Ch. 56..60: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 56-60

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 - Did you expect her to stay?

Joanna excused herself from her co-workers to avoid holding back her ruthless words.

"It’s not appealing enough, so I lost my appetite. Anything else?" she asked, using the same words he had used against her that morning.

Alex was frustrated. A contract was supposed to be peaceful, especially with rules and regulations to follow, but somehow, things were turning the other way with Joanna making it difficult for him.

"We need to talk."

Joanna felt indebted to Betty and the chef. The only person with the power to reinstate them was Alex, so she had to make things difficult for him to consider doing her bidding.

"I’m busy tonight and will be spending the night at my apartment."

At the other end of the line, Alex was furious, and Aiden, who had his own problems, could only endure the change in Alex’s demeanor as he spoke on the phone.

"You are not allowed to do that."

Why?" Joanna asked, annoyed by his continued bossy attitude towards her, treating her more like an employee than a wife.

Even though it was a contractual agreement, it needed to be honored in every aspect.

"Did you forget about the contract?" Alex inquired, as Joanna had anticipated, but she was prepared for his response.

"Well, since you terminated Betty and the chef because of me, I might as well stay at my apartment until they return," she asserted.

Alex was taken aback by her assertiveness, especially since she had not objected earlier when he had brought up the issue with Betty.

"I didn’t fire them because of you. They violated the rules," Alex clarified.

Joanna laughed self-deprecatingly. "I told them to make an exception for me. You call me your wife, and yet you fire your staff because they take instructions from me?"

She expected him to defend himself as usual, but this time, something unexpected happened.

The call abruptly ended, but ten minutes later, Alex called back. "Betty and the chef are back. Happy now?"

Joanna didn’t respond but ended the call and dialed Betty’s number. It was answered on the first ring.

"Ma’am, sir just called us to return to work. Thank you very much."

"I’m glad," Joanna replied, about to end the call when Betty added, "Ma’am, he also told us to allow you to do whatever you want."

That was a shock. Joanna did not expect that from Alex, but it relieved her to know she wouldn’t have to live as a prisoner in the mansion she was supposed to reside in for over five months.

"That is good to hear," she replied.

At the office, Alex struggled to contain his sense of defeat. It was the first time he had to backtrack on his words, all for a woman he felt nothing for – his contract wife.

"What’s bothering you, Alex?" Aiden asked, sensing his friend’s distress.

"How do you deal with a woman who doesn’t follow the rules?" Alex finally confessed.

Aiden, caught up in his own romantic entanglements, replied, "Please don’t ask me that. Can you believe I had a one-night stand and woke up alone?"

Alex shook his head, finding Aiden’s sex life amusing. Given his job, Aiden never planned to settle down, but surprisingly, a woman had caught his attention.

"Did you expect her to stay?" Alex teased, prompting Aiden to elaborate.

"You don’t understand. This woman left two hundred dollars on the bed. She mistook me for a gigolo and paid for my services," he explained bitterly.

Alex chuckled. "Two hundred dollars is quite generous. Maybe she should have paid fifty."

Aiden clenched his teeth. "Now I see why you’re going through what you’re going through."

Alex clarified, "You’ve never shown interest in any woman before, but suddenly, you’re intrigued by the one who paid for your services. She definitely got your attention."

As Alex’s words sank in, Aiden couldn’t stay upset. "You might be right. No woman has ever caught my attention like she did. She was different and straightforward."

Alex was grateful for the distraction. "What did she say?" Maybe he could compare this woman’s behavior with Joanna’s.

"She said she doesn’t sleep with the same man twice and was just in it for fun."

Alex couldn’t bring himself to compare a woman like that to Joanna. "She must be a sex worker then," Alex speculated, but Aiden disagreed.

"No, she’s not. If she were, she would have asked for payment. She seemed like an independent woman."

Alex smirked slightly. "Careful, Aiden, you might be falling for her. Give me her name, and let’s see if we can find out more about her."

Aiden was taken aback. "Aren’t I the one in the field? If I had her name, I would have looked her up myself. Everything happened quickly, and we were both drunk."

Alex didn’t know how to assist in this situation, but Aiden changed the subject.

"Okay, let’s forget about her and focus on you. Why are you so upset?"

