The drive back to Alexander's penthouse was silent, but the air between them was heavy with unspoken thoughts. Cherry stole glances at him -his jaw was tight and his hands were gripping the wheel harder than necessary.
He was obviously angry at the current situation.
Cherry let out a soft breath, her mind replaying Vanessa's words.
"Just don't let him turn you into our mother".
Hmm , Their mother. Did something happen to their mother?
Even though Cherry was yet to meet Alexander's mother in this life, she could clearly remember her mother-in-law from her former life .
Mrs. Louisa Rich, was a stunning woman with a delicate, innocent face and a head of golden blonde hair that cascaded down her back like a river of sunset hues. Her age was evident only in the fine lines that etched her face, placing her somewhere in her late 40s, yet she possessed a timeless elegance that belied her years.
Her tall, slender frame moved with a quiet confidence and she had these bright, expressive eyes which sparkled with a deep-seated devotion to her husband, Jonathan.
It was her relationship with Mr Jonathan Rich that truly defined her.
Mrs. Rich was a paragon of obedience, always bending to her husband's every whim with a willingness that bordered on reverence. She treated him with a deference that was almost regal, as if he were a monarch and she, his loyal subject.
Every gesture and movement, seemed to be infused with a deep-seated desire to please him and cater to his desires.
It was as though she had been conditioned to prioritize his happiness above all else, and she did so with a quiet, unassuming efficiency that was both impressive and unsettling . Cherry had never paid much attention to her,
She too had been caught up in Alexander's world.
Now, she saw it clearly.
Vanessa had warned her because she had seen the cycle before.Jonathan controlled his wife. Alexander had tried to control Cherry.
But this time?
She wouldn't be controlled.
Back at the penthouse, Alexander poured himself a drink.Cherry waited.
She knew better than to push him when he was like this. Let him come to her.
Finally, he exhaled sharply, turning to face her. "My father made some stupid decisions. He got involved with people he shouldn't have."
Cherry crossed her arms, her tone soft and neutral. "How bad is it?"
Alexander rubbed his temples.
"Bad. He was financing some high-risk deals through private investors, trying to outmaneuver a competitor. But the market shifted, and now—" He let out a humorless chuckle. "Now, he owes people who don't take failure lightly."
Cherry's pulse quickened. "Are we talking about—?"
"Yes," Alexander cut in. "People who don't play by the rules."
Cherry's lips pressed into a thin line. "How much?"
Alexander hesitated, then he replied
"Enough that if we don't handle this correctly, Rich Enterprises could take a massive fall."
Cherry leaned against the counter, thinking.
"In my past life, I would've just followed his lead. I would've trusted him completely. But now?"
Now, she had to be smarter.
"You have a plan," she said slowly. It wasn't a question.
Alexander smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course I do."
Of course he did.
But was it the right one?
Over the next few days, Cherry watched carefully as Alexander moved.
Meetings. Phone calls. Calculations.
She saw how effortlessly he controlled the narrative, manipulating numbers and contracts to steer the situation in his favor. AHe was really a force in the business world.
As Alex poured over documents,in his study , she walked into the study , and stood by the door .
He had summoned the senior executive for a meeting, it was time for them to open up to them before things got out of control, after all they were a team.
But She knew he didn't have any solution to share with them and this was what kept him worked up this time.
"Let me help," she said, her voice steady.
Alexander looked up, amusement flickering in his gaze. "You want to handle business now?"
Cherry simply looked at him and gave a cute little laugh, she didn't rise to the bait.
"That's what I studied, isn't it?" she said smoothly, sitting across from him.
His eyes darkened with something unreadable.
" I thought you wanted to support me, not compete with me."
Ah.
There it was.The old Alexander. The man who wanted her just intelligent enough to impress, but never enough to challenge him.
Cherry smiled. "That's the old me."
Alexander watched her for a long moment before chuckling. "Alright, Cherry. Impress me."
Cherry slowly walked tow Alex reaching for his shoulders from the back, massaging them a little bit.
It was something she did to ease him whenever he became tensed .
She took the seat beside him and began to carefully examined the documents set before her.
They worked together till late into the night and before long, pieces of the best solution came her mind in a flashes , she quietly scribbled down a few points .
Alexander continued to work in his office, while she retired to bed that night , As Cherry wandered onto the penthouse balcony. The city stretched out before her, glowing in the darkness.
