Chapter 36: The Alliance

The alliance between Whitmore Industries and the Moretti Empire shocked New York more than their rumored romance.

Business channels called it impossible. Society pages called it scandalous. Richard's remaining allies called it dangerous. Scarlett called it necessary.

She signed the cooperation agreement in a private room at the Moretti Grand Hotel. Alexander signed after her, his name flowing in dark ink beneath hers.

Reporters waited outside, hungry for confirmation of something more personal.

Grace reviewed the final clauses while Luca checked security. Scarlett watched Alexander cap his pen.

'You realize people will say I made this deal because I am in love with you,' she said.

Alexander's eyes lifted. 'Are they wrong?'

Her breath caught.

He did not smile. He did not soften the question.

Scarlett looked down at the signed papers. She had faced boardrooms, doctors, betrayal, and attempted murder. Somehow, this frightened her most.

'No,' she said quietly. 'They are not wrong.'

Alexander went still.

The world outside continued—camera flashes, muffled voices, city traffic far below—but inside the room, everything narrowed to him.

'Scarlett,' he said, voice rough.

'Do not warn me again that you are dangerous.'

'I was going to say I love you.'

She forgot how to breathe.

Alexander crossed the room slowly and knelt before her wheelchair, not as a king lowering himself, but as a man choosing where he belonged.

'I love you,' he said. 'Not because you need protection. Not because of a promise. Because you walked into my dead world and made me want something beyond revenge.'

Tears burned Scarlett's eyes.

'I love you too,' she whispered.

He kissed her hands first, then her mouth.

For once, no one interrupted.

When they finally stepped before the press, Scarlett's cheeks were flushed and Alexander's expression was calm enough to start rumors by itself.

A reporter called, 'Mr. Moretti, is this only business?'

Alexander glanced at Scarlett.

She smiled.

He turned back to the cameras. 'Nothing about Scarlett Whitmore is only business.'

The headlines wrote themselves.