Alex couldn’t hide his inner turmoil. "It’s Joan. She cooked this morning when there’s a chef to do it."

"Is that the only reason you’re upset, or is there more to it? Did you try the food?"

Alex admitted feeling guilty but answered truthfully. "I told her it wasn’t appetizing because I wanted to discourage her from cooking for me again."

Aiden chuckled. "Alex, what are you afraid of? Your contract wife prepared the meal. You could have eaten it and politely suggested, ’It’s delicious, but please let the chef handle it next time.’"

The realization struck Alex, and he acknowledged that he could have handled the situation better.

"I was trying to prevent her from developing feelings for me. Emotional attachments can complicate things. I need to keep a clear head," he explained, massaging his temple as he pondered his relationship.

Aiden expressed concern. "I understand your perspective, but you might regret it if you see her with someone else after the contract ends. What was it about her cooking that upset you so much?" He asked, not ready for the shocking revelation.

Chapter 57: Chapter 57 – Send me a picture of her

Alex didn’t want to admit it, but Joanna’s actions that morning stirred up emotions he had long buried.

"It looked just like my mom used to cook for us when we were kids. I miss her so much. How is it that Joanna cooks like her?"

The comparison was difficult for Alex to make, and it upset him. If he started to see Joanna in the same light as his mother, it would make it challenging for him to stick to the contract.

This was the reason why he preferred leaving the mansion for her. He had others but the same problem lingered no matter where he went.

The sleeplessness and lack of appetite. This made him immense all his energy in his work.

Six months wasn’t too long for them to part ways without any complications, so why did Joanna have to complicate things by doing so much?

Alex did not want that. However, Aiden pointed out the error in Alex’s actions.

"Perhaps you should have tasted the food to confirm that it really tasted like your mom’s," Aiden suggested.

To him, Alex seemed to be overreacting, and things might not be as he perceived them. It was not all the time that Alex opens up about his problems, being the one with solution to everyone else’s problems.

Most home-cooked meals were presented in the same way, so there was no guarantee that the food would taste like that of his late mother’s.

"That was what I was afraid of. What if it tasted the same? You have no idea how much I loved her, even when I knew she was a bad woman. The fact remained that she loved us," Alex said honestly.

His late parents’ marriage was not perfect. Perhaps they were not meant to be, but as Alex grew up, he began to realize a few things.

His mother genuinely tried to make it work in the beginning. He saw how she did everything to make their father happy, including cooking the best meals that he would not even taste.

Being from an elite family, Alex could boast that his mother tried. It was the reason why he was never remorse for what he did not his father.

He remembered his mother changing her cooking style, and that was when their father began to eat her food. He had no idea exactly how his mother made the change, but soon enough, she also began seeing other men, leading to a tragic end.

Aiden did not know the details of the story, except the few revelations Alex made during his drunken moments. Those times were rare and it usually happened whenever he returned from seeing Dion.

It would be as if something precious had died inside of him and Aiden was glad to be there for him at those few moments.

"I agree with you, but she’s gone. Maybe if she had changed, your father wouldn’t have killed her. Right now, you need to make Joanna happy so she can naturally play her part on the wedding day," Aiden subtly reminded him.

Alex felt as if he had just woken up from a trance. He hated being in the wrong or losing control, but this morning, it was too hard to hold it in.

"I know. Those suckers won’t make it easy for us," he said, referring to his extended family members who would stop at nothing to find faults with him, his bride, or the wedding planning.

At this point, Aiden could only feel pity for him. "I wish you all the best, but remember, being in a contract marriage doesn’t mean you can’t be friends."

Aiden believed that it would be better for Alex and Joanna to develop a friendship rather than harbor animosity towards each other, but Alex disagreed.

"That’s where the problem lies. I can’t compromise on that."

Unable to persuade Alex, Aiden shifted his focus back to the project they were discussing earlier. "I think we should continue with the project discussion."

Alex agreed, but his phone rang multiple times during their conversation, and he answered each call as they were important.

Later, Edmund arrived Alex instructed him. "Betty and my chef are back working for me. Please ensure that lunch is delivered to Joanna at the office every day."

Edmund was relieved to have that part of the job taken off his plate but was surprised that his boss changed his mind for the sake of his contract wife.

