It was like looking at someone he couldn’t even recognize.
But at the same time, Dominic knew that this really was Alex.
The all-too-competent, spunky newcomer who had managed to weasel his way in despite everyone seemingly blocking his path.
Right.
How could he forget what Alexander Vance was actually like?
Except instead of practically whistling in pride like he used to whenever Alex showed this side of himself, Dominic didn’t particularly like the way he was coming off now.
Then again, unbeknownst to him, or perhaps he simply didn’t want to admit it, Dominic just didn’t like how Alex was wielding that knife-like tongue at him instead of for him.
Fine by him, then.
If Alex wanted to air their dirty laundry in public and show everyone just how unreasonable he was being, Dominic would let him.
This ought to humble him a little.
Maybe even teach him a lesson.
And while Dominic certainly didn’t want Alex making himself look even worse in public, what else could he do when there were times when something like this was necessary?
Who else would teach Alex such important things?
More importantly, who else would be important enough to make that oddly immature guy actually listen?
At least like this, maybe next time Alex would learn to simply wait at home so Dominic could settle their issues properly.
"No."
His eyes never left Alexander.
"If you have something to say, then you can say it here since it seems you’ve already come a long way."
A murmur spread through the room as everyone waited to see whether the heir to Vance Holdings would still have something to say now that things had come to this.
But to everyone’s surprise, Alex simply nodded.
"Suit yourself. I’m only here to deliver something anyway." He gave Dominic a pleasant smile. "I figured it would be difficult to get in touch considering your grave condition, so I had to take such apparently unnecessary steps..."
Dominic had been ready to say something, only to pause.
His condition?
"What are you talking about? What grave condition?"
"Huh?" Alex looked surprised by the question. "Of course, I’m talking about whatever life-threatening condition managed to paralyze all your fingers, toes, and mouth. Ah, and apparently, whatever it was must’ve been so aggressive that the same thing happened to all your personal staff too! I really think you need to get that checked. Maybe even get a second opinion for good measure."
Dominic stared at him.
"Alexander Vance, what the hell are you getting at right now?"
His frustration was quickly rising because it was like talking to an alien whose words simply refused to make sense.
"Dominic, are you seriously unaware?" Alex asked, sounding almost concerned. "Because if you didn’t have such a debilitating condition, then how come neither you nor your severely overpaid staff could use a single finger or even your own voice to operate a simple piece of technology and tell me you couldn’t make it to a contract signing?"
"!"
"You—!"
Alex watched several of the proud faces around Dominic turn pale, but he didn’t stop.
Instead, he deliberately looked at every person sitting close enough to Dominic to have been part of his little entourage that day.
If not as a warning, then Alex figured he ought to remember their faces anyway.
After all, it would be useful to know exactly who would never again deserve even a moment of his time.
His gaze eventually returned to Dominic, who was still standing there as though the sun shone out of his ass.
Alex made a point of looking him over from head to toe.
"But since you look perfectly fine to me, and definitely healthy enough to run to a club after missing a critical appointment like your own marriage without so much as leaving a single note..." His smile widened slightly. "Then I guess you were either robbed of all your belongings, or you were simply requiring me to push through with the next most logical move."
Alex reached for what he’d brought with him.
"So here I am, doing just that."
Contrary to the scathing words leaving his mouth, Alex maintained such a bright, pleasant smile that it somehow managed to chill everyone around him instead.
Dominic, on the other hand, was actually a little befuddled.
For once, he wasn’t entirely sure what to say.
Because yes, he knew it had been wrong not to tell Alex anything.
Okay, maybe having him wait there all day was too much.
With that finally weighing on the Sebastian heir’s mind, Dominic took a breath.
"I get it. You’re angry. So let me explain—"
Before Dominic could say anything else, Andrew suddenly took a nervous step forward.
"No! Alex, ah, wait, Mr. Vance! That really wasn’t Dom’s... No, Mr. Sebastian’s fault. I-it was me. Earlier, I had..."
His words came tumbling out so quickly that he ended up coughing halfway through them.
"Andrew?"
Dominic’s earlier frustration immediately disappeared.
Andrew shook his head as though trying to assure him that everything was fine, only for another cough to escape him as he pressed a hand against his chest.
"I’m fine. I just... I don’t want Mr. Vance blaming you because of me."
And as if he were the white knight in some fairy tale, Dominic, who had been flustered only moments earlier, immediately came back to his senses and reached out to steady Andrew.
"Hey. Calm down."
"I’m sorry. I just wanted to explain..."
"Enough. You don’t need to explain anything right now."
Alex could only internally scoff at the sight.
Really, now?
Normally, something like this probably would’ve caused at least a pang of pain.
