Chapter 61: Alexander’s Domian

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Alexander’s Domian

‎"That’s impossible. There is no way you can possibly own the school."

‎A disbelieving laugh escaped Iris before she could stop it. She looked at Alexander as though waiting for him to finally admit that he was messing with her.

‎He didn’t. His expression remained completely composed, one hand resting in his trouser pocket while the other hung loosely at his side.

‎Iris’s smile slowly disappeared. "Wait." She narrowed her eyes at him. "You’re serious?"

‎"I don’t joke about things like this, Iris."

‎She stared at him for another moment before shaking her head.

‎"But how? No matter how I look at it, that doesn’t make sense. Yes, Grant Enterprises is an enormous company, and yes, you’re wealthy enough to buy practically anything you want, but Emerald Heights has been here for more than a century. Grant Enterprises has only been publicly known for what, two decades? There is no way a company that has been publicly established for twenty years owns a university that’s been here for more than a hundred."

‎She paused, her brows knitting together.

‎"And there’s another problem. Emerald Heights isn’t even a private university. It’s government-owned. So how exactly do you claim ownership of a state university?"

‎Alexander listened patiently until she finished. Then he exhaled through his nose, the faintest smile touching his mouth.

‎"It might be government-owned, but the land on which the university was built belonged to me."

‎"You mean your family." Iris interrupted him to input.

‎"Originally."

‎Iris caught the distinction immediately. "Originally?"

‎Alexander’s gaze remained steady. "You can say that."

‎There was something in the way he answered that made Iris suspect she had just stepped onto another piece of the puzzle he wasn’t prepared to explain.

‎"But what matters is that although the institution operates under government authority, the land itself remains privately held. I am also the university’s largest benefactor."

‎Iris folded her arms.

‎"That still doesn’t mean you own the school. If the government has operated the university for all these years, surely they would have had the right to acquire the land. Or compensate whoever owned it. You can’t simply decide that because your family owned the land a long time ago, you now own the university."

‎Alexander’s mouth curved.

‎"Iris, you’re thinking about this as though governments and men like me play by the same set of rules."

"And you’re operating under the delusion that being vague is the same as answering the question."

"Am I?" He stopped just inches from her, his heat radiating through the thin fabric of her blouse.

"You’re answering it in the most Alexander Grant way possible," she countered, though her breath was hitching. "Giving me half a truth and expecting me to bow down because you said it with a straight face."

A low, rumbling chuckle vibrated in his chest. "Hmm... a point well made, Miss Carter."

Iris felt a flush creep up her neck, and she pointedly looked away. Alexander reached past her to pick up his phone, his arm brushing hers. The contact was electric, a jolt of pure energy that made her stomach flip.

"Your government wouldn’t dare take anything that belongs to me, Iris. They ask for permission," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "Years ago, this place was facing serious financial problems."

‎Iris followed him with her eyes.

‎"How serious?"

‎"Serious enough that several programs were going to be cut, faculty positions were going to be eliminated, and the university was considering selling some of its property simply to keep operating. You might have still been in high school then."

‎Iris frowned, a prickle of annoyance crossing her mind. The idea that he had been playing god with institutions while she was still navigating adolescence at that time felt unfair. "So you swooped in and bought the wreckage?"

"I acquired the controlling interest."

"That is just a more expensive way of saying you bought the school."

"Perhaps," he whispered, leaning closer.

She shook her head, still struggling to comprehend it. "So that’s why Professor Whitmore just... handed over his office?"

Alexander slipped his phone back into his pocket. "I didn’t exactly ask him to vacate it."

"But he did and gave it to you."

"Because he understood the nature of the situation."

‎Iris let out a disbelieving breath.

‎"Professor Whitmore is one of the most stubborn men I’ve ever met. He doesn’t bow to wealthy alumni, politicians, or anyone else who thinks money gives them special privileges. Yet the moment you arrive, suddenly you’re sitting in his office like you’ve always belonged there."

‎Alexander’s smile deepened, then his gaze locked onto hers, his pupils dilating until his eyes were almost entirely black.

"I don’t know what kind of power Professor Whitmore has encountered in his lifetime that made him so determined never to bow."

‎He walked toward her. "But my kind of power makes standing unnecessarily difficult."

‎"Wow. You are incredibly cocky," she breathed.

"I never claimed otherwise." His eyes held hers. "And fortunately for me, I have enough power and authority to support the arrogance."

‎Iris rolled her eyes. "You’re unbelievable."

‎He looked at her, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "You know, I could have taken the Vice Chancellor’s office."

Iris blinked. "What?"

Alexander shrugged. "It has the best view in the university."

‎"You’re telling me you could have taken the Vice Chancellor’s office if you wanted?"

‎"Yes."

"Then why on earth would you settle for this one?"

He looked at her as though the answer should have been obvious. Alexander didn’t answer immediately. He reached out, his fingers grazing the skin of her jaw, a touch so light it was almost a tease. "Because that office is too far from you."

‎Iris went rigid. The air between them seemed to vanish, replaced by a magnetic tension that pulled her toward him.

‎Alexander’s voice remained calm. "So I took this one."

‎Her lips parted. For several seconds, she didn’t know what to say. The implication settled slowly between them. He hadn’t chosen this office because it was convenient. He had chosen it because it was near her.

"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why are you doing all this?"

His expression softened, the predatory edge giving way to something raw and aching. "Because I wanted to be here. Near you, and with you."

Her heart hammered against her ribs. The words landed differently than she expected. She looked away and she suddenly became fascinated by the edge of his desk. Trying to ignore the way her body was humming in response to his proximity.

Alexander noticed the faint flush spreading across her cheeks but didn’t tease her about it. Instead, he continued.

"So when I told you that nothing was going to happen to your academic life because of me, I meant it," he continued, his voice a velvety caress.

"And if that Campus Pulse application becomes a problem for you, I can have it shut down and erase it from the server with a single call."