She didn’t cry. Not after Luca dismissed her. Not even when she returned home to an empty house filled with silence and unanswered questions. Her eyes burned, but her will held firm. If no one was going to listen to her, fine. She would just work. Maybe that was the only thing left for her to do.
So she threw herself into it.
For the past few days, Alex had been coming into Steel’s headquarters early and leaving late. She skipped meals, skipped lectures, and skipped responding to Brenda’s constant messages asking if she was okay. The truth was: she wasn’t. But what was the point in saying it out loud? No one could fix this. Her mother was in the hospital. Her father didn't believe her. Her fiancé was destroying her one careful step at a time.
She spent her time preparing documents, back-and-forth emailing with the partners of Lexton Industries, smoothing out what was supposed to be one of Steel’s cleanest tech deals this quarter. It should’ve been easy. It had been easy.
Until today.
Alex walked into the boardroom with her folders in hand, perfectly dressed, hair tied back, everything in order. The entire Lexton delegation was already seated. They didn’t greet her.
She sat down and opened her mouth to begin her presentation—only for the head delegate to raise his hand.
“This won’t be necessary,” he said. “We’ve decided to terminate the contract.”
Alex blinked. “I’m sorry?”
Another executive from their side chimed in. “It’s your behavior. Your company’s lack of transparency. And frankly, your... inexperience.”
“Excuse me?” Alex sat straighter. “We’ve gone over every step—your legal has signed off on each phase. You had no complaints during our last call.”
The first man stood. “Our board had a change of heart. We’ll be pursuing other options.”
With that, they gathered their documents and began exiting. Alex stood, dumbfounded, heart racing, mouth slightly open.
One of the executives, a man in his fifties with cold eyes, lingered behind the others. As he walked past Alex, he leaned in slightly, just enough for her to hear his whisper.
“Zade sends his greetings.”
Her whole body went cold.
She didn’t remember exiting the room. Or walking through the lobby. Or reaching the car.
All she knew was that she’d taken her driver’s keys straight out of his hand, ignored his startled protests, and sped off in the company car. No destination. Just one face burned into her mind.
Zade.
As if fate had already decided to give her what she wanted, she saw him standing at the front doors of Hale Corp just as she pulled up—smoking, exuding his usual air of fake calm.
She slammed the car to a stop. Before he could fully register it, she was out, walking straight up to him.
“Alex?” he asked, amused, dropping the cigarette.
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward the car.
“What the hell—”
“Get in,” she snapped.
Zade raised an eyebrow but didn’t resist. “Kidnapping now? Bold.”
She slammed the door shut after him and hit the gas.
The drive was silent, aside from Zade’s occasional sarcastic comments and her hands gripping the wheel tight enough to leave marks. She ignored him, eyes glued to the road, until they reached a quiet, desolate road outside the city where the only company was the stars.
She stopped.
For a moment, she said nothing. Her hands trembled slightly. The inside of the car felt suffocating.
Zade finally broke the silence. “So? Are we here to make out or murder each other?”
She exploded.
“You did that on purpose!” Alex yelled, her voice cracking with fury. “That deal was perfect, Zade! I worked for days—and you sabotaged it, didn’t you? You made them pull out!”
His eyes darkened, the humor slipping.
She slammed her hand on the steering wheel. “Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you? You already have the contract, the name, everything! Why keep pushing?”
Zade turned his head slowly, his voice low and sharp. “You’re asking the wrong question.”
“What’s the right one then?!”
“Why haven’t you given up yet?”
The words hit like ice water.
Alex stared at him, blinking. “What...?”
He leaned slightly toward her. The warm façade he wore like a second skin was completely gone. His eyes were like steel. Cold. Dangerous. Final.
“Until you stop trying to fight me, this is how it’s going to be.”
“You’re insane,” she whispered.
“No,” Zade replied. “I’m prepared. You? You still think this is some fairytale you can rewrite with enough work ethic and good intentions.”
She felt her throat close. “You’re trying to ruin me.”
“No,” he said again. “I’m trying to reshape you.”
Alex looked away, the road lights flickering through the windshield like fading hope.
She didn’t cry. She wouldn’t.
Minutes passed. Long. Slow. Silent.
Then she turned the engine back on and drove him back, stopping in front of Hale Corp without looking at him.
“You’re sick,” she said softly.
Zade opened the door, stepping out. “And you’re still naïve.”
The door shut.
He disappeared into the building.
Alex sat there, her hands frozen on the steering wheel, feeling something deep in her chest split cleanly in two.
Everything she worked for. Everything she trusted. All collapsing.
And she knew now with terrifying certainty—this was only the beginning.