Chapter 7

Alaric Pov:

I walked into my home office and I angrily pulled off my bow tie. My mother, sister and Stella follow.

“Were you able to talk to Mr Alden” my mother asked, “yes mother” I answered.

“Did you tell Lucien, the kind of person Marissa is?” Prissy asked, she annoyed me when she mentioned Marissa, I was pissed at the outcome of tonight.

“Prissy, would you shut your mouth about the Alden's heir for once I am trying to think here” I said.

“B..b.. but. Mother. Ughh” Prissy said and stomped off.

“Do you want to talk about it? Me and mother will be willing to listen,” Stella said softly, I looked at her, I know she just wants to know what happened when I met with Lucien and Marissa.

“Yes, Stella is right. You can talk to us, I am sure you can convince the Alden heir for a better preposition, right?” My mother said,

“If you want to do something for me, please leave and let me think,” I said coldly.

“Alright. We will leave, take your time, I will be waiting in the bedroom for you” Stella said, guiding my mother to the door like a good daughter in law to be.

“ Yes please and don't wait up for me, Go home. Have a lovely night, Stella.” I said, sitting down behind my desk. She stood there for a minute with my mother, before they walked out. I closed my eyes to remember what happened tonight.

“ Well, meet the new CEO of the Alden group. I am now the COO. You just got yourself an exclusive news Mr Monroe” Lucien said mimicking my first word, Marissa gasped, I was shocked but I quickly composed myself.

“It has not been announced yet, but it will tomorrow. Marissa here will determine if she wants to see your contract and if it is good enough for us. But I see no success in the project.” Lucien said. I have never met with Lucien officially before this day and I know that Lucien has no reason to hate me, except if he truly knew what happened between me and Marissa, or maybe Marissa has said something to make him hate me.

“Mr Alden, if we could discuss this alone without your date, I think you and I can come to an agreement.” I said.

“Didn't you understand a word of what I just said, whatever we are discussing my date here will be with us, and I know she understands the business world better than you. Mr Monroe” Lucien said rudely, I know he is trying to piss me off, I won't let him get to me, I watched as Marissa clingy to his arms like a cheap whore. Anger boiled in me.

“She?, the business world. She never had experiences in things like” I said angrily.

“It settles then, no project. Let's leave, Love.” he said to Marissa.

“Hold on, Mr Alden. Okay, I agree,” I said.

Lucien smiled. “when should we arranged for a meeting” I continued.

“ You are going too fast, Mr Monroe. Marissa has to agree to it.” He said and smiled grimly. It felt like I had fallen into his trap, I cleared my throat, looking at him with a confused look.

“Marissa dear, Do you want to?” He asked lovingly, A man like Lucien Alden will not act like this to a lady except if there is a secret binding. I am sure Marissa had something on this man, and I am going to find out.

“ Yes, why not. But on one condition, Mr Monroe here will agree and do everything I say, including seeing my daughter Nova, before I see the project plan.” She said looking at me, for the second time tonight she looked me dead in the eye.

I smirked to cover my anger, “I didn't know you would bring personal matters into business.” I said, she smiled.

“Like Lucien said, you don't know a bit about the business world”. I frowned at her words.

“Yes or no, Mr Monroe. We don't have all day” she said softly, I swallowed, she looks so seductive looking up at me that way, ‘is she doing this on purpose’

“Yes, I agree,” I said, clearing my throat.

“Alright. Lucien let's leave, we are done here” She said, Lucien put his arms around her waist holding close, I clenched my jaw to suppress my anger. ‘if only he is not the Alden heir’.

“When are they having the meeting?,” I said, staring at their back, they turn at the same time, Marissa whispers into Lucien hear and smiled at him.

“ I will have someone call you, Mr Monroe,” Lucien said.

“Be patient,” he said again. And they left. I watched as Marissa swayed her hips elegantly and sexily.

“Damn” I said, running my hand through my hair. I felt like I just got played.

I walked back to my family and Stella.

“We are leaving,” I said.

“Is everything okay,” Stella asked, moving closer to me, I pulled away.

“Yes. Mother, we are leaving” I answered, while facing my mother.

“But the party is not yet over” my mother said.

“I know we are leaving, that is final” I said.

“What, no,no. I haven't found the Alden heiress yet. I need to tell you about Marissa” prissy said agitated. I frown, I am not ready to deal with her nonsense now.

“We are leaving now or you stay and look for a ride home” I said, walking out of the ball hall.

I heard them call for me to wait as they rushed after me.

I ran my hand on my face, as I poured whiskey into the glass cup, my phone rang. “Yes?.”

“I followed them, it seems that they are really together,sir." the person over the phone says.

“Alright, keep following her.” I said.

“Yes, sir”

I look around the room, I opened the drawer in my desk, and brought out a picture of Marissa, smiling at the camera, I just realized she looks happy, calm and beautiful, and her eyes full of love, but the woman I met tonight was different from my Marissa or as she been pretending?.

The Marissa I met tonight wasn't Marissa, she felt like she had played mind games before, she felt dangerous and not with the innocence I met in her. Her eyes, as always held secret but tonight I saw secrets, calculated steps. It is Marissa, she has always been manipulative, I put the picture back in the drawer and slam it shut.

“What are you hiding, Marissa?”.