Bound by Secrets

Chapter 21: Alexander's Wrath

Alexander sat in his opulent study, the city lights of New York twinkling in the distance beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was bathed in a soft golden glow from the chandelier above, but there was nothing warm about the expression on Alexander's face. His jaw was clenched, his eyes dark as he listened to the report from one of his men.

"The warehouse is compromised," the man said, his voice trembling. He stood rigid, his head bowed as if afraid to meet Alexander's gaze. "They took the documents, sir. We... we lost them."

Alexander’s fingers drummed against the polished mahogany of his desk, each tap like a countdown to an explosion. He had prided himself on being untouchable, his empire built on secrecy and fear. And now, someone had dared to strike at the very heart of his operation—his money.

Emma. It had to be her. Alexander’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of fury blazing in his chest. He had underestimated her. She was more resourceful, more resilient than he had given her credit for. He had thought she would run, that she would hide. But instead, she had fought back.

And she hadn’t done it alone. Alexander knew that there were others—people who had turned against him, betraying him. The thought made his blood boil. They would all pay for this, every single one of them. He had spent years building his empire, eliminating threats, and making sure that those who crossed him learned a lesson they wouldn't live to repeat.

He rose from his chair, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room. He moved to the window, staring out at the city below. Somewhere out there, Emma was hiding, thinking she had won a victory. But she was wrong. Alexander had no intention of letting her slip through his fingers.

He turned back to his desk, pressing a button on his phone. Within moments, the door to the study opened, and Julian, his right-hand man, stepped inside. Julian was a sharp, calculating figure, always impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his expression as cold as Alexander's.

"You called, sir?" Julian said, his voice steady.

Alexander’s eyes met Julian’s, his gaze filled with an icy determination. “I want them found,” he said, his voice low, a dangerous edge to his tone. “Emma, Claire, and anyone else who helped them. They think they can take something from me and walk away unscathed.”

Julian nodded, his eyes narrowing. “We have our contacts combing the city, sir. It’s only a matter of time before we find them.”

Alexander’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Time is something they don’t have,” he said. “They think they’ve won, that they’ve dealt me a blow.” He shook his head, his eyes darkening. “But they have no idea what’s coming.”

He moved back to his desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a folder. He tossed it onto the desk in front of Julian. “These are the names of those I suspect are helping them,” he said. “Reach out to our friends—put the pressure on. I want them to know that anyone who stands with Emma is my enemy.”

Julian picked up the folder, flipping through the pages. He nodded, his expression unreadable. “Understood, sir. And what about the authorities?”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. He knew that the documents Emma had stolen could cause problems if they fell into the wrong hands. The authorities had always been a nuisance—bribed officials could only do so much when public attention was drawn to his dealings.

“We’ll handle that,” Alexander said. “I want our legal team ready to discredit anything they might find. We’ll paint her as a desperate woman, unstable, trying to bring me down because of a personal vendetta.”

Julian gave a small, approving nod. “And if that doesn’t work?”

Alexander’s smile widened, a glint of malice in his eyes. “Then we make sure she doesn’t get the chance to speak.”

Julian paused for a moment, then nodded again. “I’ll take care of it, sir.”

Alexander watched as Julian turned to leave, the door closing softly behind him. He let out a breath, his eyes narrowing as he turned back to the window. He could almost see Emma’s face in his mind—the defiance in her eyes, the fire that had driven her to defy him.

She had always been strong-willed, always had a spark that made her stand out. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place. But now, that spark was a threat—a threat to everything he had built.

Alexander’s hand clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. He wouldn’t allow her to win. He wouldn’t allow her to tear down what he had worked so hard to create. She thought she could outsmart him, but she didn’t know the lengths he was willing to go to protect what was his.

He turned away from the window, his mind already working on his next move. He would find her, and when he did, he would make sure she regretted ever crossing him.

No one defied Alexander Pierce and got away with it.