Chapter 4
1554 Words
His father’s dining table was long, polished, and intimidating, the only way old money furniture could be. Breakfast had been served exactly at eight. Everyone was seated. Toast cooling. Eggs untouched. Coffee getting cold in his cup.
His father folded the newspaper with deliberate precision and calm. “So, I reviewed last quarter’s reports,” his father said.
Alexander had known where it was headed. He always did.
“The office space is no longer sufficient,” his father continued. “If you're serious about growth, you'll need to expand.”
“I'm aware father, "Alexander replied evenly, jaw tight. “We're already looking at properties.”
“I’ll do you one better. How about acquiring a company?”
“Huh? Father_”
“Listen, son, the business world is brutal. You should know that now. Anyway, I've been looking into this company, Westmere Group, and it looks like they need intervention. We’ll step in and acquire it.”
“I will look into it.”
“Your brother expanded his firm within two years.” His mother smiled quickly as she added softly, as if it were a harmless observation and not a comparison.
Of course. Caleb. Older. Married. Settled.
“And with two beautiful children,” his father said, lifting his cup to sip his tea. “Stability does wonders for focus.”
There it was. Marriage.
Alexander stared at his plate, appetite gone. “I am stable, Father. We're talking about the business, not my personal life.
“They are not different, Alexander.” His father's gaze was steady and assessing.
Silence followed. Uncomfortable. Thick.
He'd left shortly after, muttering something about work. Always work.
Alexander turned from the window as the boardroom doors opened, his team filed in, straight and alert. They respected him. Some feared him. He preferred it that way.
The meeting moved with efficiency, expansion strategies analyzed, numbers projected, and timeline adjusted. He led without raising his voice. Every decision clean. Controlled.
Hours later, two contracts were signed. A river firm had quietly backed out of a negotiation. Alexander Blackwood was exactly what he'd been raised to be, disciplined, focused, untouchable.
Yet as the office began to empty, a strange restlessness crept in.
Stability.
Marriage.
Expansion
His father’s voice echoed where it shouldn't belong.
“Ahem,” Adrian cut in his thoughts, smiling like the day hadn't already started badly. He looked too relaxed for a man who had just sat through hours of meetings.
“Let me guess,” Adrian said, pulling out a chair. “Breakfast with your father.”
Alexander didn't answer, which was enough.
Adrian chucked. “Early morning lectures hit harder, don't they? Black coffee and disappointment. No wine to soften the blows.”
Adrian had been his best friend since fifth grade, since the day he gave him a black eye. Over the years, Adrian had become more of a brother to him than his own older brother ever was.
“It wasn't like that.”
“Rightttt…” Adrian said. “Marriage. Heirs. Legacy. Expansion. The usual hymn. Well, at least we did one today, we expanded.” He paused, then added lightly, “He still thinks you're just….distracted?”
Alexander shot him a look.
Adrian raised his hands. “Relax. I know why you're not interested in any girl. I'm not bringing it up. “I'm just saying.”
“Hmm.” Alexander leaned against the table, shoulders tight.
Adrian studied him for a moment, then changed direction. “Four months, is it? That one night of yours, still remember her?”
Alexander frowned. “Six months, why?”
“Because,” Adrian said, shrugging, “most men would have forgotten by morning. You didn't.”
“I remember enough.” Alexander hesitated.
“Enough to look for her or go after her?”
“No,” Alexander said quickly. Then, slower, “I don't think so, I don't think she wants to be found.”
Adrian tilted his head. “Are you sure? Or you think it's easier not to disturb something that happened when you weren't pretending.”
The words affected him more than intended. Alexander turned back to the window, the city below him alive and bustling.
“It was one night," he said. “Six months ago.”
Adrain took, calmly smoothing his jacket. “Sometimes that's all it takes,” he said quietly. ”Just don't let breakfast lectures convince you that you have to follow a script you didn't write, to live your life.”
He headed for the door, then glanced back. “And Xander?”
“Yes?”
“I’m always on your side,” Adrian said, his voice calm.
