The Mad Alpha's Substitute Bride

(ALICE)

"Sorry I couldn’t make it for lunch." I slide into my seat, placing my purse on the side of the table. "How was your day?"

Katherine Lockhart is one of those beautiful women who should be on the cover of some magazine. With icy blue eyes and jet black hair that flows down her back and frames an exquisitely carved face, she can have any man she wants. However, one of the reasons Katherine and I get along so well is our general disdain toward the male species.

Not that it stops her from chasing my happily ever after, like a woman on a mission.

"Brandon gave me your message." Katherine gestures to the server, who walks over and fills my glass with red wine. "Actually, dinner is much better. I wouldn’t have been able to talk to you with ease this afternoon. I was still figuring out some details."

I sip the wine. "Harry already told me that you’re planning to create a team of lawyers for some project. But he didn’t say more than that."

Katherine leans forward, her eyes glittering in excitement. "My father is planning to retire soon. He’s not in the best of health, and he wants me to take over the position of CEO of Pinnacle Group. He has asked me to oversee a collaboration between our company and a multinational corporation. It’s a very sensitive project, Alice, and he’s trusting me to head it. I don’t want to let him down."

I study her, contemplating what she is saying. "So, that’s why you need a team of lawyers and not just one. What’s the project about?"

"We’re working on a medical device that is guaranteed to detect Alzheimer’s before it can get to a critical stage. The only problem is there’s a certain component we need for it, and the technology is only created by Acme Intech Corporation. They don’t collaborate with just anybody. It took a lot of work to get them to agree to this, but even now, they’re not completely on board. We have our first meeting with them next week. I need a lead lawyer on our team, someone I have confidence in." Her gaze is intent on me. "I need somebody who knows what I’m thinking when I look at them. Someone I can trust blindly."

A prolonged silence follows her words, and I let out a long breath. "You need me, you mean."

She gives me a broad smile. "We are always in sync, Alice. Every time we’ve worked together, you and I have made a deadly team. Two of the partners in your firm recommended Levi. The other two recommended you. I’ve worked with you enough times to know how you think and strategize. Even when things are going south, you’re able to regroup on your feet. And you’re absolutely ruthless, a shark in the boardroom."

"I’m flattered, Katherine." I swirl the wine in my glass thoughtfully. "But as much as I love the ass-kissing, don’t you need somebody who’ll pander to

this company? If they are oh so elusive and you want to convince them to work with you, I don’t think a shark is what you need in the boardroom."

"You haven’t seen their lawyers," Katherine grimaces. "Levi plays it far too safe. I need somebody who can meet them toe to toe. Besides, they have a reputation in the industry for respecting strong opponents. They will never take this project if I roll over and expose my belly. This meeting will be them assessing how much they can push us and how much we are willing to bend. I don’t want to bend, Alice. I want them to see my teeth. Will you do it?"

My lips curve in a sly smile. "I’m your girl." I lift my glass, and she does the same.

After we place our orders, I ask, "Tell me, who will I be dealing with?" When Katherine doesn’t say anything, I narrow my eyes. "You’re holding back. What is it?"

She taps her fingers on the table, a sign of anxiety for her. "It’s just rumors, but word is that the CEO of the company, Nick Stevenson, isn’t the actual CEO."

I stare at her, absorbing this new tidbit of information. "Where are you getting this word from? How can that be?"

My friend gives a halfhearted chuckle. "Acme Intech mostly produces their technology in-house and sells it. Their technology is leap years ahead of anything in the industry. But while they are a huge multinational, they’re also very secretive. When I heard this rumor, I looked it up. Nick Stevenson has never attended a single company function. In fact, the CEO is noticeably absent at every public event. Awards are usually handed to a member of the senior management instead."

I hesitate. Katherine obviously would have done her research, but I end up giving her a dubious look. "I don’t know, Kat. This whole thing sounds super shady. I’ve never even heard of this company before."

"It’s privately owned," Katherine says quickly. "They have done groundbreaking research and introduced a variety of proprietary

technologies that are of use to many different industries. However, they’ve retained all rights to them. They only sell to a specific list of companies, and only after vetting them thoroughly. Getting Acme Intech to even consider collaborating with us is a huge deal, Alice. I have to nail this."

I still feel tentative, but this is clearly important to my friend. "Alright. Count me in. Send everything over to my office in the morning. We only have six days to get ready to face them."

"One more thing." Katherine smiles at me, and I raise a brow. "Every lawyer on the team has to sign a nondisclosure agreement."

Her words have me scoffing. "You think there will be a leak on the collab?" "It’s not for the project." My friend bites her lip. "It’s in regard to the identities of the people attending the meeting."

"Oh, this is ridiculous!" I burst out. "They’re acting like they bungee jumped down from Mount Olympus!"

"I couldn’t give a rat’s ass if they’re Greek gods or mole men." Katherine replies tartly. "I just need to land this deal. This company is legit, and if this project goes through, we’re talking billions of dollars. We’ll revolutionize the medical industry. I need them to agree to collaborate with us." Her voice softens, and she gives me a beseeching look. "I looked into them. They’re a successful multinational corporation. No scandals, nothing that raises red flags except their demand for secrecy. And the CEO will be making an appearance during the meeting. We just have to sign an agreement not to disclose his identity. I really need you on board with this, Alice."

"Fine." I hold up my hands, palms facing outward. "I’m on board."

The relief on Katherine’s face tells me I’ve made the right decision, but I’m anticipating that this coming week is going to be a tough one. I’m going to be researching the shit out of this company. Nondisclosure agreement, my ass! There must be some trace of this CEO on the internet, and I plan to find it. No way am I walking into this meeting blind.

As our food arrives, we switch the conversation to milder topics. "How is Mira doing? How was her first day?"

"Switching from kindergarten to first grade in the middle of the school year is not recommended." I wave my fork in the air. "I don’t know why I let myself be talked into this."

Katherine grimaces. "It didn’t go well?"

"Oh, it went well. She made a friend. But she also got saddled with a lot of homework. Her teacher wants her to catch up with the rest of the class.

When I left her with my neighbor for dinner, she was working on math problems. Addition and subtraction."

"So, what’s the issue?" Katherine shrugs. "She’s intelligent. She already has a friend. She’ll be fine."

"I don’t want her to stand out, Kat," I sigh. "I want my daughter to be a normal, happy child, not some sort of prodigy. Her new teacher was a little too impressed with her."

My friend laughs. "You’re the only mother I know who would worry about her kid doing too well in school."

I flinch. "I just—"

"I know." She gives me an amused look. "You don’t want her to stand out. But you know, Alice, there’s nothing wrong with standing out. It’s a good thing. Mira is crazy smart. Kids her age aren’t doing long division, and yet, I saw her working on it when I came over the other day. She was trying to figure it out, at least. I don’t know what you’ve been feeding that kid, but you should be proud of her. She is a prodigy, whether you like it or not. Don’t make her feel like she’s letting you down by being too sharp."

I look down at my steak.