Chapter 10: Undercurrents
786words
Just as Alexander Morgan's shout faded, a black sedan came speeding around the corner, heading straight for the sidewalk where we were standing. He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, quickly stepping backward. The car whooshed past us, brushing against the edges of our clothes before disappearing into the night.
"Are you alright?" Alexander Morgan anxiously checked my condition, his eyes filled with concern I had never seen before.
"I'm fine." I struggled to calm my rapid breathing, but my heart rate accelerated because of his embrace. "But that car... it wasn't an accident."
"Of course it wasn't." Alexander Morgan said coldly, taking out his phone and dialing a number. "Pull up all surveillance footage from this street and find out where that car came from."
We had just left the Imperial View Hotel after concluding an emergency meeting about the "Aurora" project. Unexpectedly, we encountered such an attack. What surprised us even more was that a reporter happened to witness the entire process, camera flashes continuously flickering.
The next day, photos of Alexander Morgan and me appeared on the cover of "Business Weekly"—he protectively held me in his arms, his gaze determined and vigilant. The headline boldly stated: "Linze Group's Rising Star Attacked, CEO Personally Provides Protection."
"Now we're in trouble." I put down the magazine and said to Alexander Morgan sitting across from me.
"Why?" he raised an eyebrow, "This actually sends a message to the outside world: you are important to me, and no one can touch you."
His words warmed my heart, but then I remembered something more important: "Did you find out about the car?"
"It belongs to a subsidiary of the Chen Group." Alexander Morgan sneered, "They didn't even bother to hide it."
Just then, Claire Johnson hurried over with a solemn expression: "I just received information that the car is indeed connected to the Chen family. More importantly, they've already begun taking action, trying to cut off Linze's financing channels."
"They move fast," I frowned. "It seems Victor Thompson is feeling cornered by us."
"That's not all." Claire Johnson handed me a document. "My father discovered that your father's car accident years ago might not have been an accident. There's evidence suggesting the Chen family was involved."
I stared at the document in shock, my hands trembling slightly. Father's death had always been a pain in my heart, and now learning it might be murder made my feelings even more complicated.
"You must strengthen your security," Alexander Morgan said firmly. "Starting today, move to my Lakeside Villa. It's secluded and safe, very few people know about it."
"I don't need special protection," I instinctively refused. "I can take care of myself."
"This isn't a request, Emily Wilson," Alexander Morgan's tone became stern. "It's an order."
"You have no right to dictate my personal life." I responded coldly, turning to leave.
Unexpectedly, Alexander Morgan stepped forward quickly and took my hand: "Emily Wilson, please move there." His voice suddenly softened, even carrying a hint of pleading, "I can't risk you getting hurt."
This business titan who never bowed his head had actually broken his own dignity for me. My heart softened, and I nodded: "Fine, but only temporarily."
That evening, I moved into Alexander Morgan's Lakeside Villa. While organizing my room, I accidentally discovered a photo album on the bookshelf. When I opened it, I was shocked to find it was full of my photos—me smiling on campus during university days, my focused profile during design competitions, and even moments of me daydreaming alone in coffee shops.
"Since when have you been watching me?" I stood before Alexander Morgan with the album in my hands, my heart racing.
He was silent for a moment, then confessed: "Five years ago, at a design competition. Your work moved me, and I wanted to invite you to join Linze, but by then you had already accepted another company's offer."
"So... this isn't a coincidence?" I asked in shock, "After my rebirth when I joined Linze, you already knew me?"
"I've been waiting for you all along." Alexander Morgan's gaze was deep and gentle, "I just never expected we would meet again in this way."
I didn't know how to respond to this sudden truth. Just then, the doorbell rang. Claire Johnson stood outside, looking tense: "Victor Thompson has begun to take action. He's bribed the media and plans to release a series of defamatory articles tomorrow targeting you and Alexander Morgan."
Meanwhile, at Thompson Headquarters, Victor Thompson shouted angrily at Sophia Parker: "I don't care what methods you use, you must destroy the relationship between Emily Wilson and Alexander Morgan! That woman knows too much, she must be eliminated!"
