11.

The soft rustle of papers filled the air as Alexander sat behind his mahogany desk, meticulously reviewing a document. The document before him detailed the progress of the company's latest project; the Waterfront Towers project.

Alexander's sharp eyes caught every inconsistency in the document causing a crease to appear on his face.

A knock at the door broke his attention.

Without looking up, he spoke. "Enter."

Marcus, walked into the office holding a cup of coffee, his expression composed and professional as always.

Marcus took note of the small frown on Alexander's face. "Shall we go over today's schedule?" He asked as he moved to stand near his boss's desk.

Alexander finally looked up, his piercing gray eyes settled on Marcus. "Go ahead."

"At nine, you have a meeting with the cross-functional team to discuss the progress of the Waterfront Towers project. The team is concerned about supply chain delays affecting the timeline." Marcus figured this was part of the reason why Alexander had been frowning.

"At eleven," Marcus continued, "there's a meeting with the quality assurance team. They've prepared a report on recent customer feedback for the newly opened Suites. There are complaints about finishes and fittings."

Alexander raised an eyebrow without saying a word.

"Jessica from QA will lead the meeting." Marcus added.

"Who is that?" Hearing Alexander's question, Marcus had to bite his lower lips to stop the laugh that almost broke through, but he looked at his boss, amused.

"Miss Richard." Alexander made a silent 'o' sound.

"What's next?"

Marcus composed himself, "After lunch, you'll have a call with our legal team to finalize the acquisition of Hedics Pharmaceuticals."

Alexander's lips curled into a small smile.

"At two, you will be reviewing the quarterly financial report with the finance department," Marcus continued. "Then at four, you're scheduled to meet with the security team to address the recent breach attempt on our corporate database."

Alexander's expression hardened. "Do we know who was behind it?"

"The tech team suspects Jerkin's. They will have more details by the time you meet with them."

"Make sure they do," Alexander said, his voice carrying an unspoken warning.

Marcus nodded. "Your evening is reserved for the meeting with the DeLuca family at six."

Alexander's gaze darkened momentarily. The DeLuca's had been encroaching on his turf for months now, and this meeting would decide whether diplomacy or bloodshed would resolve the matter.

***

At nine, Alexander was already seated in the boardroom, the team assembled around him presenting updates on the Waterfront Towers project. He listened intently as the project manager outlined supply chain issues caused by unforeseen strikes at a major supplier's factory.

"Double our subcontractors," Alexander commanded. "I don't care what it costs. This project finishes on time. Understood?"

The team nodded as they quickly began making arrangements to screen the contractors they can work with.

***

By eleven, Alexander entered the meeting room where the quality assurance team was already assembled. Next to his desk, stood Jessica, the young and strikingly beautiful QA lead. Her long auburn hair framed her face that could have graced magazine covers, and her emerald eyes lit up when Alexander walked in. She has always had a crush on her boss ever since she began working for him.

Her crush for him became her inspiration to work harder and gain his recognition.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling," she greeted, her voice carrying a polished, professional tone with just a hint of warmth. As always, she subtly straightened her posture, her fitted blouse emphasizing her slim figure. "We've prepared a detailed report for you." She informed him.

Alexander gave her a curt nod as he took his seat. "Let's hear it."

A member of the QA team handed out printed reports, while Jessica launched into her presentation, highlighting the issues customers had reported with the Sterling Suites; paint peeling in the luxury apartments, and a surprising number of complaints about faulty appliances.

"These issues aren't up to Sterling Group standards," she said, her tone firm. "We've identified that the majority of the problems stem from one of our subcontractors cutting corners. I have listed potential replacements on page five of the report."

Alexander scanned the document quickly. "Replace them immediately," he ordered. "And make sure the new contractors understand that subpar work will not be tolerated. Conduct thorough inspections before signing off on anything. Also I need the list of contractors who faulted."

"Of course, Mr. Sterling," Jessica replied, her lips curving into a slight smile. "I will personally oversee the inspections to ensure everything meets your expectations." Her voice softened. "I will also send the list over to you after the meeting." She added with a small blush.

Alexander's sharp gaze lifted from the report, pinning her briefly. "Good. I trust you will handle it properly."

Jessica's cheeks flushed faintly, and she quickly resumed her presentation, detailing steps to improve customer satisfaction and prevent future issues. Though her professionalism remained intact, she couldn't resist sneaking subtle glances at him, hoping for any sign of reciprocation.

Alexander, however, remained focused on the matter at hand, his demeanor impassive. The meeting concluded efficiently, with clear directives given, and as the team filed out, Jessica lingered slightly longer than necessary.

"If there's anything else you need, Mr. Sterling, don't hesitate to let me know," she said, her voice low and deliberate.

Alexander's expression didn't waver. "That will be all Miss Richard."

She nodded, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face before she turned and left.

Marcus's gaze followed her briefly, a hint of pity on his gaze.

The afternoon passed in a whirlwind of activity: the legal call for the Hedics acquisition, financial reviews, and the tense security meeting.

Driving to the meeting with the DeLuca's, Alexander's mind was a calculated storm of decisions and strategies as he wondered how the meeting will unfold.

"We have our men stationed around the restaurant." Marcus informed him. He noticed the tension in his boss, and he can understand Alexander's reluctance to fight. Their relationship with the DeLuca's weren't always this stiff, although he doesn't know the full details, but he knows Alexander would rather resolve the conflict diplomatically than to actually battle it out.

Thirty minutes into the scheduled time, Alexander sat in the private lounge of an exclusive clubs. The room was dimly lit, its atmosphere exuding luxury and power. Leather armchairs, a mahogany bar stocked with rare liquors, and thick curtains that blocked out the world outside created a setting designed for discretion.

The DeLuca representative, Lorenzo, entered the room escorted by Marcus, and his assistant. Lorenzo smirked upon seeing Alexander , he had deliberately delayed his coming. His dark eyes flicked around the room before settling on Alexander once again.

"Giovanni," Lorenzo greeted, his voice smooth but laced with tension. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting, the traffic had delayed my arrival."

Alexander gestured to the seat opposite him. "Let's not waste any more time, Lorenzo. What do the DeLucas want with our turf?"

Lorenzo took the offered seat, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The East land are valuable real estate. The DeLuca family believes there's room for collaboration. Joint ventures could be profitable for both sides."

Alexander's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was icy. "Collaboration?"

"Yes, collaboration." Lorenzo confirmed. They know the possibility of Alexander accepting was low but Lorenzo was ready to guilt trip him into accepting his proposal.

"Marcus, we are done here." Alexander stood up and left. His actions left Lorenzo in shock. He had expected he would reject his offer and then they could talk it out, but his decisive decision to leave was unexpected.

Alexander laughed as he got into the car. "Double the men at the East lands, if the DeLuca's want a fight, then a fight they will get." He told Marcus who nodded.