Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Price of Progress
Alexander had barely locked his suitcase filled with a million dollars when his encrypted phone buzzed sharply in his palm. He glanced at the caller ID, his dark eyes narrowing as he slid the screen to answer and placed the device against his ear.
"You missed the advanced training sessions today, Alexander" said Stephen, his voice coming through the line with a cold, clinical precision that instantly set a tense tone.
"I’m sorry" said Alexander, his deep voice flat as he leaned his frame against the hotel desk. "I was heavily occupied with an emergency."
"Come to the facility immediately" said Stephen, his tone sharpening with a sudden, urgent edge. "I forgot to mention a critical detail in your protocol. If you go too long without receiving the next sequence of the potion, your body will reject the cellular adaptation. You will lose all the progress you’ve made so far. You need to be absolutely consistent during these first few months."
"Dammit" said Alexander, his jaw tightening as a surge of frustration hit him. "I’m on my way."
He hung up the phone and threw it onto the mattress. He turned to look at the heavy leather duffel bag sitting on the table. He didn’t completely trust TMC, but he trusted the outside world even less. Every single time he went out on an operation, his high-performance cars ended up completely wrecked or shot to pieces. Leaving a million dollars in cash inside the trunk of the Shelby was a terrible option; he wasn’t about to lose that much money over a stupid mistake.
Alexander grabbed the bag, shoved it into the hidden compartment beneath the floorboards of his hotel room, and locked the secure suite door behind him.
He strode down the quiet corridor, his combat boots clicking softly on the carpet as he walked back toward the elevator. As the doors slid open, he pulled out his phone again and dialed the discreet real estate contact Marcus had just texted him, eager to get the apartment sorted out before Stephen’s experimental procedures completely drained his energy for the day.
The line rang three times before a smooth click signaled the connection. Instantly, a warm, melody-like voice flowed through the receiver, carrying a playful, thoroughly professional charm specifically designed to disarm high-end clients.
"Good evening, you’ve reached elite rentals" said the woman, her tone sweet, seductive, and effortlessly welcoming. "My name is Vanessa. How can I make your dream property a reality tonight?"
Alexander stepped into the elevator, his face an unreadable mask as the doors slid shut around his lean frame. He wasn’t in the mood for games, but he recognized the calculated polish in her voice.
"Marcus gave me your number" said Alexander, his deep voice cutting through her playful tone with a flat, businesslike edge. "I need a discreet, high-end apartment downtown. Immediately."
A soft, knowing purr escaped Vanessa’s lips on the other end of the line, the mention of Marcus instantly shifting her demeanor from generic corporate charm to exclusive, VIP attentiveness.
"Oh, a friend of Marcus" said Vanessa, her voice dropping to a softer, more intimate murmur that practically oozed temptation. "Well, that changes everything. For his inner circle, I always keep the absolute best properties hidden away. Are we looking for something spacious, or perhaps something... exceptionally private?"
"Private" said Alexander, stepping out into the quiet underground parking garage and walking toward the gleaming chassis of the Shelby. "And I don’t want a paper trail. I pay in cash, upfront, for the entire year."
"Cash upfront... my absolute favorite kind of client" said Vanessa, a low, playful chuckle vibrating through the line as she clearly took the bait. "I have a spectacular penthouse right in the heart of the financial district. Private elevator, reinforced security, and a landlord who completely forgets his tenants exist as long as the bills are crisp. I can arrange a private viewing first thing in the morning... if you’re fast enough to catch me."
"Text me the address" said Alexander, opening the driver’s side door of the car. "I’ll be there at eight sharp."
"I’ll be waiting, handsome" said Vanessa, her voice dripping with a final, lingering sweetness before the line went dead.
Alexander tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and fired up the supercharger, the roaring whine filling the concrete garage.
Alexander navigated the Shelby out of the underground garage and onto the main avenue, his hands gripping the steering wheel with a tense, unyielding focus. The streetlights flickered across his lean frame as he accelerated into the night, the roar of the supercharger echoing off the empty concrete buildings.
His mind was a chaotic storm of moving parts—the cash under the floorboards, Vanessa’s penthouse, and the experimental serum waiting for him at the facility. But as he glanced at the dashboard clock, a sharp jolt of realization hit him.
Isabella.
He was supposed to see her this morning. After the absolute nightmare of rescuing her daughter, Emma, he had promised to be there, but the sudden crisis with Amy had completely derailed his schedule. He had completely gone dark on her for hours.
"Damn it" muttered Alexander, his jaw tightening as he reached over and tapped the car’s digital console, bringing up her contact information.
He hit dial and threw the system onto the loud, high-definition speakerphone of the Shelby.
The rhythmic ringing tone finally cut out with a sharp beep as the line connected. Before Alexander could even open his mouth to offer a calculated excuse, a panicked, breathless voice flooded through the Shelby’s speakers.
"Alexander! Oh god, I am so, so sorry for not contacting you" said Isabella, her voice trembling violently, thick with a heavy, overwhelming sense of guilt. "I couldn’t make it to the school today, and I completely lost track of time. I’ve been right beside Emma, watching her every second... I am really, truly sorry for leaving you in the dark like this."
Alexander’s lethal mind worked at a blinding, lightning-fast speed. He instantly processed the massive shift in the dynamic; instead of being furious at him for going dark, her own trauma and maternal anxiety had made her feel completely responsible for the broken plans.
He didn’t hesitate to seize the absolute upper hand.
"Don’t worry about it at all, Isabella" said Alexander, his deep voice instantly dropping into a perfectly smooth, calm, and deeply reassuring tone that echoed through the dark cabin of the car. "You don’t need to apologize to me for prioritizing your daughter. I was actually just calling to make sure you were holding up okay, to see if you needed anything delivered to the house, or if those absolute bastards had tried to make another move against you."
