Thread:Redfork2000/@comment-31727837-20190329042515/@comment-31727837-20191108153647

In his own twisted way, I believe that Mr. Grey does genuinely love Alan as a son to him; though it's kinda in a 'tough love' relationship, Mr. Grey is very patient for Alan to learn and adapt to his ideals and they do bond over their business activities (I like to think that Mr. Grey's favorite activity he does in his freetime is stock marketing; the corporate business of gambling).

In fact, in the Season 7 finale, when Alan successfully takes control of the various IaLR dimensions using stolen Zortigian tech, Mr. Grey tells Alan that he's very proud of him for his achievements and allows Alan to keep his position as CEO of HyperTech Industries while he assumes total control of the entireity of the entire IaLR universe's economy.

Despite it all, though, he still only views him as the central tool of his conquest of IaLR's economy, though not in a way where he would throw Alan away when he does his part; in the part where Alan overhears the conversation between Mr. Grey and Mr. Braxton, the latter was against keeping Alan for Monopolitic Enterprises (like the name for Mr. Grey's business?), the former rebutes that if Alan can conquer the IaLRverse, then there's no doubt that he would dismantle all of their achievements if they turn on him. Therefore, it is in their best interests to keep Alan satsified in order to ensure their total dominance of the economy.