However, she didn't see him. Not that night, and not for the next three days, in fact.
She had made dinner early the same day she spoke with Zara. Julian never came down, so she assumed he was asleep. The next morning, the food was gone — and so was he.
At first, she didn't think much of it. But by evening, worry crept in. She knocked on his door. No answer. She waited, then finally entered — only to find the room empty.
Her first thought was disbelief. Then, she went to the garage and saw that the Bugatti was missing. For a fleeting moment, she felt relief — but when night fell and he still hadn't returned, it twisted into unease.
She considered calling him, until she realized something ridiculous — she didn't even have his phone number.
Smart, Alex. Real smart.
Forget the fact that she was his wife — how could she not have the number of someone she lived with? She thought about calling Elizabeth, but what would she even say?
Oh hi, Mother-in-law. Your son left the house and I can't reach him because I don't have his number.
She smirked. Yeah, that sounds perfectly sane.
By the fourth night, her patience had snapped. She finished her dinner — a sad plate of mac and cheese — and marched straight to his room.
She checked the wardrobe first. Packed. Clothes neatly arranged. She rummaged through the drawers — mostly work files and personal notes. Sitting at his desk, she flipped through a few journals until she found something that caught her eye: a sleek business card tucked neatly in a folder.
She picked it up, her eyes widening at the name printed on it.
Apex Technologies.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
No way.
Apex wasn't just a company — it was the company. One of the biggest tech empires in America. She had dreamed of working there someday. And now, she realized the man she'd married — the man she'd accused of arrogance — was the CEO and founder.
Her mouth fell open.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath, leaning back in the chair.
Zara was right. He probably was raised that way — not out of pride, but circumstance.
She felt stupid. For all she knew, Julian was more down-to-earth than she gave him credit for, and she'd mistaken it for control.
Great, Alex. You're the villain in your own story.
Still, regret wasn't her style. She opened another drawer and spotted a sticky note. Mischief lit her eyes.
"This," she whispered, holding up the note, "is my ticket."
Moments later, she was in her room, laptop open and fingers flying across the keyboard. When she was done, she laughed out loud — pure joy and mischief. She wanted to call Zara, but her line had been unreachable lately.
No matter. Doing this alone made it even better. She closed her laptop and stretched out on her bed, a grin tugging at her lips. Tomorrow was going to be fun.
---
The next morning, Alex woke up feeling… good. Excited, even.
She made herself breakfast, humming as she moved around the house like someone who'd just won a lottery. Then, she spent nearly an hour in the bathroom — a record, considering she usually took five minutes tops. But today, her appearance mattered. It was part of the plan.
She got dressed, ate lightly, and turned off all the lights — a habit she couldn't shake. Then, almost skipping, she headed for the door.
"Hi, Gina," she said cheerfully.
"Good morning, Alex. You sound excited," the AI replied.
Alex grinned. "Yeah, I am. Do I always have to ask you to open the gate?"
"No. You can use your fingerprint or the manual remote. I believe Julian showed you that?"
"No, he hasn't. But I'll ask him to."
"Alright. I don't have your fingerprint in the system. Please place your thumb and index finger on the pad."
A small tab appeared. Alex pressed her fingers onto it.
"Done?" she asked.
"Yes. You can now open the gate using either fingerprint."
She glanced at the tall metal gate, scanning for the sensor. When she finally spotted a small glowing pad near the pedestrian door, she pressed her thumb against it — and the gate clicked open.
Her eyes widened. "Wow."
"I know, right? He's that good," Gina said proudly. "Have a nice day, Alex."
Alex laughed softly. "Thanks, Gina. I will."
She slipped out through the gate and into the waiting taxi.
"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.
She gave him the address and settled back, sunglasses on, her lips curved in a secret smile.
Twenty minutes later, she stepped out of the taxi, tilting her head up at the towering glass building before her. The sign read Apex Technologies — bold, sleek, commanding.
She exhaled slowly. "Game on."
Inside, the receptionist smiled warmly. "Good morning, ma'am. How may I help you?"
Alex returned the smile with practiced charm and stated her purpose. A few moments later, she was directed to the eighth floor — the executive level.
In the elevator, she watched the numbers climb. Each floor revealed another piece of the empire Julian had built — modern design, quiet efficiency, success woven into every detail.
When she reached the waiting room, five other people were already seated. She chose a chair a little apart from them. Their curious glances didn't faze her.
She gave them her signature look — polite smile, perfect posture, and that unspoken don't mess with me energy. Her shades hid her eyes, making her unreadable.
Let them wonder.
---
Meanwhile, in his office, Julian leaned back in his chair, exhaustion clouding his usually composed features.
"Did you even sleep last night?" Lucas asked, raising a brow.
Julian rubbed his temples. "Something like that. Just tired."
"Then you should've taken the day off. Stayed with your wife, maybe?"
Julian shot him a glare. "Leave that out of this."
"I won't," Lucas said simply. "You've been crashing at my place for days."
Julian's expression darkened. "So you're tired of having me around?"
Lucas sighed. "That's not it. I'm just saying — maybe she's worried about you."
Julian scoffed. Worried? Not likely. She was probably thrilled to have the house to herself.
"She's fine," he said flatly.
"But you didn't even tell her where you were. What if she calls your mother?"
"She won't." He was certain of that. She wasn't worried — not about him. Probably having the time of her life without him breathing the same air.
Still, her words from that night haunted him. Controlling. Arrogant. He'd never been called that before. He knew she hadn't wanted the marriage, but hating him? That was new.
Lucas gave up. "Alright, boss. If you say she's fine, then she's fine."
A knock sounded. Julian's PA stepped in. "Sir, it's time."