Chapter 9 — The Men Behind Alexander
1271 Words
The following morning, the Smith estate was already awake when a familiar black sedan passed through the gates.
Anastasia was halfway through breakfast when the butler approached her.
"Miss Anastasia, Mr. Go has arrived."
She looked up from her plate.
"Already?"
Her father glanced at the clock.
"It's barely eight."
Anastasia sighed.
"He said he was coming to pick me up, but I didn't know he meant this early."
Her father smiled.
"You should get used to it."
"Papa."
He chuckled.
"Go. Your fiancé is waiting."
Anastasia gave him an exasperated look before standing.
She found Alexander in the drawing room.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, one hand in his pocket while he spoke quietly with one of his security officers.
The moment he noticed Anastasia, he ended the conversation.
"Good morning."
"You're early."
"I wanted to make sure we weren't late."
"For what?"
"You're meeting my friends."
Anastasia raised an eyebrow.
"The three men who apparently enjoy making fun of you?"
Alexander's expression darkened.
"They enjoy testing my patience."
She smiled.
"Then I think I'll like them."
Alexander opened the door for her.
"That's what I'm worried about."
---
Go Corporation
The drive to Go Corporation took approximately thirty minutes.
When they arrived, Alexander's private elevator carried them directly to the executive floor.
Anastasia stepped out and looked around.
The entire floor was quiet and elegant, with glass walls overlooking the city.
Alexander walked beside her.
"You've been here before?"
"No."
"You'll probably hate it."
"Why?"
"Too serious."
She glanced at him.
"You're the CEO."
"Exactly."
She laughed.
Alexander looked at her for a moment before opening the conference-room door.
Three men were already inside.
Lorenzo Chen stood first.
"Finally."
Daniel Han looked at Alexander.
"We were beginning to think you were afraid to introduce her."
Tyler Wang grinned.
"Or perhaps he was afraid we'd embarrass him."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"You're already doing it."
Anastasia smiled.
Alexander turned toward her.
"Anastasia, these are Lorenzo Chen, Daniel Han, and Tyler Wang."
Lorenzo extended his hand.
"Nice to finally meet you."
Anastasia shook it.
"Nice to meet you too."
Daniel smiled.
"We've heard quite a lot about you."
Anastasia glanced at Alexander.
"Really?"
Alexander immediately said,
"No."
Tyler laughed.
"That's a lie."
Anastasia laughed.
"I suspected as much."
The atmosphere quickly became comfortable.
Unlike most people who met Alexander, these three weren't intimidated by him.
They teased him.
They challenged him.
And most importantly, they understood him.
They had grown up together and had remained close despite eventually taking different paths.
Lorenzo was an investment heir.
Daniel was the successor to one of the country's most respected law firms.
Tyler was the heir to a technology empire.
But there was something else about the three men that Anastasia noticed almost immediately.
They were alert.
Lorenzo automatically chose the seat with the clearest view of the door.
Daniel noticed every movement in the hallway through the glass wall.
Tyler kept his phone within reach but never became distracted by it.
Anastasia quietly observed them.
Alexander noticed.
"You figured it out."
She looked at him.
"Figured out what?"
"They aren't ordinary heirs."
Lorenzo laughed.
"Neither are you."
Anastasia smiled.
"I never said I was."
Tyler leaned back.
"We were trained from a young age."
"Combat?"
"Among other things."
Anastasia nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
"People with your backgrounds attract enemies."
Lorenzo looked at Alexander.
"She's right."
Alexander nodded.
"We've learned not to underestimate anyone."
Anastasia smiled.
She liked them already.
---
Noon
After several hours of conversation and a short business discussion, Alexander finally closed the folder in front of him.
"Enough work."
Tyler looked surprised.
"Did the great Alexander Go just suggest lunch?"
"Yes."
"Should we document this?"
Alexander gave him a cold stare.
Everyone laughed.
They left the conference room together.
The private elevator took them to the building's underground parking area, where their cars were waiting.
Alexander turned toward Anastasia.
"There's a restaurant nearby. It's quiet."
"All right."
They got into Alexander's sedan.
Lorenzo, Daniel, and Tyler followed in another vehicle.
The drive took approximately fifteen minutes.
They arrived at an exclusive private restaurant used by executives and influential families.
Alexander had reserved a private dining room.
This time, everyone relaxed.
Lorenzo raised his glass.
"To Alexander finally finding the woman he's been looking for."
Alexander looked unimpressed.
"Don't start."
Tyler laughed.
"Too late."
Anastasia smiled.
"You've really been looking for me for six years?"
Alexander looked at her.
"Yes."
"Why?"
His answer was simple.
"Because I couldn't forget you."
The teasing stopped.
Anastasia looked down.
Her heart unexpectedly beat faster.
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Well..."
Lorenzo grinned.
"That was unexpectedly romantic."
Alexander ignored him.
---
Lunch continued peacefully.
But halfway through the meal, Anastasia suddenly stopped talking.
Her eyes shifted toward the restaurant's glass entrance.
Alexander noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You don't look like nothing."
She looked again.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
The windows were heavily tinted.
Anastasia's instincts immediately warned her that something was wrong.
Lorenzo noticed the vehicle too.
"That's been there since we arrived."
Daniel subtly checked his phone.
"No registered plate in the local database."
Tyler's expression changed.
"Interesting."
Alexander put down his glass.
"Everyone stays calm."
Anastasia looked at him.
"They're watching us."
"I know."
She glanced at her friends.
None of them panicked.
Instead, they became more alert.
Alexander looked at Lorenzo.
"Can you check the rear exit?"
"Already did."
Daniel spoke next.
"Two security cameras cover the parking area."
Tyler added,
"And there's another exit through the kitchen."
Anastasia smiled faintly.
"You're all prepared."
Lorenzo shrugged.
"We've had interesting childhoods."
Alexander looked at Anastasia.
"We're leaving."
Nobody argued.
---
Outside the restaurant, the black sedan was gone.
But Anastasia noticed something near the entrance.
A small envelope had been placed beneath the windshield wiper of Alexander's car.
He immediately stopped her from touching it.
"Don't."
"I know."
Daniel retrieved it using gloves from his emergency kit.
Inside was a photograph.
Everyone gathered around Alexander.
The photograph was old.
Anastasia's expression changed instantly.
She recognized it.
She was sixteen again.
Standing beneath the pavilion.
Holding the injured kitten.
And beside her stood a twenty-year-old Alexander.
On the back of the photograph were four words:
HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO FIND YOU.
Alexander read the message.
His face became cold.
He looked at Anastasia.
"What does this mean?"
She stared at the photograph.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered,
"Someone has been watching us since before I came home."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
That answer wasn't enough for him.
But before he could ask another question, Anastasia's phone vibrated.
One message appeared.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY.
She stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
NOW HE'S IN DANGER TOO.
Alexander saw it.
His expression changed.
He stepped closer to her.
"Anastasia."
She looked at him.
"Whatever this is..."
His voice was calm but firm.
"...you're not facing it alone."
For once, Anastasia didn't argue.
She simply looked at him.
Behind them, Lorenzo, Daniel, and Tyler exchanged a glance.
They understood what Alexander had just decided.
Whatever was coming—
they would face it together.
And somewhere across the city, inside a dark SUV, Victor Hale stared at a photograph of the six people standing outside the restaurant.
He smiled.
He had expected Anastasia to be surrounded by wealthy friends.
What he hadn't expected—
was how alert they all were.
Victor leaned back.
"Interesting."
He didn't know yet what each of them was capable of.
And that ignorance would eventually become his biggest mistake.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD