Chapter 25 25
Roman's Pov
Xavier didn't say anything when we got into the car. He didn't say anything when we got breakfast and when we sat in the conference room a couple of hours later.
It was 7 AM and it was just us in the office.
He opened his laptop, not mentioning anything about Maisie or the scandal.
The silence stretched for uncomfortable minutes before I finally broke it with a question.
“How are you feeling, sir?” I asked, nearly choking on the word, “sir”.
“I feel great,” he said, looking up at me. “Thanks for coming after me.”
“I did my job, sir.” I nodded. “I'm glad you're okay.”
“Not really,” he let out a sigh and leaned against his chair. “How are things?”
I opened my laptop and shook my head. “Not looking good.”
“Fuck!” Xavier dragged his hand across his face. “We can't fix this!”
There. That was the opening I'd been waiting for.
“We can fix this.” I began softly.
“How? You've seen the news! Everyone's against us!” He snapped.
“I found a leak, sir.” I said, typing a message to Cole to begin before sliding my laptop to Xavier.
Xavier straightened and stared at it. “What am I looking at?”
I stood behind him and pointed at the screen. “We were already recovering our losses but it seems someone wasn't happy about that.”
A curse left Xavier and he pushed back his seat.
“What the fuck is that?!” He grabbed my collar, his face and eyes red with rage.
“That is what a traitor looks like, sir,” I explained as calmly as I could. “I discovered someone had leaked the embezzlement secret to the media and I traced it to him.”
“It's not possible! Gavin is my best friend!" he growled.
“Is he?” I tilted my head.
Xavier's grip on me loosened and he collapsed on his chair with a short laugh. “That little fucker!”
“I spoke to Chloe about our situation,” I slid into the seat beside him. “Despite the scandal, Clyde agreed to the partnership. He's willing to put out the fires.”
Xavier looked up at me and I could see the emotions crossing his face. “How do I ever thank you, Jason?”
I smiled. “You could punish the traitor. Gavin needs to pay for breaking your trust and humiliating you.”
Xavier's teeth gritted and he slammed his fist on the desk. “Drag that bastard here!”
By 10AM, we gathered in the conference room — Clyde, Maisie, Xavier and I.
“Thank you so much.” Xavier smiled as he shook hands with Clyde.
“We're honoured for this partnership.” I nodded to him and reached for the signed papers.
Xavier thought he had signed a partnership deal. If only he knew he had signed acquisition papers.
A grim smile tugging at my lips. Today was the day I took the first piece of Dominion Industries.
A knock on the door interrupted us and we turned.
It was Evelyn, Xavier's assistant. “Apologies for the interruption, sirs. Beta Gavin is here, sir.”
Xavier smirked, his tone cold. “Good. That idiot won't know what hit him.”
He walked out of the room and I followed him, reveling in the joy of completing phase one of our plan.
When we reached Xavier's office, Beta Gavin greeted him with a wide grin, completely oblivious to the storm the Alpha was about to unleash.
“Ah, Xavier, I was surprised when I got summoned here instead of the Pack House. I hope nothing's wrong.”
“I don't know, Gavin, you tell me.” Xavier's grin dimmed as he sat behind his desk.
Gavin blinked, clearly confused. “I don't understand.”
“Sho him.” Xavier gave the order.
I reached for a brown folder on the table and turned it upside down. A few pictures fell out, scattering across the polished desk.
Gavin's eyes widened in shock at the display. “What the —”
“Pick it up, Gavin!” Xavier snapped.
The other man reached for the photos with trembling hands. When his eyes landed on the photos, he dropped it like it was on fire.
“That's not me, Xavier! This is all fake!” He yelled.
He was right. It's all fake. But Xavier doesn't know that.
“All fake?!” Xavier shoved to his feet. “You tried to ruin me!”
“I would never and you know that! You're my brother!” Gavin's voice cracked at the sound of brother. It nearly brought crocodile tears to my eyes.
“You didn't remember I was your brother when you told the press about the scandal. You tried to drag me down but I'm smarter than you, Gavin!” Xavier yelled. “Guards!”
