The Game Of Power

Alex's POV

"Good morning, Sir," Rachel greeted, a warm smile plastered across her face as she walked into my office. She struggled to balance a clutter of files pressed tightly against her right aide while holding a steaming cup of coffee in her left as she nudged the door closed behind her. 

"Good morning, Rachel," I greeted in return as I walked from my desk toward her, collecting the cup from her. "You seem happy this morning." 

"Uh, yeah," she answered with a strained laugh as she marched over to my desk. Grunting loudly, she dropped the files on the table, scattering them across the surface. "My husband just got some time off from his work and suggested that we take a vacation," she added as she began arranging the files. "He told me to come ask you for a week off so we could--"

"No, Rachel," I muttered curtly, sinking into my seat, taking a slow sip of the hot coffee. "You're not going anywhere." 

"Oh, thank you, sir..." Rachel started, her excited expression fading into a frown my words sank in. "N-no, sir?" 

"Yes. No." I nodded. "You may not realize this, but my company is on the brink of losing to a startup that thinks they’re better than me. I need every hand I can get, and yours is one of the most valuable. That’s why I can’t let you go. I’m sorry."

I took another slow sip, smacking my lips as the liquid slid down my throat, leaving behind a bitter taste. "Besides, who else can make coffee as terrible as you?"

Rachel nodded, her lips twitching with a forced smile as she lowered her head, trying her best to keep her focus on arranging the files. I knew my decision disappointed her but I couldn't care less. I wasn't ready to let her go-not when Sarah was beginning to make a come back. 

I gagged after another sip. Grunting, I placed the coffee down on the table before pushing myself up from my seat. She really did know how to make terrible coffee.

"Have you contacted Daniel to know how far he's gone with the project I assigned to him?" I asked as I made my way to the wine rack. 

"Y-yes, I have--" 

"Sir, Rachel," I corrected, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a glass from the rack before turning back toward my seat. "I shouldn't have to remind you everytime." 

Rachel paused for a moment, her breathing shaky, before she finally looked up at me and nodded. "Yes, sir," she corrected herself. "And I also reached out to the director of the internship program. Everything was handled yesterday." 

"Good, good," I said with a small nod as I set the bottle and glass on the table. "See if you can also schedule a meeting with Jamal Jackson." I sighed, uncorking the bottle and pouring whisky into the glass. "I want to see if I can establish some ties with his company."

"Yes, sir," Rachel replied as she finished stacking the files. "I'll go do that right away." 

She turned to leave but a thought struck me. "Rachel," I called. She paused turning back, her expression curious. I slid a brown file across the table. "Take this and file it with the others. It's last year's stock record." 

A look of disappointment flashed across Rachel's face but she quickly covered with with her usual smile before walking back to the table and picking the file up. As she turned toward the cabinet, I decided to start going through the files that she had brought me. 

I rested my back against my seat as I swirled the whiskey in my glass, watching the amber liquid coat the sides before taking a slow sip. The burn was dull but as it was my first sip, I still squinted slightly. 

Sighing loudly, I grabbed the first file from the pile and opened it. "Financial records," I muttered to myself as I took another sip. My face squeezed into a frown, my grip on the glass tightening my eyes I skimmed the reports in front of me.

Freya.

My eyes widened as I stared at the numbers etched on the papers before me. She was bleeding the company dry with withdrawals that were too large to be ignored. If this reached the board of directors-and I wasn't even sure if it already had-they would be breathing down my neck soon enough.

I let out a slow breath, pressing my fingers against my temple. I should have expected this. Freya was never one to know restraint, and I knew exactly why she was doing this. She was testing my limits, seeing how far she could push me to see if I dared stop her.

And the truth was-I couldn't. At least, not yet.

I could clearly recall the last time she confronted me—the damn smug look on her face as she reminded me that if I tried to take her down, she would pull me down first.

She had access to everything that could dismantle everything I had built. One wrong move, and she wouldn't hesitate to use it.

I huffed, banging the glass down against the desk with a dull clink. My gaze traveled to the half-empty glass and I grunted. I was about grabbing the bottle to fill it back up when a knock sounded on the door.

"Enter," I muttered as I pushed the glass to the side.

The door opened, and my lawyer stepped inside, holding a black folder. My frown deepened as I saw the expression he had on his face. 

"Mr. Alex," he said as he closed the door behind him and walked towards my desk.

"Tell me you have good news," I said as I sat up, arching a brow.

He hesitated before placing the folder he held in front of me. "It depends on what you consider 'good'."

I studied him for a moment before shifting my attention to the folder. Flipped it open, I scanning the first few lines on the front page. Then, slowly, a smirk curled at my lips.

Sarah.

"She said she has proof," my attorney continued as he sat down on the seat opposite mine. "Evidence of your keeping tabs on her. And she claimed that she would use them against you, if you don't pull the custody filing."

I leaned back in my chair, chuckling. "She is bluffing."

"I don't think she is," he returned, pushing back his glass as it was about sliding off his face. "She sounded very confident, Mr. Alex."

I tapped a finger on the desk a few times before placing my elbows on the desk. "Let's just say whatever she thinks she has is worthless now," I said smoothly, my voice edged with humor. "I covered my tracks before she'd even had the chance to use them."

The lawyer exhaled, his tensed shoulders easing a bit. "So, you mean to say—"

"That she has nothing," I finished for him, reaching for my whiskey glass once again. "But she doesn't know that yet. She thinks she still has leverage."

The lawyer nodded but didn't say anything more.

I let the silence drag on for a minute before reaching for my phone. "Give me some minutes please," I said, nod towards the door. With a small grunt, he stood from his seat and walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.

My fingers flew across the phone screen for some monents, then I pressed the phone against my ear. It barely rang twice before he picked up.

"District Attorney Monroe," I said, my tone smooth. "I hope you received my last message?"

There was a long pause on the other line, and then the DA answered, his voice a little wary. "Yes. I did."

"Good," I said, smiling. "I'm calling to remind you of our little arrangement. You wouldn't want to... disappoint me, would you?"

Another pause again before he answered, "Of course not, Mr. Alex."

"That's what I like to hear."

I hung up before he could say anything more, putting the phone down as my smirk deepened.

Sarah thought she could fight me? She had no idea what she was up against.