Divorce To Marry a CEO

Chapter 41: He is The Mysterious Man

The sight of Larry made it worse. Alexander’s mind flashed back to the woodie guy he has been investigating , his eyes narrowing as recognition struck him. Larry wasn’t just any man. He was the same person who visited Gerald in prison and probably planned his escape. It was no coincidence. Alexander had already sent a half-photo of this man to his friend Michael to investigate him. The fact that this same man was now sitting with his wife only fueled his growing suspicion.

Alexander froze momentarily, but he quickly composed himself. His movements became calculated, as if suppressing the storm of emotions rising inside him. He couldn’t let Sophia or Larry see how much this was affecting him.

With a calm, deliberate stride, Alexander approached the table. His expression was cool, though his voice held a firm edge when he addressed Sophia. “Sweetheart, sorry for keeping you waiting. I got caught up with some work at the office.”

His sudden arrival startled Sophia, who hadn’t noticed him coming. Her initial shock was soon replaced with curiosity. His tone was too pleasant, too casual for what had been going on between them lately. Was this an act?

Alexander didn’t give her time to react. He sat down next to her, his presence commanding, as if he owned the room. “Did you order for me?” he asked, completely ignoring Larry’s presence as if the other man didn’t exist.

Sophia, though still angry at him for earlier, softened at the sight of this calm, collected version of Alexander. It wasn’t often that he let his guard down like this, and despite her frustrations, there was something about him that still pulled her in. She didn’t want to make a scene in public either, so she played along.

“No, I didn’t. But I’m sure the waiter can bring something for you,” she replied, her voice measured.

Larry, however, was far less composed. His posture stiffened the moment Alexander sat down, his knuckles clenched beneath the table, though he maintained an outwardly calm demeanor. His eyes darted between Alexander and Sophia, unsure of what to do next. The tension at the table was palpable, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Alexander, who caught the brief flash of hostility in Larry’s eyes. Alexander’s jaw clenched slightly, but he didn’t let it show further.

Sophia, sensing the awkwardness, attempted to ease the atmosphere. “Larry, this is my husband, Alexander Evans. Honey, this is the client I told you about, Larry.”

Larry stretched his hand out, his voice steady, though a slight edge lingered. “Larry Gilbert. I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Evans. Your reputation precedes you.”

Alexander met Larry’s outstretched hand with a brief handshake, his grip firm and dominant. “Likewise.” His voice was curt, his eyes briefly locking onto Larry’s before he released the handshake. The two men could feel the tension between them, the handshake a silent battle for dominance, but Sophia remained oblivious, trying to keep things civil.

Just then, the waiter arrived with their orders, offering a brief distraction. Sophia gave Alexander’s order to the waiter, who quickly scurried off to prepare it. The tension at the table seemed to hang in the air, thick and unspoken, as they sat in uncomfortable silence, waiting for the food.

When the waiter returned with Alexander’s meal, the silence stretched on, broken only by the occasional clink of silverware. Alexander kept his gaze fixed on his plate, though his mind was racing. The more he thought about Larry, the more suspicious he became. He excused himself, saying he needed to use the restroom.

Once out of sight, Alexander didn’t head straight for the restroom. Instead, he discreetly took out his phone and aimed it toward the table. From his angle, he managed to capture a photo of Larry and Sophia together. He quickly sent the photo to his investigation team with a terse message: Quick, dig up everything you can on this man. I want results fast.

He then pocketed his phone and walked to the restroom as if nothing had happened.

Back at the table, Larry let out a low chuckle, leaning toward Sophia. “Your husband is… intimidating. I have to admit, I’m a little scared of him,” he said, his tone light, but his underlying discomfort was clear.

Sophia smiled weakly, trying to brush it off. “He can be intense sometimes, but he means well.”

The conversation picked up again, albeit awkwardly, but the moment Alexander returned, the atmosphere shifted once more. Larry’s unease grew palpable. He finished his meal quickly and excused himself, clearly wanting to escape Alexander’s presence. “I’ve got some things to take care of, so I’ll leave you two to it. Thanks for lunch, Sophia.”

He stretched out his hand one last time toward Alexander, but this time Alexander didn’t bother to reciprocate. He simply nodded, watching Larry leave with cold eyes.

Once Larry was gone, Sophia turned to Alexander, her patience finally wearing thin. “What’s the meaning of this, Alexander? Didn’t I warn you not to let my colleagues know about us? Are you just ignoring everything I say now?”

Alexander met her gaze, his expression softening. “Honey, no one saw us together, and I don’t intend to let them see us. I was just worried about you. How about this—you leave first, and I’ll follow later. No one will know.”

Sophia sighed, clearly not satisfied with his response. She glanced around the room before standing up. “This isn’t over,” she muttered under her breath as she grabbed her purse and walked out.

Alexander watched her leave, his mind still clouded with thoughts about Larry. He had come to smooth things over with Sophia, but somehow, he had managed to make things worse. His frustration boiled just beneath the surface as he sat there, feeling dumbfounded and more determined than ever to find out who Larry Gilbert really was.

Alexander didn’t go back to the office after his encounter with Sophia at the hotel. His mind was racing, unable to shake off the bitterness of what had just unfolded. He decided to call his close associate, Drake Egerton.

"Your suggestions made things worse!" Alexander snapped into the phone, his frustration boiling over.

Drake, caught off guard by the sudden outburst, stammered, "What? I didn’t even tell you to go there! I tried to stop you, man! That wasn’t my idea, remember? You insisted on going yourself!"

Alexander wasn’t interested in Drake’s defense. "It doesn’t matter. You’re involved, and now I need you to fix it."

Drake sighed. "Fix what?

"The document she refused to sign", Alexander said leisurely.
Drake couldn't believe it "What??! I mean, if you couldn’t convince your own wife, how am I supposed to manage that?"

"I don’t care how you do it," Alexander replied coldly. "Just make sure she signs those share transfer documents by the end of the week, or you can kiss your quarter bonus goodbye."

Drake, who had been looking forward to that sweet, hefty bonus, groaned in protest. "Come on, Alex! That’s unfair. You know how much I’ve been counting on that bonus!"

"Then I suggest you get to work," Alexander said, his voice icy.

Drake sighed deeply. "Alright, alright. I’ll do it to save my bonus. But this better work."
If anyone saw him like this, they wouldn’t believe he's Drake Egerton, from the famous Egerton family." Although the Egerton family is from another city, it is on par with the Evans in terms of wealth and status.

The phone call ended, and Alexander, still fuming from the hotel encounter, decided he needed more than just his team’s slow investigation. He needed something quicker, someone who could pull strings and get him results. So, he drove straight to Jordan Towers to see his old friend, Michael Jordan.

Michael had been a close confidant and a skilled hacker, someone who could get information faster than any private investigator. Alexander knew that if anyone could find out more about Larry Gilbert, it would be Michael.

When he arrived at Jordan Towers, the receptionists immediately noticed his commanding presence. His tall, sharp figure and the air of authority he exuded caught the attention of several of them, and they rushed to assist him.

"Excuse me, sir, how can I help you? uh...mhmm.. do you have an appointment?" one of them asked, blushing slightly as she spoke.