THE BODYGUARD'S SECRET SERVICE

5

The headquarters office of Vance Global, located on the 50th floor of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, now felt like a graveyard to its employees. News of Dominic Vance’s arrest had spread like wildfire. Everyone was whispering, panicking over the fate of their jobs—until the main elevator doors opened.

Alaric Thorne stepped in.

This time, he wore neither a driver’s uniform nor a party tuxedo. Instead, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit, exuding an undeniable aura of authority. Behind him, Maia walked with firm steps, carrying a suitcase filled with legal documents for the transfer of power.

Alaric’s footsteps stopped right in front of the wide reception desk.

“Call all senior managers to the main conference room. Now.”

“Excuse me, sir… who are you?” the receptionist asked, her voice trembling.

Maia stepped forward, placing a gold identification card on the desk.

“This is Alaric Thorne, the new owner of this company. Don’t keep him waiting.”

At the mention of the name “Thorne,” the receptionist’s face turned pale. She immediately pressed the intercom button with shaking hands.

Alaric walked toward the meeting room, passing rows of cubicles. But his steps halted when a woman stepped out of one of the offices, files in hand. She was beautiful, with neatly styled blonde hair and an expensive business suit.

Evelyn Reed.

Alaric’s former fiancée. The woman who chose to stand beside Julian when Alaric was cast out of the Thorne Estate a year ago.

Evelyn froze. The files in her hands nearly slipped to the floor.

“Alaric? How… why are you here?”

Alaric looked at her as if she were nothing more than an insignificant wall decoration.

“I didn’t know a loser like Julian would stash his ‘kept woman’ in a second-rate company like this, Evelyn.”

Evelyn’s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

“Watch your mouth! I work here because of my abilities! And what’s with that outfit? You should be out on the streets, begging—”

“Unfortunately, your prayers didn’t come true.” Alaric stepped closer, towering over her. His strong masculine scent stirred memories in Evelyn, but now there was a terrifying darkness in his eyes.

“I’m the new owner of this place. Which means… I’m your boss.”

Evelyn let out a dry laugh, trying to mask her unease.

“Don’t joke around. Dominic Vance would never sell—”

“Dominic is in prison, Evelyn. And his assets have been seized to repay his debt to me,” Alaric cut in coldly. He turned to Maia.

“Maia, have we eliminated the Senior Logistics Manager position?”

Maia gave a thin, dangerous smile.

“Technically, that position became inefficient five minutes ago, Master.”

Alaric turned back to Evelyn, who was now starting to tremble.

“You have two choices, Evelyn. Leave this building now without severance, or stay and handle every task I assign you… as a junior assistant in the warehouse.”

“You’re humiliating me?!” Evelyn shouted in disbelief.

“I’m just returning you to where a traitor belongs.” Alaric turned away, unwilling to waste another second.

“The meeting starts in one minute. Don’t let me see you on this floor when I come out.”

Alaric entered the meeting room, leaving Evelyn shattered in the corridor. Inside, the managers had already gathered, their faces pale. Alaric took the head seat, placing his hands on the cold marble table.

“Let’s begin,” Alaric said.

“The first thing we’re going to do is destroy Julian Thorne’s supply chain at the northern port. I want him to know that I didn’t just come back… I came to burn everything he built.”

Maia stood beside Alaric, her hand resting possessively on his shoulder, offering a kind of support Evelyn had never given him.