Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Alex’s POV
It couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t.
My mind raced, struggling to connect the dots. Daniel… Daniel, the Christiana dinner….was now this mysterious Mr. B?
who once didn’t
even have enough to buy
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I remembered him vividly as the young man struggling to make ends meet, the one who always seemed to be just one step away from drowning. He’d been nothing but an irritant back then, someone I didn’t think twice about. And now he owned Nexus Innovations? The same company that had risen to the top in a matter of weeks? That had stolen my spot and thrown my company into second place for the first time in years?
A sick twist of realization settled in my stomach. He hadn’t done this for the money. This was personal. This was a direct attack, and I was the target.
I felt my jaw tighten as Daniel began to speak, his voice confident and smooth, sounding across the room like he’d been doing this for years. He greeted the crowd warmly, throwing in just the right amount of charm to keep them hooked. The man had perfected the art of being smug.
I tugged at my tie, unable to shake the heat building in my chest. It wasn’t the room; it was him. Daniel Brooks. The man who wanted to take Christiana away from me, who clearly viewed me as a rival in every sense of the word. And here he was, acting as though he’d single–handedly conquered the tech world overnight.
The worst part was the way he carried himself…proud, self–assured, and completely unfazed. His eyes scanned the crowd as he spoke, but when they landed on me, they stopped. His expression wavered, betraying a brief moment of surprise, but it was quickly replaced with something that made my blood boil…a smirk.
That smirk wasn’t just a reaction. It was a challenge.
I leaned back in my seat, clenching my fists under the table as his gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary. Daniel Brooks. Smirking at me. The audacity of it was infuriating. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he wasn’t even trying to hide it.
“Sir,” James whispered beside me, leaning in slightly. “Are you okay?”
I didn’t answer, my eyes fixed on Daniel as he carried on with his speech. Every so often, he glanced in my direction, a faint smile playing on his lips like he was fully aware of the storm brewing inside me. The way he spoke about his company’s achievements, the bold risks they’d taken, and their unmatched innovation…it all felt like a calculated effort to needle me.
And it was working.
This wasn’t just about business. This was personal, and Daniel knew it. He was enjoying every moment, basking in the spotlight and the applause, while I sat there seething. He didn’t even have half the wealth or power I did, yet here he was, acting like he’d already won.
My foot tapped against the floor, a nervous energy I couldn’t suppress, as I watched him soak in the applause once more. My frustration was almost suffocating, with anger and something I couldn’t quite name How had he managed to climb so high, so fast?
And then, just as he was wrapping up his speech, his eyes moved toward me again. This time, his smirk
expression almost daring me to react.
I didn’t. But I wanted to.
grew wider, his
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The event had finally come to an end, and I could still feel the weight of Daniel Brooks‘ smug performance tugging at me. People were filing out of the grand hall, murmuring praises for the so–called “visionary” behind Nexus Innovations. I stayed seated, jaw tight, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing me leave first.
“Sir, perhaps we should head out,” James suggested cautiously.
I ignored him, eyes fixed on the stage where Daniel was speaking to a small group of people. His easy laughter sounded through the hall, and I felt my fists curl involuntarily. The nerve of this man.
As the crowd thinned, Daniel finally made his way toward me, an insufferable grin plastered on his face. He walked with the kind of confidence that made my blood boil even more.
“Alex Williams Alistair,” he said, extending a hand as though we were old friends meeting under pleasant circumstances. “It’s been a while.” novelbin
I didn’t take his hand. Instead, I stood up, my height giving me the slight advantage as I glared down at him. “What the hell are you doing, Daniel?” I asked, my voice low but edged with barely restrained anger.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, pretending to be confused. “I’m not sure I understand. What am I doing?”
“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped, stepping closer. “You’re trying to overtake me. Pushing your way to the top and putting on this pathetic show like you’ve won. Do you really think you’re worthy of being my rival?”
Daniel chuckled softly, the sound grating against my nerves. “Rival? Is that what you think this is?” He crossed his arms, his cocky grin widening. “Alex, this isn’t about business. This is about Christiana. Or are you still pretending this has nothing to do with her?”
My stomach twisted, but I didn’t let it show. “Christiana has nothing to do with this,” I lied, my voice sharp. “This is about you overestimating yourself. All of this…” I gestured to the now–emptying hall, “is nothing more than childish desperation.”
Daniel’s grin faded for a moment, repleby a smirk that carried more venom. “Desperation? That’s rich, coming from
you,” he said, leaning in slightly. “You’re the one dragging yourself along in her life, clinging to her because she’s the mother of your kids. But let’s not forget why you’re in this position in the first place.”
I stiffened, my fists clenching at my sides.
“You divorced her five years ago, Alex,” Daniel continued, his tone mocking. “To be with your mistress, Bianca. Remember her? Or has your selective memory erased that part? Now, suddenly, Christiana’s back, and you’ve realized she’s successful, beautiful, and has two amazing kids. And just like that, you’re sorry? Giving her sob stories, trying to worm your way back into her life like nothing happened?”
His words hit hard, and I felt my anger bubbling dangerously. But he wasn’t done.
“You’re pathetic,” he said, shaking his head with mock pity. “A loser who can’t even face the fact that Christiana doesn’t need you anymore. And she certainly doesn’t love you. She loves me. Always has, always will. That’s why I’m here, Alex. To show her what a real man looks like. To give her the life she deserves..without you.”
I saw red.
Before I even realized what I was doing, my fist connected with his jaw in a sickening thud that echoed through the room. Gasps erupted from the remaining guests who had lingered behind, their shock palpable.
“Sir, no!” Jameshouted, trying to grab me, but I shoved him away, my eyes locked on Daniel as he stumbled back, clutching his face.
“You think you can talk to me like that?” I growled, my voice trembling with rage. “You don’t know a damn thing about
Christiana or what we have.”
Daniel straightened, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth his smirk returning despite the blow. “You’re proving my
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point, Alex,” he said, his voice calm despite the fire in his eyes. “You’re nothing but a spoiled, jealous man–child who can’t stand losing. You
think you have won because she’s with you in the meantime, but you’ve already lost. Christiana will see that soon enough.”
I lunged forward, but James stepped in, holding me back this time with all his strength. “Sir, please,” he pleaded. “Not here.”
I let out a frustrated growl, shrugging James of
f as 1 glared at Daniel, who stood there, victorious in his own twisted way.
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