Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25
Rosaleen’s POV
I had heard a good deal about Alpha Roman, of his escapades, the wild accusations every month and his booming business despite it all. And if he read the gossip columns at all, he would have read about me too, because I was featured there at least thrice in a year.
He appeared the exact same way I would have imagined him - sharply dressed in tailored suits, a cold look in his face and blunt. We agreed to meet in a private lounge located on the forty-eighth floor of a high rise building. He was already seated when I arrived, and he didn’t bother with pleasantries.
He was watching me behind his dark shades. I knew it because I did the same thing when I wanted to meet with strangers for the first time. It seemed we were similar in some ways.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” I said, taking an empty seat opposite him. “It was a bit difficult getting around town.”
I leaned back in my seat and maintained eye contact with his shades. I was prepared to not be intimidated by this man, because I had a deal that was going to leave both of us happier. And richer.
“Let’s get straight to business then,” I said, pushing the business proposal Marcus had drawn for me.
He glanced at it. “I don’t read. What’s in your proposal?”
I smirked. “I’ve heard you have plans to buy out Moon’s enterprises,” I said, watching him. His face remained stoic.
“You heard right,” he said.
“That’s why I've come with this proposal. I’m offering you a collaboration with Greywood Industries to produce a product that would bring more dollars to our pockets.”
He scoffed, the first break in the expression on his face. “Why should I be interested in Greywood industries?”
I had done my research and I knew of the brief fling he had with Evelyn Moon. Before she suddenly got married to Alpha Michael, she had been going out with Roman and things had not ended well between them.
“Because this offer also gives you your deserved revenge on Evelyn Moon.”
He leaned forward. “Continue.”
I laid out my plans to him without mentioning the contract.
“You are sure this will get Evelyn Moon kicked out?” he asked, picking the document.
“Certainly. We both gain here. I get my spot and you get your revenge. Once you own Moon Enterprises and we sign this deal, she gets knocked off her high horse and stripped of everything she has gotten from Alpha Michael."
He removed his shades and smile lines appeared under his greedy eyes. “You are dangerous,” he said.
I smiled. “And you are smart.”
“I like you.” He folded his arms across his chest. “The problem here is that Evelyn would never sell off her shares. In fact, she wants us to co-own the company. A very enticing offer.”
I bit my lips. “She told you this?” I huffed. ”And you believe her? She doesn’t want to let go of the company, a company she and her family ran to the ground with debts. You certainly don’t want to be tied to her in business.”
He nodded slowly. “So what do I get in return for helping you out?”
I saw the way his eyes hovered over my bosom. The sick bastard. I smiled. “I’m offering you Evelyn Moon on a platter of gold. Isn’t that enough?"
He snickered. “I need insurance.”
“You can be direct with me ,Alpha Roman,” I said, dreading his response.
“My assistant will text the location of the hotel room to you tonight.” He rose up. “It was nice meeting you, Rosaleen. I have to leave now. I have a company to buy.
—
I slid into my car a few minutes after Roman left the building feeling excited about the deal. When my phone pinged, I thought it was a message from his assistant. But it was a call instead from a private number. There was only one person who called me with a private number ,and it always meant there was trouble.
“Rosaleen,” his grumpy voice murmured. “It’s hard to get through to you these days.
“What is it this time?”
He continued with his heavy Italian accent. “I sent Marcus to you. Did he deliver my message?”
“He did,” I responded. “How bad is it?”
“Very bad,” he said. “My contact from Business news gave me a call this morning. An article exposing your firm as well as you to a multi million tax evasion scheme will hit the news tomorrow.”
My heart went still. "That cannot happen, Gus. You can’t let that get to the public.”
He was silent for a while.
“Gus? Gustavo?”
“I told you this was going to bite you in the ass later on, Rosaleen. I warned you. I can’t stop the news from being published,” he grunted. “What I can do is to help you make a statement before the article gets published."
“A statement?” My vision blurred. “What am I going to say, Gustavo?"
“You’ll deny it,” he said, his voice dropping. “You had no direct access to your tax payments. Put it all on your PA. Marcus.”
“Marcus will end up in jail,” I cried.
“You’d rather be there?” he snapped. “Let him take the fall and hopefully we can also retrieve some of your seized items. Let Marcus take all the blame. Your answer should be you had no idea what he was doing. Is that clear?”
I nodded. “Yes, yes. Thank you, Gus. I’ll be expecting the call from your contact.”
I let out a deep sigh after the call. Marcus was more than my PA. He was like a friend to me. It wasn't going to be easy throwing him under the bus. But if I had to choose between myself and him, I knew the obvious choice. It was hard but it had to be made.
A notification beeped on my screen. I opened it. DINNER DATE WITH MICHAEL.
I had almost forgotten about our little arrangement. It was going to be our first dinner date tonight. It was an opportunity for me to make Michael fall in love with me. I would make sure he stopped seeing me as a friend but as a potential Lover