The CEO's Secret Obsession-Chapter 101: A Shadowy Figure

[Heinberg City — Late Evening]

The car rolled to a stop outside the temporary project headquarters with tires crunching over gravel.

The sky was ink–dark, the air cold and the only lights glowing were from the portable cabins set up around the construction site.

Lucas stepped out first and shivered dramatically.

"Perfect," he muttered. "Cold, creepy and smells like cement stress. Just how I love to spend my Friday night."

Alexander didn’t smile. His jaw was set and his eyes were sharp.

He wasn’t here for comfort. He was here for answers and he would get one before leaving.

He pushed open the main cabin door and the project managers inside scrambled to their feet as if the CEO himself was a walking audit.

"Mr. Reid—sir—we didn’t expect you this late," one of them stammered.

"I didn’t expect sabotage," Alexander replied calmly but with an undertone that made everyone straighten instantly.

Lucas leaned against the wall, arms crossed, letting Alexander take complete command.

"Bring the foreman, the structural head, safety officer and the night shift in-charge," Alexander ordered. "Also, I want access to all CCTV footage from the last three weeks. Everything."

The manager blinked. "Three weeks, sir? That’s a lot of—"

"Did I stutter?"

"No, sir."

People scattered, running for their lives.

Alexander removed his coat and rolled his sleeves, the tension in his shoulders sharp enough to cut glass.

Lucas watched him. "You okay?"

Alexander’s eyes didn’t move from the site map pinned on the wall.

"I don’t know but I am very mad."

Lucas nodded. "Good. Angry Alexander is productive Alexander. I am sure we will be able to solve it no time."

He then turned his attention on the site map. "What aree we looking at?"

Alexander finally glanced at him. "Something is wrong here, Lucas. This isn’t just a delay tactic. Someone staged photographs, altered steps, manipulated sequences and all of it too specifically."

Lucas sighed in response. "Seems like the person who did this knew exactly what the regulatory board looks for. But I don’t know—"

"What?" Alexander asked curious.

"Maybe I am wrong but with how strategerically all this has been staged, I don’t think Jack could pull this off by himself." He then shrugged his shoulder. "I don’t know, I could be wrong but all of this seems too much for his intelligence."

Alexander didn’t reply because he knew Lucas was right. In fact, he was more than right.

Just then a knock sounded and the senior structural head entered, pale and nervous.

Alexander gestured to the screen. "Play the footage."

The footage showed workers going about their tasks, nothing overtly suspicious.

"Fast forward."

Two hours blurred by.

"Stop."

A shadowy figure appeared near the steel frame setup. He was too far to identify but definitely rummaging near the beams and foundation bolts.

"Who is that?" Lucas asked, pointing at the blurry night footage.

The structural head panicked. "Sir—that’s— that’s not one of our—"

Alexander’s voice turned razor-sharp. "Zoom."

The quality was grainy, but the posture, the hurried movements and the careful glove-covered hands indicated that it wasn’t a worker.

It looked like someone who knew they were breaking in. Someone who knew exactly which structural elements to touch to trigger suspicion.

Lucas exhaled. "Okay yeah, this is bad."

Alexander forced himself to remain calm. "Check access logs. Who entered the site that night?"

The manager swallowed. "No one, sir. According to the system no one entered."

Lucas whispered, "Which means they tampered with the access system too."

Alexander nodded slowly, expression darkening.

Someone was covering their tracks too well, too clean and too prepared.

His voice dropped, dangerously calm. "Call every night supervisor from that week. I want them here. Now."

The manager gulped. "Right away, sir."

As they rushed to obey, Lucas leaned in. "So,, do you still think this is just Jack’s stupidity?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Alexander shook his head. "Jack wasn’t smart enough to plan all this. Someone helped him."

Lucas’ eyebrows rose. "Someone on the inside?"

"Maybe." Alexander’s jaw tightened. "Or someone with access to the inside."

His mind flicked to Jack’s sudden good behavior, the weird friendliness, the too-perfect smiles and how Olivia was always there whispering.

Lucas nudged his arm gently. "We will figure it out."

Alexander didn’t answer.

His eyes were still on the CCTV freeze-frame on the blurry figure which was a proof that the sabotage wasn’t an accident but an operation and a deliberate, calculated move.

And he would find the person responsible no matter what it took.

....

[Carter Mansion]

Evelyn was in her bed trying to read for the past hour but the words kept blurring.

It was almost midnight and Alexander hadn’t called back yet.

Her phone was on her chest, screen lighting up every few minutes as she checked the time.

Just then, it buzzed and her heart jumped.

It was Alexander calling.

She answered immediately. "Alexander?"

His voice came through low and warm but exhausted. "Hey, I am sorry. I know it’s late."

She sat up, pressing her back against the headboard. "Are you okay?"

"We just finished the meeting," he said quietly. "Lucas and I landed around nine. I spoke to the foremen, project heads and reviewed some initial reports and the CCTV footages."

"How bad is it?" she asked softly.

Alexander exhaled and she could almost feel the weight of the day through the line.

"It’s complicated. The violations weren’t accidents, someone did this intentionally."

He didn’t say Jack’s name but he didn’t have to.

Evelyn’s chest tightened. "I am sorry you are dealing with all this."

There was another small silence, then he murmured, "I hate leaving without meeting you properly."

"You don’t owe me explanations," Evelyn whispered back, though her voice trembled a little.

"Yes," he said, firm and gentle, "I do. You are the first person I should talk to. I want you to know everything."

Her heart fluttered stupidly at that.

But before she could say something, he added, "You should rest, Evelyn."

"You should too," she answered. "I know you are stressed but try to catch some sleep, okay?"

"I will," he promised. "Just stay on the line for a minute."

She lay back down, relaxing into the pillow, their quiet breaths filling the silence.

After a moment, Alexander spoke again and it was so gently she nearly melted.

"I miss you."

....