Chapter 7 A Choice Made

• Alexia twirled the pencil between her fingers, staring at her phone screen. She was weighing the odds of texting John Steeves to explain why she hadn’t shown up for work when the man himself called.
• “Alexia,” John’s voice came through the line, light but pointed.
• “Yes, boss?” she replied, feigning innocence.
• “Any particular reason you’re not at the office?”
• “Any particular reason you haven’t solved world hunger yet?” she shot back, leaning against the counter with a smirk.
• “Alexia,” he sighed, clearly used to her antics, “I’m being serious.”
• “So am I,” she retorted. “Do you think Lily can take care of herself with the entire Beaumont family breathing down her neck? She needs me!”
• John chuckled softly. “Last I checked, you don’t work for Lily. You work for me.”
• “Ah, but I’m the caretaker of the heir to the Beaumont fortune,” Alexia said with mock gravity. “A noble and essential role, wouldn’t you agree?”
• “Essential for avoiding your responsibilities, maybe.”
• “You sound stressed,” Alexia said, her tone shifting slightly. “Have you eaten today? Don’t tell me you’ve been surviving on coffee again.”
• John hesitated, and Alexia pounced. “I knew it! This is why you need me.”
• “I need you at work,” he corrected, but his tone was softer.
• “Fine,” she conceded dramatically. “I’ll come in tomorrow. But only if you promise to eat a real meal today.”
• “Deal,” John said, laughing under his breath. “See you tomorrow, Alexia.”
• She hung up with a satisfied grin. No matter how serious their conversations began, they always ended with her getting her way. It was a stark contrast to Lily’s tense relationship with Alexander, where every word felt like a chess move.
• Meanwhile, at Beaumont Tower, Alexander sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed on the cityscape outside. The room was silent except for the rhythmic ticking of the antique clock on the wall. The calm was interrupted by the arrival of Victor Steele, the CEO of Beaumont’s rival company.
• Victor entered with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his sharp suit tailored to perfection. He took a seat without waiting for an invitation, his smile predatory.
• “Alexander,” Victor began, his tone dripping with false warmth. “I must say, it’s always a pleasure visiting Beaumont Tower.”
• Alexander turned slowly, his dark eyes meeting Victor’s with an icy calm. “To what do I owe the honor, Steele?”
• Victor leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, nothing too pressing. Just thought I’d drop by and congratulate you on your... unique inheritance situation.”
• Alexander’s jaw tightened, but his expression remained impassive. “If this is a social call, I’ll have my assistant send you a calendar for more appropriate times.”
• Victor chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Always so formal, Alexander. But let’s not pretend this is just a casual visit. The entire city is watching your little circus play out. A secretary inheriting the Beaumont empire? It’s... unprecedented.”
• “It’s also none of your concern,” Alexander said coolly, his tone carrying an edge that could cut steel.
• Victor’s smile widened. “Perhaps not directly. But you must admit, it raises questions about stability. Investors, partners—they’re bound to wonder if the Beaumont legacy is in safe hands.”
• Alexander leaned forward, his gaze sharp and unrelenting. “The stability of Beaumont is not up for debate, least of all by you. If you came here to speculate or gloat, you’re wasting both our time.”
• Victor’s expression shifted, a flicker of frustration breaking through his polished facade. “You can’t deny the precariousness of your position, Alexander. One misstep—one moment of weakness—and everything your grandfather built could crumble.”
• Alexander’s voice dropped, each word deliberate. “Weakness isn’t a trait I possess. And as for missteps, you might want to worry about your own house before trying to peer into mine.”
• Victor’s smile returned, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Touché. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. This... Lily Anderson. She’s quite the wildcard, isn’t she?”
• Alexander’s expression darkened, his cold exterior cracking just enough to reveal a flicker of warning. “Careful, Steele. Your next words better be chosen wisely.”
• Victor tilted his head, studying him. “Ah, I see. She’s more than just a wildcard to you. Interesting.”
• Alexander stood abruptly, his presence towering and commanding. “This conversation is over. If you have concerns about your company’s future, I suggest you address them elsewhere. Beaumont is not your playground.”
• Victor rose slowly, his smile now a thin veneer over the tension between them. “As always, a pleasure, Alexander. Do send my regards to Miss Anderson. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of her.”
• Alexander didn’t respond, his eyes narrowing as Victor left the office. Once the door closed, he exhaled slowly, the tension in the room dissipating but not disappearing entirely.
• Victor Steele was playing a dangerous game, and Alexander wasn’t about to let him win.
• ---
• Back at the apartment, Alexia was relaying her conversation with John to Lily, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a cup of tea.
• “He’s hopeless,” Alexia declared. “I swear, if I didn’t keep tabs on him, he’d forget to eat for days.”
• Lily smirked. “You’re practically his second-in-command.”
• “Second-in-command? Try first.” Alexia grinned. “Honestly, he should just hand me his paycheck. I do all the real work.”
• “I’m sure he’d love to hear you say that,” Lily teased.
• “Oh, he knows,” Alexia said with a wave of her hand. “It’s why he keeps me around. That, and my irresistible charm.”
• Lily laughed, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”
• “Thank you,” Alexia said with a mock bow.
• Their laughter was interrupted by Lily’s phone buzzing. She glanced at the screen and saw Alexander’s name.
• Her smile faded as she answered. “Mr. Beaumont?”
• “Lily,” his voice was as composed as ever, but there was an undercurrent of tension. “I need you to come to the office. Now.”
• Lily frowned. “Is everything all right?”
• “I’ll explain when you get here,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
• “I’ll be there shortly,” Lily replied, hanging up.
• Alexia raised an eyebrow. “Work emergency?”
• “Something like that,” Lily said, already grabbing her bag.
• As she headed out the door, a sense of unease settled over her. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t good.
• At Beaumont Tower, Lily entered Alexander’s office to find him staring out the window, his back rigid. The air was thick with tension, the faint scent of his cologne doing little to mask the unease in the room.
• “You wanted to see me?” she asked, her voice steady despite her nerves.
• Alexander turned, his expression unreadable. “Victor Steele paid a visit today.”
• Lily’s stomach dropped. She’d heard of Steele—everyone had. His reputation for ruthless business tactics was legendary.
• “What did he want?”
• “To remind me of the precariousness of our position,” Alexander said, his tone clipped. “And to make veiled threats about the company’s future.”
• Lily swallowed hard. “What does that mean for us?”
• Alexander stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “It means we can’t afford
• any mistakes, Lily. Not now, not ever.”
• His words hung in the air, heavy with implications she couldn’t yet fully grasp.