All Chapters of THE SUBSTITUTE HUSBAND’S RISE TO POWER.: Chapter 61
- Chapter 70
83 chapters
061.
The question hadn’t been one that Alex was expecting, and while it had come out of nowhere, Alex knew just the response he was going to give that question.He had thought about it since the report came that the two locking heads had called a truce and came to an agreement that both parties vowed to keep.The agreement was what had made Liesel green light her project, and now that the project has been green lit, there were a lot of people that were vying to be a part of it.Alex looked out at the row of tents, at the distant line of hills that had once been contested ground. He knew that if he made up his mind to leave this place right now, Liesel would have something for him at the drop of a hat.He would be able to work where not only would he be the one to call the shots, but he could work whenever he felt like, and whenever he wasn’t feeling up to it, he could sit it out.There were lots of doctors back in the city, and he could be one of those doctors who only scrubbed in when the
062.
In Liesel Taylor’s mansion the late light filtered through tall windows in soft gold bands. She sighed as she dropped her phone, and for some reason, there was a kind of fullness in her heart.She couldn’t explain it. The first time she’d woken up after the incident that almost milked her, she hadn’t got the chance to look at the man who had saved her life even though he was right there—she was told.The second time was when she got back to New York, but then she realized that the doctor who had pulled her back from the brink of death had stayed back at the site.She wanted to appreciate him, she wanted to reward him some way or the other until she realised that it was Alex. Doctor Alexander Thorne. She couldn’t believe that he really kept his word and became a doctor.Smiling, Liesel always knew that Alex wouldn’t have wanted his name to be out in public, and that was why she hadn’t argued with him when he said he wanted to be kept private.Although, what she hadn’t expected was that
063.
Liesel’s head snapped up at once as disbelief seized her. The person Alex had been married to was Elena Max, and from the look of her profile here, Elena Max had been trying to get a meeting for a while.Elena Max’s proposal had been polished, intelligent, almost elegant in its restraint, and she couldn’t quite recall why Elena hadn’t been granted an interview earlier, but Liesel knew that no matter how gifted Elena was, there was always someone out there more gifted than her.That was probably why she hadn’t gotten the interview.But it was difficult to reconcile the document she just went through with the woman Selena had just described. Still, Liesel made no move to cancel the meeting.She was going to see for herself because even though her mind had been made up because of the way she heard Elena had treated Alexander, Liesel knew that it wouldn’t be right to cancel a meeting just because of that.If Elena was a pleasant person during the meeting, if she proved that she could hand
064.
When the call ended, Elena sat back in her chair with a bright, almost giddy smile. Relief and triumph mixed in her chest until she felt light-headed. “Oh my god! Oh! My! God!” She was practically screaming.She had finally gotten a chance to speak with Liesel Taylor, and not just that, it was an interview for a billion dollar project, and Elena knew how that could change her life and the life of her company.After a full full year of unanswered requests and polite rejections, the meeting had happened—and it had gone well. She was certain of it, and right about now, she couldn’t wait to get the acceptance mail.Their conversation had flowed and Liesel had listened to her talk about her plans for the project, although it was strange that Liesel asked about Alex, but Elena couldn’t care less.She had made sure to let Liesel know that she was in no way associated with that loser, and the fact that there had been no sharp dismissal caused Elena’s mind to be at ease.Liesel had promised to
065.
Marcus couldn’t believe how easy things were going for him, it was almost as though he didn’t have to work so much and every single line was falling into place for him.He got to the parking lot of the hotel, and just as he was about to get into the car, his phone rang in his pocket. He thought that it was Elena, but when he pulled it out, he realized she wasn’t the one.“Hey bro. What’s up?” The voice on the other end of the phone said. “Look, I don’t know how long you want me to keep covering for you, but the boss is pissed and he’s talking about bursting you.”His entire muscles locked into place, he didn’t even realize that the time he had set that he would be able to repay his debts had almost reached.“Shit.” He muttered, opening the car door and getting in. He had wanted to ask Elena for the money, but she was still married with Alex then, and he knew that Alex would see through his scheme.He also knew that Elena wouldn’t believe him, but he couldn’t risk getting busted and th
066.
