12. Nothing is coincidence in business...

ALEXANDER

I gazed out of the window that was slightly blurred with rain drops, the glass had caught the reflection on the woman, lying on my bed…

She thought I sent those black dahlias to mock her. She was wrong. I sent them to provoke her. To shatter her patience and let her walk straight into my territory with fire in her eyes.

Impressive, honestly.

For a princess who had never seen hardships, I half expected her to crumble when the world turned its back, including the betrayal from the man around whom she had once evolved her world, but she didn’t. She came for my throat.

Even fainting was an act of defiance—her body collapsing only when her pride finally ran out of air…

Elowen Corvella was never a part of my plan, but when I saw her tearing those men apart that night, I knew I had found a key—A key to walk all over the Corvellas.

Indeed, she would get hurt in the process, but—it’s life, isn't it? Her brother and grandmother must pay for what they did…

I stepped quietly near the bed.

Her hair fell across her face, damp from the IV’s saline scent. Every inch of her looked fragile. But I knew better. Fragility was her camouflage. And if I was going to break the Corvellas, I needed her to wear it well.

I traced a finger over the vase of black dahlias I had sent earlier—fresh replacements.

The color of endings. The flower of betrayal. Very fitting, wasn’t it?...

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Glancing at her once, I walked over to the window. It was my legal advisor, Ethan.

“Hmm,” I received the call.

“Mr. Veyrek,” said Ethan, “Adrian Hale just filed the lawsuit against Miss Corvella for brand defamation and misuse of corporate resources. The press got the memo.”

“Of course he did,” I muttered, my voice was calm. “He’s cleaning his own blood with hers.”

“Should we counter it?” He asked.

“Not yet. Let it brew.”

“Understood.”

And, I ended the call, leaning against the window.

Everything was moving exactly as I had predicted… Adrian Hale's ego would strangle him before the year ended. The investors who backed out from Elowen’s deal were already puppets in his PR network.

But she didn’t know the game. Not yet. She was still playing defense. However, I would teach her offense soon enough…

A low groan caught my attention, my gaze drifted to her.

Her lashes moved faintly, a flicker of consciousness. A slight shiver through her breath. Soon, her eyes fluttered open.

She looked confused, in a daze as she looked around, and then, those pearl-like eyes fell on me. She blinked at first, eyes almost went wide and then, a flicker of familiarity lingered there.

Her lips parted. “You…” The word was half-whisper, half-curse.

Well, here we go again…

She tried to sit up; but failed and fell on the pillow with a slight groan.

“Don’t. You're still weak.” I said calmly.

Her eyes shot at me, glaring. Her glare was weak but lethal. “You think this changes anything?”

I tilted my head. “Of course not. But it confirms something.”

“What?” she rasped, narrowing her eyes.

“That you’re more useful than I thought.”

Her eyes widened before they filled with anger. Her hand twitched. If she had the strength, she would’ve slapped me by now.

Instead, she said, “You're shameless! You think you'll do this and I’ll work with you?”

“You already are.” My voice was calm, almost certain. “The moment you walked into my office, you stopped being a rumor and became a story I own.”

Her breathing hitched. “You’re a monster!” She said as if she just realised it.

I almost chuckled. “Well, I’m a businessman.”

She turned away, muttering, “You’re unbelievable…”

“Well, that I am.” I replied, at which she only frowned, yet said nothing.

The silence stretched between us, thick with exhaustion and something neither of us wanted to name.

Then I added, quieter this time: “Rest, Elowen. You’ll need your strength. The real game starts tomorrow.”

Her eyes fluttered shut again—not from fear, but defiance surrendering to fatigue. I thought she would snap though, but she remained silent.

I watched her a moment longer, then turned to leave. At the door, my assistant stood waiting with a file. “Director, the press—”

“I said to silence them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And make sure Cassian Corvella knows nothing yet.” I added.

He blinked, and then nodded, “yes, sir.”

As I stepped into the elevator, the city glowed beneath me, burning through glass and fog.

Elowen Corvella… The name now hummed under my skin like a countdown.

She thought she had stepped into my world coincidentally, but she hadn’t realized—nothing is coincidence in business.

And soon, the entire Corvella House would learn that…