"Yes, sir."

As Alex was about to leave the office for their night hunt, he received a text message from Jack. ’Sir, ma’am is having dinner with Violet.’

Without any issue, Alex found himself making an unusual request. ’Send me a picture of her.’

He hesitated before pressing the send button, considering deleting the message, but accidentally sent it instead.

While typing a message to Jack to ignore the request, a blurry image appeared on his phone.

Alex tapped it to gain clarity and frowned at Joanna’s sad expression. ’Why is she so sad?’ he wondered, brainstorming ways to cheer her up and reflecting on what he could have done if he had seen her like this earlier in the morning.

When his anger took control, he ensured to not even glance at her.

’I think it has to do with her conversation with her friend. I overheard enough to gather that it involves Logan.’

His brother’s name piqued his interest. ’I want to know the details.’

It wasn’t unusual for Logan to be involved with women, but with Violet being his ex and getting close to Joanna, Alex needed to clarify things before it affected his relationship with Joanna.

At the end of the line, Jack was sweating. When did eavesdropping on his madam’s conversation become part of his job description to warrant reporting on it?

’Sir, I think they have finished discussing, but madam is calling you on the phone,’ Jack texted Alex.

Alex frowned slightly. He hadn’t noticed any missed calls. Just as he was about to respond, his phone rang. It was Joanna calling.

"Are you home yet?" Alex asked, pretended not to know she was having dinner with Violet but was surprised by her request.

 

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 - Just mention it

Earlier, Joanna left the office on time to meet Violet at the restaurant as planned.

Violet’s eyes lit up at the sight of Joanna, as she needed a friend to talk to.

Despite being outgoing, Violet didn’t have many close friends, much like Joanna. Their chance encounter in Logan’s room turned out to be a blessing as they found solace in each other.

"Joan, I’m so glad you’re here," Violet hugged Joanna, her relief evident in her voice.

"Well, you made it sound urgent, so spill it," Joanna replied, Violet led them to a table, ordering drinks and food. The meeting was unplanned, and all the private rooms were already reserved.

Violet usually avoided dining in the open restaurant, but the circumstances required it.

"Last night, I went to the club for a drink and didn’t get home until early this morning. Guess who was waiting for me?"

Violet’s question caught Joanna off guard. She had been asleep early thanks to some sedatives, so she was surprised to hear about Violet’s night out.

Joanna couldn’t help but wonder where Violet’s protective brother was to let her stay out at the club until morning.

"Wait, you went to the club without your brother?" Joanna asked, surprised. The waiter arrived with their order, and Violet waited until she left before responding.

"I went with him, but he got distracted by a girl and left me on my own," Violet explained.

She noticed Jack standing nearby and asked Joanna, "Is your bodyguard just going to stand there like that?"

Violet and Joanna were both uncomfortable with the intrusion. Joanna quickly motioned for Jack to sit down and order whatever he wanted, insisting that the bill was on her.

"No. I called for this meeting so the bill is on me," Violet countered, urging Jack. "Order anything you want. Don’t be too modest. Food in this restaurant isn’t expensive"

Jack found it amusing how the women underestimated his financial status, unaware of his wealth.

He preferred that they continued to see him in that light, especially since Alex turned common workers into affluent individuals.

"Thank you miss, you are too kind." Jack thanked them for their kindness and chose a table nearby, pretending to be engrossed in his phone even when the food arrived.

"So, who was waiting for you at home?" Joana asked seriously, sparking her interest in the conversation.

After taking a sip of wine, Violet revealed, "Logan. He wants us back together."

Joana felt nauseated at the mention of Logan’s name. If only she hadn’t seen him with other women after their breakup. A guy like Logan was beyond redemption.

"I know you won’t agree," Joana shook her head. If Violet reconciled with Logan, then she wasn’t the woman Joana knew.

Violet smiled, touched by Joana’s trust in her. "That’s true, but he threatened to attack our stocks, and within an hour, they were plummeting drastically. He messaged me that if I didn’t consider his proposal, they would drop even more by tomorrow."

This was the first time Joana had seen Violet’s vulnerable side. Violet had never cared about anything before, but this was her company, so it affected her deeply. Many families depended on it.

"How heartless. Why does he want you back?" Joana asked, pondering a solution.