In Liesel Taylor’s study the atmosphere was heavier. Her most trusted assistant stood beside the desk, handing over a slim folder and a tablet loaded with audio files and scanned documents.Liesel worked through them methodically. Bank records, old messages, photographs, and the pictures that emerged were disgusting—evidence of Elena’s actions.Elena Max had treated Alexander Thorne with open contempt throughout their marriage. She had belittled his work, and according to multiple sources, conducted a long affair with a man named Marcus Hale.The file on Hale was even thinner and more damning. He had no meaningful assets, no stable career, and a documented history of moving from one wealthy partner to the next.He was a philanderer. A gold digger.Liesel closed the folder and shook her head once. “I can’t hand a billion-dollar project to her,” she said. “She is not the kind of person we’re looking for.”Her assistant nodded. “I agree. On top of everything else, she’s arrogant, and she
067.
The next morning’s sunlight poured through the tall windows of the master bedroom in pale gold strips. Elena stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still faintly sore in the best way, and reached for her phone on the nightstandShe scrolled through the phone, confirmed that the transfer she made had cleared, then swung her legs over the side of the bed. Marcus was already in the kitchen, barefoot, a white apron tied over his boxers.The air smelled of fresh coffee, butter, and the sharp green scent of herbs he was chopping with careful precision. He looked up the moment she appeared in the doorway wearing only his discarded shirt from the night before.“Good Morning.” She said, her voice still husky. “I already made the transfer, I’m guessing you haven’t checked your phone yet.” She added.Marcus’ knife paused mid-slice, and for a heartbeat he simply stared, then a slow, almost boyish grin spread across his face. He set the knife down, wiped his hands on the apron, and crossed th
068.
Watching Elena and the other woman that was elegantly dressed walk away, the other woman that was dressed poorly and in disguise of being an insignificant figure straightened.“Dang, I didn’t think it would be a little difficult trying to put up an act.” She said to herself as she sighed and dusted off her clothes. “Still, I can’t believe people are still biased.”“I can’t imagine what the people who are truly in this situation would have faced trying to navigate their way around this world.” She said to herself, squinting under the burning sun.The gray uniform hung loose on her frame, the cheap fabric still carrying the faint scent of industrial cleaner.Liesel Taylor brushed a strand of hair from her forehead with the back of her hand and spoke under her breath, the words meant only for herself.“I actually considered handing her a contract worth more than a billion dollars. Billions, and the only thing that determines the way she treats people is how they’re dressed?” Liesel shook
069.
“What are you talking about?” Liesel asked even though she already understood what the girl was saying, but those words don’t sit right with some part of her.How could Elena not see that Alex had been the reason behind all of her success? Why would she leave such a man to chase after a man that doesn’t care about her at all? It just doesn’t make any sense.“It means, well, Alex is the brain behind everything Elena Max had built, and Elena was just the one who managed to sit at the table, attend meetings and spend signatures.” The Private Investigator said. “She never used to double check her proposals because her confidence is so absolute she simply signed off and sent whatever sat on her desk.” There was another silence, but Liesel could hear the snacking sound of someone chewing.“But she didn’t know that the proposals those companies accepted weren’t hers, they never belonged to her. They were Alex’s.”For a moment, Liesel said nothing as the words settled and even though her mou
070.
The question roamed freely in her mind and she wanted an answer, there had to be a reason why Alex would want to willingly stay in that type of marriage even when he knew it would be better if he left.A woman like Elena wasn’t worth sacrificing everything for, she wasn’t worth leaving the successful career he had behind for. Shaking her head, she decided to call her private investigator again.“This is the fastest I’ve heard back from a client. Tell me, are you calling to give me a five star review?” She asked, and Liesel almost laughed before realizing that she had to be serious.“Be fucking serious.” She said into the phone. “While the file is still open, there is something else I need you to do for me and I want answers as quickly as you can get them.”“What’s that?” The girl asked, and from the shuffling that was followed by the tapping of something, Liesel knew the girl had pulled out her laptop to type in everything she said. “I’m always at your beck and call.”“I’m flattered.”