Chapter 5

It took Victoria some time before she actually read the message on her phone screen; her heart raced crazy. ‘You are involved too much, Victoria. Get out while you still have the chance,’ The message was quite menacing and chilling, but she kept on repeating it over and over again. He who pulsed this knew too much, and that this was still following her every move gave her a cold shiver.”

Once again, she noises to herself the possibility of walking out of the house and leaving them and the game in which they were engaged to go up in smoke. But she could not afford to think like this, so she dismissed the thought immediately. It had become complex and risky, and she had too much to lose—her company, her job, her life. She was not going to be bullied, not to mention that she was willing to die for her cause.

Sighing, Victoria put her phone back into her handbag and stood up straight. She had her part to perform, and perform it she would; she would perform it to the hilt. She could not allow herself to be a coward—not now, when the game she played was more dangerous than ever.

When she emerged from the building into the night, the street lights lit up the area and formed shadows on the floor. The air was already cold, absolutely different from the heat, which, however, was only in the emotions raging within her. Around 9 p.m., Victoria ordered a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to her apartment. Her head was filled with events that occurred during the day.

She had to establish who was behind the threats and to what extent the threats were accurate. As much as Alexander did not want to admit it, he had to know about it. If someone was targeting her because of such an arrangement, then they would be in endangered status.

By the time the cab arrived at the apartment, Victoria had decided what she wanted to do. This she was not going to allow to be a looming cloud over her head. She was going to deal with it as she did with all other aspects of her life—directly.

The next morning, Victoria made it to Carrington Tower way before time; the boldness in her walk was very much a cover for the inner apprehension she was going through. She decided to go directly to Alexander’s office, her thoughts entirely on the discussion she had to make them have.

As she came in, Alexander was sitting at his desk and looking straight at the documents on finance before him. When she moved closer, he glanced at her, showing no warmth in his features, only the signs of tiredness around his eyes.

“Victoria,” he said, and he put the reports on the table. “I was not expecting to see you this early.”

“Let me tell you something,” Victoria said as soon as the car was out of hearing range. She got up, turned her back to him, walked to the chair opposite his, and closed the door. It is about the message I got last night. ”

Hooked by the sight of her slender form, Alexander’s expression rapidly transformed to one of distaste. “What message?”

Victoria took out her phone and displayed the message to him. She was not at all frightened. The person has been stalking me; he has been sending me these threats to make me get off the case, and this note is the clearer one.”

Alexander looked at the screen of the phone, and it was full of rage and concern as he read the message. Here are some examples of informal questions: “Why did not you inform me earlier on this?”

Victoria's said at the early stage that the message was not clear whether it was a casual thing or not. But now, with the way things are going on, I cannot turn blind eyes any longer to everything that is happening since somebody knows about our relationship and they do not want this business deal to go through.

Alexander rolled back on the chair and tightly clenched his jaw as he was deep in thought. “This complicates things,” she said seriously. "We are already under board surveillance, and now this... We have to figure out who exactly is threatening you and why.

Victoria nodded. “I have already requested Chloe to search on it, but until now there is nothing much that we can nail on the culprit; they are very careful.”

“Chloe is fine, but I think that we should hire more personnel.” Alexander spoke as if there were no doubts. “I will have Marcus look into this for our own benefit; we cannot allow this issue to get out of hand.

Victoria got a moment off before she could speak again. “There is another issue on which I have been reflecting ever since the board meeting yesterday, and that is the fact that we need to make this look as genuine as possible. The board is not going to back down unless they get convinced that this marriage is as real as can be.

Alexander looked at her, comprehending the meaning of her words in his face.

I guess you're right; we have to be together at all times, in public and not only during business; we need to make it look real to them.

“Exactly,” Victoria agreed. “We should begin to go out together in order to give the world outside an impression that we are really a couple. The more people see us together, the harder it will be for the board to distrust our relationship.”

A smirk played at the corner of Alexander’s mouth. “Best then, I guess, that we learn some things about each other.”

Needless to say, Victoria couldn't help but respond with a smile on her lips, though the situation was rather severe. We need to be watchful; please, we do not want to mix business and our personal lives.

“True,” Alexander replied, though he had donned once again a rather serious look.

It has to remain solely business.”

Victoria accepted this request, and she remained unconvinced when Alexander said that they were actually on risky business. Ironically, the longer they spend together, the worse the situation can turn into. But they had no other option; it had to be made to work.

Over the next few days, Victoria and Alexander started acting as per their plan that they had formulated. He accompanied her to a major charity event, where their every step was followed by cameras and chief executives. They ate at expensive places, and what they said to each other can barely be considered a conversation—it was business mingling at its finest. And all the time, Victoria was not oblivious to the boarding tension between them, a tension that was not related at all to the agreement they had on.

One of such calculated dates was the night they went out riding in the back of a black limousine before they separated to go to their different homes. It was on this ride home that reality dawned on Victoria.

“That is what needs to be done,” Alexander said after everyone became silent. “But at the same time, I have a bad feeling about this. The board is still considered suspicious, and these threats... We have to expect anything.”

Victoria simply agreed with her eyes on the station's lights outside the window.

I know, but there is something we are not getting. Looking at the bigger picture, something is going on with us.

Alexander said nothing and was lost in thought for several minutes. And then he looked at her, and as always, his face was blank as a wall. If the hit is too much and you think it is too risky, you will step down. I might have to look for other options.

This time she felt a thrill of anticipation that caused nerves at her temples to throb—but no, she shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere. I signed up for this, and I’m seeing this through to completion.”

Alexander looked her right in the eyes for a few seconds, and then he finally spoke. Victoria could sense gratitude in his words, and there was something else, something that, if she were not mistaken, was purely sexual.

Yes,” thank you. He smiled softly.

Victoria was quick to snap her head when the car arrived at her building before she could answer the question. She only flinched and gave him a small smile before she got out of the car, but her head was still whirling from what they had discussed.

Victoria was entering her apartment when her mobile vibrated in her pocket with a new message. Her heart sank as she saw the sender: Unknown Number again, and I let all of them come on the line while I silently listened.

“So you have decided to stick with me; you will now suffer the consequences.”

A shiver down Victoria’s spine was all that she felt when she looked at the message. This was no longer a threat, but a statement that was being made. For me, it was more satisfying as the girl got too far into the business and the reckoning was inevitable, be it she was ready for it or not.

The phone rang again to indicate a call from Chloe.

“Victoria,” Chloe’s call, was anxious. “I’ve been piecing together the information that I received recently; it’s not one man at all; you’ll find it’s much worse.”.

Victoria held her breath, listening to Chloe’s words. Bigger? What could be larger than a single human being who is bent on bringing them down? But how much worse could it become?