CHAPTER 45: STOPPING ANOTHER SCANDAL

[Reid Enterprise]

Most of the building had emptied for the day and Alexander was about to leave the office.

He looked at the untouched files neatly stacked on his table and sighed. He had barely worked today. In fact, he was so distracted that he had to cancel all his afternoon meetings.

He still hadn’t heard from Evelyn and also didn’t have the heart and guts to message or call her.

The possibility of her not wanting anything to do with him, scared him.

Alexander sighed and grabbed his coat. He needed a drink or else he would go insane.

But just as he reached for the office door, it opened first.

Benjamin Reid stepped inside.

His presence filled the room the way a storm darkens the sky. It was controlled, heavy and always carried some hidden thunder.

Alexander straightened. "Father," he greeted him, surprised to see him at this hour.

Benjamin didn’t bother with pleasantries and walked toward the desk. His fingers brushed the polished edge of the table as his eyes quietly assessed his son.

"You shouldn’t have spoken to Olivia like that," he said finally in a calm voice but it also carried a restrained warning. "She is your mother."

Alexander’s jaw tightened as the anger simmered immediately beneath his calm exterior.

"My mother—" he said evenly, "is at home with my grandmother. That woman—" he paused just enough for his meaning to land, "is only your wife."

He then took a step towards him. "She was always only your wife and will always remain the same."

The air shifted.

Benjamin exhaled once through his nose.

Was he offended? Yes.

But was he surprised? Not at all.

He had long accepted that Alexander would never acknowledge Olivia as family. And the more Olivia schemed, the more Alexander distanced himself.

"You never gave her a chance," Benjamin said softly.

"She never deserved one," Alexander countered and even though his tone was respectful it was unshakably firm. "And you know that."

And there it was again, the unspoken truth Benjamin rarely admitted aloud.

Benjamin’s silence was agreement, even if his pride wouldn’t let him say it.

He finally sighed and changed the topic.

"Gregory Carter will be coming to the office tomorrow." His voice shifted to something cold and authoritative.

"Why?" Alexander asked even though he somewhat knew the answer.

"To finalize the partnership deal," Benjamin said, "And I expect you to be present."

Alexander walked towards his desk, picked up his watch and fastened it around his wrist with calm deliberation. "I won’t be here."

Benjamin’s brow lifted. "Excuse me?"

"I am leaving the country tomorrow morning," Alexander said. "For meetings in Berlin, Copenhagen and Milan."

He then slipped on his coat. "I will be gone for two weeks."

Benjamin stared at him. He was surprised but not completely. "So suddenly?"

"I have postponed this trip twice already," Alexander replied. "It can’t be delayed again, not even for your deal."

Alexander would have postponed it again if it was something important. But would he do it knowing that the so-called deal was a part of his father’s brewing scheme? Absolutely not.

He had no intentions of getting involved in whatever games he was playing. He would rather choose peace and focus on more important things.

Benjamin studied him closely. He could say by Alexander’s rigid posture, the quiet exhaustion and the something-he-wouldn’t-say lingering behind his eyes, that something was going on.

But he didn’t bother to ask. He knew his son, he wouldn’t say a thing even if he threatened to disown him.

But he still decided to give it a try.

"This has nothing to do with last night, does it?" Benjamin asked.

Alexander looked away. "It has everything to do with work."

Benjamin smirked slightly. "If you say so."

Alexander didn’t answer.

Because the truth was simple, he needed distance. Not only from his father but also Evelyn.

He needed distance from Evelyn’s touch, her voice and the way she looked at him right before he walked away.

He needed time to clear the storm inside his chest before he ruined everything again.

Benjamin finally nodded with a mix of irritation and reluctant acceptance. "Very well. I will handle it tomorrow."

Alexander offered a curt nod. "Goodnight, Father."

Benjamin turned toward the door but before he could open it, his phone buzzed.

He answered with a clipped tone. "Yes?"

A frantic, breathless voice crackled through the line.

"Sir— it’s urgent. Your son Jack— he is at the Carter Mansion—"

Benjamin froze.

"He is creating a scene, sir. A loud one. The guards are holding him back but—"

Alexander’s head snapped up, a sharp jolt of alert tension cutting through him.

Benjamin’s expression turned to stone.

He ended the call without another word and immediately turned to Alexander.

"What happened?" Alexander demanded.

Benjamin’s jaw worked once and the muscle in his cheek ticked.

When he spoke, his voice was ice. "Your brother—" he said sharply, "is about to make a fool of himself in front of Evelyn’s family."

Alexander felt something inside him coil tight.

Benjamin slammed the table in anger. "That boy—I don’t know what to do with him." He gritted his teeth. "I told him to stay away from Evelyn but—"

He then picked up his phone again. "I will call the PR team and our lawyers—" He looked at Alexander. "This should not reach the media."

Everything he had planned would crumble down if another unnecessary scandal erupted again.

There was no way Benjamin would let his stupid son ruin everything he had worked so hard for.

Before making the call, he stepped closer to Alexander.

"Go," he ordered. "Bring him back before he embarrasses the entire Reid family in front of the Carters."

A beat of cold silence passed between them.

Alexander didn’t argue, he didn’t even speak.

He grabbed his phone from the table and walked out with a sense of urgency that wasn’t entirely about family reputation.

Benjamin watched him leave. The anger on his face was giving way to something darker, something suspicious, calculating and knowing.

But Alexander wasn’t looking back.

He was already heading towards the elevator with one name hammering through his chest—

Evelyn.

.....