Alexander POV.
The banquet hall was practically empty. As I walked inside, I saw only the workers scurrying around, setting up tables and arranging displays. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Where were the guests? The exhibition was supposed to be in full swing by now, but the place felt like a ghost town.
I scanned the room, my gaze finally landing on her. Christiana stood at the far end of the hall, looking poised but distracted. She was pacing, her heel tapping against the polished floor every few seconds, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, showing signs of frustration she was trying to suppress
I crossed the floor toward her. “Christiana.” I called out. Her eyes flickered to me, and I could see the tension in them. “What’s going on here?”
She stopped in her tracks and folded her arms. “Alex, what are you doing here?”
I gestured around the room. “I know you had your exhibition today. But where are the guests?”
Her lips tightened, and for a moment, I could see her internal battle to keep it together. “I have no idea,” she admitted quietly. eyes shifting toward the entrance as if expecting someone to finally walk in. “Everything was going perfectly. Invitations were sent, advertisements were on TV and online, but no one’s here. It’s like=”
“Like something’s wrong. I finished for her.
She nodded. “Yes, exactly” Her voice was laced with frustration, though she was doing her best to stay calm. “We’ve been checking everything, but it all seems fine. And yet-” She bit down harder on her lip, her heel tapping faster now.
I could see it she was on the verge of cracking, but still holding it together with an air of grace only Christiana could pull off under these circumstances. It took all her strength not to let her frustration show, but I knew her too well. Every little tick, every little gesture betrayed her inner turmoil.
Something wasn’t adding up. The fact that no one had shown up for an event like this–it was suspicious. I stepped closer to her, my voice lowering. “Something’s off, Christiana. Let me look into this.”
She shot me a glance that was equal parts exasperation and vulnerability. “Alex, I can handle it. I just need to figure out what
went wrong.”
But I wasn’t buying it. “You shouldn’t have to handle it alone.”
I stepped out of the banquet hall and pulled out my phone, quickly dialing James. He answered on the second ring. “James, I need you to dig up any information you can on any major events happening today. Something’s off here. Christiana’s exhibition is empty, and I want to know why.”
“Yes, sir.” James responded, his tone sharp and efficient as always. “I’ll get right on it.”
I hung up and re–entered the hall. Christiana hadn’t moved much, though I noticed her tapping had slowed. She was still biting her lip, her gaze sweeping over the empty space like she was willing guests to materialize.
Minutes passed. My phone buzzed, and I picked it up immediately. “What do you have for me, James?”
His voice came through the line, and I could feel my blood begin to boil. “Sir, there’s a man named Roger Wilkes. He’s holding
exhibition of jewelry too. It looks like he timed it to coincide with Ms. Christiana’s event.”
an
I clenched my jaw. “Go on.”
“Wilkes men intercepted her delivery trucks some days ago. They roughed up the drivers, stole the invitation cards, and tampered with them. That’s why none of Christiana’s guests have shown up. They’re all at Wilkes venue.”
The surge of fury that rushed through me was hard to contain. Roger Wilkes. That name alone was enough to set me off. He was a petty businessman who had made a career of sabotaging competitors, but this? Stealing guests, tampering with invites? This was personal. It wasn’t just business–it was Christiana.
I could feel my hand tightening around the phone. This man was no match for me, and he had the audacity to pull something like this? He didn’t know who he was messing with. I was going to deal with Wilkes–no doubt about that. But right now, Christiana needed her event to succeed. It was her first exhibition since she moved back into the city, and the fact that she
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didn’t want me in her life didn’t change the fact that she was the mother of my children. I had to fix this.
I hung up and turned back to Christiana. She was watching me, a tad of hope and with the frustration in her eyes.
I stepped closer, my voice firm. “Christiana, I know what happened. It was sabotage.”
Her eyes widened. “Sabotage? By who?”
“Roger Wilkes,” I said, the name dripping with disgust. “He tampered with your invitations and stole your guests. They’re at his venue right now,”
For a moment, her expression was blank, as if trying to process the sheer absurdity of the situation. And then the frustration she’d been hiding surfaced, her lips parting in disbelief. That bastard..
I could see it, the mix of anger and hurt in her eyes, the weight of what this meant for her business, her reputation. This was her big moment, and Wilkes had tried to ruin it.
But he wasn’t going to succeed. Not while I was here.
I didn’t waste time. The moment I stepped out of the banquet hall, I pulled out my phone again and started dialing. This wasn’t just about fixing what Wilkes had done–it was about making sure Christiana’s exhibition was a success, no matter what
it took
The phone rang twice before I heard a familiar voice. “Alex,” said Leonard, one of my oldest business partners. “It’s been a while
“No time for pleasantries, Leonard.” I said, my tone all business. “I need a favor.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Name it.”
“There’s an event happening right now–a jewelry exhibition. The venue’s at Parkside Banquet Hall. I need you there. And bring anyone you think would be interested.”
I could hear the curiosity in his voice as he responded, “Jewelry? Since when did you?”
y event. Just trust me. Be there in an hour. No excuses.”
“It’s not my
He let out a low chuckle. “Understood. I’ll see you soon.”
I ended the call and immediately dialed another number, my focus razor–sharp. This time it was Gordon, an old friend with connections to the city’s elite. As soon as he picked up, I cut to the chase. “Gordon, I need you to bring some of the top buyers and investors to an event at Parkside. It’s a jewelry exhibition, and I need it packed.”
“Alex, what’s going on? I thought you were out of the jewelry game.”
“I’m not,” I said, my voice clipped. “This is important. Just make it happen.”
There was a beat of silence before he responded. “Consider it done.”
Without missing a beat, I called James. He answered quickly, always efficient. “Sir?”
“I need you to start making calls,” I ordered, my tone brisk. “Go through my contact list. Anyone with influence, anyone who’s got money to spend–invite them to the exhibition at Parkside. Don’t mention Christiana or the situation. Just make it sound exclusive.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get on it right away.”
I ended the call and pocketed my phone, my jaw tight with determination. My mind was already moving to the next step. Christiana didn’t need to know what was going on behind the scenes, not yet. This was my way of helping her, even if she didn’t want it.
As I walked back toward my car, my thoughts raced. Wilkes thought he could outmaneuver me, but he didn’t realize who he was up against. I wasn’t some second–rate businessman. I had built an empire, and I knew how to wield power when necessary. The people I was calling–these weren’t just casual acquaintances. These were some of the most powerful and influential figures in the country.
By the time they started arriving at Parkside, Wilkes‘ little stunt would be a distant memory. Christiana’s exhibition was going
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Chapter 60
to be the talk of the city by the end of the night.
I could already feel the satisfaction creeping in, but I pushed it aside. There was still work to do
I made a few more calls, keeping my tone steady and professional, leaning on my reputation to draw them in without revealing too much. My words were carefully chosen, the perfect balance of intrigue and authority. No one questioned me. They didn’t need to know the details; they just trusted that if I said something was worth their time, it was.
With each call, I could feel the weight of the situation lifting, my plan falling into place.
As I wrapped up the final call, I leaned against my car, looking back toward the banquet hall. Christiana was inside, probably still trying to figure out what went wrong. She didn’t know I was handling it, and for now, that was how it needed to be
I’d tell her eventually. Maybe.
But right now, this wasn’t about recognition or proving anything to her. This was about fixing the damage that had been done and showing her–showing everyone–that no one messed with Christiana or what was hers. Not without facing me.
I slid back into the driver’s seat, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corne
r of my lips. The wheels were already in motion, and soon, Christiana would have the audience she deserved.
