Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

Chapter 42: Christian

Christian

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Dear Alexandria,

I miss you. I'll be waiting for you at The Oasis again. I hope you come this time, and if not, I'll wait for you until you’re ready. I love you, princess.

- Love, C. Calloway

For the past two months, I have made a stop at the penthouse every morning to drop a rose and a personal letter asking for her forgiveness and letting her know she still has my heart. I asked her to meet me at The Oasis restaurant for dinner in each letter, and 63 letters later, she still hasn't accepted my offer.

I know that she won't show up, but I still wait for her, and I will continue to do so. I love her. I love her so much that I'm allowing my heart to break every day when she doesn’t walk into the restaurant. I only have myself and my choices to blame for it.

"You want to do what?" Christopher asked me, shocked by my decision.

I recently brought it to the attention of the board that I want to buy the property that cost me my relationship with Alexandria for double its worth. Calloway Properties can still continue the build of the new apartment building on the property, but I want to own the land it will be built on.

"Why do you want to do that?" another board member asked.

"Because I want it, and that's final," I said, my voice firm and steady, but inside, my heart raced with vulnerability.

"Can you give us a minute?" Christopher turned to the rest of the board members. "Come with me."

As my baby brother, he sure had a way of treating me like his big brother when it came to business. I followed him into his office, and he shut the door behind him. I knew I was about to get some serious lashings from him.

"Where the fuck is this coming from?" he asked, standing across from me, fuming.

"Just let me buy the land, Christopher," I pleaded, my voice thick with emotion.

"No. Why would I sell a piece of property the company already owns?" Chris asked, incredulity lacing his words. "We'll have to pay rent, and it'll add up to double the fucking price you bought it for!"

"Chris—"

Before I could continue, he cut me off. "How much did you buy the property for? Because as far as I know, I have yet to approve you buying the land."

As CFO, he had to approve every financial decision we made at Calloway Properties, and because money wasn't involved in my initial acquisition, he didn’t get to approve anything.

"I didn’t pay for it," I answered, my heart pounding with anxiety.

"Then how the fuck did you get it?" He paused, staring at me, as if trying to piece everything together. "How the fuck did you get it?"

"I made a trade with Anthony Carter," I said softly, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

"Alexandria's father?" he asked, disbelief morphing into anger.

"Yes," I confirmed, feeling the weight of my choices pressing down on me.

"Is that the reason you married Alexandria? For a piece of property?" he pressed, his voice cutting through me like a knife. My silence was a clear enough answer for him. "Does she know?"

"She found out at the wedding," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. The pain of that revelation hung heavy in the air, a reminder of how far I had fallen.

Christopher ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident. Then, without warning, his open hand flew across my face. "You fucking idiot!" he yelled. "How could you do that to her, you fucking bastard!"

I staggered back, shocked and hurt, feeling the sting both physically and emotionally. "I know I fucked up, Christopher, I know," I said, my voice trembling with regret. "Now please, give me that fucking property. I'll pay ten times its worth."

"Why do you want it?" he asked, his anger simmering down to concern, but I could see the doubt still clouding his eyes. "Do you love her?"

"More than anything, Christopher," I said, my heart aching with every word. "I would give everything up if it meant she would come back. She's the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing before I fall asleep."

The rawness of my emotions spilled over, and I felt my throat tighten with the weight of my feelings. "I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Losing her was like losing a part of myself. I can’t keep living like this, waiting for her to forgive me while knowing I was the one who caused this pain."

Christopher's expression softened, and for a moment, I saw the brother I grew up with, the one who had always had my back. "You think throwing money at this will fix everything? You’re talking about a foundation built on lies, Christian."

"I know it won't be easy," I said, desperation creeping into my voice. "But I need to show her that I'm serious."

He looked at me, searching my face for any sign of insincerity, but all he found was desperation and determination. "You realize this could blow up in your face, right? "

"I’ve already lost her once. I can’t let that happen again," I insisted, my voice rising with emotion. "I need this chance to win her back, to prove to her that I'm serious about her."

Christopher sighed, leaning against his desk, the fight seemingly leaving him. "Fine. But if you go through with this, you better be prepared for the consequences. This isn’t just about you anymore; it’s about the company, our family, and her."

"I understand," I said, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. "I’ll take full responsibility for whatever happens."

"Just remember," Christopher warned, his tone serious, "love isn’t bought, Christian. You need to earn it back."

With that, I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to fight for Alexandria and for a chance at redemption.

As I left his office, my heart pounded with both fear and determination. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was standing on the precipice of something monumental—either a chance to reclaim the love of my life or the ultimate failure to make things right. But one thing was certain: I would do whatever it took to win her back.