Violet let out a humorless chuckle in response. "Isn’t it the ’I miss and love you’ cliché?"

Joana couldn’t help but feel a hint of amusement, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I never expected that from him."

"Well, I never even knew he was this wealthy. My dad is not handling this well, but I know your husband is rich too. Look, I don’t want to seem insensitive or like I’m freeloading, but I really need help."

Implicitly, Violet was asking Joana to speak to Alex, and she couldn’t refuse, considering Logan was Alex’s brother. "Logan is his brother, so I will talk to him."

As the older brother, Alex must be responsible for his younger brother, but Violet was surprised by Joanna’s straightforward agreement to help.

She had planned various strategies to persuade Joanna, but Joanna made it easy for Violet by agreeing right away.

"Are you serious? What other secrets are you hiding from me?" Violet asked, sensing there was more to Joanna’s willingness to help than met the eye.

Joanna couldn’t reveal Alex’s identity before the wedding, steering the conversation in a different direction.

"You still owe me an explanation about your late return from the club this morning," Joanna pressed, catching the redness of Violet’s cheeks in time but decided to talk to Alex first before delving into the matter.

She was relieved that the issue with Betty had been resolved and she didn’t have to compromise their contract to ask for this favor.

"Are you back home yet?" Alex inquired when he answered the call. Joanna replied casually, "

No, I’m having dinner with Violet, but Alex, I need your assistance."

"Go on," Alex encouraged her, making her feel supported and eager to share her concerns without knowing what he had in mind.

"Logan is targeting his ex’s company to win her back. I don’t think that’s fair," Joanna explained.

"I’ll take care of it, but which friend are we talking about?" Alex asked, feigning ignorance.

"Violet," Joanna replied, relieved that Alex didn’t make it difficult for her, or so she thought.

"I see. Just in case I handle it, what’s in it for me?" Alex inquired, causing Joanna’s face to pale. Before she could respond, he continued, "It’s not as if I care for Logan or your friend. It’s all business for me. Profit and loss, if you catch my drift."

Joanna was taken aback, unable to believe that Alex would ask for something in return for helping her friend. However, she soon began to comprehend the situation.

Alex would assist Joanna because he needed her. Just as he had inquired when she had proposed the arrangement, he wanted to know what he stood to gain.

This man was ruthless, and his generosity was solely for her as long as their agreement was in effect. "Ask any favor, and I will fulfill it," she stated earnestly, a smirk formed at the corner of Alex’s lips from the end of the line.

"Joan, are you certain you can fulfill this favor? Because if you fail, I might just be the one troubling Violet after," Alex warned.

Joanna clenched her teeth, and Violet sensed tension in the air, but before she could inquire, Joanna declared, "I will do it. Just tell me what it is."

Chapter 59: Chapter 59 – Shoot

Joan, what’s going on? Are you making a promise because of me?"

Violet’s voice interrupted the call. Joanna forced a smile. Alex was not as simple as she thought.

Whenever she was moved by the softness he showed whenever they were pretending, he would break her hopes with a singular word or act.

Perhaps by forcing him to go back on his word in bringing back Betty, he was trying to get back at her.

But what exactly did he want? ’Could it be sex?’ Joanna couldn’t help but think about the worst, but she soon shook it off. Alex never showed any signs of desiring her in that manner.

As a woman, she knew the signs of flirting and Alex was not that type.

"Don’t worry, Violet. Let me take care of this," she replied before returning her attention to the phone in her ear.

Violet felt guilty, realizing that Alex would now freely help his wife. Was it because the marriage was a sham? If that was not the case, then she better find another alternative.

"No. If it’s too much, I will just handle it another way. I can date Logan and make his life miserable," Violet shrugged.

She never went back to any of her exes, but with her company at stake, she could not think of a better option.

But then, what about that man from last night? They might never cross paths again, but why did he leave such a great mark on her?

The mystery surrounding him piqued her interest, and last night was her first time doing something outrageous like she did.

"He could still take it out on your company," Joanna reminded her. Violet saw the error in her plan.

"Yeah, you are right, but I will figure something out," was her thoughtful response.

She did not want to do anything to jeopardize Joanna’s relationship with the handsome cripple.

