She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 521: Old Faces, New Standing(1)

Alex sat behind the wheel, one hand resting loosely on it as the car moved smoothly through the morning traffic. The city was already awake. Cars filled the lanes, people hurried along the sidewalks, everyone heading toward their own routines and responsibilities.

Last night had been far more intense than he had expected.

Madison and Emma had only stopped when their bodies finally gave out and they collapsed. He had been genuinely surprised by how much they could endure. They had clung to him with a kind of desperate hunger, as if this was the last chance they would ever get. In a way, he understood why.

At first, they had seen him as nothing more than a student with a few useful connections. But being summoned to a mansion of that scale and given a task of real weight had changed everything in their eyes.

They had suddenly realized where they stood... and how easily they could be replaced. So they had tried to leave the deepest impression they could, before anyone else entered the picture.

Alex shook his head slightly at the memory.

Before leaving that morning, Alex had made both of them drink a healing medicine while they were still half-asleep and dazed. Once he was sure they had taken it, he left them sleeping peacefully in the bed. The medicine would make sure they weren’t stuck in bed for the next few days.

Now it was time to move forward.

A familiar system screen appeared in front of his eyes.

[MAIN MISSION: BUILD YOUR EMPIRE]

[Description: You have graduated from Blackwood University. It is time to step into the real world and establish your own power base. Create a legitimate establishment (business, organization, or enterprise) and make it famous. Your empire begins here.]

[Mission 01: Register the Establishment ]

[Objective: Officially register your chosen business or organization within 7 days.]

[Reward: New System Feature Activation – Empire Builder ]

[Failure Penalty: Loss of system support for 30 days]

’Empire, huh?’

A faint smirk tugged at Alex’s lips as he dismissed the system screen with a thought.

He had already planned most of it. The structure, the direction, even the long-term expansion. But before anything else, he needed the foundation... a proper base.

Without the right location, everything else would be built on sand.

And he already had the perfect place in mind.

A building that sat in an excellent position within the business district. High enough to carry prestige, private enough to offer control, and flexible enough to grow into something far larger later. It was exactly what he needed for the first stage of his empire.

The only problem was that he couldn’t take it with his current resources alone.

That’s why he was heading to Blackwood & Co. today.

Victoria.

***

The car turned the familiar curve and slowed as the tall glass building of Blackwood & Co. came into full view. Alex brought the vehicle to a smooth stop in front of the entrance.

The guards recognized him immediately. One of them stepped forward and gave a polite salute, while another moved quickly to assist with the parking. Alex stepped out of the car, nodding once in acknowledgment before walking toward the main doors.

The lobby was as polished and controlled as always. Soft light reflected off the marble floors, and the quiet hum of the building’s morning activity filled the space. He moved through it with easy familiarity, heading straight for the private elevator that led to the executive floors.

When the doors opened on the upper level, Margaret was already there.

She stood near the reception desk with her tablet in hand, posture straight and expression composed. The moment she saw him, her eyes lifted slightly.

"Good morning, Mr. Hale," Margaret said, her expression softening into a warm, polished smile. "Welcome back. It’s good to see you again."

Alex’s eyes moved over her briefly, discreet, controlled, but thorough enough to take in the sharp cut of her outfit and the way she carried herself. A faint smile touched his lips.

"You’re as beautiful as I remember," he said lightly. "It’s good to see you too, Margaret."

A small, almost amused curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, though she remained professional.

"Thank you," she replied smoothly. "Please, come with me."

She turned and began walking down the quiet executive hallway, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Alex followed beside her, hands in his pockets, glancing once at the familiar surroundings.

"Is Mrs. Blackwood in?" he asked.

"She’s on her way," Margaret replied evenly.

Alex raised a brow, a faint smirk appearing on his face.

"Since when did she start being late?"

Margaret glanced at him for a brief second. She didn’t answer. Her expression remained controlled, but something subtle shifted behind her eyes.

’Since she met you.’

Alex caught the slight change in her face. He didn’t press it. Instead, he simply smiled and continued walking.

"It’s fine," he said casually. "I can meet some of my old colleagues in the meantime."

Margaret gave a small nod and led him further inside.

As they stepped into the open executive floor, a few people looked up. Some of them recognized him immediately. A couple of polite nods were exchanged, and one or two staff members offered quiet greetings as he passed.

Near one of the glass meeting rooms, Claudia spotted him.

She paused mid-conversation, surprise flickering clearly across her face before it softened into a bright, genuine smile. Without hesitation, she excused herself from the person she was speaking with and walked straight toward him.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up again," she said, her tone warm and lightly teasing. "Alexander Hale. I was starting to think you’d forgotten about us."

Claudia’s eyes moved over him slowly, taking him in from head to toe without any real attempt to hide it. A small, knowing smile curved her lips as she stepped a little closer.

"What have you been eating these days...?" she murmured, her voice low and deliberately soft. "You’ve become really hot."

Alex raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting in mild amusement.

"I wasn’t hot before?"

Claudia let out a quiet, breathy laugh.

"You were cute," she said, still watching him. "When you first came here, you had that harmless, sharp-student look. But now..." Her gaze lingered for a second longer. "You’ve changed completely. There’s something in the way you carry yourself. An air I can’t ignore even if I want to."

Alex’s lips curved into a slow, confident smile.

"Then don’t ignore it," he said quietly, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "I never asked you to."

A faint flush rose to Claudia’s cheeks before she could stop it. For a brief second, her composure slipped.

She noticed a couple of people nearby glancing in their direction, clearly trying to listen in. Without missing a beat, she smoothed her expression and shifted her tone into something more polished.

"Anyway," she continued lightly, "congratulations on such a grand achievement. I never knew you were someone of this calibre."

Before Alex could reply, a few more familiar faces approached. Two senior associates and one department lead who had worked with him during his earlier visits stepped closer with genuine smiles.

"There he is," one of them said, offering a firm handshake. "We heard the news. First place at Blackwood University? That’s no small thing."

Another nodded, still looking slightly impressed. "Honestly, we were shocked when we found out. An intern from our side securing the top position... no one saw that coming."

"We’re really proud of you, Alex," one of them said with a genuine smile. "Truly."

The others nodded in agreement.

"You should come work with us properly," another added. "It would be good to have you here for real."

Alex accepted the congratulations with an easy smile, remaining polite and composed as more quiet praise followed.

Claudia gave a small nod of agreement, her earlier composure fully back in place.

"He’s right," she said, glancing at Alex. "And just so you know... David missed you the most." A soft smile touched her lips. "You should have seen him when the news came out. He was genuinely proud."

Alex’s expression shifted slightly at the name.

David Bennett.

Out of everyone he had interacted with during his earlier time at the company, David was the one he had grown most comfortable with. Their conversations had always been direct, sharp, and free of unnecessary formality.

"Where is he?" Alex asked.

Claudia gestured down the hallway with a slight tilt of her head.

"Come on. I’ll take you to his office."

She turned and began walking, and Alex followed beside her as they moved toward David Bennett’s cabin.

They stopped in front of a solid wooden door with a clean nameplate on it.

David Bennett — Chief Strategy Officer

Claudia raised her hand and knocked twice.

A familiar voice came from inside, slightly distracted and dry.

"What is it, Claudia? Looks like you have a lot of time today."

Claudia only smiled and pushed the door open.

"I brought someone you’ll actually want to see," she said as she stepped inside.

Alex followed her in.

David was seated behind his desk, several documents spread out in front of him. The moment he looked up and saw Alex, his expression shifted. The mild irritation disappeared, replaced by clear surprise... and then a genuine, approving smile.