CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER 6

ALEX POV

I tilt the bottle over the glass and watch the last drop of whiskey pour in.I lost count after the first few swigs.

I should stop. It's past midnight and I have a company to run tomorrow.

Instead, I reached for the bottle,the amber liquid shone as I poured it into the glass.

I kept pouring, ignoring how much was already in the glass.I lost track somewhere between one and three pours.I leaned back in my chair and took a long sip.

The whiskey burns past my throat, sharp and bitter, but the ache in my chest doesn’t ease.

My stomach twists at the memory of Ellis in that bar with her pressed between his legs with those hazel eyes locked on mine.

My hands clench at the thought that he must have purposely did that to make me feel it all.The sharp burning pain of want and jealousy.

The worst part?It did work,because I felt it all.

I looked at the tie crumpled on the floor and my jacket slung next to it. I remember tearing them off the moment I stepped inside like I could not breathe.

Yet the image of Ellis wouldn’t leave my head.

I’m halfway through pouring another glass when my phone vibrates loudly, startling me.

I frown and grab it from the table.

Two Missed calls and three texts,all from my PA.

I open the message and it contains a link from a fashion blog.

BREAKING: Hawthorne Group Accused of Design Theft

My heart beats fastly I tap the article.The page loads and the images pop up arranged in two columns,each with sets of sketches pointing out the ‘copied’ parts.

On the left is Velles Design and on the right is Hawthorne Group sample collections.

My grip tightens around the phone.They are identical, not similar.

My hands tremble as I scrolled down the article

ANONYMOUS SOURCES:Evidence of plagiarism,Claims that Hawthorne stole designs directly from Ellis Valmont.

These are shared samples from our last meeting,the collaboration we never announced yet.Someone leaked it.

I open the attachment and freeze. The samples from our last meeting,the project we haven’t even signed legally, stare back at me all over my screen.Someone has leaked them.

My phone rings,I stare at the screen for a moment before answering.

“Alex,” she says quickly. “It’s everywhere on the news pages,everyone’s picking it up, but I already get the PR team on it”

“I just checked the messages now.Did they find the source yet?”

“We don’t know yet.”

I rub a hand over my face.The whiskey is starting to hit.“We will deal with it in the morning,” I say.

“We have to be prepared…”

“I will solve things tomorrow.”I hang up before she can say anything else.

The article stays open on my screen.Someone is trying to destroy me,destroy my company.

I grip the phone tighter. Nothing in my mind makes sense except one name… Ellis. Could it really be him?

The doubt sits heavily in my chest.Before I can stop myself, I dial his number.

“Alex?”He answers on the second ring.His voice sounds distracted.

“Did you see the news?” I ask.

“What news?”He sounds genuinely confused.

“Check your phone,” I replied

“Alex, what’s..”

“Just check it.”I hang up.

I can feel a headache brewing up already.Not with everything falling apart within the few hours of a day.

I stare at the glass in front of me.Thirty minutes pass and Ellis never calls back.

******************************************************

Sunlight stabs through my eyelids.I groan and push myself up. My head is pounding like it's been run over and my mouth tastes like I swallowed the bottom of a beer bottle.

I looked around to realize I must have slept off on the couch waiting for Ellis to call back yesterday.

I grab my phone and check the time,7:20AM.

Six missed calls and a message from Maya

‘Board meeting scheduled for eight’

“Shit.”

I stumble into the bathroom, splash cold water on my face, and brush my teeth twice. Bloodshot eyes stare back at me, hair sticking up in every direction, and my patchy and tired face makes me look like I have not slept a wink in a week.

I am almost late for a meeting and still need a proper shower.

The man staring back from the mirror looks like hell.

Good,that is exactly how I feel right now.

The board meeting begins exactly on time.Faces fill the screen as the call connects.

“Alex I assume you’ve seen the news” one of the members asked

“Yes,I have.” I answered sitting uptight

“And Ellis Valmont’s email?” he continues

“What email?” I breathed

He leans closer to the camera.

“The one he sent to the entire board members at two forty-seven AM this morning.”

Cold spreads through my body.“I haven’t seen it yet.”I replied

“Well,you should.”another member said

The meeting ends shortly after.

I opened my email and there it is.

FROM: Ellis Valmont

TO: Alex Hawthorne

CC: Hawthorne Group Board of Directors

Sent: 2:47 AM

My heart raced as I clicked on it and read through.

Mr. Hawthorne,

I can not stay quiet any longer. Months ago, your company asked for access to Velles Design’s archive, promising a collaboration. Now I see my trust was betrayed.

I provided those materials with high hope.It has now come to my attention that Hawthorne Group has been using these designs without permission or credit.

The evidence speaks for itself.I am formally withdrawing from any partnership discussions and will be pursuing legal action for intellectual property theft.

This email serves as official notice to your board of directors.

Ellis Valmont

CEO, Velles Design

I read it twice.Then a third time.He would not do this.

He wouldn’t.

But the email is right there with his name and signature.Including the official company address and email.

I press the intercom,“Get me the IT on the line,now!

Nine seconds later my IT director calls.

“What did you find?”

“The email is legitimate, sir.” he said

A sour knot spreads in my stomach and my chest tightens. I run a hand over my jaw, trying to ease the tension.“Explain.”I whispered

“It came directly from the Velles Design server. Full authentication and security certificates are valid.”

“Could someone have hacked it?” I asked to be certain

“We checked for that but there were no unusual logins or suspicious activity.Whoever sent that email had full access to Mr Ellis Valmont’s account or it is Mr Valmont himself.” he answered

Silence fills the office after the call ends.

I stare at the screen.At the headline

Was this his plan from the start..maybe a revenge to the past?and like an idiot..I had hope

My jaw tightens as I press the intercom again,this time to the PR team."Schedule an interview for me, I need to clear up this mess immediately!”

Fine,If Ellis Valmont wants a war…I grab my keys.

He is about to find out exactly who he just picked a fight with.