And must have read it wrongly to think that the cripple was kind to offer help so willingly.

But Joanna was determined to know what Alex was up to, and how far he would go to take revenge on her.

"Don’t worry. You left him for my sake, and we became good friends, remember? This is nothing, trust me."

The level of her assurance for Violet tickled something inside Alex from the end of the line, and he asked, "Did you forget that I’m still on the line?"

Joanna shrugged. "I am very certain you are still there."

She was afraid of him in one way, but another side of her continuously wanted to cross the line to see exactly what he was capable of.

"Then let’s continue this conversation at home."

Alex’s response caused a shiver to spiral through her. ’At home?’ What awaited her there? Or was she undermining him? Could he possibly want intimacy from her?

As she tried to battle her thoughts, one thing remained. Action needed to be taken first thing in the morning to stabilize Violet’s company stocks.

Joanna needed some kind of assurance for her friend before facing whatever she bound herself to.

"But she needs you to act now."

"You already gave your word, so I will do it, except that you will pay when you get home."

A bitter smile escaped Joanna as she continued her chat with Violet after ending the call. "He will do it, so no need to worry."

Violet was not as insensitive as she was in the beginning. "But if he’s wanting something in return, then it’s not right."

At Alex’s office, Aiden pretended to not have overheard the conversation, but Alex announced, "There is somewhere I need to be."

"Should I come with you? You know I’m gonna be away until three days to the wedding. Some things in Chicago need to be taken care of."

Alex did not know why he so wanted Aiden to be around. Perhaps it was because Aiden was the only one permitted to speak his mind at all times.

For the rest, they could only speak about what Alex permitted. "Let Dario take care of it. I need you to supervise the search for the woman."

Aiden did not have to ask which woman. This search has continued unabated and also meant he would have to report to Alex on it every day.

"Yes, boss," Aiden half-jokingly said. Their friendship was great, but that did not overshadow their working relationship.

"As for now, there is somewhere we need to be. Find out Logan’s location. I have to take care of this and be back home before Joanna."

A smile stretched Aiden’s lips, but within seconds after checking his phone, he reported, "Logan is home."

"Good. That is where we should be." The drive to Logan’s house was traffic-free, but being siblings, Aiden did not bother to ask about what this visit was all about.

However, once they were in proximity, Aiden’s tracking system began beeping.

"I guess your brother is about to leave the house for something, and strangely, I see signals of a gun. Does he have bodyguards?"

Alex frowned a little, not recalling Logan moving with bodyguards, but it didn’t matter to him.

"I will know when I get there. Ike, be quick."

Ike increased the speed, and as soon as they arrived, security opened the gate due to a unique sensor on the cars of family members.

Aiden helped Alex out of the car.

"I will take it from here," Alex said, wheeling himself inside the living room. As soon as he knocked on the door, it was opened.

Logan was going out, so their meeting at the door seemed coincidental. Before Logan could utter a word, Alex wheeled himself in, ensuring that the wheels of his wheelchair pressed Logan’s feet through his loafers.

"Ouch," Logan cried. His new bodyguards were furious, one of them pointed a gun at Alex.

"Sir, this would be a clean shot. Should we go ahead?" He asked Logan. Alex felt insulted by a gun being held against his head.

"Shoot me if you dare. You are already dead man."

Logan was thrilled by his elder brother’s confidence with two men pointing guns at him. This was his chance to end it all.

"Shoot."

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - Any last words, big brother?

Alex was surprised to find out that he wasn’t the only one who wanted someone dead. Logan also wanted him dead.

He observed as the bodyguards were about to pull the trigger. "I never knew you kept cobras as pets," he yelled.

Logan and his bodyguards began looking around curiously, but that was when a punch was delivered to one of the bodyguards standing close to Alex in the groin.

That was the only level Alex could reach in his wheelchair. The pain caused the bodyguard to bend over, and Alex seized the opportunity to disarm him.

Logan was terrified. It seemed like his end was near. He thought Alex’s strength was only directed at him, but even the professionally trained bodyguards were no match for the man in the wheelchair.

The second bodyguard, realizing he had been tricked, pulled the trigger, but Alex shielded himself with the bodyguard he had overpowered, causing the bullet to hit the bodyguard instead.

