Chapter 14 14
Maisie's Pov
I took my seat at the end of the table beside Clyde. Then, I let the silence stretch until Xavier, clearly uncomfortable, finally spoke.
“You're a new face,” Xavier narrowed his eyes at me. Clearly, he didn't recognize me either. Well, that was because I was wearing brown contacts and a wig.
I allowed herself a small smile, though it didn't reach my eyes. “Yes, sir. I am Mr. Clyde's secretary.”
I couldn't reveal my true identity. Not yet.
Xavier leaned back in his chair, trying to regain his old swagger. “Okay.”
Then he gestured to the gentleman standing behind him. The man leaned forward and passed Xavier an Ipad.
His eyes landed on mine and my heart slowed a fraction of a beat.
Dark hair, gun-metal eyes, and a face so exquisitely chiseled it could’ve been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. He had a face I would never forget even in my sleep.
I inhaled a small breath, released it, and smiled.
He returned the smile and suddenly, tiny crackles of electricity hummed to life beneath the weight of his gaze, and it took every ounce of willpower not to look away and shake off the strange sensation.
Xavier cleared his throat and turned to Clyde. “Mr. Monroe, what, exactly, are you hoping to achieve with this meeting? Here to acquire a considerable number of shares in Dominion Industries. What's your angle?”
Clyde's blue eyes locked onto his and answered in a deep, rich voice. “I'm here to save your company, and if you're smart, you'll accept my offer.”
Xavier scoffed, trying to mask the growing fear behind his bravado. “Save my company? You must be joking.”
Clyde leaned forward and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He was a great actor. “Look around you, Alpha Xavier. Your board is losing confidence. Your investors are pulling out. The company's stock has dropped nearly 30% since you took over. You've run it to the ground.”
Xavier's face flushed red with anger. “I'm doing just fine without some… outsider telling me how to run my business!”
Clyde smiled again, this time more coldly. “Then perhaps you'll enjoy watching it burn.”
A murmur rippled through the board members, some exchanging nervous glances. Xavier's hand clenched into a fist on the table, but before he could respond, Clyde stood up and I joined him.
“You have one chance, Xavier. Take my offer, or I'll endure that when you fall, it'll be from a height so great you won't survive the impact.”
The room fell silent as if feeling the weight of his words.
“Come on,” Clyde gestured to me and I followed him into the hall.
Once we were out of the building and into the car, I peeled off the wig and removed the contacts.
“Xavier is probably shaking in his boots as we speak,” Emma said as she started the car.
“He already is.” Clyde smirked as he passed me the iPad. While Xavier was too busy trying to redeem whatever pride he thought he had, I had planted a secret camera on the wall. It was a miniature size, so tiny the human eye couldn't see it. It was expensive but worth every penny.
I watched the camera feed as Xavier paced his office, then I grinned as he shoved the items on his desk away.
“We're just getting started.” I smirked.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I peered at the screen. It was a message notification from the one and only.
“THE MIRAGE. 8PM. I'LL SEND A CAR.”
Clyde looked at me. “Is it him?”
“Yes,” I put my phone away. “He wants to meet.”
“Should we come with you or will you go alone?” Emma asked my reflection in the rearview mirror.
“I'll go alone,” I said with a small smile. “Hold the first for me.”
I got home a few minutes later, got a feel of what was going on in the pack, my company and Xavier's before I prepared for tonight's dinner.
The Mirage was one of the exquisite clubs in the BlackRock Pack and had exclusive membership of 20 people only. I wasn't surprised he had snagged one so quickly.
Heads turned wherever I went but I gave no one more than a cursory glance. Tonight wasn't mingling or making connections. I had come for one reason — to find my ally in my plan to dismantle Xavier's empire.
As she sipped her champagne, my eyes scanned the room. That was when I saw him, Alpha Roman.
He stood by the bar, a tall figure dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His dark hair was swept back with a gel, and his cold, calculating gaze swept over the crowd with a detached amusement.
Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, something electric passed between them. He smirked, clearly intrigued, and made his way over.
“Maisie Williams,” he said, his deep voice caressing my skin. “Welcome back.”
I smiled. “Don't act surprised. I did. I'll be in town today.”
He chuckled, leaning casually against the bar beside her. “You’ve gotten sharp.”
“I had a great teacher.” I sipped my champagne and set down the glass.
Roman ordered a whiskey before turning to me.
My cheeks heated when I caught him staring at me. “Why are you staring at me?”
“You look beautiful.” He threw the compliment casually.
Take it from Roman to give a lady a compliment with a straight face.
I snorted and looked away. I should be angry at him so why was I blushing.
“I must say,” he pulled my stool closer to his, making me face him. “You looked a bit different in that conference room. What was it?”
I watched as he caressed my cheek. “I wore contacts and a wig. It helps. You should try it out sometime. Those glasses don't fool anyone.”
He chuckled. “Apparently, they fool Xavier. He can't seem to differentiate the Rogue Alpha when he's wearing glasses.”
While I played the role of Clyde's secretary, Roman played that of Xavier’s.
I smiled and reached for my champagne, finishing it in one gulp. “The truth is he's always been blind metaphorically.”
“Clearly,” Roman laughed then reached for his glass. “Word is, he nearly got anxiety today. You and Clyde outdid yourselves. What a performance. Impressive for someone who just appeared out of nowhere.”
“I know.” I shrugged, not realizing he had moved closer.
For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me until he tucked a start hair behind my ear.
A shiver suddenly ran through me and I cleared my throat. For a man I barely knew, he had more power over me than almost anyone else.
It’s been 3 years and I still resented it almost as much as I resented the way he dominated the space around us. His presence poured into every nook and crevice until it was the only thing I could concentrate on.
I fixed my eyes on my empty glass but my lungs were filled with the scent of his cologne and my skin thrummed with awareness at the way his muscles flexed as he took the sip from his glass.
I shouldn’t have come here at all.
“Let's talk business later,” he said, distracting my attention. “Xavier is holding onto power by a thread. I want to make sure he loses it all. We'll pull our resources together till you get a stake in Dominion Industries.”
I nodded softly. “That's the plan.”
Roman studied me for a moment before he smiled. “Im glad we have terms.”
I smiled. “We do.”
“It’s late. I'll take you home, Maisie.” he said.
I wanted to tell him “no” and leave in my car but it was the sound of my name, in that voice, delivered with such calm authority that made my body obey before I could protest.
I followed him outside and watched as he held open the door to the passenger seat for me. I got in and so did he
A few seconds later, Roman pulled away from the curb and turned a dial on the dashboard. A second later, heat blasted from the vents and warmed my frigid skin.
The car smelled like rich leather and expensive spices, and it was eerily clean. I didn't see any wrappers or half-empty coffee cups. I didn't even see a speck of lint. The man was as neat as they came.
I sank deeper into my seat and threw a glance at him.
“You always get your way, don’t you?” I asked lightly, trying to dissolve the inexplicable tension blanketing the air.
He slid a brief glance in my direction before refocusing on the road. “Not always.”