His Devious Rule

The double door of the study room flung open without waiting for a response. Mark frowned at the tall and burly man whose eyes glinted mysteriously at his sight inside the study room. 

The man, named Alaric De Michèle, was amazed that Alvin wasn\'t panicked by the trail behind Anya or that his secret antique warehouse wasn\'t secret anymore. 

Instead, Alvin patiently taught a little human without a hint of fear or anxiety by his appearance.

Alaric stepped inside while his hawk eyes merely brushed around the vast study room and met the cognac eyes zeroed on him. A lopsided smirk appeared on his face realizing Alvin Matthews graces his every rumor.

Mysterious. Daring… Suave.

Zane solved the mathematics sum and looked at the stranger who entered inside. The man was tall like his father with broad shoulders but his rugged masculine body looked intimidating and powerful. 

Alvin signaled at Max to get inside as he instructed the little man, putting him down from his lap, "Take a break. Play with Max." His voice was unbelievably calm but unyielding.

Zane would have retorted if he didn\'t know Alvin was busy. So he agreed without a complaint, "Call me when you are free." He still has to learn more so that he doesn\'t exhaust his mother in the evening.

Alvin merely hummed and saw him leave the study with Max who was annoyed by the herculean man entering the room and taking a seat without waiting for.

Whereas Alvin was calm, turning to the man who adorned the chair like a king. He was well aware there would be a handful of people who would be daunting, formidable, and fearless. Alaric De Michèle had every reason to behave audaciously.

Blue-blooded mother. Businessman father. Self Made billionaire, Has large influential connections all over Narnia. Give two shits to everything else.

No, Alvin didn\'t fear the man. Rather Alaric should fear him, not because of his business or Matthews but his wife. 

Alvin didn\'t need any digging to grab the man\'s nerve, "Mr. Mitchell, why do I owe this honor?" The last name that Alaric wouldn\'t prefer to be called.

The hazel eyes darkened but Alaric wasn\'t expecting a warm welcome anyway. And he knew the consequences of threatening Alvin Matthews.

However, "Hello to you too, Mr. Matthews." Alaric\'s deceptive deep voice had a hint of sarcasm.

They were past greetings the moment Alaric dropped Anya\'s image. He mocked the man because clearly, Alaric didn\'t seem to be there to threaten him or waste time but to work with him, which required immediate attention.

"Look at you with your oh-so-impressive greeting etiquettes." Alvin snickered, "So noble!"

Alaric gritted his teeth. While people admired him and feared him for his background, the man in front of him was taunting him for the same.

He wasn\'t ready to drop his pride, "So impressive that I could burst your bubble of bliss with the grand revelation of your wedding date." He meant the announcement of Zane borning out of wedlock. With the current news against Alvin and Skylark, the ordinary news will become a dirty secret out of the closet.

Alvin clenched his teeth and narrowed his dark eyes on the man. His words meant Alaric was digging up about them. Why?

The men stared at each other for a moment before a mobile buzzed on the desk and took Alvin\'s attention. His thoughts ran wild for a second before he answered the call, ignoring the impatient man holding his patience.

[Alvin, did you watch the news?] Her anxious voice floated to his ears.

He had asked her not to worry about Casper\'s drama or business problem but his wife couldn\'t live at ease. "Little Donut," He paused when he noticed Alaric\'s brow twitching at his words.

He didn\'t care what he thought and focused on reminding his wife, "Haven\'t I told you?"

[Huh?] 

"Never get edgy if you hear a threat, read an article, or watch the news against me or business…" It was also a warning for Alaric because Zane\'s birth might be out of wedlock but the three of them weren\'t ashamed to accept it.

Anya completed the rest of the words, [Even if you slip somewhere, you will handle it. I got it.]

Before he could react, her voice continued, [Your tone is making me uneasy.] Then she whispered as if somebody was overhearing her, [Are you going to murder Casper Matthews? Or are you sitting at gunpoint?]

Alvin could almost imagine her expression asking those questions. He faintly chuckled at his imagination, "I\'m in a meeting, Little Donut."

[Call me if anything.]

No. he wasn\'t going to trouble her. Anyway, he hummed and ended the call. The mirth on his gorgeous face vanished the next second.

  His expression was that of a grim reaper. He wanted to take the life out of the man who was sitting in front of him and threatened him in his mansion after digging about them.

After hearing Alvin, Alaric could guess Alvin wasn\'t scared of their secret being out but him knowing such sensitive information. "President Matthews, information is power." He firmly believes that.

If he didn\'t have information about Alvin or his loved ones, Alvin wouldn\'t have bothered to allow him inside his mansion, much less talk.

If Alvin didn\'t know Alaric wasn\'t his enemy, he would have choked him to death right there. If Alaric had dropped that in a message, he would have been digging every dirt of him to bury him beneath it.

Alvin asked through his teeth, unwilling to spend his precious minute with the man, "Did you really believe your charming little attitude would actually get you some help?" 

Both ignored the knocks on the door. Rob walked in with an iPad in his hands.

Alaric could feel Alvin was on the verge of calling his security to throw him out. However, he hissed, "Help!?" He shook his head, crossing his legs, "I only do business." His pride wouldn\'t reveal the truth behind his words. He buried his annoyance beneath his dry voice and aloof face.

Alvin lost it right there. It was clear as the blue sky on a sunny day that Alaric needed his assistance because Alaric was no help to him. The words on Alvin\'s tongue strenuously paused when Rob placed the Ipad in front of him.

Since Rob had simplified by highlighting a few words, Alvin caught a name on the file and uttered unhurriedly with a hint of provocation, "Atara Sullivan." 

A devious smile graced his stunning face when Alaric\'s expression turned ugly at the mention of the lady. Alvin added to pour the oil over the fire, "Should I say… Mrs.Hughes."

Alaric knew the consequences of being there, yet he failed to stop himself from uttering a word for word, burying his building annoyance, "She Is A Client."

Whereas Alvin flashed a sly smile and added, "Oh." He wasn\'t a fool to believe Alaric\'s words when Alaric went into defense mode to protect the lady.

Alaric could only grit his teeth. He couldn\'t believe Alvin was already so established in the country in such a short time that; he was so quick to dig out his new and only weakness.