After all, Dominic had still been the man Alex once saw in his future. Seeing him fuss over someone else should’ve hurt, especially when that someone else happened to be the very person Dominic had abandoned him for.
But with this honestly laughable scenario unfolding right in front of his eyes, Alex would have to be incredibly dumb to fall for such a blatant act.
At the moment, he almost felt sorry for Dominic.
How blind had the man become to actually allow something like this to happen when he’d always been so vocal about detesting people who acted exactly this way?
Then again...
Maybe his ex only hated it whenever Alex was the one acting needy or vulnerable.
Because right now, Dominic was lapping up this farce as though it had been slated for acting awards.
Alex took a deep breath and let the exasperation roll through his body.
There really was no use dealing with people like this.
The man standing before him had the same face, the same body, and the same sort of presence Alex had known for years.
But it was becoming increasingly clear that this wasn’t the Dominic he knew.
Or at least, this wasn’t the Dominic who had once been his.
Because that grinning and somewhat annoying guy from before certainly wouldn’t have looked at him like he was some troublesome stranger before saying,
"Enough. Whatever you need to say or do, save it for later. Clearly, this is already too much for him, so we’ll talk about it then."
"No, Dom, I’m fine, really." Andrew hurriedly shook his head. "If M-Mr. Vance needs you more right now, then you really shouldn’t put it off for later."
"Stop that, Andrew. You’re obviously not in good shape for this." Dominic gave Alex a pointed look. "Knowing Alex, whatever this is can be dealt with later."
He even made a point of glaring at Alex as though expecting him to get with the program.
Hah!
Right.
Later.
Andrew was now.
While Alex was apparently for later.
Or maybe even never.
Strangely enough, though, witnessing it firsthand might actually be a good thing.
Because after seeing something like this, Alex was fairly certain that even if he got completely drunk someday, he still wouldn’t throw away enough of his self-respect to send this idiot a poorly typed drunk text.
Dominic probably expected him to give way like he always did.
Except instead of the same agreeable words that would’ve once followed, Alex simply looked at him.
"No. Sorry."
Dominic frowned.
"That would’ve been Alex." His expression remained perfectly pleasant. "But right now, I’m here as Alexander Vance, a legitimate representative of Vance Holdings." Read the latest chapters at g.com.
"...What?"
"So no, I unfortunately can’t wait, seeing as I’ve already given you more than enough time for the entire day."
"!"
Dominic’s expression changed immediately.
"Alex, you dare—"
The veins along his neck were practically visible by now, but Alex didn’t let that stop him.
Instead, he tossed several documents onto Dominic’s chest.
They were the very same ones he’d asked Joe to retrieve from his assistant, Vincent, before coming here.
Caught off guard, Dominic barely managed to grab them before they slipped to the floor.
His anger immediately gave way to confusion.
"What’s this?"
"A risk assessment."
Dominic frowned.
The words seemed so completely unrelated to what they’d been discussing that for a moment, he simply stared.
"...What?"
"A risk assessment," Alex repeated patiently. "In more formal terms, it’s a documented record of identified potential hazards, an evaluation of the likelihood and severity of possible harm, as well as the measures necessary to mitigate those risks."
He paused.
"I believe you and nearly everyone here should already know what that means, so I’m a little confused about why you’re asking."
A few people nearby immediately looked away.
Alex tilted his head.
"But in layman’s terms, for anyone interested..."
His smile remained perfectly pleasant.
"As of tonight, Sebastian Group presents an unacceptable concentration of risk to Vance Holdings."
Several people exchanged bewildered looks.
Dominic simply stared at him.
Alex continued as though he hadn’t said anything particularly unusual.
"So listen carefully, Mr. Sebastian."
That form of address alone seemed to make something in Dominic’s expression crack.
"Effective tomorrow, expired agreements won’t be renewed, while new and pending ones will be discarded. Existing collaborations will continue only for as long as we’re contractually obligated to maintain them, and only for as long as they can properly withstand the upcoming reviews."
Dominic’s grip tightened around the documents.
"As for every financial exposure Vance Holdings currently has with Sebastian Group, our Investment and Risk Assessment Division will begin reviewing them immediately."
By then, no one was even pretending not to listen anymore.
Alex glanced around the exclusive club.
At the familiar faces.
At the people who’d been whispering only minutes earlier.
At those who had watched Dominic openly sit beside another man while Alex had spent hours waiting for him somewhere else.
He hadn’t even noticed when the music stopped.
Strangely enough, though, their silence sounded like a great melody to him.
Alex gave a satisfied hum.
"Hmm... That’s all for now."
Then he flashed Dominic the same professional smile he’d used countless times in conference rooms, negotiations, and meetings.
A smile he never thought he’d have any reason to use here.
"So you can go right back to your regularly scheduled programming."