Gavin stared at him, his expression slowly morphing from confusion to anger. “You…you can't do this! There's no way you could—”
“I already have,” Xavier said, his voice dangerously steady and calm. “I've spoken to the Pack Elders. Your death sentence has been scheduled.”
Gavin stood abruptly, knocking over a stack of papers on his desk. “You have no idea who you're messing with! You think you can just come in here and do this to me after everything I've done for you!”
Xavier’s expression remained unreadable. “You've done nothing for me, you bastard.”
Gavin's face darkened. “You don't know who you're dealing with. You're nothing without me!”
This time I stood, facing him with icy calm. “No, Gavin. For you, it is.”
Gavin scoffed. “Who the fuck are you? His little puppet?”
I opened my mouth to speak but Xavier cut in.
“No,” he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “He's my new Beta.”
A few seconds later, three hefty-looking gentlemen burst into the office.
“Get this filth out of here!” Xavier said, turning aloof.
“No, Xavier!” Gavin screamed as they dragged him out. “You can't do this to me!”
His screams echoed off the halls as the door finally closed.
Xavier sank in his seat and pinched the skin between his eyes. “We were brothers, man. How could he betray me?”
I sighed. “He said it himself. He thinks you're nothing without him.”
Xavier sighed again. “Loyalty nowadays is questionable.”
“Not if you meet the right people,” I add with a grin. “The PR team is taking care of the scandal as we speak. By sundown, all allegations will be cleared and the news of the partnership will be published. We're in the clear, sir.”
Xavier smiled. “I don't know what I'd do without you, man. Thank you.”
“You're welcome, sir.” I smiled back.
Fucking bastard.
My phone chimed with a notification ping and I looked at it.
I'd set an alarm for a press conference.
“Sir, it's time for the press conference.” I said, putting my phone in my pocket.
By the time we arrived at the arena, we headed up to where the press conferences were held.
While we neared the stage, I whispered to Xavier. “These people are loaded with questions so it’s safe for you to use ‘no comment’ sparingly.”
“Fine.”
Head high, Xavier prepared to be watched by every camera and eye in the room, and stepped toward the mic.
Cameras clicked and reporters shuffled through their notes, and the chatter began.
“Alpha Xavier, there's been news going around that the embezzlement allegations were fabricated by your own Beta Gavin. Is that true?”
“Yes. It came to me as a shock but he will be brought to justice.” Xavier said calmly.
“Does it relate to what is happening with your company?”
“No. I apologize for not properly managing my company over the years but my team and I are working on a come-back.”
A man in a blue suit piped up with the question they probably have been waiting for. “And how do you and your team intend to come back after the company's suffered much damage?”
There it is.
Xavier grinned. “Well, I am glad to announce to you that our company has partnered with MW Corp.
Camera shutters pause before the reporters go off with a cacophony of more questions.
I trailed my eyes forward and met grey ones.
Clyde nodded calmly and stepped up beside Xavier. “From now henceforth, MW Corp will work closely with Dominion Industries. This collaboration will not only benefit us both but also the people at large.”
A round of applause echoed in the hall and just when I thought it was over, Xavier called me over.
I joined him and Clyde on the podium and he patted my shoulder.
“This young man here, Jason, saved my life. If not for his resourcefulness, we wouldn't have discovered the culprit was Gavin. I want to honour him for his efforts.” Xavier said, giving my shoulder a light squeeze.
The crowd went wild with another round of applause.
“From now henceforth, Jason will be my new Beta.” Xavier announced.
When Xavier said my name, the whole hall froze.
For a moment, a thick silence pressed against my ribs and I waited for the crowd to revolt until suddenly, I heard a wild applause.
I smiled, polite and humbled on the outside.
But inside? I was choking on pure, electric joy and mischief.
Xavier squeezed my shoulder proudly, completely unaware that he had given me the power I needed to destroy him.
As cheers rose around us, all I could think was how easy it would be to destroy him now.