Chapter 594: Solidify Their Partnership
The next day, following several days of continuous drops in Southwell Group’s stock value, financial news delivered another bombshell: Benjamin, CEO of Southwell Group and Alpha of Midnight Pack, had resigned. A wave of panic quickly spread among investors, who scrambled to sell their shares, trying to minimize their losses as the company teetered on the edge of collapse.
In the midst of the turmoil, Tina made a formal announcement—the Ortegas were moving ahead with a full takeover of Southwell Group. The Ortegas’ stock prices soared to new heights. It was clear that the city buzzed with the knowledge that it was only a matter of time before the Ortegas emerged victorious.
To maintain this momentum, Tina and Daniel decided to meet with Steven once more to solidify their partnership. However, upon reaching the hotel, they were told that Steven had already left. Determined to find him, they spent a large sum of money to bribe one of Steven’s bodyguards, learning his whereabouts and quickly setting out to follow him.
What they didn’t realize was that Steven wasn’t on his way to meet just anyone—he was heading to confront Hayley.
Hayley’s POV:
I was relaxing at the Shining Club when Steven tracked me down. “I’ve been thinking, and I’m certain you know where X is,” he said urgently. “I can’t stand it anymore. You have to tell me the truth—where is X?! Or at least tell me, what’s your connection with X?” “Fine! I’ll ask just one last thing—tell me, is X a man or a woman? That’s easy enough, right?”
Seeing his desperate expression, I simply crossed my arms and sat back on the couch, choosing not to respond. Benjamin sat across from me, observing as I grew more annoyed with Steven’s relentless questions. He spoke up, addressing Steven, “Mr. Lowe, if the investors knew that their best one had such an unstable side, I wonder if they’d still trust you with their money.”
Steven shot him an irritated glare. “You’ve been ousted from your position at Southwell Group, and you still have the audacity to criticize me? You think I’ve been handling other people’s money all these years without setting aside something for myself? That’d be pretty foolish, wouldn’t you say?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m doing just fine.”
Steven sneered. “Oh, please. Don’t you want to know what X looks like? Maybe, besides me, X is the only one who can save Southwell Group right now.”
At this, I couldn’t help but pay closer attention. Benjamin merely smiled, not bothering to counter Steven’s boast. He let Steven believe whatever he wanted. What Steven didn’t know was that everything had already been planned out by Benjamin. Even someone like Steven was just a pawn in Benjamin’s carefully laid game.
I looked at my destined mate, Benjamin, with admiration. He truly deserved the title of Alpha, his strength and intelligence far surpassing anything Steven could ever dream of. As I pondered how many secrets Benjamin might be keeping, my phone suddenly buzzed. I opened the message, my heart racing.
Steven’s POV:
I watched Hayley closely as she read her phone. My suspicion about her growing, I quietly moved behind the couch, trying to see what she was looking at. When I saw the symbols on her screen, my heart skipped a beat. They were the same unique codes I used to contact X. I nearly choked on my drink in shock.
The message read, “Someone is investigating you. Do you want to take the job?” I coughed awkwardly. Ever since meeting Hayley, I had placed a large order with the SI organization, not just to track down X’s whereabouts, but also to gather information about Hayley herself. Now, I was almost certain—the message had to be from a member of SI.
A bold thought began to take shape in my mind—Hayley might actually be a member of SI herself! Sensing my gaze, Hayley slowly looked up and met my eyes. With an eerie calm, she asked, “You’re investigating me?”