Chapter 108
Elizabeth's POV
I knew how important this was, which was why I kept telling myself to try harder, and then harder still.
But all the things I had done, everything I had pushed myself to do, in some people's eyes, wasn't even worth mentioning.
Especially Carter, standing right in front of me. He had been harboring this ambition toward Alexander for a long time, yet he acted like he didn't dare admit it.
What did he want to do—take Alexander's place? Or did he want even more than that?
"Mr. Windsor, you're actually pretty satisfied right now, aren't you? A girl like me, who's lost her family background, standing next to Alexander, can't bring him any real benefits. You actually want me to stay by his side, don't you?"
No wonder Carter had deliberately arranged for people to hover around Alexander, pretending to care about his love life.
Behind the scenes, he was worried that Alexander might actually find a girlfriend with power and influence.
With me by his side, which was when Carter was the most satisfied.
Carter glanced at the employees around us, his eyes narrowing slightly before he grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the office next to us.
Only after we were completely cut off from the others did he finally speak. "Watch what you say."
"What, are you that scared I'll expose you? Looks like you're feeling guilty."
There was something really off about Carter that day. I originally didn't want to get tangled up with him any more than necessary, but his eyes were getting colder and colder.
"Since you know Alexander is going to get hurt, then take me to him right now."
Even though I didn't have any way to actually do anything at that moment, I swore that the instant I had the power, I would take revenge on the people who hurt Alexander.
Coming to that conclusion didn't even surprise me anymore; I had already accepted the fact that I had feelings for Alexander.
Carter squinted at me, like he was trying to see straight through me.
"Elizabeth, do you really think you can go that far? You really think you'll have that kind of ability?"
"Of course." I answered without the slightest hesitation, and I clearly caught a flash of helplessness on his face.
Once a person decided to become ruthless, that was when they became the most troublesome.
Carter didn't dare actually lay a hand on me, and he knew I knew that, which was why I had become a bargaining chip he had to reconsider.
"Tell me, what exactly is your plan?" I forced myself to calm down as I slowly edged backward, trying to get out of the room.
We had caused enough of a commotion just then that, even if most of the employees weren't on my side, there were still some smart ones.
Someone must have been trying to contact Alexander at that moment, and what I wanted was to confirm that.
I yanked the door open, and sure enough, there were quite a few people outside trying to sneak a look inside.
I asked directly, "Has anyone tried to call Alexander?"
Someone in the crowd actually answered, but it was the response I least wanted to hear.
"I called him, but he didn't pick up."
That one sentence made my heart twist hard.
Were we still a step too late?
I snapped my head toward Carter, and I didn't even know where the courage or strength came from, but I stepped right up to him, grabbed his tie, and lowered my voice. "Take me to him right now, or I'm calling the cops."
The bigger the company, the more afraid it was of even the slightest scandal. If Carter wanted a legitimate position, then he had to care about his reputation and think about how to protect it.
So the moment he heard me say that, his face changed instantly. "Elizabeth, you're the first person who's ever threatened me."
I actually laughed out loud. "Then Alexander must have a pretty good temper. He's never threatened you?"
Carter's expression darkened again, clearly reminded of something unpleasant. I didn't bother to dig into it and continued, "You didn't even need to go this far, Carter. It's not like Alexander has really hurt you, has he?"
After talking with him this long, I had already pieced together what kind of person he was, and I addressed him by his name without hesitation.
Carter was obviously not used to that. His face—so similar to Alexander's in some ways—tightened.
Like he was chewing on something in his head.
I met his eyes head-on and repeated, "Right now, you're taking me to Alexander, and you're going to make sure he's safe. Are you really okay with someone using a member of the Windsor family like this?"
If my guess was right, Carter should have teamed up with Aiden to make some kind of deal.
Carter's intention definitely wasn't to drag the Windsor family's name through the mud, so even if he was stirring up trouble, there was a line he wouldn't cross; he wasn't going to actually damage the Windsors.
The fact that he had gone this far was already shocking enough. At least, I honestly couldn't understand it.
Carter opened his mouth, and for the first time, I saw him without that usual easy, fully-in-control look. For a second, he almost looked stunned.
"Fine. Since you've got the guts for this, come with me."
Hearing that, I wasn't scared off at all. I fell into step behind him.
Under everyone's gaze, the scene must have looked almost surreal.
Two people who clearly didn't seem to get along a moment ago were now walking together, with Carter leading the way.
I looked at his back and suddenly called out, "Wait!"
Carter glanced over his shoulder, his face slipping right back into its usual composed, confident mask, as if he was just waiting for me to speak.
I pulled out my phone, the one that had already been messed with. "I need a new cell."
Just following him like this really was dangerous.
"And I need to guarantee my own safety." I said it bluntly in front of everyone, and Carter's face shifted again as he grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the stairs.
In that instant, I felt his panic, and there was more scrutiny in the way I looked at him.
So Carter wasn't as in control as I had imagined. Or maybe, in a lot of situations, he wasn't actually that good at handling things.
Sure enough, he didn't let go of me until we reached a spot where there weren't many people around.
"I've already thought about everything you just said, but you shouldn't have brought it up in front of that many people."
I studied that face that looked a bit like Alexander's, amusement flickering in my eyes as I watched him. "How did I not realize before that you care this much about what people think?"
Carter frowned, staring at me. "The fact that I'm willing to take you to Alexander is already me compromising."
"I also have to make sure I'm safe." My tone hardened, and I couldn't stop my gaze from dropping to my lower abdomen.
Right then, the most important thing to me was the baby inside me.
I had to be fully prepared. At the very least, I couldn't let there be even the slightest chance that this baby could get hurt.