His Devious Rule

He hesitantly entered the meeting filled with the board members. They were supposed to elect the CEO of the company. Many high-level employees, managing directors of the branches, and some directors were eligible candidates for the position.

His eyes widened when his gaze fell on Linus Collins in the hall instead of Alvin. He sauntered towards his seat trying to grasp onto the situation.

The meeting began with a briefing about the voting and the candidates. Slowly, Casper discerned Alvin\'s move and turned to Linus in disbelief. 

Two weeks ago, Alvin brought Linus to the shareholders\' meeting. Linus was Alvin\'s plan and Alvin hadn\'t changed the plan at all. 

Alvin distracted him by selling the Matthews shares to the foreign investor. Casper failed to see through the plan and gloriously fell for the scheme.

Now that everyone learned from the news that he willed all the shares to Alvin\'s name, they will lean for the candidate who was in favor of Alvin. And Casper was sure Linus or Alvin\'s men had already met most of the board members for the votes.

At the end of the hour, everyone pressed a number on the small controller, and the live voting count was displayed on the screen. Visibly, Linus\'s votes soured high without any competition.

Casper sat there frozen when Linus was announced as the new and the immediate CEO so that he could take charge straight away and calm the chaos. 

After a small thank you speech, Linus signed the agreement and received the bouquet from Casper who looked like a robot that couldn\'t grace any expression on its face.

While shaking Casper\'s hand for the press pictures, Linus pitied the man, "Chairman Matthews, you and your wife shouldn\'t have interfered in Bro and sister-in-law\'s life." But it was too late.

Like a butterfly effect, their actions brought many lives into different paths, including Linus\'s life.

Linus walked down the stage and accepted the wishes of the crowd. He never thought he could ever become a CEO of a conglomerate without any experience. 

He knew how much other eligible candidates of the company hated him but he was doing it for Alvin and hoping to make his position positively helpful for his NGO.

Walking out of the hall with a group of secretaries rambling on, he silently gasped when a slender frame dashed to his arms. He didn\'t hear the congratulations. Instead, "I\'m scared." Her low voice shook in uncertainty.

Linus rubbed her back. He wouldn\'t say he liked his new job or was scared of it. He wasn\'t sure where his decision might take him. However, his fear was letting down his family, Anya, and the woman in his arms.

He pulled Krystle away from his arms and faced her. His Hotheaded, loud, daring, and confident lady looked afraid of what awaited them in the future. 

His life was going to turn gray and dull but he wanted her life to be bright and colorful, "Krystie, don\'t push yourself with the NGO. You liked working there because I was there."

He wasn\'t a fool to assume she could enjoy working there in his absence. "Let me know without any hesitation if you don\'t want to manage the NGO." 

He wasn\'t going to put the weight of his dream or his passion on her. She had her own life to live and he respected that. He added to erase her worry, "I have a person in mind for the position."

Krystle opened her lips to say she could do it. But Earl and Anya were anxious about her and the new responsibility affecting their relationship. So she didn\'t want to be overconfident. She nodded vigorously as she responded, "Give me some time." She honestly wished to take care of the NGO... For him.

Linus shifted one of his worries after hearing her. He took her to his office and he gave her a heads up that he will become dead busy for some months until he gets a hold over the company.

––––

Days rolled out in a blur for everyone. Linus was barely managing to sleep four hours a day. Krystle was busy with her new role but didn\'t miss dropping him some visits.

Alvin\'s work increased drastically as he was assisting Linus. He was going to bed when Anya would be asleep and she would be out of bed by the time he was waking up.

Zane watched his father from afar most of the time and spent time with Anya or his grandparents after school apart from studying.

Anya often dropped by Alvin\'s office in Skylark and study room in the Oasis mansion but seeing him busy with one or the other person in the room, they barely got time to speak. 

She missed him despite seeing him every day, anyway, she was more than accommodating and took care of the rest.

Meantime, she focused on preparing for her new role aka a disguise as a guest lecturer by reading many technical books and learning public speaking skills.

Jason was annoyed for a few days for inviting Chief Justice to his home. He imagined strangling Anya a few times. He wanted his previous Officer Owen back. 

Stern. Boring. Aloof.

Although Anya would have preferred to invite the old man to her place, the Chief Justice had restrictions due to his profile. Jason\'s place had no issue.

Paxton and the team Ace members took Anya\'s promotions and the confidential file incident much more lightly than Anya expected. Instead, they were giving ideas for Jason to use Alvin\'s connections in their favor for their missions. Well, it was against the rules. So they quickly dropped such views.

–––––

It was the weekend, Anya\'s rest day from a gym workout so she was teasing her husband on the bed. Rubbing her face to the warmth of her husband, she nibbled down his jawline, hearing his pleased groan.

"How busy are you today?" Anya asked, gently massaging his knotted temples. 

Without opening his eyes, he suddenly pinned her on the bed underneath him and buried his face in her neck. 

Sensing her delicious shudder to his mouth on her slender neck, he realized how much he was missing her, her body reacting to his touch, her fingers raking through his hair, her sweet sighs, and her playful antics.

He gently peppered her skin as he spoke, "Let me know the time of your first seminar. I will be there." How busy his schedule may get, he didn\'t want to miss any of her events.

Her first seminar was at Imperial University on Monday at one. Anya was happy just knowing he hadn\'t forgotten her seminar so she didn\'t want to trouble him. She tugged him to face her. "It\'s not necessary, Alvin. Complete your work soon and grab some rest instead." 

She caressed her thumb over his cheekbone. She looks ill if she doesn\'t sleep or eat well,  whereas her husband still looks devilishly charming.

She added in case he hadn\'t noticed, "Although Zane doesn\'t say it, he misses bantering with you. You can hang out with our baby." Even if Zane understands Alvin\'s schedule, Anya wanted Alvin to make some time for Zane.

Alvin opened his eyes to her beautiful smile and faint dimples on her cheeks. Anyway, he narrowed his eyes on her. He could get details of the seminar from Rob but she was worrying too much about him and his work. There was a time he had worked nonstop for months without proper sleep and food. This was nothing.

As for Zane, "I have made a plan with Little Chipmunk and a surprise for you." 

Anya didn\'t know that. Her eyes brightened hearing, "Surprise?"

Alvin ignored her curiosity and remarked, "Let me indulge my dumb wife and her stunning husband for some time."

Anya: "..."

She was dumb and he was stunning? She will agree with his part but her?

Before the rest of his words could sink in, Anya squeaked when he tugged her top in on a swift move. Nevertheless, Anya and Alvin\'s mobile went out, ringing loudly on the bedside table.

Alvin was about to toss his mobile to the other end of the room. In other words, breaking his mobile into pieces, Anya\'s voice floated to his ear, "Hello…"

Alvin: "..."

Anya\'s expression hardened hearing the other side, "Got it. I will be there soon. Thank you." her signature apathetic voice sounded.

Alvin made some time, but his wife was busy. Uninterestedly, he answered the call from Rob. [President Matthews, our men have brought that boy...] He tossed the mobile to Anya who was giving him an apologetic sheepish smile. 

Anya answered the call, hearing the faint voice of Rob, "Hello?"

[Young Madam, where should we drop that boy?]

Anya realized Jackson was back in the country. She gave Rob an address of a hotel before ending the call.

Looking at Alvin lying on his stomach without having his way with her, she poked him, "Alvin…" He ignored her, pretending to be annoyed.

She whispered, "Let\'s take a shower." The next moment, she was in his arms and his feet heading towards the ensuite.