Chapter 7: Unaware Rose!

For a moment, the only sounds were the soft gasps of disbelief from the newly appointed executives. 

They exchanged looks, their surprise gradually replaced by admiration. Alex's actions weren't without any backup plan. This wasn't a man making empty promises; he was fully committed to restructuring the Reid Industries, no matter the cost.

One by one, their faces lit up with new smiles. The message was clear: Alex wasn't just talking about change, he wasn't just bluffing what, he was making it happen.

The Winters family, however, sat frozen in their seats. Their pale faces betrayed the panic brewing within. Alex's actions to clean the company fully wasn't just talk, it was a fully planned, like a gamble he was playing but the only thing that takes away the word gamble here is that the winner was already decided and they were on the losing side.

If Alex truly conducted a thorough investigation, everything they have done and all the money they've gotten under the table and the things they'd hidden would come to light. 

The years of embezzlement, the tampered accounts, the misappropriated funds, it would all be exposed. And when that happened, they wouldn't just lose their positions. They'd lose all their freedom with it not even getting to live in a house.

Charles, seated at the center of his family members who were terminated with him, felt his heart pounding as panic began to claw at him and others. His mind raced, replaying every shady deal, every fraudulent report… everything he and they have all done in the company… and the result wasn't exactly pleasant even in their thoughts.

"If he really investigates us…" The thought alone sent a chill down his spine. "The money we siphoned off, the accounts we tampered with… we'll be sent straight to prison, no questions asked!" Charles clenched his fists tightly, the veins in his hands bulging as desperation set in. He couldn't let that happen.

"I can't just sit here and let this happen. I need a way out. I need… a plan." Suddenly, an idea struck him. Or rather, a name. Rose. Charles's eyes darkened as he remembered her.

"This is all her fault," he muttered under his breath, his frustration bubbling to the surface, he had already imagined why Alex was doing it and why he was taking out on all of them. 

"All these years, she's treated Alex like her lapdog, collaring him around her side and using him for her benefit…" His words grew sharper in his mind. "She must've pushed him too far this time. That's why he's lashing out at us now!" He gritted his teeth, his thoughts spiraling.

"I have to call Rose. She's the only one who can fix this mess now. If anyone can pull him back to his senses, it's her."

…

Meanwhile, all the things that were happening in the Reid Industries clearly remained oblivious to Rose and she was blissfully unaware of the storm Alex was unleashing back at the Reid Industries on her family.

She was in her time, leisurely browsing through the lavish interiors of a high-end store in one of the city's most luxurious shopping malls. Around her, eager sales associates flitted about, their voices filled with practiced flattery for customer with fat pockets.

"Miss Rose, this dress looks stunning on you!" Flatter one of the female sale associates.

"And this one is absolutely perfect for your figure! You look so elegant in it!" Another koined in not wanting to leave a commission that she will get afterwards.

Rose smiled faintly, enjoying the attention and praises she get. She didn't need their words to know how good she looked, but it was nice to hear all the same.

"Fine, just wrap it all up," she said casually, waving her hand as if she were brushing off something trivial like buying a candy at a local shop. 

The sales associates exchanged excited glances, rushing to package the items she had chosen. Their energy was infectious as they gathered designer outfits, luxury accessories, and premium cosmetics, all to be paid for in one grand transaction.

Rose reached into her handbag and pulled out a sleek black card, the same one she had swiped from Alex's hands earlier. She held it out to the cashier with a smile on her face, her expression one of complete nonchalance.

"Charge it," she said simply. The cashier took the card with a deep bow, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized what she was holding.

"This card… It's a black card! I heard that there's no spending limit on these cards!" One of the sales associates whispered excitedly to a colleague as she processed the transaction.

Looking at the name embossed on the card, one of the sales associates couldn't resist making a comment. "Miss Rose, this must belong to your boyfriend, right? For him to let you use something like this, he must truly adore you from the heart!"

At those words, Rose's smile faltered slightly. Her brows knit together, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "Don't say something so nonsense like that again," she snapped lightly, her tone still polite but clearly dismissive.

"This card's owner is not my boyfriend," she continued, her voice regaining its calm. "We're just regular friends, nothing more, nothing less."

The associate nodded quickly, a professional smile plastered on her face. "Oh, right. Just friends," she said, though inwardly, she rolled her eyes.

"Not your boyfriend? Please. No one gives a black card to a mere 'friend.'" Laughed one of the previous sales associates.

But Rose believed her own narrative tha letting others thoughts in her mind for her… it doesn't matter what others think. 

In her mind, Alex's devotion was entirely his choice, something he did of his own free will. She told herself she never asked him for anything, never forced him into anything, and their relationship remained nothing more than 'ordinary friends.'

And nothing more than friends.

To her, his behavior was simply an indulgence, an expression of his affection. Nothing more. She stood in the mall, her posture graceful as she admired her reflection in a nearby mirror and glaring back at herself from the mirror, convinced that Alex's generosity and loyalty were unshakable.

Just then, her phone buzzed, breaking her train of thought. She glanced at the screen and saw her Aunt's name flashing across it.

Rose picked up the call, her tone light and carefree. "Hello Aunt? I'm shopping right now. Is something wrong?"

The response she received was far from what she expected to hear from the other side.

"Shopping?!" her Aunt nearly screamed into the phone, her voice sharp and filled with frustration. "You're out shopping while we're in a literal crisis here?"

Rose blinked, startled by the outburst. "What do you mean, literal crisis? What's going on?" Her Aunt didn't hold back. "Do you even know what's happening? Alex just held a meeting and fired every single member of the Winters family from the company!"

"EVERY LAST ONE DO YOU UNDERSTAND? EVERY LAST ONE." Came a shout that for a second Rose that she put the phone away for a second.

"What?" Rose's voice was filled with disbelief.

"And that's not all!" her Aunt continued, her tone growing more irritated and angry. "He's ordered a full audit of all our financial activities within the Reid Industries. He's digging into everything, EVERYTHING!"

Rose's expression froze, her heart skipping a beat. "That's impossible," she muttered, gripping her phone tighter. "Didn't you tell him about our relationship? About the connection between our families?"

(A/N: So, how was it? Did you like the reaction and if anyone had noticed I'm making chapters big like around 1.2-1.3k words. Dont forget to comment if you like the novel and send power stones for support and add it to library for more updates.)