HER GAME

ALANNA

The look on Nolan's face when I announced I had  40 percent shares of his company was priceless. 

"This bitch," I could see Chloe mouth out the curse, her face consumed with spite and rage. 

I couldn't care less about Chloe. 

When I reached out to other investors to acquire their shares, I kept it quiet, I didn't want to come back as a shareholder,  I wanted to come back as a major one. 

I sauntered down the podium as applause came from every angle of the hall. 

I walked down to where Nolan stood, he was still dumbfounded. 

"As a major shareholder, I would be coming about the company often, I will require an office," I paused, Brad was scribbling down all my requests in a notepad while Nolan stared at me. Chloe was already drunk, staggering to stand on her stilettos, while my father held her for balance. 

"You know what, I will just have my assistant Angela email all that to you, this would include your accounts, your numbers, I want to see them all,"

Nolan's eyes widened in disbelief, " We don't just show our accounts to just anyone," he protested, I could see the exhaustion on his face. He knew this was a battle he had already lost. 

"Didn't you hear my announcement, Mr. Westbrook?" I questioned, rolling my eyes at him. 

"I did, and I find it shady, being the CEO of this company, that you acquired 40% of my company without telling me," he scowled, I could see the anger and frustration burning inside of him. 

I scoffed, "Shady," I sighed, the nerves of this man to think of me as shady " I didn't get the shares from you, so I don't think that is necessary,  other investors have the right to do whatever they want to do with their shares," 

Nolan glared at me, Chloe was staring at him, they all were. 

"Running it behind me, is what I am weary of," He said in a weak tone, I could tell he didn't want to argue with me, but it was a test of his competence as the CEO. 

"Mr. Westbrook, if you are concerned about something shady going on, take it up with my lawyers, but as for now, I will be taking my leave. You will be seeing more of me in the office." 

It was the last blow, I wasn't going to stand around exchanging words with him, I was no longer that girl. And from the looks of it, he was no longer that man either. 

"You shall be hearing from my lawyer,"  he concluded and strode away in anger, a smile curved on my lips, Chloe glares at me. 

"Whatever plan you have to come between me and Nolan, just know it won't work, I will kill…"

"Stop it, Chloe," my father interrupted her, he knew she was drunk and was going to say something that could be used against her. He pulled her, and with one last stare, he muttered.  

"It is nice to see you, daughter," there was this familiar sadness in his voice. 

"I wish I could say the same, Mr. Clarkson" I responded. 

He didn't say anything else, he wanted to, but he chose not to. Instead.  He walked away, pulling a drunk Chloe with him. 

I glanced at Angela who was staring at me all the time. 

"This is the most drama I have witnessed, in all my career, in one night," she says with excitement in her voice, I smiled genuinely, for the first time that night. 

We walked to the parking lot and we were about to get into the car. We didn't want to go through the front of the banquet hall because a lot of reporters were already waiting to cover the biggest story of the last five years. 

"Alanna," a familiar voice called out my name, I don't know why every time I hear him call out my name, my knees go weak. 

It was Nolan. He had taken off his suit jacket  and was just on his long sleeve. His first two buttons were unbuttoned, exposing his chest, he had a glass of whiskey in his hand. 

He has been drinking, he has a terrible relationship with alcohol, and he does stupid things when he is drunk. We both do. That is why we ended up in this mess in the first place. 

He walked towards me, his perfect hair was out of place, and his dark blue eyes were piercing mine, there was raw desire in them. One I knew all too well, I had seen it so many times while he was married to me. When he will pin me to the wall when he would fuck me with my back against the table. 

I swallowed,  I shouldn't be thinking of this. 

Concentrate Alanna. This is not what you should be thinking of, I cautioned myself.  This is the same man who treated me like trash. 

"What do you want Mr. Westbrook?" I asked as he approached me. 

"Why are you here? Why are you back?" 

I feigned amusement,  "I am back for business, I think that was made clear earlier on," 

"Bullshit, Alanna," he snapped, Angela who was standing close to me gasped. A smile curved on my lips, this was the part of him I wanted, the Nolan I know, the jaded and aggressive Nolan. Not some corporate sellout Nolan. 

"Mr. Westbrook, I do not appreciate your tone and choice of words, " I said, attempting to spite him the more. To poke that part of him where it would hurt his ego. 

"Spare me the diplomacy, Alanna, you  disappeared for years and came back to acquire 40% of my company shares, what is really your play, Alanna?"

A smile curved on my lips, he was losing it, I could tell I was driving him crazy and he didn't like it. "I am just a businesswoman aimed at expanding, whatever 'Play' you are talking about doesn't exist," I paused and stared at him for a moment, there was this unfamiliar expression in his eyes. 

I continued, "I would appreciate it, if you refrain from addressing me, in such a manner, I will attribute it to the alcohol this time." 

He wanted to say something but held it back, I got into the car with Angela, and the driver immediately drove off, Nolan standing speechless.

Angela handed me her iPad, "Read the headline," she said. 

"ALANNA CLARKSON BACK AFTER FIVE YEARS AND ACQUIRES SHARES IN HER EX-HUSBAND'S COMPANY" 

I smile. I was just getting started. Nolan would regret everything he ever did to me.