There was a pause.

“You do realize,” Alexander said slowly, “that you’re not just

confronting Amelia now. You’re challenging the Windsors. And

the Hawthornes. You’re standing alone against two of New

York’s oldest families.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said stubbornly. “Small war or big war–it’s

still war. I’ve already been dragged through the mud. I’ve got

nothing else to lose.”

There was another beat of silence before Alexander’s voice

dropped.

“Don’t be reckless,” he warned. “Thest thing I need is for you

to get yourself killed.”

I blinked.

“I–I won’t,” I stammered. “Sorry. That came out harsher than I

meant.”

He didn’t respond right away. Then, unexpectedly, his voice

softened. “You’re representing me now. You understand that, right? When people see you, they see Green Group. They see me. That means you don’t get to go rogue.”

Chapter b72 /b

My breath caught. Representing him.

b“/bYes,” I murmured. “I understand.”

“You want five days?” he said. “Fine. Take three. Be at the office

on the fourth. Eight a.m.”

“I… Thank you,” I said, unsure whether to argue for the full five or just ept the win. “bI’ll /bget it all sorted!”

“You better,” he said, but there was no real malice behind it.

There was a pause.

“Olivia?”

“Yes?”

“If it gets worse, tell me. I’ll find ia /iway to fix it.”

I blinked at his words. “I.. I don’t know…”

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

“Right, Sorry.” My voice cracked a little, and I quickly added, “I’ll

handle it. Thank you again.”

And then, I hung up abruptly.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, the silence on the other

end suddenly louder than his voice.

My heart was beating too fast. Why was my heart beating too

fast?

I tossed the phone onto the couch and pressed my palms to my

cheeks. They were burning.

“Representing him,” I muttered to myself.

I instantly regretted repeating that phrase.

Ava’s teasing voice fromst night echoed in my mind:“He’s

interested in you!!!”

No, no. I couldn’t afford to think like that. He was just… being

kind. Or strategic. Or both.

Still, the way he said it. The way his tone dropped ever so

slightly when he said he’d fix it. I wasn’t used to anyone offering

to fix things for me–definitely not someone like Alexander.

I sat on the edge of the couch, fingers curling over my knees,

trying to catch my breath.

Why was he so kind to me?

bI /bwasn’t special. I wasn’t powerful.

Even if I proved myself during that inspection, even if I kept

showing up, even if I carried the burden of that position–I still

didn’t believe I belonged beside someone like him.

Chapter b72 /b

My eyes dropped to the phone again.

Did he even see me that way?

No. Of course not. He said it himself–I don’t like women.

I exhaled sharply and leaned back, arms spread out over the

cushions like a broken doll.

I was spiraling.

He was just being professional. Generous, maybe. But he didn’t

like women. It was right there in his own words.

No matter how many butterflies I had, or how much I wanted

to read between the lines, the truth remained: Alexander wasn’t

interested in women.

And especially not in a walking tabloid headline like me.

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the

door being flung open behind me.

“Ava,” I blinked in surprise. “You’re back already?”

Her heels clicked sharply across the floor as she threw her bag

on the couch and marched straight toward the kitchen. Her face

was flushed, hair frizzy around her temples, and her expression.

Chapter

“Amelia haslosther damn mind!” she exploded, pulling out her phone and mming it on the counter. “Have you seen what

that woman said? No? Here–read this!”

I hesitated, grabbing her phone. A tabloid headline popped up with Amelia’s smug face under it. The article started with her public statement–calm, polished, and brimming with venom.

iming I seduced Ethan, sought money, tried to destroy the Windsor family’s honor… all dressed up as concern for her

“future daughter–inw’s safety.”

I felt the heat crawl up my neck. “She’s actually insane.”

“She’sunhinged,” Ava snapped. “Do you know what the worst part is? She gave that statementwhile I was in court!I stepped out to grab coffee with a client and by the time I checked my

phone–boom. Full PR circus.”

She was pacing now. “I swear I will file a harassment case. Or

defamation. Or both. She wants a war? I’ll bring fire.”

I stayed silent for a second, pressing my lips together. “We

should respond.”

“Damn right, we should!” Ava huffed. “I have an entire

statement ready. Want to know the title? ‘Lady Windsor or

Lady Viper?“”

Despite everything, I snorted. “That’s awful.”

bChapter /bb73 /b