Alexander knew something was seriously wrong when his head of security called him at 6:47 AM on a Tuesday morning, three days after the disastrous board meeting.
"Mr. Steele, we have a problem," Marcus Rivera's voice was grim through the phone. "Someone leaked the Morrison contract details to the press. Financial Times is running a story in two hours claiming Morrison Tech is pulling out due to 'concerns about leadership stability.'"
Alexander sat up in bed, careful not to wake Sophia who was still sleeping peacefully beside him. "That's impossible. Morrison confirmed the renewal yesterday."
"Sir, you need to see the article. They're quoting anonymous sources claiming the company is 'reassessing partnerships with Steele Industries due to recent personal distractions affecting executive decision-making.' They have specifics that could only have come from internal documents."
The implications hit Alexander like a physical blow. Someone with access to confidential client information was actively sabotaging his company. Someone who wanted to see him fail badly enough to risk corporate espionage charges.
"Send me everything," Alexander said quietly, already moving toward his home office. "And get me a meeting with Morrison in person. Today."
By 7:30 AM, Alexander was dressed and reviewing the damaging article on his tablet while Sophia made coffee in the kitchen. The story was devastating in its precision, it quoted specific concerns about "romantic distractions" and "questionable judgment in personal relationships" that allegedly came from Morrison's executive team.
"You look like someone died," Sophia said softly, setting a mug of coffee beside his elbow.
"Someone's trying to kill my company," Alexander replied grimly, showing her the tablet. "Look at this."
Sophia read in silence, her face growing pale as she absorbed the implications. "Alexander, this is... they're using our relationship as a weapon."
"They're using leaked confidential information as a weapon," Alexander corrected, his voice deadly quiet. "Our relationship is just an excuse."
His phone rang- James Morrison's direct line.
"Alexander," Morrison's voice was tight with barely controlled anger, "what the hell is this article? My phone's been ringing off the hook with reporters asking about leadership concerns I never expressed."
Relief flooded through Alexander. "James, thank God. I was afraid…"
"That I'd actually said these things? Christ, Alexander, we've worked together for eight years. You think I'd air concerns through gossip columnists instead of calling you directly?" Morrison sounded genuinely offended. "Someone's playing games with both of us."
"Any idea who might have access to our contract negotiations?"
"That's what worries me," Morrison said slowly. "The quotes in this article reference discussions from our internal board meetings. Meetings that were supposed to be completely confidential. Someone either hacked our systems or has a source inside my company."
Alexander's blood ran cold. If Morrison Tech had been compromised, the implications were staggering. "James, I think we need to meet in person. Today."
"Already on my way to the airport. I'll be in your office by noon."
After hanging up, Alexander found Sophia staring at him with worry etched across her beautiful features.
"This is about me, isn't it?" she said quietly. "Someone's using our engagement to attack your business."
"Someone's using everything they can find to attack my business," Alexander corrected, pulling her into his arms. "The fact that they're hiding behind concerns about our relationship just makes them cowards."
Before Sophia could respond, Alexander's phone buzzed with an urgent text from his CFO: "Emergency. Three more clients called asking for meetings about 'recent developments.' Stock down 6% in pre-market trading. Need you here NOW."
Alexander kissed Sophia's forehead, breathing in her familiar scent like a man drowning. "I have to go deal with this."
"I know," she said, even as her arms tightened around him. "Just... be careful. Someone's playing dirty, and I don't want you to get hurt protecting me."
"I'm not protecting you," Alexander said fiercely. "I'm protecting us. All of us. And I'll be damned if I let some coward with a grudge destroy what we've built."
By the time Alexander reached his office, the situation had deteriorated further. His assistant thrust a stack of printed emails at him the moment he walked through the door.
"Hartwell Industries is requesting a delay on the acquisition pending 'evaluation of current corporate stability,'" she reported breathlessly. "The Singapore deal is on hold. And sir... Victoria Crane called. She wants an emergency board meeting."
Alexander scanned the emails, his jaw clenching tighter with each calculated blow. This wasn't random market anxiety, it was a coordinated attack designed to isolate and weaken his position.
"Get me a complete list of everyone who had access to the Morrison contract details," he ordered. "Cross-reference it with anyone who's had contact with Victoria Crane or Richard Blackwood in the past month."
"Sir?"
"Someone on the inside is feeding information to the media," Alexander explained grimly. "And I'm going to find out who."
The morning brought a parade of damage control calls. Alexander spent two hours on the phone with nervous clients, reassuring them that Steele Industries remained as stable and profitable as ever. Most seemed satisfied with his explanations, but the fact that he had to make the calls at all was deeply troubling.
James Morrison arrived at noon looking as grim as Alexander felt. A tall, lean man in his fifties with prematurely gray hair, Morrison had built his tech company from the ground up and understood better than most how quickly corporate fortunes could change.
