The Contract

TRAVIS'S P.O.V

"...with the absence of Mr. Trent Ferrari, we have decided we can't leave the seat vacant. A new CEO has to be appointed," Mr. Sullivan declared, his voice steady but devoid of warmth. The other board members nodded in agreement, their expressions unreadable.

"Mr. Ferrari, we wanted you here to understand how things are currently running at Alpha 3," Mr. Whitaker added, his tone laced with condescension. His words hit like a reminder of the past—when they conspired to take everything from me.

My gaze drifted to the empty chair at the end of the table, its absence both glaring and symbolic. Donaldson wasn't here, which was unusual. His absence left a sour taste in my mouth. If there was one thing I knew about these men, it was that they didn’t act without an agenda.

Tearing my eyes from the chair, I looked up at them. They were all watching me intently, like wolves sizing up prey. "I don't think it concerns me anymore," I finally said, my voice calm but resolute.

Another man cleared his throat, leaning forward as if to press the issue. "You were still the rightful heir before your father passed."

"Rightful heir?" I let out a bitter chuckle, shaking my head. "Everyone in this room was involved in my overthrow. You all made it abundantly clear that I no longer had a place here. Trent is the CEO now, and—"

"Trent is no longer fit for the position," Mr. Sullivan interrupted sharply. "He’s been involved in... unsavory activities. The board has deemed him incapable of running the company."

The words hung in the air, but they didn’t move me. My jaw tightened, my patience wearing thin. "That still doesn’t sound like it concerns me. Is that the only reason I’m here?"

They exchanged uneasy glances, a silent conversation passing between them.

"We still need someone to take the position," Mr. Whitaker finally admitted.

I pushed back my chair, rising to my feet with deliberate calm. Adjusting the cuffs of my blazer, I shot them a cold smile. "I’m sure you all can figure that out without me. Excuse me."

Moments Later

I stood by the glass wall, the city sprawled out beneath me like a labyrinth of opportunity and betrayal. My hands were buried in my pockets, my reflection faint against the gleaming glass. My thoughts swirled, each one heavier than the last.

The room behind me was silent now, empty save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. The tension from the boardroom still clung to me like a second skin.

A sigh escaped my lips as I turned back to the desk. Everything was exactly as I’d left it, not a pen or folder out of place. It made me wonder if Trent had been here, sitting in this chair, pretending to know what he was doing. The thought of him running this company twisted something deep inside me.

He was reckless—too impulsive to handle something of this magnitude. The mere idea of him tarnishing what my father built made my blood boil. But stepping back into Alpha 3 wasn’t an option. The society had eyes everywhere, and if I got involved again, they’d find a way to drag me back under their control.

No, I’d worked too hard to stay off their radar. But even as I tried to convince myself of this, my mind wandered to her.

The report of her being followed had unsettled me. I couldn’t shake the image of her in danger, couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling that the society was using her as leverage. If they got to her, it would be game over—for both of us.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration simmering beneath the surface. This wasn’t over. It never would be. And no matter how much distance I tried to put between myself and Alpha 3, the strings of the past always seemed to pull me back.