As Alex and Ethan entered the cabin, Alex wasted no time. "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.
Ethan took a deep breath, steadying himself before launching into the story. "Just this morning, as I was leaving my house for the office, a blue BMW stopped in my way. And boss, you won't believe this—Marcus Langston approached me to join his side."
Alex's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of interest crossed his eyes. Ethan continued, his tone tinged with indignation. "How dare he? How does he even think I would betray you? He had the nerve to offer me double the salary to become his spy in this company."
Ethan's fists clenched as he spoke, the anger from the encounter still fresh. "I wanted to slap him right there, but I controlled myself. I made it crystal clear to him that I would never join his team in this life of mine."
Alex listened intently, his gaze unwavering as he studied Ethan's face. Ethan's voice grew more somber as he revealed the final twist. "But you know, he blackmailed me. He said he had photos of us talking, and he threatened to send them to you, saying that you'd lose trust in me and fire me."
For a moment, Alex said nothing, simply standing by the window, staring out as if deep in thought. The silence stretched on, making Ethan increasingly uneasy. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Ethan asked in a low voice, "Boss, do you really doubt my loyalty?"
This question seemed to bring Alex back to the present. He turned to face Ethan, a small smile playing on his lips. "Ethan, even if God himself came down and said you had betrayed me, I wouldn't believe it. I trust you as much as I trust Daniel and Sophia. You're more than just my right hand—you're family. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
Ethan's tense posture relaxed, his expression softening at Alex's words. The sincerity in Alex's voice left no room for doubt. The bond between them was unshakable, and no amount of scheming from someone like Marcus Langston could break it.
Alex's smile lingered for a moment, but then his expression turned contemplative. "But Ethan," he began, his tone shifting, "you know what I'm thinking right now? If you had accepted his offer, it could've helped us in misleading him, feeding him false information, and turning his own game against him."
Ethan's eyes widened slightly in realization, but before he could respond, Alex waved a hand dismissively. "But anyway, that's in the past now. We'll deal with Marcus in our own way. For now, let's leave this matter here. Go ahead and get back to work."
Ethan nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes for Alex's strategic mind. "Understood, boss," he said, his voice steady once more. With that, he turned and left the cabin, leaving Alex to his thoughts.
As Ethan settled back into his seat, Sophia glanced at him, noting his relaxed demeanor. "Is everything okay, Mr. Ethan?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Ethan looked up and smiled reassuringly. "Yes, Ms. Carter, everything is fine now."
Sophia nodded, satisfied with his response, and grabbed her notepad before heading towards Alex's cabin. As she entered, she noticed the untouched breakfast still lying on the table and Alex standing by the window, lost in thought.
"Sir, you didn't eat your breakfast," Sophia said gently. "Didn't you like the taste? Should I order something else for you?"
Alex turned to face her and walked towards his seat. "Sophia, the breakfast has gone cold. Would you mind heating it up a little for me?"
Sophia nodded and picked up the tray, leaving the cabin. Just as she exited, a woman of high social standing entered the room. She greeted Alex with a confident "Good morning" and sat down across from him. Placing the breakfast she brought on his table, she smiled and said, "Mr. Blackwood, I was just passing by, so I thought I'd stop in and see you. It's been a while since we've caught up."
Alex, without a word, stood and moved back towards the window. "Ms. Mary," he said, his voice cool, "I think you should make an appointment before entering my cabin."
Ms. Mary smiled, unfazed by his cold reception. "It seems, Mr. Blackwood, that you're still upset about what happened earlier." She paused for effect, then continued, "We're all part of this industry, Alex. I know you and Langston are at odds, and perhaps you were upset that I helped him last time. But that's in the past. My offer still stands. Marry me, and I'll convince my father to become your investor instead of Langston's. But we can discuss that later. For now, let's just enjoy breakfast together."
Alex remained motionless, his gaze fixed outside the window. Seeing his lack of response, Ms. Mary moved closer, boldly grabbing his hand and stepping nearer. "Mr. Blackwood," she purred, "don't stay angry. Let's enjoy breakfast."
Before Alex could react, the cabin door opened, and Sophia re-entered, carrying the heated breakfast tray. The sight of Ms. Mary standing so close to Alex, holding his hand, sent a wave of jealousy through her, but she quickly masked her feelings. "Sorry to interrupt," she said, her voice steady as she placed the tray on the table and then left the cabin hastily.
As the door clicked shut behind Sophia, Alex snapped back to reality. He immediately pushed Ms. Mary away, his eyes narrowing as he watched Sophia's retreating figure through the glass door. He could see the anger on her face and made a mental note to make it up to her later. For now, he had to deal with Ms. Mary.
Turning his full attention to her, he spoke with icy precision, "Ms. Mary, don't you dare come near me again. As for your marriage proposal, I'm happy to inform you that I'm already in a relationship with someone I love."
Ms. Mary's confident smile faltered, but Alex didn't give her a chance to respond. "And regarding your father's investment," he continued, "I'd like to tell you that our company is thriving without his help. Even last year, when your father chose to support Langston over us, we still came out on top. So, by all means, keep supporting him—because the Langston Group is going to lose their footing very soon."
He pointedly looked at the breakfast she had brought. "Goodbye, Ms. Mary. And please, take your breakfast with you."
His words hung in the air as he signalled for her to leave. Ms. Mary, seething with anger, picked up her breakfast and stormed out of the cabin, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts and the determination to win Sophia's heart.