ng summoned. Especi

to his pocket, holding his phone to his ear with the other. Below him, the city stretched towa

ing appeared orderly. Pre

er knew

or you since seven," his assis

fly, exhaling a quiet sigh. "A

forty minute

repeat y

ignored me th

t the corner of Alexander's mouth

ting tir

call, slipping the phone into his jack

remier commercial towers. From freight forwarding and warehousing to internat

And, above all, his proof that he could succ

he pristine office, and the surname that forced doors open-they rarely saw the relentless grit behind it. He had spent years forging supplier

very win. He had no intention of letting anyone frame

k. The name flashing on the screen

th

en and brought the phone

e are

offi

aren't

brass clock on his desk. "Bec

the line. "You have obligations

edge of his desk, Alexand

was

thi

e, cold and unyielding. "I expect y

e a me

cel

N

d. Few people spoke to Marcus Blaze in that tone. Fe

bsolute obedience. He expected compliance, not debate. Unfortunately

otten who you are," hi

exactly

r the family

for long; it always veered back to the same obsession: the legacy, the family, and

schedule clears," Al

could answer, Alex

r a long moment before setting i

ounded at the d

tablet balanced in one hand. "You

is

he international freight gr

ture, his business instinc

the matter

s and held out a hand for the digital folder Dani

s distribution network for a massive overseas shipment. While the potential volume was lucrative, their p

izing their projections. When they finally tried to pressure him into sign

t signi

usting his tie. "Mr. Blaze, surely w

mly. "The risk distribution doesn't work for my firm.

to finalize the

have brought a

tood, extending his hand with crisp professionalism. "Send

waited until the door latched shut before shaking h

to his chair. "I was

nto the elevator with their pro

eft with their p

"Sometimes I wonder

," Alexander replied, looking

gh, briefly cutting throug

s phone lit up w

scuss your future. Do

Alexander flipped the phone back over

is father owned. As if years of sweat equity meant

ely his own-a shield against the darker side of his family's empire. But deep

face; beneath them lay an underworld built on absolute loyalty, fear, and debts that couldn't be settled with ba

But wanting out didn't mean he

od in the doorway, the easy humor gone from

ather i

ly, his eyebrows pull

Heading up in the

h escaped Alexander's c

s. For all his independence, there were still moments when he f

Alexander was determined to make one thing clear: he had built his own empire, he had his own ru

en his