Chapter 92 – Zander POV
Ha.
Fucking assholes.
I press my fingers into my temples, breathing in through my nose as I read the latest report.
Another financial discrepancy. Another executive embezzling funds under my nose.
The worst part? They thought I wouldn't notice.
I've been fighting off reporters, internal audits, and a board full of uptight fossils who care more about image than integrity—and I'm one bad meeting away from snapping.
Luckily, someone higher up sent me a discreet warning. Said if I handle it internally, it'll save me the embarrassment of yet another Vale scandal making headlines. God forbid the family name appears twice in a year alongside the word corruption.
I'm already scheduling meetings, silencing PR, and arranging a "vacation" to our overseas branch where, coincidentally, the theft occurred. A PR tour of our charity work should distract everyone.
I lean back in my chair, jaw tight.
And then the door opens.
And my entire foul mood evaporates.
Ivan walks in like he owns the place—which, honestly, at this point he kind of does. His makeup is still fresh from the shoot, dewy and radiant. His hair styled just right. He's in a sheer designer shirt tucked into high-waisted slacks, with the kind of heels that make his legs look like sin made flesh.
He looks like a fucking prince.
My prince.
He doesn't say anything, just walks over to me, slides right onto my lap like he belongs there—and yeah, he does—and wraps his arms around my neck.
I don't hesitate.
My hands find his waist automatically.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, my beautiful Prince?" I ask, kissing the side of his jaw, right where his pulse is strongest.
"Can an omega not visit his alpha when he misses him?" he purrs, innocent and sly.
I pause. That tone. That phrasing.
He definitely wants something.
He only calls me "hisalpha" when he wants something—and the worst part is, it works every single time.
I narrow my eyes, trying not to smile.
"I'm not falling for it," I say.
He leans in closer, brushing his lips over my cheek, his fingers threading into my hair.
"I haven't asked for anything yet."
"You will."
"Mmm." He hums and nuzzles into my neck like a smug little cat. "I just missed you."
"Liar," I mutter.
He giggles, and I feel it vibrate down my spine. He knows what he's doing.
"I'm serious," he says, voice lower now.
"You've been busy."
He says slyly, running a finger from my jawline, down my neck, pausing on my Adam's apple. It's unfair how well he knows what that does to me.
"I'm sorry, I'll make sure to wrap this up quickly." I say, already starting to lose my edge.
"Yeah, yeah, my alpha is this big strong important man, I have to be understanding," he sighs, in that fake whiny voice that's got me wrapped around his finger.
"So," I say, narrowing my eyes at him. "What do you want?"
He pulls a face, like I've just insulted him.
"I can't just show up for affection?"
"No."
He gasps.
"How dare you accuse me of being manipulative—I'm offended!"
Then a beat later, with a cheeky grin: "Okay, fine, I want something."
"I knew it."
"Fine." He purrs. That voice—God. My body responds before my brain even registers it. He sees it too, the way I shift. He smirks.
"I know how I can convince you."
He slides off me and drops to his knees between my legs.
My breath catches.
"You see, I've been practicing with Big Z," he says, unbuckling my belt. I should stop him. I don't.
"I think I can graduate from fake Big Z… to real Big Z."
He unzips me like he's unwrapping a present, his expression all smug, dangerous confidence. The bastard knows exactly what he's doing.
Honestly, he didn't have to go through all this trouble. If he fluttered his lashes at me for another two seconds I would've given him whatever he wanted.
He looks up at me, lashes fluttering.
"Let me show you what I've learned."
But I'm not stopping him.
Not at all.
He teases me with his tongue, soft and experimental at first, like he's testing his limits. It takes everything in me not to buck into the touch.
"Ivan," I groan, head falling back for a second.
He pulls back just a little. "Yes, my alpha?"
That voice.
I look down at him, eyes sharp. "If you keep teasing me, I'm not going to be gentle."
He smirks. "Maybe I don't want gentle."
That's it.