.

Good. That's exactly what I needed to be.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Russo Corp boardroom buzzed with nervous energy as I strode in, exactly on time. Conversations hushed, all eyes turning to me. I could practically taste their curiosity, their hunger for gossip about the "engagement." Amateurs.

"Shall we begin?" I said, taking my seat at the head of the table. No pleasantries, no acknowledgment of the elephant in the room. Let them stew.

Richard Hawthorne, my CFO, cleared his throat. "Alex, before we start, I think we should address—"

"The Q3 projections?" I cut him off smoothly. "Couldn't agree more, Rich. Let's see them."

For the next hour, I steered the meeting with precision, focusing on hard data and strategic planning. The clean energy project with Silver Innovations came up, of course. I presented it as a purely business decision, my voice never wavering as I outlined the potential benefits and risks.

"And your... personal involvement with Ms. Silver?" One of the board members finally dared to ask. "How does that factor in?"

I fixed him with a level stare. "My personal life is irrelevant to this discussion. Unless you believe I've suddenly lost my business acumen overnight?"

The room fell silent. Message received.

As the meeting adjourned, I caught Richard's eye. "My office. Five minutes."

I used those five minutes to field calls from my mother (gushing about wedding plans), my PR team (damage control strategies), and Vivian (confirming our dinner plans). By the time Richard knocked on my door, I had my game face firmly in place.

"Alright, Alex," he said, dropping into the chair across from me. "What's really going on with you and Ava Silver?"

I leaned back, steepling my fingers. "What do you think is going on, Rich?"

He snorted. "I think you're playing a dangerous game. The question is, are you playing it with Silver, or is she playing it with you?"

A fair question. One I'd been asking myself since this whole charade began.

"It's a mutually beneficial arrangement," I said carefully. "The project needs positive publicity. This provides it."

Richard's eyebrows shot up. "And that's all it is? Because I've seen how you look at her when you think no one's watching."

I kept my face impassive, but inwardly, I cursed. Was I that transparent? "Your point?"

"My point is, don't let whatever this is cloud your judgment. We've got too much riding on this deal."

I nodded, dismissing him with a wave. As the door closed behind him, I allowed myself a moment of doubt. Was I letting this situation get out of hand? The plan had seemed simple enough at first. Play along with the engagement rumor, use the publicity to push the project through, then stage an amicable split once the deals were sealed.

But now? Now things were getting complicated.

My phone buzzed. Ava's name flashed on the screen. Finally returning my calls. I smirked, composing myself before answering.

"Russo," I answered, injecting my voice with that blend of charm and nonchalance I knew irritated her.

"Why have you been calling?" Ava's tone was clipped, professional. But I could hear the underlying tension.

I leaned back in my chair, feet up on the desk. "Well, darling, we need to make plans."

A scoff came through the line. I could almost see her rolling those green eyes of hers. "Sure," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "My office. One hour."

"Since you're my fiancée now, shouldn't we be having romantic dates and all?" I couldn't resist pushing her buttons. "Why your office?"

Ava grunted, the sound music to my ears. I knew just how to get under her skin. "Don't play with me, Russo."

"Okay, okay, I'll be there in a minute, darling," I said, grinning.

The line went dead. I could imagine Ava slamming the phone down, desperate to get me off her line. The smile lingered on my face. I knew the effect I had on her, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it.

I spent the next hour in strategic calls, setting pieces in motion. By the time I left for Silver Innovations, I felt in control again.

***