"This is bad, Alexander," he said without preamble as they settled in Alexander's private conference room. "Whoever leaked our internal discussions knows things they shouldn't know. Details about our board's questions, specific concerns that were raised in closed sessions."
"You think you have a spy?"
Morrison's laugh was bitter. "I think we both do. Because the leak didn't just come from my end, it came from yours too. The article quotes 'sources close to Steele Industries' discussing your 'romantic entanglements' and their potential impact on business relationships."
Alexander felt ice form in his veins. Someone inside his own company was actively working to destroy him. Someone with access to confidential client information and board discussions.
"Any idea who might have that level of access?"
"That's what scares me," Morrison admitted. "We're talking about someone with insider knowledge of both companies. Someone who understands exactly which pressure points to hit for maximum damage."
Before Alexander could respond, his assistant's voice came through the intercom. "Mr. Steele, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's been another development."
"What now?"
"Wall Street Journal just published a follow-up piece. The headline is 'Steele Industries Stock Tumbles Amid Leadership Questions.'"
Alexander closed his eyes, feeling the walls closing in. "Send me the link."
The new article was even more damaging than the first. It cited "multiple sources" claiming that Alexander had been "distracted and unfocused" since his engagement, that major clients were "reconsidering their relationships" with Steele Industries, and that some board members were "questioning whether current leadership is capable of maintaining the company's growth trajectory."
Worse, it included a photo of Alexander and Sophia leaving her grandmother's nursing home, with a caption that read: "Steele with fiancée Sophia Martinez, whose background has raised concerns among some corporate partners."
"They're making this personal," Morrison said quietly, reading over Alexander's shoulder. "This isn't just about business anymore, someone wants to destroy your reputation completely."
Alexander's phone rang. Victoria Crane's number.
"Alexander," her voice was syrupy sweet with false concern, "I assume you've seen the morning's news? This is exactly what the board was worried about."
"What do you want, Victoria?"
"What I want is what's best for the company. Which is why I'm calling an emergency board meeting for this afternoon. We need to discuss immediate steps to restore market confidence."
"Such as?"
"Such as a temporary leave of absence while you deal with these... personal distractions. Richard Blackwood has graciously offered to step in as interim CEO while you focus on your family situation."
Alexander's grip tightened on the phone. There it was- the real attack. They weren't just trying to damage his reputation; they were trying to stage a coup.
"Over my dead body," he said softly.
"Alexander, be reasonable. The stock is down, clients are nervous, the media is having a field day. A brief leave of absence would give everyone time to let things settle down."
"A brief leave of absence would give Richard Blackwood time to consolidate power and push through whatever agenda he's been planning," Alexander countered. "I'm not that naive, Victoria."
"Think about what's best for everyone, Alexander. Including your fiancée. Do you really want to drag her through more of this? Do you want Emma and Ethan to see their father's name dragged through the mud every day?"
The manipulation was masterful, using his love for his family as a weapon against him. But Alexander had learned to recognize such tactics, and more importantly, he'd learned not to be swayed by them.
"The board meeting is at 3 PM," Victoria continued when he didn't respond. "I hope you'll consider what's truly in everyone's best interests."
After she hung up, Alexander sat in silence for a long moment, processing the full scope of what he was facing. This wasn't just corporate pressure, it was a coordinated campaign to remove him from power using his relationship with Sophia as the primary weapon.
"You're being set up," Morrison said quietly. "This whole thing feels orchestrated."
Alexander nodded slowly. "The question is by whom. Victoria and Richard are obvious suspects, but they'd need inside information from both our companies to pull this off."
"What about your mother? She's been vocal about disapproving of your engagement."
Alexander considered it. Victoria Steele certainly had the connections and ruthlessness to orchestrate something like this. But would she really risk destroying her son's company to break up his relationship?
Looking at the evidence mounting against him, Alexander realized the answer might be yes.
His phone buzzed with a text from Sophia: "Saw the news. Coming to your office now. We face this together."
Alexander typed back quickly: "No. Stay home with the twins. Don't give them more photo opportunities."
"Alexander Steele, if you think I'm hiding while someone attacks you through me, you don't know me at all. I'll be there in 20 minutes."
Despite everything, Alexander found himself smiling. Even in the middle of a corporate war, Sophia's fierce loyalty could still catch him off guard.
Morrison noticed his expression and raised an eyebrow. "Good news?"
"The best," Alexander replied, pocketing his phone. "My backup is arriving."
"Your fiancée?"
"My partner," Alexander corrected. "And whoever's doing this is about to learn what it means to attack both of us at once."
As he prepared for the emergency board meeting that would likely determine his fate, Alexander felt something he hadn't experienced in years: the thrill of a fight worth winning. They wanted to use his love for Sophia as a weakness?
They were about to discover it was his greatest strength.