"She is Steele's daughter." Ethan's words hung in the air, hitting Alexander like a cruel punch in his gut.
For a good one minute, he couldn't respond, it felt like his tongue was tired. "Say that again," he ordered, camly.
"That girl. Anna Steele. She's George Steele's daughter."
Alexander slowly turned around, his blue eyes meeting Ethan's. "That white-haired thing I pulled out of the water is 'his' daughter?"
"Yes," Ethan confirmed. "I double checked the hospital records. There's no mistake."
Alexander chuckled humorlessly. This must be some kind of an expensive joke. It had to be. Of all people in the world, it has to be her? Why?
"I should have left her," he said in an icy tone. Yes, he should. How could he go through so much trouble to rescue the daughter of a man he spent all his life planning to destroy, the bastard who killed his mother and rendered his life a living nightmare… "I would have let her drown."
Ethan's brows furrowed, but he didn't speak. He knew better than to interrupt Alexander when he was like this.
"I spent ten years, ten whole years rebuilding everything that man took from me," he paused. "And now, his daughter is under my roof, breathing my air, under my care."
He turned his back to Ethan, clenching his jaw to suppress the anger and frustration. "Do you know what that means? I saved something I should have destroyed along with her kind, something that George probably values."
Ethan tilted his head slightly. "Do you think he cares about her?"
"It doesn't matter if he cared or not. She's a Steele. Her father's blood runs in her vein," Alexander said, and the room went quiet for a moment.
"What do you plan to do with her?" Ethan asked, breaking the awkward silence.
He didn't respond immediately and just walked back to the desk and sat down. What would he probably do with her? He had no use of her.
"I will send her back."
"But you won't," Ethan said.
Alexander's gaze flicked up to him. "Why not?"
"Because you know she's worth more to you here."
"She's a liability," he said.
"She's a leverage," Ethan corrected. "If you play this card right, she could be the perfect tool to bring Steele down. You have spent ten years planning his destruction. This could be the final piece of the puzzle. Who knows if this was destiny."
Alexander's gaze narrowed as he considered Ethan's words. He hated the idea of keeping her here. He hated the thought of her existence being tied to his in any way. But the longer he thought about it, the more he realized Ethan was right.
She wasn't just a liability, she was an opportunity too.
"Fine," he finally said. "She stays. But she stays on 'my' terms."
"And what are those terms?"
Alexander straightened, a dark glint flashing through his eyes. "She will sign a contract. Six months, that's all I need of her. And if she refuses…"
Ethan gave a small nod, already knowing what the implications his boss meant. "Understood."
"Good. Now get the two papers ready. One for George's real estate license and the other for his precious daughter."
"Alright boss," Ethan bowed slightly before leaving the room.
Now that he was alone, his thoughts circled back to what the doctor said earlier about her heart condition. He almost felt pity for her and even thought of helping the stranger. If only he knew a little earlier who the white haired dove was...
He grabbed the bottle of wine on the table and poured some in the glass, before taking it to his lips. He was disappointed. Disappointed at himself for thinking he had George Steele's whole world in the tip of his finger, only to be thrown into another discovery of a second daughter that probably belonged to him. Why didn't he know she existed all this while? Why did George hide her from the public? And how did she end up in the river three nights ago? All these thoughts kept going back and forth in his head, but he didn't care to find answers to them, because none of them mattered. What mattered now was that the white haired thing would serve a purpose. She would help him finish what he started.
He didn't regret saving her anymore. Not entirely though. Her father had done worse to him. And now, fate or rather cruel twist of it had handed him something in return. His daughter.
****
I tried to sit up after waking up the next day, and this time, I did without feeling so much pain. The doctor must have put some pain killer inside the IVF. Though it didn't make sense, but it was the only explanation to why I felt quite better compared to yesterday.
"You're finally awake, Miss?" a voice suddenly came inside the room, startling me. I turned to the direction and found a very handsome young man about 26 leaning against the door frame. He was tall. His blonde hair was neatly combed and his forest green eyes were sharp as he stared at me in a way that made me shift uncomfortably. How could I not hear him come in?
"Ye…" my voice cracked and my throat burned. I could barely speak, so I just nodded. He pushed himself away from the door and started approaching, then dropped something on the bed before me.
"Here are your things," he said, calmly. My things? I looked down at what he dropped and my eyes widened slightly. It was my backpack. I quickly reached for it and opened the zipper. Everything was still intact, including my phone
"Complete?" He asked, and I nodded in excitement.
"Good, I will let him know you're awake." Him? Who was him? Before I could say anything, he turned around and started walking away.
"W–Wait…" I forced myself to say. "Thank… you for… saving me…"
He paused at the door and looked over his shoulder to me. "I didn't save you, my boss did. He will be here soon," with that, he was gone.
My gaze remained on the door, wondering who this boss of his was. Goodness, I didn't even get the chance to know his name. I sighed in disappointment and lay back on the bed, waiting for the 'boss' to come.