She thought about Vanessa again.
In her past life,she saw her only for a fleeting moment that particular night and she had ignored her.
Now, she understood that Vanessa wasn't just another Rich heir , it seemed she was the only one from the Rich family who saw the truth .
Alexander wasn't a monster—not yet.
But he was his father's son and that was far more dangerous.
The following afternoon was the day of the meeting. The room was silent.
Alexander, Jonathan, and a few senior executives of Rich Enterprises sat around the long, polished conference table, their faces tight with tension. The weight of Jonathan's reckless dealings hung over them like a storm cloud.
Cherry sat among them, her posture poised, her expression unreadable.
Just last night , Alexander had smirked at the idea of her getting involved in business.
Now, She was about to save them all.
Jonathan Rich drummed his fingers on the table. "We need to move fast. If we don't clear this debt, those men will start taking things that don't belong to them."
Alexander leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Throwing money at them won't work. They'll come back for more."
Cherry smiled, crossing her legs. "Then don't throw money at them. Control the situation instead."
The room fell silent.
Jonathan scoffed. "And how exactly do we do that, Cherry?"
She didn't flinch.
"You owe sharks money. Sharks don't respect payment, they respect power. The mistake here is that they think they own this situation. We have to change that."
Jonathan arched a brow. "Go on."
Cherry reached for the files in front of her. "These men aren't just businessmen. They use legal and illegal means to maintain their wealth. They thrive on intimidation. But they also need rich, powerful people to launder their money and keep their operations running smoothly."
Alexander watched her closely.
"They've invested in multiple real estate ventures, many of which are barely hanging on by a thread. We're not the only ones they're squeezing for money right now. But if we gain control over those assets, we control them."
Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "How?"
Cherry placed a document in front of him. "Through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Some of their projects are already struggling. We can legally buy stakes in them, restructure the deals, and pull the rug out from under them. If they want their money back, they'll have no choice but to negotiate on our terms."
Alexander's lips twitched, barely hiding his pride.
Jonathan, however, leaned back, unimpressed. "And what if they retaliate? These aren't men who like to be played."
Cherry's smile was cold. "That's why we make them believe they're still in control. We extend a negotiation under the pretense of settlement, offer a structured repayment through a mutual business agreement, and slowly strip them of their leverage before they even realize what's happening."
Jonathan was quiet for a moment. Then, a small, approving smirk formed. "You really thought this through, didn't you?"
Cherry tilted her head. "I always do."
Alexander stared at her, something new flashing in his eyes.Admiration.Possession.
This was the point where Alexander thought to himself
"I have to marry her."
The thought struck him before he could stop it.
Cherry wasn't just intelligent—she was brilliant. More than that, she was his perfect match.
And if he wasn't careful, she might become his greatest threat.
Later, when the meeting ended and the executives left, Jonathan approached Cherry.
"I underestimated you," he admitted, studying her with newfound interest.
Cherry smiled. "Most men do."
Alexander leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "I assume you won't be doing this for free?"
Cherry turned to him smiling softly with her eyes gleaming. "Of course not."
Jonathan chuckled. "Smart girl. What do you want?"
Cherry leaned forward. "A company stake."
Both men stiffened.
Jonathan scoffed.
"You already have access to the company through Alexander."
Cherry's expression didn't waver. "Access isn't ownership. I want something that belongs only to me."
Alexander narrowed his eyes. "How much are we talking?"
Cherry slid a contract across the table. "This division. The one you consider too small to matter. I want full control over it."
Jonathan barely glanced at the papers. "This is nothing."
Alexander frowned. "What do you want with this?"
Cherry simply smiled. "It's just a little project I'm working on."
Lana and Cherry had continued buiilding on their mutual vision behind the scenes—a business that, in time, would grow beyond anything the Rich family expected.
And this small, overlooked division of Rich Enterprises?
It was going to be her foundation.
Jonathan shrugged, signing the papers. "Fine. If that's all you want."
Alexander hesitated before signing, watching her carefully. "You're playing a long game, aren't you?"
Cherry only smiled. "Isn't that what you taught me?"
He smirked, shaking his head. "God help me, I love you."
Cherry's heart twisted.
Because once upon a time, those words would have meant everything.
Now?
They meant nothing at all.
Because she knew exactly what she was doing.
And soon, they would all see.