Logan cursed the bodyguard who missed the shot, leaving him with one less man.

The bodyguard was impressed, not expecting the man in the wheelchair to be so skilled.

Regaining himself, he attempted to fire another shot but was shot in the chest by Alex, using the gun he had taken from the overpowered bodyguard, before pushing him to the floor.

With a bullet in his head, Alex knew that one would not survive, so he wheeled himself over to the injured bodyguard.

Upon a slight movement, he realized the man was still alive and shot him in the head to ensure he was dead. Logan was petrified.

"Alex, what have you done?" He was trembling with fear.

After what Grandpa had told him and the meeting with the extended family the previous night, he had decided to hire bodyguards to protect himself from his elder brother, but he never expected something like this to happen.

His elder brother turned out to be even stronger than the professional bodyguards.

Alex smirked, his shirt stained with the blood of the man he had shielded himself with.

"Did you think I would allow these chickens to kill me? Anyway, I hope they have insurance coverage because their families are now your responsibility."

It was the same for him. All those working as Salvadore’s men had unique insurance coverage for situations like this.

"The police will come after you," Logan threatened. Alex smirked. "You tried to kill me. Is it because you are still alive or because I haven’t pressed charges yet?" His expression was menacing, and the realization hit Logan hard.

Grandpa was not there to protect him, and he doubted the security men at the gate were tough enough to handle Alex.

Humility found its way into him. "You always threatened to kill me, so I have to watch my back."

Alex scoffed. "If I wanted to kill you, not even Grandpa could stop me. However, he’s the reason you’re still alive. I can’t bear to see sorrow in his eyes anymore."

Logan looked at the two dead men around him, swallowing tightly as fear enveloped him.

"The police will find out somehow. How do I get rid of the bodies?"

Alex seemed to have a plan, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for Logan.

"Perhaps you can pay me to get rid of them for you."

Logan’s eyes lit up at Alex’s words. He was willing to pay to avoid the trouble.

"How much?" he asked, ready to make the transfer, but he was stunned by the response he received.

"Five percent of your shares, or you might go to jail."

Logan turned pale. "You are the one who killed them," he pointed out. Alex countered,

"It was self-defense. I think you have CCTV, but if we go the legal route, the other way would be for me to wipe those cameras, and call the police after taking care of the security men at the gate. I can easily deny everything."

With all evidence erased, Logan wouldn’t stand a chance. This also revealed more about his elder brother.

How did he become like this? The only man feared worldwide was Salvadore, but Logan felt his elder brother was scarier. If only he knew they were the same.

Logan wanted more shares, but as it stood, he was going to lose. "Fine. I will send an email about the shares after you clear this mess."

Alex shook his head. "I have to see the email first."

Logan gritted his teeth. It was clear they didn’t trust each other, but he had to admit that Alex had outsmarted him once again.

Alex sent a text message after receiving his copy of the email, and three men in black entered the house, wrapped the bodies in black plastic foil wraps, and carried them away without a word, leaving Logan terrified.

The last person cleaned every trace of blood on the floor before they left.

Strangers entering his house without a word left Logan wondering who his brother was.

Obviously, the death of their parents had driven them apart. "How did you do that?"

Alex smirked. "Another five percent shares would answer that question."

Logan felt the color drain from his face once again. If they continued like this, he might end up bankrupt. "Fine, what do you want?"

Alex’s expression turned serious. "It’s about you using the family stock to go against your ex’s company."

"That’s none of your business," Logan retorted, his gaze unwelcoming. Alex calmly explained,

"Don’t forget that your ex is now my wife’s best friend. If those shares don’t stabilize by the time the stock market opens tomorrow, I won’t care for Grandpa to have another heart attack."

Indirectly, he would eliminate him, as that was the only thing strong enough to give their old man a heart condition.

Logan didn’t like this. He needed Violet, but Alex was ruining that for him too.

He remembered the gun he kept under the center table after going to learn how to shoot.

The only way to end all this was if Alex became an obituary. "Okay. It will be done," he conceded, but there was a deceitful glint in his eyes.

Alex nodded and without another word, began to wheel himself out.

However, as he opened the door, the wheelchair didn’t make it through the entrance before the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against his head.

"Any last words, big brother? Trust me, you can’t use any distractions this time."