Chapter 353: Her Other Identity
"Very well, Madam CEO."
Aliana gave him a small nod before walking back to her desk. "Nigel will bring you the contract once it has been drafted. Until then, I hope you are prepared for the meeting we have with the Archon Group. We leave in..." She lifted her wrist to check her watch. "In precisely ten minutes."
The smile on Owen’s face widened with quiet amusement. "Noted."
He turned to walk out of her office, but just as he reached the entrance, the door swung open, and Nigel nearly collided with him.
Nigel froze, completely disarmed by the striking smile on Owen’s handsome face. He stood utterly speechless in the doorway until Aliana cleared her throat from inside the office.
Quickly recovering his composure, Nigel blurted, "Ah, my apologies, Mr. Ross. I had just stopped by your office to collect the file when your assistant informed me that you had come here on your own."
"I did. It is already sitting with your boss." Owen took a slow, intimidating step closer, causing Nigel’s heart to skip a beat before Owen added, "I guess I will be waiting for you."
Offering a polite smile, Owen walked past him, leaving Nigel’s heart racing in his chest.
’W-waiting for me? Why?!’ Nigel screamed in his mind until a commanding voice shattered his daydream.
"Nigel."
Quickly clearing his throat, Nigel stepped into the office and faced his boss, who still had her cold eyes fixed on Owen’s retreating back until the doors clicked shut.
"Uh... Boss? Why do you look like you are about to stab someone?" Nigel asked cautiously.
Her gaze shifted to Nigel. "I need you to draft a contract as soon as possible."
"Alright. For whom?" Nigel quickly unlocked his iPad and waited for instructions.
"For Owen Ross."
"Understood. Owen Ross..." Nigel froze mid-stroke, snapping his head up. "Wait. Our new CFO?"
"Yes. I will give you all the details shortly, but keep it strictly confidential and make it ironclad. And Nigel..." Aliana met his eyes with absolute seriousness. "Put extra eyes on him."
Her gaze drifted toward the closed door. "A man as calculating as him... I simply cannot let him off the hook."
Nigel instantly picked up on the shift in atmosphere. Whatever had transpired in this room before he walked in had put Aliana on guard.
Without asking unnecessary questions, he nodded. "Consider it done, Boss."
...
At the heart of Astoria’s corporate district, beneath a grey sky, stood the proud, Gothic-inspired headquarters of Archon Group.
Its exquisite architecture consisted of a dark stone facade and towering glass walls illuminated by warm golden lights. Tall spires, pointed arches, and intricate detailing gave the building a majestic, almost cathedral-like presence, which was rather ironic considering the company was run by no god, but the Devil himself.
Inside the lobby, sleek dress shoes stepped out of the executive elevator and moved toward the glass entrance.
Whispers died down and gasps rippled through the hall at the sight of their drop-dead gorgeous chairman. Flanking him was the company’s CEO, Cillian Pierce, backed by his assistant Kevin and an entourage of executives struggling to keep pace.
For the company’s heads to personally walk towards the entrance was practically unheard of. Rumours instantly began spreading among the onlookers, everyone wondering who could possibly be arriving.
"Are we expecting a VIP today?"
"Look at the entourage behind them. It has to be someone massive."
"A government official, maybe?"
"Or a foreign diplomat."
"If it’s just a diplomat, why would Mr Valentine come down here personally?"
"Yeah, that’s true. A few executives would be enough to receive them. Even Mr Pierce rarely receives someone personally."
Meanwhile, a few female employees seemed far less interested in the mystery and far more interested in the chairman himself.
"Is it even legal to look that good in a suit?"
"He gets more attractive every single time he steps out of that elevator."
"I am going to work overtime every day if it means getting transferred to his floor."
"You do know he is married, right?"
"Please. Has anyone ever seen his wife set foot inside this building? If that marriage was genuine, she would have visited by now. The chairman probably keeps her away on purpose."
"You might want to lower your voice, or I guarantee the only promotion you’ll be getting is a one-way trip out of this building."
The quiet gossip died down when a line of sleek black cars glided up the driveway, pulling to a silent stop in front of the entrance.
