The Alexander will

ZARA'S SCHEME

COVE’S PENTHOUSE — 11:00 PM*

_The night before_

Cove entered his apartment and headed straight for the stairs. The scent of her cheap perfume still clung to his suit jacket. It made his skin crawl.

“There’s a room upstairs at the end of the hallway. You can stay there. But first thing tomorrow morning, you leave,” he said without turning back. Then he stopped. “Do not touch anything.” He disappeared into his room and locked the door.

“Thank you so much,” Zara said with a mischievous smile, loud enough for him to hear.

_Finally, I’ve made my way in. Cove Alexander doesn’t bring women home. Ever. That picture at Velvet will be everywhere by morning. Now I just need to secure my place in this house. A few tears, a sob story, and he won’t kick me out. Men like him always fold when a woman looks broken enough._ She headed up to her room, already planning which of his shirts she’d “borrow” for breakfast.

*RICHARD’S APARTMENT — 9:45 AM*

_Next morning_

“I can’t believe you spent the night at my house again,” Richard groaned, rubbing his temples. A half-empty whiskey bottle sat on the coffee table between them. “People might actually start to think we’re gay.”

“And who cares what people think?” Zayn laughed, tossing a pillow at him. “Last I checked, you hardly care about people’s opinions. You told the Forbes interviewer to quote, ‘kiss my rich a*s’ last month. I think the drinks from last night hit you too hard.”

“You know what? I don’t want to talk about—” Richard was cut off by the door slamming open.

Stacy barged in without knocking. Her Louboutins clicked like gunshots. She looked like she hadn’t slept. “Have you guys checked the news today?”

“What’s up with the news?” Zayn asked while Richard pretended no one was talking. He picked up the whiskey bottle and examined the label instead.

She threw her phone on the coffee table. It skidded into the bottle with a clink. A blurry paparazzi pic filled the screen: _Cove walking out of Velvet with a woman in his arms, her face buried in his neck_. The caption read: *Billionaire son seen leaving club with mystery girl. Guess he’s found true love already.

Richard smirked. Zayn burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny? This is serious,” Stacy snapped. Her voice cracked. “Dad’s board called me at 7 AM. Three of them. The clause is crystal clear: _Ivy or true love inherits controlling shares_. Not some random girl he met at Velvet who he’s not ready to marry. If the press spins this as Cove choosing someone else, we lose the $800M and the company. I lose my trust fund.”

The word _trust fund_ wiped the smile off Zayn’s face.

“Where’s Cove? He needs to fix this, and fast,” Stacy said, pacing. “He needs to release a statement. Deny it. Something.”

“He’s at his house with the girl, I guess,” Zayn said, still grinning.

“We need to go see him. Now,” Stacy said.

“We…” Zayn gave Stacy a look. She returned it with a face that said _I won’t repeat myself or I’ll call your father_.

“Come on, bro,” Zayn said to Richard, who stood up and headed upstairs without a word“Guess it’s just me and you then.”

*COVE’S PENTHOUSE — 10:30 AM*

“Where were you, Zara?” Zara's mom voice shot through the phone.

Zara fumbled with her phone. “I have a job interview. I won’t be home for some days… or months. So don’t bother calling,” she whispered

“Job? Where? What job? You told me you were meeting a man after work not this..” her mom’s voice crackled through.

“You don’t have to know. It’s a well-paying job, so you don’t have to worry about rent anymore. I’ll send money as soon as—” She heard footsteps. “I’ll call you back later.” She ended the call fast and shoved the phone in her pocket.

“What are you doing in my kitchen? Who gave you the right to touch my things?” Cove’s voice was ice. He pointed to the coffee maker she’d used. His coffee maker. “I told you to leave first thing this morning. It’s past 10. You’ve had two extra hours.”

_Perfect. He’s angry. Angry men make mistakes. And they keep you around to yell at you._ “I… don’t have a place to go,” she said, eyes welling up on cue. She let her lip tremble. I lost my job because of that man from the club.

I don’t mind staying for a while and helping out with chores. Even if you don’t pay me. Please. Just until I find another job.” A little sniff for effect.

The elevator dinged. Stacy stepped in with Zayn behind her. They both stopped short at the sight of Zara in Cove’s kitchen, wearing one of his black t-shirts as a dress.

“What are you doing here?” Cove asked, glaring at Zayn. “Why did you let her in?”

“I didn’t. She was already here,” Zayn muttered,"

I guess this is why Richard refused to tag along"he said looking anywhere but at Cove.

“Have you checked the news?” Stacy asked. Cove didn’t reply. She pulled out her phone and shoved it in his face. “Dad’s board is in emergency meetings you can't be seen with random women they think you are trying to fake the love.

You’re jeopardizing $800 million because you felt sorry for a stranger.”

He stared at the picture, then at Zara. His jaw worked. Then he let out a frustrated sigh that sounded more like a growl.

Behind them, Zara smiled into her coffee mug. Emergency meetings. Good. The more chaos, the more he’ll need me to be the calm in the storm. The devoted girlfriend who stood by him when his family turned on him.

“Take some water,” Zara said to Cove, holding out a glass. Her fingers “accidentally” brushed his. “You look stressed.”

He took the cup and smashed it to the ground. Water and glass exploded across the marble.

“Get out of my house!” he roared. He turned to Stacy, veins standing out in his neck. “Take this thing out of my house. Now. Before I do something I’ll regret.”

“Come on. Let’s go,” Stacy said to Zara, grabbing her arm. “You’ve overstayed your welcome. By about ten hours and one smashed glass.”

“Bro, calm down, you know the press will spin this if—” Zayn started, but Cove didn’t give him a chance to finish.

He walked off toward his office. The door slammed hard enough to rattle the Chihuly in the foyer. He needed to clear his head. He needed Ivy.