Aurelian Vale;
They thought they were clever.
That was their first mistake. The first and most foolish one.
I sit back in my chair, fingers loosely folded on my thigh, eyes fixed on the screen as numbers and tables dance in flirtatious presentations, and I just… watch.
Green arrows, clean margins… A story crafted to please.
Too eager… Too…insulting
I had known something like this would happen the moment the acquisition was mentioned outside its original timeline. My workers know me… everyone I work with knows the rules. I fix things into schedules, and they are to stay that way.
This acquisition plan wasn't to be swung into action until the next three weeks, and yet—somehow— someone had the nerve to bring it up now.
Three weeks earlier. To show me that my company has such competent workers, we can pull through with acquiring another company whenever we feel like.
They wanted to impress me… Wanted me to see how… diligent they are...
So I let them talk.
I let them nod at one another, let confidence swell in their chests as they mistake my silence for gullibility.
I watch the screen, as well as the people in the room, silently, and then he moves.
That uneasy weight shift thing he does with his legs when he's nervous.
I don't look at him, but I feel it. That subtle tension. The kind that only comes when the mind catches something it can't unsee.
Ethan… Ever so sharp.
The overconfident idiot beside me continues, with his voice smooth and practised. He believes he is winning, and I intend to let him wallow in that delusion until Ethan raises his hand.
The room stiffens, and I find myself so impressed by him that I almost smile. Almost.
I hadn't expected him to see it. Not that quickly. Not without context. It had taken my analysts hours to understand what was wrong with this forward proposal, and even after realising it, they hesitated before saying a word to me.
But now… Ethan saw the error in minutes and decided to call it out immediately.
Brave.
When he speaks, the room reacts exactly as I anticipated. Deflection. Authority. Fear dressed as anger, but I say nothing.
I listen. To him… To the admirable intelligence of him, but when they snap at him— When arrogance barks, and one of them forgets who owns this table, I speak up.
They obey instantly, and I turn my head, finally meeting Ethan's gaze.
He looks nervous, and his grip on his tablet is so tight, his knuckles have gone white.
I'm tempted to grab him by the waist and ask him why he's so nervous.
To hold him against my chest and ask him why he's scared of shining when he's in a room filled with rock. But I can't do that. Not yet… So I must refrain.
"Continue," I speak, and he nods nervously as he stares at me.
"If the acquisition proceeds based on projected liquidity instead of actual cash flow," He begins quietly, with his gaze dropping to the ground, and my gaze locks on his lips.
"Thean Tech would have to handle the risks if the receivables delay or default. The margins recover later, but the short-term exposure is… too much to overlook if… You want the company to keep staying at the top." He concludes, and I lean further into my chair as I stare at him.
"Hmm…" I hum, and he steals a glance at me. This time around, I can't help but smile, and I see fear flash across his face.
"I-I'm just saying…" He quickly adds, and I turn back to my workers.
I watch the colour drain from some of their faces as realisation dawns.
They've been called out. Mercilessly.
With Ethan's words, they know there is nothing left to deny. And that's enough for me to draw the curtains on this. It's dragged on long enough.
I let out a breath and begin with the presenter.
"Mr. Calder."
He flinches.
"Ms. Rowe." She holds her breath.
"Mr. Huxley. Ms. Dane. And you," I add calmly, turning my gaze to the far end of the table, at the idiotic lower-class Alpha who pushed this agenda in the hopes of being in my good books.
"You all should have known better," I speak, and they rise slowly, one by one, as they know not to remain seated while I call them out.
Horror blooms beautifully across their faces, and it gladdens me.
"You adjusted revenue timing without full disclosure," I speak again, with my gaze dropping to the watch around my wrist.
"You delayed expenses to manufacture confidence. You attempted to influence an acquisition decision with a performance that does not yet exist." I add, and stop, to let my words settle.
I look back up at them, and some of them look like they are seconds away from wetting themselves.
I stand, already bored, and my chair scrapes softly behind me, causing every spine in the room to straighten.
"You are all terminated. Effective immediately." I speak, and one of the women opens her mouth.
My pheromones flare in response, and she falls silent.
"Security will escort you out. Your access is already revoked." I add, and they don't argue.
They can't.
"Alpha–" One of them tries to speak, and I'm only a second away from releasing my pheromones when I remember that Ethan is still here.
If I use my pheromones, I'll hurt him.
"Meeting dismissed," I order as I turn back to the table.
Chairs move, exiting footsteps follow, and I close my eyes.
I don't watch them leave. I don't need to.
Once I hear the door shut finally, and turn back around and find Ethan in the corner, just staring at me, with fear on his face.
He's frozen.
Eyes wide, and face pale.
The horror on his face is… endearing, and I'm forced to look away before my smile betrays me.
Like he's just realised working for me is going to be like working on a battlefield. Ironic how he hasn't even seen or learnt the hardest part.
Imagine the look on his face when he realises that we will be living together from now on.