The chauffeur was just about to open the door of the first car when, to everyone’s shock, their chairman stepped forward and opened it himself.
A slender leg emerged first, clad in a navy-blue pointed-toe heel adorned with a delicate jewelled embellishment. A graceful hand followed, immediately received by Gavriel, and then the woman herself stepped out.
Aliana was dressed in a sophisticated navy blue tailored power dress, its structured shoulders and fitted waist accentuating her elegant silhouette. The wrap-style neckline added a polished touch, while the long skirt fell gracefully around her legs, its high front slit revealing just enough to add a hint of allure without compromising her refined appearance.
Inside the lobby, the female employees nearly turned to stone. The colour drained completely from the faces of those who had just declared their chairman’s marriage a sham before whispers erupted.
"She was the VIP they all walked down to meet?!"
"Isn’t that... the CEO of Van Empire?"
"Not just the CEO, idiot. She’s our chairman’s wife!"
Right then, someone gasped softly, "Oh my... heart."
Everyone watched in silence as the couple’s eyes locked. All the frost melted from their eyes right away, and Gavriel leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to her cheek before moving back to slip his hand at the small of her back.
"Welcome to Archon Group," he murmured, bringing a faint blush to Aliana’s cheeks before they turned to face the waiting crowd.
Right then, Cillian stepped forward with a charming grin, raising his hand. "Welcome to Archon Group, Mrs. Valentine," he announced, loud enough for the other executives to follow suit with a polite bow on either side of the entrance.
Aliana and the members of her team who had stepped out of their respective vehicles were left momentarily speechless by the grand reception.
Then again, it served as a stark reminder to all of them of how much more there was to their CEO’s identity. Not only was she leading Van Empire, but she was also Mrs. Valentine, the wife of the chairman of the top company in the country.
It was clear to everyone present that this grand reception had been orchestrated by her husband for one reason... to remind everyone who she really was and how much they needed to watch their step should they ever try to cross her or treat her with anything less than utmost respect.
Aliana, on the other hand, was touched by Gavriel going the extra mile for her and couldn’t help but beam as she shook hands with Cillian. "Thank you, Mr. Pierce."
Cillian gave her a nod and quickly released her hand when he noticed Gavriel’s eyes fixed on the point of contact. Instead, he gestured toward the entrance. "Let’s all head inside, shall we?"
Aliana gave a brief nod and stepped forward into the lobby. But just as she did, Gavriel’s gaze flicked sharply to the side, meeting Owen’s green eyes.
At that exact moment, lightning flashed across the sky.
Their silent eye contact lasted less than a second, yet the deadly warning in Gavriel’s gaze was unmistakable, sending an icy shiver straight down Owen’s spine.
....
After brief introductions, the meeting spanned an hour as both companies reviewed the progress of the Atlas Gateway project.
Throughout the meeting, Gavriel and Cillian maintained a silent, watchful eye on the red-haired man across the table. Owen remained completely composed, answering every complex question seamlessly with an effortless confidence that most executives could never display in Gavriel’s presence.
Although he seemed completely normal to the rest of the room, both men picked up on just how sharp and goal-oriented Owen truly was.
Above all, despite his guarded demeanour, they caught every subtle shift in his expression whenever his eyes drifted toward Aliana, and every faint smile that touched his lips when she spoke.
"It would be ideal to schedule a site visit next week," suggested Baker West, the Chief Operating Officer of Archon Group.
"That would be a good idea to inspect the site where initial construction has already begun," Cillian chimed in.
Aliana’s gaze instinctively shifted towards Gavriel at the mention of next week, remembering that he had plans for them.
Gavriel met her gaze across the table, and without looking away from her, he spoke. "Next week won’t be possible. We need to do it this week."
Cillian glanced at Gavriel, then at Aliana, catching the silent communication between them in an instant.
"Actually, that is a better approach," Cillian pivoted effortlessly. "The earlier we conduct the walkthrough, the sooner we ensure everything remains on schedule."
The room murmured in agreement, and Aliana offered Cillian a subtle, grateful smile, appreciating his quick tact.
Yet when the next morning arrived, no one was prepared for what was about to unfold.