CHAPTER 61: THE CONFRONTATION

The assistant nodded and disappeared.

Gregory braced himself because he knew Alexander Reid was not a man who came without purpose and this conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

Moments later, the door opened again.

Alexander stepped in. He looked calm, composed and powerful without trying and his presence filled the room like quiet thunder.

"Mr. Carter," he greeted him.

Gregory gestured stiffly in response. "Sit."

But Alexander didn’t. "I would rather stand."

Gregory clenched his jaw. "Very well. Then speak."

Alexander’s eyes didn’t waver. "I am not here because of my father, I am here for Evelyn."

Gregory clenched his jaw but he had expected that.

But he didn’t expect what came next.

Alexander reached into his coat and placed a thick folder on the desk.

Gregory frowned. "What is this?"

"Proof," Alexander said quietly, "It’s proof that I do not need the Reid empire to stand on my own."

Gregory’s brows snapped together and when Alexander slid the file closer, he opened it.

When he saw what was in the folder, he froze.

He stared at the header in disbelief.

ASTREON TECH GROUP

.

The same Astreon that had exploded in the market three years ago. All the investors were dying to get in and the media obsessed over it because the CEO kept his identity hidden.

"You—" Gregory breathed, stunned. "You own Astreon?"

Alexander nodded once. "I started it at twenty-one."

Gregory’s throat tightened. He could not believe what he was seeing.

He kept flipping through the pages which contained the acquisitions, patents, a global expansion plan and valuation numbers high enough to make seasoned CEO’s sweat.

Astreon wasn’t just successful, it was dominant and Alexander Reid was the ghost genius behind it.

Seeing all the numbers Gregory finally understood why Benjamin was so keen on making Alexander his successor. The heir position did not just land in his arms because he was the first born, he truly deserved it.

Alexander was not only smart and successful at such a young age but also very capable.

Gregory’s voice came out low and shaken. "Why hide this?" he asked curiously. With how successful the Astreon was in the present market, revealing his identity as the CEO would have given Alexander fame and credibility.

"Because I never needed the world to know," Alexander replied softly. "It was mine, I built it with my hands without using any resources tied to my name or Reid Enterprise."

He paused and then added. "If the Reid empire burned tomorrow, I would still have this and I could still give Evelyn a life she deserves."

Gregory’s breath caught. He was truly baffled.

"Sir, I am not standing in front of you as Benjamin’s son." Alexander stated, "I am standing in front of you as a man who built something of value and who wants to share his life with your daughter."

"You think this impresses me?" Gregory snapped but his voice wasn’t steady anymore.

He was very flustered but was more impressed and he was trying his best to hide it.

"No," Alexander replied simply. "I showed you because I want you to know that Evelyn will always be protected. Even if the Reid family rejects me one day and if my father hates my choices, she won’t suffer."

He took a step forward, confident. "Even without the Reid name, I will be able to give her everything. Stability, love and even luxury."

Gregory looked away. He was very flustered but was more impressed and he was trying his best to hide it.

Alexander stepped closer. "I don’t want your approval for business reasons. I want it because you matter to Evelyn and I will never take her away from the people she loves."

Gregory closed his eyes.

There it was again, that damn sincerity and steadiness.

And all of a sudden, Alexander Reid made everything harder yet simpler for him.

Gregory finally looked up but there was raw conflict in his eyes.

"I will say this only once," he said, "You are not the problem."

Alexander stood completely still.

"It’s your father." Gregory’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "You have no idea what your father said, Alexander."

"No,I don’t" Alexander said, "But whatever it was, it has nothing to do with me and Evelyn."

Gregory let out a bitter laugh. "You think it’s that simple? That I can separate you from your father? Benjamin Reid insulted my daughter and he humiliated her."

His voice shook with a rage he tried to swallow.

"He was wrong." Alexander’s expression hardened. "And if he had said it in front of me, I would have corrected him on the spot."

Gregory knitted his brows. He didn’t expect that level of defiance toward Benjamin.

"Sir, my father is my responsibility but his behavior is his own." Alexander continued, "But I will not let anyone including him hurt Evelyn. Not with words, not with actions."

Gregory hesitated but something inside him softened, then hardened again.

"And what?" he asked slowly. "You expect me to simply allow my daughter to be with you? With a man whose family will torment her? With a name that will bring her stress and scrutiny every day?"

Alexander didn’t falter. "Yes."

Gregory froze. "You—

But Alexander cut him off. "Because I will stand between her and every single person who tries to hurt her including my own family or even you sir."

Gregory felt the truth in those words and it rattled him.

"Sir," Alexander added quietly, "I know I can make your daughter happy."

Gregory’s throat tightened. "That’s not the issue."

"Then what is?" Alexander asked calmly.

"The issue—" Gregory whispered, "is that I don’t trust your father and I don’t want Evelyn anywhere near his mess."

Alexander inhaled slowly. "Then trust me instead."

Gregory looked at him sharply.

Alexander met his gaze without wavering. "I will protect her. I will fight for her and I will never let her be treated as anything less than what she is."

"And what do you think she is?" Gregory demanded.

Alexander answered without thinking, without hesitation, "The woman I want by my side for the rest of my life."

Gregory closed his eyes for one long second.

Another long silence, he leaned back, exhausted not from anger but from conflict.

He rubbed his temples and muttered, "God, Alexander, why did it have to be you?"

He hated this.

He hated that Alexander kept proving him right and that his daughter had chosen a man who was infuriatingly principled, controlled, successful and of course—

Perfect.

"You want Evelyn?" Gregory whispered.

Alexander answered almost immediately and confidently. "With everything in me."

After another long silence, Gregory finally said, "Then the choice is hers."

Alexander exhaled, tension slipping from his shoulders but the relief lasted one heartbeat.

Gregory raised a finger sharply. "But hear me well, if she hesitates, if she suffers, if she looks even slightly unhappy—" He stepped closer. "I will take her away from you and I don’t care if you own the entire world.".

"Evelyn will never have a reason to doubt me," Alexander stated confidently.

Gregory looked away before emotions could betray him. "Get out."

Alexander bowed his head respectfully then turned and walked out, leaving Gregory standing alone, shaken to his core.

When the door closed, Gregory sank into his chair and groaned in frustration.

He cursed wondering why Benjamin Reid’s son had to be exactly like the man he wanted his daughter to be with.

.....