Chapter 19: Alex POV

He looked well, there were bags under his eyes but not if you didn't look hard enough to find them. I was looking. I wanted to know everything that the bastard was thinking in the moment.

" Are you lost " I asked and he stilled, his hands folding into a fist as he glared at me. I knew I was poking at him but in a way it was fun.

" Your offices are too far from here so I can't understand why you're here" I replied as I sat down on my desk folding my arms to watch him, he would snap if I applied too much pressure and we didn't want that no, not when in a few days Julienne would be inserting herself into his world again.

" I see your vacation did you well" he muttered sitting opposite me his hands folded over his knees.

" Of course we were at a beach, there was sunlight, good air , better food and a beautiful woman in my villa so yes " I replied with a slight smirk, his glare increased but then a little smirk formed at the corner of his cheeks as he watched me.

" You must have a lot of beautiful women around you. There are little whispers of a beautiful woman with brown hair was spotted at the Donahue estate " I stilled a little, trying to relax my features . So I wasn't the only one with spies, that was not unusual and frankly I would have considered him foolish to not have anything on me

" I'm not sure what you're getting at, but yes there was a guest" I offered, it seemed to be the best answer and depending on how she chose to play it then Julienne could claim I was cheating on her. He gulped pulled away with a smile

" Of course it was a guest"

" What did you think would happen when you took her from me " he asked and I shrugged

" I expected to marry a good woman" he banged the desk his rage filling his face

" you can't tell me that you didn't want her, that you didn't wish to posses the things she could offer " he roars and i laughed

" Did you want differently" i rose from the chair

" Did you not want what she had to offer " i asked him leaning over his shoulder, he shoved me off and stood face to face looking me dead in the eye

" Juliette is mine, her soul her body every part of her is mine and if you think for one minute that im going to let you take her frim me then you've got another thing coming " he muttered and i smiled crowding hin

" you see the difference between me and you Corey Montgomery is that I don't seek to posses her . "

" If Julienne wants to be be mine she will be and i will welcome her"

I moved away from him and sighed,

" Now, I would like you out of my office" I hissed and he laughed

" Of course, I wouldn't be caught dead in here anyway" I watched him leave, he tossed the door open, almost knocking my assistant over, I hissed and nodded

my assistant walked into the room with a wry smile

" Sorry about that" I muttered and she shrugged

" It's fine Mr Cross" she dropped some files on my table and turned to face me, my heart still beating from my brief encounter

" Mr Cross, Mr Donahue is looking for you" I sighed running my hands through my hair

" I'll get right on that. " I muttered and she nodded

" I'll let him know "

I strode to his office taking my time, while my uncle was a stickler for time,he knew I was often busy .

The Donahue industry was in a complex and gorgeous skyscraper.

My uncle's office was in the last floor, I got in the elevator and pressed the button to let it take me up.

The building was efficient and big, it was opulent like all the rooms in the building but this was tailored to his taste in shades of cream and white he didn't really like the glass said he couldn't stand the starkness of it.

Nodding to his assistant Clara,I waited to be let in.

"he is waiting for you, said you should come straight in" I smiled softly ,and crossed the short distance to the door

" How's Catherine" I asked her and she grinned

" She's fine, has been super stoked about her birthday" she replied. Clara was like family, and her daughter was a cute little girl.

"Uncle" I called as I entered the office,there was a thud and a crash and soft swearing that made me chuckle as I walked in

"Alex come my boy, " he encouraged as he walked round the desk, he looked to the glass then back at me his eyes sparkling with energy

"it seems that the older I get the more balance I seem to lose." He grumbled, gesturing for me to sit down. I joined him with a small grin

"You don't look a day over twenty uncle Trent" he laughed,

" If only I did, would make what I was about to say all the better"

" What's wrong" I asked and he sighed

"I am planning on retiring from the company" the words were not what I had thought I would hear so soon.

I stared at my uncle trying to puzzle him out, he was not too old and he was as fit as an ox, so why he was giving up the throne was not quite clear to me.

Especially with the problem's that presented themselves with that choice

"Is there a problem" I asked softly and he glared at me as if offended by the question itself.

"I am fine Alex"

" I've just been thinking and I need to step back ."

" I just want more time with Mary and Ian" he said grumpily. I stilled a little flustered.

After his first wife death uncle Trent had been alone for a long time, but very recently he'd found a woman for him. Mary was a teacher, she was younger than he was by a little more but she was a good woman.

"You want to get more lovey dovey with her" I teased earning my uncle's scowl,

" What happens with the company" I asked and he sighed

"You will have the full weight of the company on your hands" he said forcing some seriousness to the room

" I would have loved to have my son's working, all of you doing this "

" Ian could get better " I said softly even though deep down I knew the possibility of that happening was slim. He huffed

" And my other son Jared is pretty much useless" he muttered, sullen the truth was Jared wasn't useless, he just had different priorities and family business was not one of them. He was a famous actor and married to a model it suited him just fine.

"I have been handling Ian's duties for a while" I said which translated to since Ian had gotten sick, hoping to give my uncle some comfort

I had known this day would come, but had hoped to avoid it longer but now it was hear and I had to deal with it head on

"Very well, when is the party" I asked leaning towards him and he laughed

" I should be asking you that question"

"But I'm thinking two months from now" he answered, I nodded, it was too soon but I could not show discomfort my uncle was relying on me and I wasn't going to disappoint him

" Is there any reason we can't move it further" I asked and he sighed

" No there's none,but I'd like to be done with this soon" he deadpanned. Trent Donahue was a good man a wonderful father and husband but he was also a man who needed his authority respected and I understood that.

I stood

"Is there any thing else" I asked and my uncle shook his head, sharing a quick hug I turned to the door,

" Alex" he called and I turned back slightly

" I wouldn't give you the responsibility if I wasn't sure you were ready" he said I smiled slightly, that much was true

" Thank you uncle " we shared a silent message before I turned to leave.

" And Alex –" he called and I looked to him

" How's your wife "

" She's fine" I replied think on her in that moment

" bring her to dinner sometime. " He mumbled

" I'll do that," he nodded

" And could you hurry it up–the retirement party, I want to proposed to Mary in France, she's looking forward to it" I stood there stunned

" Seriously"I asked and he laughed

" Am I not good enough for marriage" he asked and I shook my head

"Good now get in with work" he muttered. I walked through the rest of the day with a smile.