From Isabella’s POV
I paced outside Alex’s towering office, heart racing in defiance as I clutched the crumpled pages of the contract. My fingers tingled with a cocktail of nerves and resentment. Did he think I’d just swallow the humiliation he’d put me through in our twisted little “agreement”? His revolving door of women, the cold, clipped commands… no, I was so much more than his pawn. But I’d played the role for too long now. The hint of rebellion in my chest urged me forward, past the mahogany door and into the lion’s den.
The room was as pristine as his suits, not a single thing out of place. He didn’t even bother to look up from his desk, fingers tapping coolly on the polished surface. “Isabella,” he greeted, voice as smooth and indifferent as ever.
“Alex,” I replied, dropping the contract onto his desk with a slap that echoed through the silence. “We need to talk. Now.”
His gaze lifted, dark eyes unreadable but piercing. “Oh? Since when do you set the terms around here?” he drawled, his fingers interlacing as he leaned back.
I held my ground, arms crossed, mirroring his composure despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Since I’m more than your little toy,” I shot back, letting the words hang dangerously.
His smirk was slow and dangerous, eyes darkening just enough to make my heart stumble. “A toy?” he repeated. “Careful, Isabella. You know I hate careless words.”
But I didn’t back down. “You didn’t hire a lawyer just to do your paperwork, did you? You wanted someone who could handle a fight, and I’m more than up for it.”
He stood slowly, his towering form casting a shadow that swallowed me whole. “You’re forgetting the terms of our arrangement. You wanted security; I wanted submission. It’s all laid out neatly in that contract of yours.” His voice lowered, and he stepped closer, gaze locked on me.
I refused to shrink under his scrutiny. “So, that’s it? I just follow orders while you parade around like you own me?” The words escaped, edged with bitterness I hadn’t realized I’d been harboring.
A smirk tugged at his lips. “Darling, you’re part of my empire. You are owned. You signed yourself over when you agreed to this little marriage of convenience.” His voice softened, deceptively gentle as he reached out, tilting my chin up with a finger. “Or have you forgotten why you’re here?”
I swallowed, fighting the lump in my throat. The feel of his hand, the weight of his words-they were intoxicating, a reminder of the twisted pull he had over me. But I steeled myself, unwilling to let him win this round.
“You may think you own me, but that doesn’t mean I’ll just roll over,” I said, pulling my chin free. “I still have my boundaries.”
He laughed, low and dark, the sound vibrating between us. “Boundaries? Oh, Isabella. Boundaries were meant to be crossed.”
“Is that what you tell all your other women?” The words slipped out before I could stop myself, laced with an edge I hadn’t planned.
His expression hardened instantly, amusement vanishing. “Jealousy? That’s new,” he murmured, studying me like a puzzle. “Interesting. But you, my dear, are the only one who has my full attention. Maybe you should remember that.”
The intensity in his eyes was unnerving, sending a shiver down my spine. I forced myself to break eye contact, shaking off the moment’s hold. “Your attention means little if it’s just a game for you.”
He stepped closer, and suddenly, I was caged against his desk, his scent-cologne and something darker-wrapping around me. “Tell me, Isabella,” he whispered, voice rich with dangerous allure. “Do you really want to know the lengths I’d go for you?”
The heat of his breath, the proximity, it was all too much. I could feel my resolve faltering, my heart pounding in rhythm with the possessive glint in his eyes. Part of me wanted to give in, to let him consume me like he always did. But another part-a louder, stronger part-refused to surrender.
I pressed my palms against his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath, a reminder of the power he held. “I’m not here to be consumed, Alex. I’m here to do my job.”
His hand slipped around my waist, pulling me flush against him, his voice a whisper against my ear. “Your job? Don’t insult me, Isabella.”
I swallowed, feeling my body betray me as I leaned into him, drawn by the electric tension between us. But my pride held strong, forcing me to pull back, to remind myself that this was just another one of his games.
“Maybe you should stop hiding behind contracts and deals if you want anything real,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt.
He laughed softly, releasing me, the cold mask slipping back into place. “I never promised you anything real, darling. Remember that.”
His words stung, a bitter reminder of the terms we’d set. But beneath his cold facade, I saw something flicker, something almost vulnerable-just for a second.
“Right,” I whispered, pulling myself together. “Just business.”
But as I turned to leave, his hand caught my wrist, pulling me back. His gaze was intense, bordering on desperate. “Don’t ever think you can walk away that easily, Isabella.”
His grip was iron, his gaze unreadable. The silence stretched, filled with unspoken promises and threats. I could feel my heart racing, torn between defiance and something far more dangerous, a pull that I couldn’t explain.
“Is that a threat?” I challenged myself, masking my uncertainty with bravado.
His smile was sharp, predatory. “A reminder. You’re mine, Isabella, and no contract will ever change that.”
A shiver ran through me, my pulse thundering in my ears. His words were both a warning and a confession, a glimpse into a truth he’d never openly admit.
I swallowed, holding his gaze with all the defiance I could muster. “We’ll see about that.”
As I pulled free, his low chuckle echoed behind me, chilling and all-consuming. Just before I reached the door, his voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Oh, and Isabella?” he called , his tone a tantalizing blend of menace and temptation. “You might want to reconsider testing those boundaries.”
I glanced back, caught in his dark gaze, a silent challenge lingering between us. The air crackled, thick with tension and unspoken promises.
For a moment, I considered giving in, letting him pull me back into his twisted world. But then I squared my shoulders, determination hardening within me. This wasn’t over-not by a long shot.
With one last glance over my shoulder, I stepped out of his office, heart pounding with the thrill of defiance-and the undeniable fear of what was yet to come.
As I walked down the corridor, his words echoed in my mind, a dark promise that both thrilled and terrified me.
He wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let go. And somehow, neither could I.