MY MOON

CHAPTER 16: ALEX

I was deep in thought when my phone rang, pulling me from my reverie. The name on the screen, Casy, the team leader overseeing my latest project.

"Sir, Alya has cracked the deal," Casy announced, her voice brimming with excitement and admiration.

A rush of pride surged through me, spreading warmth in my chest. "I knew she would," I replied, my voice tinged with a sense of triumph and quiet satisfaction. My thoughts drifted to Alya, imagining the determination in her eyes, the way she tackles challenges head-on. It's one of the countless things I've always admired about her.

"You really have a good eye for talent, sir," Casy continued, her tone almost reverent. "It was a brilliant move of you to order her transfer to New York branch. She's exceptional."

I felt a pang of bittersweet emotion. Casy had no idea how personal this was for me. "Good day, Casy," I said, cutting the call gently but abruptly, not wanting to dwell on the specifics of my manoeuvring.

As I set the phone down, I allowed myself a moment to reflect. Alya's success didn't surprise me. She's always been capable, intelligent, and fiercely driven. I had seen that fire in her before when she was handling the wedding, years ago, and it was one of the many reasons I fell for her. Her ability to shine in even the most difficult circumstances, never failed to astonish me.

When I orchestrated her transfer to our New York office, it was more than just a professional decision. It was a total Personal decision.

Two years ago, I made a choice that cost me everything I cherished. Alya, who had been the best thing happened to me, slipped through my fingers because of the chaos I couldn't shield her from. The darkness that once held me back, that kept me from being the man she needed, is gone now. It took every ounce of my strength to fight my way out of that abyss, but I did it. I'm finally free, free to reclaim the future I want with her.

Once I was free to be with her again, I knew I had to act. Elizabeth, my sister, unknowingly handed me the key when she mentioned Alya's job and the company she worked for. Driven by a relentless desire to be close to Alya again, I orchestrated a plan. I bought the company Alya was working for four billion dollars—not as a power move, but as a desperate bid to place myself back into her world, to be near her once more. It's a huge amount for personal benefit, I know, but no price is too high if it means a chance to earn her forgiveness. Her forgiveness is so much high then a stupid 4 billion dollars.

Transferring her to the New York office was the first step. But I can't tell her the truth now; I can't reveal that I maneuverer the business world just to be closer to her. If I did, she would see it as manipulation, another game in a series of deceptions, and she'd turn away from me forever. I need her to see me as someone who's changed, who's grown, not as a man trying to control her. It's not a manipulation like she would understand, it's creating a chance for me to beg for her forgiveness.

My heart aches with the weight of my secret. The moment I saw her I had the urge to come clean, to beg for her forgiveness, grows stronger. But I know I must wait until the right moment, until I've earned her trust again. Only then can I explain why I did what I did, why I had to push her away to protect her from the storm that was raging around me.

That's why I convinced Elizabeth to suggest the penthouse. It was a strategic move, a way for me to be physically close to Alya without forcing myself into her life too abruptly. By moving into the penthouse under the guise of needing a place to stay, I can weave myself back into her daily existence gradually, naturally. It's not a perfect plan, but it's the only one I have. I need to be close to her, to show her that I'm here, that I've always been here for her.

Each night, I lie awake, replaying the wedding night, the things I said to her, the pain in her eyes, the words I never got to say. I yearn to hold her, to tell her that everything I did was out of care for her, even the things that drove us apart. I want to show her hat I'm ready to be the man she deserves.