agreement finalized by week's end," I stated, con

aranteed to be another triumph to contribute to the expanding Devereux empire. My dad would be happy, althou

. Twenty-eight years of age. Master's degree in Marketing obtained from NYU. Outstanding endorsements

soothing amber, reminiscent of whiskey-sparkled in every candid picture I discovered online. Or how

x Industries three weeks prior. The timing was impeccable-almost too perfect. Just as my father started to intensify pressure regarding my

but that wasn't what had captivated me. Her expression conveyed somethin

would remain strong. Not w

man who was indebted to me-declared us married. By that point, she was hardly aware, as the mix of alcohol and t

situations necessitated extreme actions. The conditions outl

h a message from Marc

zled yet tranquil.

rt message. *Continue observ

edly. Only one individual would have

phia Blackwell remarked, strolling into my office like it

greet her. "Sophia." "I don't

phia was crafted-from her honey-blonde hair cascading in flawless waves t

fiancé?" She walked over to my desk, her hips movin

ver Claire's picture before Sophia could s

Your dad doesn't appear to believe that." "We

erger of families since before Sophia and I could walk. The Blackwell shipping emp

uldn't stan

utral as I stood and moved to the window, putting distance between us. The

heavy, too sweet-announcing her approach

ted European inflection grated on my nerves- Sophia had been born and raised in Connecticut. "We

g it firmly away from my body. "I'm busy with work, Sophia. And this isn't

eveal a flash of genuine anger. "Is there

ry moment, my new wife was waking up in my penthouse, like

said, moving back to my desk. "Now, if th

uld be very useful to you, Alex. Mo

ve, entitled, superficial, but she wasn't stupid. Far from it. She'd graduated top of her c

" I asked, genuinely

ust say I know things about your brother

. Of

the company, James had focused on spending our family's money and cultivating enough scandals to keep the tabl

," I said, watching her carefully.

slowly, deliberately. James has been meeting with the board members. Individually

alarm bells ringing in my head. "James

enough to convince Martin Chen to have dinner with him three times in the past t

s. Both had been lukewarm toward me since I'd pushed for the exp

?" I asked, studying her fac

unlike James, you understand the concept of mutually beneficial arrang

n in exchange for the wedding sh

" I said, deliberately noncommitta

She knew I was dismissing he

r," she pressed. "The succession plan has always assumed you'd

ite his irresponsibility-or perhaps because of it. Alexander Sr. saw himself in J

ity of running the company," I said

oothing her skirt. "But he wants the power. A

charity gala when James, drunk and belligerent, had accused me of sabotaging his career. The truth-tha

oving toward the door in a clear indi

hand on my chest. "Think about what I s

I turned my head at the last momen

ye, So

ed her features before her prac

up the security feed on my tablet. Sophia stopped at my assistant's desk, saying something that made

s voice came through the speaker. "Mr.

call, leaning back in my chair. "

lend of charm and barely concealed hostilit

ent system that could transform how cities handled garbage. It was also

it?" I asked

y satisfied, like a cat with a canary. "And I have som

hat had been scheduled just yesterd

kept my voice level de

"Didn't Father tell you? Emergency session to discuss Q3

If you're planning something, remember tha

across my nerves. "Not this

neling my anger into focused thought instead. James making a play for power. Sop

o had no idea she was

"Mr. Devereux? Ms. Bennett

first time that d

hompson. And ho

chinations. Claire Bennett-now Claire Devereux, though she didn't know it y

already been hired for a mu