Chapter 1415
This name was always on the tip of Alaric’s tongue, and sometimes he would stare at the contact number on his phone, lost in thought, his finger hovering over the call button but never quite making the connection.
Alistair figured the woman must mean a lot to Alaric.
Now, the very same woman was calling Alaric directly, and if Alistair were to turn her away, Mr. Falconer would surely be angry.
So, taking the initiative, Alistair replied, “Come on up to the 28th floor please, to the Vice President’s office.”
“But the receptionist won’t let me through,” Hertha protested.
“Just hand her the phone, I’ll talk to her.”
Hertha did as told, and the receptionist’s demeanor shifted from frosty indifference to cordial compliance as she spoke into the phone. Returning the phone to Hertha, she showed a welcoming smile, “Right this way, Ms. Kensington. Please take the elevator up to the 28th floor.”
Hertha noticed the change in the receptionist’s behavior but chose not to engage, taking her phone back and stepping into the elevator. Upon reaching the 28th floor, Hertha found herself a stranger in the Falconer Group’s labyrinth of power and prestige, unsure where the Vice President’s office was. She glanced around and decided to venture left.
Suddenly, the sound of an argument spilled out from one of the rooms.
Hertha paused, curiosity drawing her gaze toward the source of the commotion, only to see a plaque that read ‘Conference Room‘ rather than ‘Office‘.
She was about to move on when a woman’s imperious voice cut through the air.
“Alaric, give me a straight answer in front of all the shareholders! Will you marry me or not? If you won’t, Michael, Adrian, George–they won’t back you anymore! There would be no point in you playing Vice President then! Marry me, and they’ll recommend you as the rightful head of the Falconer Group tomorrow!”
That voice was Georgia’s! She was pressuring Alaric into marriage in front of the company’s shareholders!
Georgia’s words were a slap in the face to Alaric’s pride. She was pretty much saying that Alaric’s success hinged solely on marrying her, or else he’d plummet from grace.
It sounded like she was calling Alaric a kept man.
Did Georgia even like Alaric?
Surely, she shouldn’t push him into a corner to get him to marry her even if she loved him.
Hertha stopped in her tracks, her ears tuned to the drama unfolding within.
“Georgia, this is the Falconer Group’s medical project meeting, not your Reed family circus. If you want to throw a tantrum, do it on your own turf!” Alaric’s voice was strained with suppressed anger as he attempted to reason with her.
But Georgia was relentless. “Without the Reed family’s support, would you even be here discussing strategies with the top brass? You’d still be scraping by in some small–time firm! Alaric, just pick a wedding date today in front of all these shareholders, and they will petition the current CEO tomorrow to name you the head of the Falconer Group. Your cousin Jeremiah Falconer won’t stand a chance at this position then. Just say the word, and I’ll have mom and dad set it all up!”
Georgia’s words were a mix of threat and enticement, desperate measures to make Alaric hers.
Hertha felt disgusted. What a brainless, domineering woman, giving no one a moment’s respite.
No wonder Alaric wouldn’t marry her.
Yet, cornered by Georgia’s ultimatums, Alaric managed to keep his cool. It was impressive restraint.
“Georgia, how many times have you caused a scene at the office? I may tolerate it once, twice, but don’t think my patience is endless! To hell with this Vice President title!” Alaric exploded, kicking the table before storming out.
He wrenched open the conference room door, coming face–to–face with Hertha, who had inadvertently become an eavesdropper in his
eyes.
“Oops, just passing by. I didn’t hear a thing,” Hertha said with a nervous chuckle, meeting Alaric’s furious gaze.
“Alaric, don’t you dare walk away from me! I’m your fiancée. Is it wrong for me ask you to marry me?” Georgia’s angry voice followed them out.
Without a second thought, Alaric grabbed Hertha by the waist, pulling her close as a shield against Georgia, his voice laced with veno “My fiancée has changed. She’s got more charm in ten minutes than you’ve had your entire life!”
With that, he pulled Hertha’s face to his and planted a fierce kiss on her lips.
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Hertha’s eyes widened in shock, caught completely off guard by his action.