Chapter 8 How rich is he

The expansive boardroom was a blend of elegance and power. A long, mahogany table stretched the length of the room, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs occupied by some of the most influential executives in the industry. The air was heavy with tension as Alexander sat at the head of the table, exuding an aura of dominance that made everyone tread carefully.

As one of the senior executives presented the quarterly financial projections, Alexander's phone vibrated on the table. His sharp eyes flicked to the screen, and without hesitation, he picked up the call. After the call, he glanced at Liam, who stood with a notebook in hand. "Contact Dr. Adriel immediately. Tell him to prepare for a transfer case. I want the best heart surgeon in the country on this. Arrange for a helicopter to take the patient to Grand Horizon Medical Center."

Liam blinked, his jaw slack. "Sir, you want Grand Horizon? That's..."

"I said what I said." Alexander's tone left no room for argument.

Liam hesitated, then leaned closer and whispered, "With all due respect, isn't this too much for the ex-wife of your enemy? Besides Adriel..."

Alexander's icy gaze snapped to Liam, his voice dropping to a deadly calm. "It's none of your business. Do as I've instructed."

Properly shunned, Liam nodded and rushed out of the room.

When Alexander returned to the table, an elderly man with gray hair and a haughty demeanor leaned back in his chair, his face contorted in irritation. "Young man," he spat, "I don't care how wealthy or powerful you are. Answering a personal call during a meeting of this caliber is disrespectful!"

Alexander raised a single brow, his sharp features expressionless. "Oh, really?"

The man folded his arms, emboldened by his indignation. "You may be a young CEO with a long list of achievements, but let me remind you, Alexander, you're still young enough to be my son!"

Alexander smirked, his amusement barely hiding the steel in his voice. "If I were your son, you'd actually have something to boast about."

Gasps rippled through the room.

Alexander leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Speaking of family, let's discuss yours-or rather, your role in this company. Shall we start with the $2 million that mysteriously vanished from the company's account?"

The man's smug demeanor faltered, his face blanching. Around the table, the other board members exchanged uneasy glances, the room now filled with palpable tension.

"I-" the man stammered. "There's no proof of any wrongdoing on my part!"

Alexander gestured to his secretary, who approached the smart screen at the far end of the room. In moments, a video played, showing the man living lavishly, dining in five-star restaurants, gambling at exclusive casinos, and taking private jets-all at the company's expense.

Alexander's voice was dangerously calm. "I may not always be here, but don't mistake my absence for ignorance." He paused, scanning the faces of the guilty. "You, and two others sitting here, have been stealing from this company. You have three hours to return every cent-or prepare to face a lawsuit."

The man stammered, his confidence utterly shattered. The rest of the room sat in stunned silence, watching as Alexander dismantled their colleague without breaking a sweat.

St. Helena Memorial Hospital

Mia sat in the waiting area, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her heart raced as she tried to process the events of the last hour. She had called Alexander in desperation, and now things were moving at a dizzying pace.

When the doctor approached, his expression was a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Miss Mia," he began, "you must have a very powerful backer."

Mia blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

The doctor smiled nervously. "We've just received confirmation that your mother will be transferred to Grand Horizon Medical Center. Dr. Adriel himself has agreed to oversee her case, and the country's top heart surgeon will perform the transplant."

Mia's breath caught. "Grand Horizon? Dr. Adriel?" she whispered.

The doctor nodded. "Your backer isn't just powerful-he's practically untouchable." He hesitated, then added, "You've hit a gold mine, Miss Mia."

Mia's lips curled into a bitter smile. Gold mine? she thought. He has no idea what it's costing me.

Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter filled the air. Mia stood abruptly, her heart pounding as she watched her mother's gurney being wheeled toward the elevator that led to the helipad.

"I want to go with her!" she called out, rushing after the nurses.

A man in charge turned to her, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Miss, but her condition is critical. We can't allow any additional weight or distractions in the chopper."

Mia's panic surged. "But she's my mother! Please-I need to be there!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as the team efficiently moved her mother into the elevator. Tears streamed down Mia's face as she fumbled for her phone, dialing Alexander again.

He answered on the first ring.

"They won't let me go with her!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Alexander, please-"

"Calm down," he said firmly. "Another helicopter will be there for you shortly. I told you I'd handle this, Mia. Trust me."

Minutes after her mother's helicopter disappeared into the sky, another one landed. The sleek, black chopper gleamed under the sun, its presence commanding attention.

Mia stared in awe, her thoughts racing. Just how rich is he?