Chapter 155
Grace's POV
Alex held reports in one hand while his other pressed against his phone. His eyes behind those glasses swept over the financial documents with mechanical precision, sharp as blades. When he looked up at his subordinates, there was no warmth, no humanity – just the calculating gaze of a man who'd built an empire on decisive action.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable. I'd been waiting in the doorway for over an hour, watching this tense standoff unfold.
Finally, Alex tossed the financial reports aside with visible disgust.
He glanced at his phone – I'd been too busy to reply to his messages for the past hour.
"Thirty million dollars in losses," his voice cut through the silence like ice. "Who's going to take responsibility for this?"
The executives collectively drew sharp breaths. I could practically feel their terror radiating across the room. They probably thought Alex was about to initiate another massive purge.
I'd heard the stories. Three years ago, when management negligence cost Morgan International two hundred million, Alex had cleaned house within three months – entire departments, senior leadership, everyone connected to the failure.
Lucas tried to help by gently nudging Alex's elbow, attempting to draw his attention to my presence. But Alex's cold stare made Lucas freeze instantly.
"Are you volunteering to take responsibility?" Alex's voice was deadly quiet.
Lucas frantically shook his head, sweat beading on his forehead. "No, sir. Absolutely not."
I couldn't help myself – I cleared my throat softly.
The effect was immediate and startling. The ice in Alex's eyes melted instantly. He started to rise from the sofa but winced as his injured ribs protested the movement.
"Don't move," I said quickly, walking toward him with genuine concern. "You're supposed to be resting."
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming home early?" His voice had completely transformed – soft, almost tender.
He brushed away Lucas's attempt to help him, removed his gold-rimmed glasses, and reached up to caress my cheek and run his fingers through my hair. The gesture was so intimate, so completely oblivious to our audience, that the executives stared in shock.
The oppressive atmosphere that had dominated the room just moments before evaporated completely. Now the air was thick with what could only be described as the sickeningly sweet scent of romance.
"You promised you'd rest," I whispered, trying to keep my voice low. "This doesn't look like rest to me."
"I was just reviewing some financial data," Alex defended himself. "It doesn't require much energy."
"Your face looked terrifying," I pointed out. "You were scowling like you wanted to destroy someone."
Alex's expression softened even further. "That wasn't because of the data. That was because you weren't answering my messages."
Before I could respond, he cupped the back of my head and pulled me down for a deep kiss, right there in front of his entire executive team.
"It's all because you weren't replying to me," he murmured against my lips. "It was driving me crazy."
"I was rushing to get home to see you," I explained, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. "I was on a client call in the car and forgot to check my phone."
"Why were you rushing?" His eyes searched mine intently.
I felt my face burn with embarrassment. "Because... I missed you."
Alex glanced at the executives still frozen in our living room. "That's enough for today. Meeting adjourned."
No summary, no follow-up instructions, no next steps. The executives exchanged worried glances, clearly unsure about their fate.
Lucas, ever the diplomatic assistant, cleared his throat carefully. "Sir, about the project losses... how should we proceed?"
Alex considered this, his arm still around my waist. "It's not entirely beyond salvaging. I want detailed post-mortem reports from everyone involved."
The executives looked stunned. They'd expected mass firings, not a request for analysis.
"Post-mortem reports sound complicated," I interjected, thinking of their workload. "Don't make it too difficult for them."
I believed in shared responsibility for mistakes. Teams should be allowed reasonable failures as part of growth.
The executives looked at me with something approaching worship. They'd clearly expected much worse.
Alex's expression softened as he looked at me. Since I'd asked for leniency, he waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind the reports. Just... don't let it happen again."
As the executives filed out, each one made sure to greet me personally and offer their well-wishes. I was beginning to realize that Alex relied heavily on Lucas and manual coordination for his daily operations – no wonder he was getting restless.
Lucas began collecting laptops and documents from around the living room. Alex couldn't wait for him to finish – he pulled me close and kissed me again, right there in front of his assistant.
Lucas awkwardly quickened his pace, dropping files in his haste to escape the increasingly intimate scene.
"I've been thinking about you since the moment you left this morning," Alex confessed against my ear. "Wanting you, missing you, wishing we could spend every moment together."
Lucas finally escaped with his armload of work materials. Night fell over Starport. The city lights began twinkling outside our floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a romantic backdrop.
Alex held me from behind as we watched the urban landscape transform into a glittering constellation.
I turned in his arms to look at him. "You know what? I think I'm going to miss this place."
Alex smiled, pressing a kiss to my temple. "What's to miss?"
"After we move to our new home, we won't come back here to live," I said, feeling unexpectedly sentimental. "It makes me a little sad."
Alex's voice was gentle but philosophical. "Leaving this place behind means we'll discover even more beautiful horizons. Moving forward doesn't always guarantee the best outcomes, but this moment – our happiness right now – this is already the best it can be."
I stared at him in amazement. "When did you become so eloquent? Everything you say hits right here," I pressed my hand to my heart.
Alex's response was completely serious: "Probably... since I met you."