Chapter 38: His Personal Project

Michael’s POV

By the time I returned to my condo, the evening had settled over Boston.

The takeaway bag in my hand still felt warm.

As expected, Alaric had made himself completely at home. He was sitting on the couch with one leg crossed over the other, lazily pressing the television remote from one channel to the next.

His attention wasn’t particularly on the television. He simply looked like someone trying to convince himself that he wasn’t bored.

The moment I stepped inside and shut the door behind me, his nose twitched. His head turned towards me almost immediately, and a wide grin spread across his face.

"I knew it." He stood up and walked towards me. "I smelt food."

"I wasn’t hiding it." I walked past him and placed the takeaway bag on the dining table before loosening the cuffs of my shirt.

Without looking at him, I asked, "Have you replaced my coffee machine?"

Alaric’s grin widened. "I didn’t spoil anything."

Hearing that, I turned to look at him.

"I was only pulling your leg," he said, reaching for the takeaway bag before I could say another word. "Thanks."

As he spoke, he suddenly paused. His nose twitched again. Then he leaned closer and deliberately sniffed me.

I narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing?"

"You have a woman’s scent on you."

I wasn’t surprised. Alaric’s curiosity had always been excessive. If he caught the slightest hint of something unusual, he would dig until he found an answer.

Rather than standing there entertaining him, I pulled out a chair and sat down. He did the same while taking the food containers out of the bag one after another.

"It’s because I was with someone at the café."

His grin immediately returned. "Let me guess." He didn’t even pretend to think about it. "Emerald Hugo?"

I nodded at once as I watched him pick up the plastic fork that came with the meal and take his first bite.

"So..." He chewed calmly before continuing. "Was this another one of your famous coincidences?"

He glanced at me with obvious amusement. "Wait... Don’t tell me you actually followed her there."

I leaned back in my chair. "And if I did?"

He swallowed the food in his mouth before pointing the plastic fork at me. "Then it will be nice to know that the great Alpha Lucien has become a stalker."

He nodded to himself. "Congratulations on your new occupation."

I ignored him. There was no point responding. The truth was far less interesting than whatever story he had already created in his head.

I hadn’t followed Emerald. That café had become one of the few places I genuinely enjoyed visiting since arriving in Boston.

Its floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked one of the busiest streets around Lanard, making it an ideal place to sit with a cup of coffee while watching the city move at its own pace.

I had already been heading there when I saw Emerald walk inside. That was all. But of course... seeing her there made the evening considerably more interesting.

Alaric continued eating while waiting for me to speak.

"I learnt something today," I said, immediately capturing his attention.

He looked up. "What?"

I briefly explained Darius Hugo’s plan for Emerald to reclaim Mercer Technologies, and the deadline he gave.

Alaric quietly listened until I finished. Only then did he speak.

"I remember you mentioning that you were considering acquiring Mercer Technologies." He rested his fork on the edge of the container. "Are you still going ahead with it?"

I folded my arms. "My interest in Mercer Technologies began the night of their anniversary ceremony."

Images from that evening crossed my mind. Kelvin Mercer and the public humiliation. Emerald standing there while he deliberately stripped away every ounce of dignity she had left.

"I watched Kelvin closely that night. He wasn’t simply arrogant; he lacked character. A man who could publicly disgrace the very person who helped him build his company from the ground up isn’t someone worthy of leading it."

I exhaled. "My conclusion was simple. Eventually, he would destroy Mercer Technologies himself."

Alaric nodded thoughtfully. "So you decided to take it before that happened."

"Exactly." I nodded.

"Are you certain that decision wasn’t influenced by Emerald Hugo?" He questioned.

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"

"What if you wanted to get revenge on Kelvin for her?"

I relaxed my brows considerably. "If revenge had been my objective, there were far easier ways to return Mercer Technologies to Emerald. I wouldn’t have needed Veridian Group to acquire the company."

Alaric considered that for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough."

He resumed eating. "So... what now? You’ve become interested in Emerald. She wants Mercer Technologies back. Are you still planning to acquire it?"

"My original plan was straightforward. I intended to pressure Mercer Technologies from the outside," I explained "I would gradually frustrate Kelvin and the management. The company’s performance would decline."

Alaric tilted his head to the side. He didn’t interrupt.

"The shareholders would panic, and they would begin selling their shares. Then, I would quietly purchase the majority of them. Once I held controlling interest... the rest would be easy." I lifted my gaze. "Kelvin would eventually have no choice but to sell the company."

Alaric slowly nodded. "It sounds like you."

I agreed. "It was efficient."

"It still is," he insisted.

"But circumstances have changed." I released a small breath. "If Mercer Technologies ends up under capable leadership, there will be no reason for Veridian Group to acquire it."

A slow smile spread across Alaric’s face. "So if Emerald Hugo succeeds..."

"I will abandon the acquisition," I finished.

He leaned back in his chair. "What if she doesn’t?" He asked. "You know she can’t defeat Kelvin Mercer alone."

I furrowed my brows slightly. "Who told you she wouldn’t succeed? And who told you she’s doing this alone?"

The words had barely left my mouth before he completely forgot about his dinner. He put the food container down and turned towards me.

"Wait." His eyes narrowed. "Don’t tell me you—"

"Yes," I answered before he could finish. "I intend to help her."

Alaric’s gaze changed. He looked genuinely surprised. "Does she know?"

"Not yet."

He stared at me for another moment before shaking his head slowly. "You’ve changed."

"I don’t think so."

He laughed softly. "But I do."

I didn’t argue. There was no point at all.

Emerald didn’t know it yet. Whether she realised it or not, she had already become my personal project.