Torn Between The Alpha And The Billionaire

The room fell silent as the current boss, Mr. Jonathan Hawthorne, stood up from his seat. He was an older man, somewhere in his late 50s, with salt-and-pepper hair slicked back neatly and glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. His tailored navy-blue suit gave him an air of professionalism, but his demeanor was humble. There was a nervous energy in the way he straightened his tie before speaking, a sign of the weight of what he was about to announce.

"Good morning, everyone," Mr. Hawthorne began, his voice steady yet respectful. "As you all know, today marks a significant turning point for this company. It is with both pride and a hint of sadness that I step down from my role as CEO. But I am leaving you in capable hands."

He paused, glancing to his right, where the man sat with an air of confidence that seemed to make everyone else in the room feel small.

"It is my honor to introduce Alexander Blackwood," Hawthorne continued, his tone reverent as if he were announcing royalty. "As of today, he will be the new CEO of this company. I trust you will give him the same respect and dedication you have shown me over the years."

Mara froze in her seat, her breath catching as the name echoed in her mind. Alexander Blackwood. She repeated it in her head, her pulse quickening.

It's him.

Her thoughts spiraled as she stared at the man who now stood from his chair, his every movement exuding authority. That's why he seemed familiar… but he's changed so much. Her eyes darted to his sharp features, his unyielding expression, the cold fire in his amber eyes. Does he still recognize me?

Does he still remember…

Her thoughts were interrupted when Alexander stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the room with a calculated sharpness. When he spoke, his voice was deep and commanding, each word precise and deliberate, sending shivers down her spine.

"Good morning," he began, his tone cold, yet captivating. "I'm Alexander Blackwood. From this moment on, the direction of this company is mine to determine. I expect nothing but excellence from each of you. Mediocrity has no place here. Those who cannot meet the standards I set will find themselves replaced. Efficiently."

His words were like ice, and yet, there was something magnetic about the way he spoke. His gaze lingered momentarily on Mara, and she swore his lips curved ever so slightly in recognition—but it was gone before she could be sure.

"I value results," Alexander continued. "Not excuses. If you contribute to the growth of this company, you will find me fair. But if you waste my time, you will find me merciless. That's all."

He gave a curt nod and sat down, the room buzzing with nervous whispers as the meeting wrapped up.

Mara's heart raced as everyone began gathering their things. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her emotions torn between disbelief and panic. How could it be him? she thought. But she pushed it aside, forcing herself to focus. She didn't have time to dwell on the past, not now.

She made her way out of the conference room, her legs moving on autopilot as her thoughts tangled. He's here. He's the boss now. How do I even process this?

But she had to shake it off. There were more pressing matters at hand.

---

Mara stood outside the editor's office, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. A muffled "Come in!" called from inside.

The editor, Vanessa Carter, was a striking woman in her early 40s, with jet-black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail and glasses that seemed to magnify her piercing green eyes. She exuded confidence, her fitted blazer adding to her aura of authority.

"Ah, Mara," Vanessa said, not looking up from her laptop. "What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the story I went to the forest for," Mara began, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

Vanessa's eyes flicked up, her expression skeptical but curious. "Go on."

Mara hesitated for a moment, replaying the events in her mind. "I think I saw something. A creature. It had yellow eyes, glowing in the dark. It… it chased me. I barely got out of there alive."

Vanessa leaned back in her chair, her brow arching. "A creature with glowing eyes?"

"Yes," Mara said earnestly. "It wasn't human. And then… there was another pair of eyes. Dim red ones. But before I could figure out what it was, both disappeared, and the forest went completely silent."

Vanessa's expression turned incredulous, and she folded her arms. "Did you take pictures? Or video?"

Mara's shoulders sagged slightly. "No. I was being chased. I didn't have time to—"

"Then it's a bull story," Vanessa cut her off. "No evidence means no story. I can't run a piece based on imagination."

"But I know what I saw!" Mara protested.

Vanessa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, Mara, if you want this story to see the light of day, you need evidence. Pictures, recordings, something that proves it's more than a hallucination or your overactive imagination. Until then, this conversation is over."

Mara clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. But she knew Vanessa was right. Without evidence, her story was just words.

She nodded reluctantly and left the office, determination hardening in her chest. If no one believes me, I'll just have to find proof myself.