Not far away, Alicia had seen everything.
She stood still for a moment, her thoughts drifting, her expression faintly distant.
A strange sense of detachment settled over her.
Then, without warning, a memory surfaced.
The first day she had joined the company.
She had gone to report to the CEO's office, Jane by her side. Back then, unfamiliar with the rigid boundaries he enforced, she had called him by his name—
Alexander.
The correction had been immediate.
Cold.
Precise.
Regardless of the situation, regardless of who was present, she was to address him as CEO Blackwood within the company.
There were no exceptions.
At work, he had always been strictly professional.
Distant.
Unyielding.
He treated her no differently than any other employee.
At the time, she had believed—
That was simply who he was.
It wasn't until Lilian returned… that Alicia realized something else.
Alexander was capable of favoritism.
He just never chose her.
And yet today—
He had spoken.