The door closed, leaving Alexander alone with an uncomfortable truth and some memories that refused to stay buried, no matter how much work he threw at them.
Alexander gathered his things and left, descending into the private elevator. His penthouse greeted him with silence and space, too much of it. He loosened his cufflinks, poured himself a drink, and leaned against the counter.
Everything about him was aligned. Profitable. Planned.
And yet, something felt off.
Jaw tightening, he exhaled slowly.
Monday was supposed to reset him. After that painful weekend at his parents' place.
Yet, it had done the opposite.
********
Dinner with her parents was exactly as Ruby thought it would be, too careful, too polite, and stacked with things no one wanted to say out loud.
She had cooked enough food for an entire army after work, hustling between the kitchen and dining table as if movement alone could keep discomfort at bay. Her father sat at the head of the table, observant and nodding thoughtfully to what Rissa was saying, while her mother contributed where necessary. Rissa forever glowing in that effortless way. Ruby didn't want to analyze too closely.
“So, her mother said brightly, scooping stew. “How has work been?”
Ruby smiled politely, “Busy mum, as always.”
Rissa laughed softly. “Same, same. “Wedding planning is…a lot.”
This was it. The word hung between them like a fragile embellishment no one dared to handle roughly.
“That’s wonderful, Clarissa,” Ruby said, mostly meaning it.
Conversation shifted, neighbors, memories, traffic, and an aunt Ruby barely remembered. Every now and then, her mother would stare at her a second too long, like she was taking in something invisible.
“What about you, sweetie?” her father asked suddenly. “Still managing everything on your own?”
“Yes.” Ruby paused.
“Good,” he nodded, “Independence is important.”
“Still, it would be nice to meet someone special, don't you think?” Her mother said as she cleared her throat.
Ruby reached for her water. Rissa shifted uncomfortably.
“When it happens, maybe,” Ruby said evenly.
When dinner finally ended, Ruby cleared the plates and exchanged stiff hugs with each other as they left, her smile dropping as she closed the door behind her. She leaned against it, exhaling.
Tomorrow will be better. It had better be.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
An email.
Subject: Executive Strategy Meeting-9:00 AM (Urgent)
Ruby frowned as she opened it.
From: Board Operations
Location: Westmere Tower, Executive floor
Agenda: Acquisition review — Blackwood Holdings
Attendance Required
Her heart raced, her pulse quickened, not out of excitement, but instinct.
Blackwood. Blackwood?
She scrolled.
Please note: Key stakeholders will be present. The meeting has been escalated
She straightened now, slowly.
Escalated meetings didn't happen without reason. And they also do not happen without consequences.
She locked her phone and stared at the dark apartment, breathing suddenly became harder than before.
Somewhere in the city, decisions were already being made.
Tomorrow, she will be prepared and walk into that room.
And nothing, absolutely nothing, would remain the same afterwards.
The next morning came too quickly.
Ruby barely had her coffee as she stepped into Westmere Tower, the lobby already bursting with quiet urgency. By the time she reached the executive floor, she straightened her skirt, expression neutral, her spine fully straight, her mind alert.
It's just a meeting.
The boardroom doors opened.
She stepped inside.
The room became quiet, not because of her, but because of the man seated at the head of the table, raising his hand slightly, commanding the room without a word.
Ruby held her breath.
He looked the same, exactly how she remembered. Although sharper now, more handsome if she could say. A presence that filled the room effortlessly. The dark suit. The eyes that had once watched her in the dark now looked up, landing on her face.
“Lord, please kill me now.”
She recognized him. Why wouldn't she? He was unmistakable.
Her fingers tightened around the folder.
Six months.
He didn't smile, no tension. He gave nothing away. She didn't expect him to. Just a measured look before his attention returned to the screen in front of him, as if she were just another human in the room.
“Let’s begin,” he said calmly.
Ruby took her seat, her heart beating loudly in her ears.
Blackwood Holdings.
Acquisition Review
And at the head of the table, the past she hadn't planned to revisit. The future she hadn't seen coming, not by a long shot.
- Writer
