Chapter 61: Claflin vs. Traynor, Who’s the Real King?
Alexander’s POV
"Liam Traynor isn’t the prince charming you think he is," I said, slicing through the heavy silence between us. "Don’t waste your time getting close to him."
Nora turned, her deep brown eyes narrowing with defiance. "And what do you know about him that I don’t? He seemed like a perfect gentleman. Respectful, sharp, genuinely invested in my work."
"Perfect?" I sneered, bitterness lacing my voice. "The only thing perfect about Liam is his knack for pretending to be something he’s not."
Nora propped herself against the headboard, arms crossed, her gaze piercing. "He’s one of the most successful businessmen in the country, just like you. Comes from a respected family, just like you. Wields influence and connections, just like you." Her lips curled into a faint smirk. "Maybe that’s why you hate him. He’s your equal."
I swallowed a growl. Equal? I couldn’t deny the truth in her words. The Claflins and Traynors were seen as twin titans in the business world, their wealth and power nearly indistinguishable.
Nora let out a soft, mocking laugh, shaking her head.
My hand shot out, fingers gently but firmly tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. "What’s so damn funny?"
She didn’t flinch, her fearless gaze locking with mine—always so bold, even when she should know better.
"You," she said, her tone cutting. "You’re being absurd. Paranoid. I barely know Liam, and there’s nothing between us. I don’t get why you’re so riled up."
My grip softened, my thumb brushing her jawline, a fleeting tenderness I couldn’t suppress. "I don’t want anyone taking what’s mine."
A flicker of something—shock, confusion—crossed her eyes. "Yours? I thought this was just a business deal. A contract marriage. Since when do you care about me beyond being a convenient fix for your problems?"
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a raw whisper. "I’m worried about anyone who might try to steal you from me. Is that so hard to grasp?"
Her face betrayed a storm of emotions—disbelief, uncertainty, and something unreadable. She pulled away from my touch, retreating to her side of the bed.
"We should sleep," she muttered, her tone suddenly flat. "It’s late."
She was dodging the weight of my words, the vulnerability I’d just exposed. I let her escape, watching as she positioned herself as far from me as possible without tumbling off the edge. Did she think I hadn’t noticed the knife under her pillow? Let her cling to that illusion of safety. If it helped her sleep, fine.
What the hell is wrong with me? I stared at the ceiling, listening to her breathing slow into a steady rhythm. When had I become so obsessed with this woman? So terrified of losing her?
And now Liam fucking Traynor had his sights on her. I wasn’t blind. That dinner invitation wasn’t random. The Traynors never moved without hidden agendas, and Liam requesting a private meeting with my wife was no accident.
I drifted into a restless sleep, haunted by dreams of green-eyed wolves stalking what belonged to me.
---
The next morning, I stormed into Claflin Enterprises earlier than usual, hell-bent on confronting Jason before my day drowned in meetings. This Traynor mess needed to be dealt with—now.
As luck would have it, Jason was already in my office, poring over documents at the conference table.
"Sterling," I barked, skipping niceties, "care to explain why my wife had a private dinner with Liam last night?"
Jason glanced up, surprise morphing into a knowing smirk. "Ah, so that’s why you’ve been glaring daggers since you walked in. I was wondering who dared to cross the mighty Alexander Claflin."
"Answer the damn question."
He set the papers aside, giving me his full focus. "Liam specifically asked to meet Nora about the Velora formula potential. Given the stakes of the partnership and the tight timeline, I couldn’t arrange a chaperone."
"So you sent my wife—alone—to dine with Liam Traynor?" I slammed my palm on the desk, the sound echoing. "What the hell were you thinking?"
Jason arched a brow, unfazed. "I was thinking about the hundred-million-dollar deal we’ve been chasing with Traynor Group for a year. A deal that’s suddenly looking a lot more promising now that Liam’s personally invested in our research team’s work."
"She shouldn’t have gone alone," I snapped, pacing like a caged animal. "From now on, Nora doesn’t meet Traynor unless I’m there."
Jason’s amusement grew as he studied me. "Liam was thrilled with the meeting. He’s even hinting at expanding our collaboration beyond the initial scope. I don’t see the issue."
I stopped dead, pinning him with a glare. "The issue is that Liam’s interest in my wife isn’t just professional. Offering rare ingredients at below-market prices for her projects? Doesn’t that strike you as suspicious?"
A slow, infuriating grin spread across Jason’s face. "Alexander, I’ve known you forever, and I never thought I’d see this. You’re jealous."
"I know the Traynors and their games," I shot back, ignoring his jab. "Liam didn’t come to Kingsley City just for business. He came for Nora."
Jason’s laughter grated on my nerves. "My God, Alexander Claflin in love is a terrifying beast."
"I’m not—" I cut myself off. Why bother denying it? "Next time Traynor wants a meeting, I’ll be there. He needs to know exactly who Nora belongs to."
"Should I steer clear of your wife too?" Jason teased. "Wouldn’t want to unleash the monster."
I snatched a folder off my desk and chucked it at him. He dodged, still chuckling.
After he left, I stood at my office window, staring over the Kingsley City skyline. The Claflins and Traynors had been rivals for generations, but we’d kept a fragile truce, an unspoken pact to avoid each other’s core territories. Our families were equals in wealth, power, and influence, our business dealings carefully balanced.
But if Liam was targeting Nora—whether out of personal desire or as a calculated move to destabilize me—that balance would shatter. I was ready to make the Traynors my enemies, to wage war over this woman if it came to that.