Isabella’s POV
My heels clicked against the cold marble floor, echoing through Alex’s sprawling penthouse. A chill ran down my spine as I entered his office, the dim lighting and dark tones swallowing me whole. In this space, he held the upper hand-always. I paused just inside the doorway, catching my breath as I felt his eyes roam over me, scanning every inch.
“Come in, little lawyer.” His voice was silk, but his eyes? Ice-cold steel.
My pulse skittered, and I took a step forward, careful to keep my composure. I hated how he had that effect on me-always making my resolve falter, my walls crumble.
I took a breath, holding onto my last thread of control. “You summoned me, Alex.” My voice came out stronger than I felt, and I was thankful for that.
He leaned back, folding his arms, his gaze dragging over me in a way that felt both possessive and calculating. “The contract-did you read the new clause?”
A twist of unease curled in my stomach. He always had a way of adding things, slipping in conditions I hadn’t agreed to, and I had a sinking feeling I wasn’t going to like this one.
“I did,” I replied, fighting to keep my tone steady, “but what’s with the… collar clause? This isn’t part of the original deal.”
His smirk was infuriating. “Isabella, it’s to keep you…in check. To remind you of what you owe me, what this arrangement really is.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. This wasn’t a marriage; it was a twisted form of ownership, a transaction sealed with terms I’d barely agreed to. But the moment his fingers reached out, lightly grazing the side of my neck where the collar would sit, the memory of last night’s agreement slammed back into my mind-stark and uncompromising.
“You think this is a game, Alex?” My voice trembled with defiance, but his eyes held a dangerous glint. He knew exactly how to play me, knew exactly what buttons to push.
“You made the choice to be here,” he shot back smoothly, unbothered by my resistance. “Every time you want out, you come crawling right back.” He paused, his gaze dark and unyielding. “Begging. It’s almost…amusing.”
He was right, damn him. Despite my fury, my pride, and every ounce of common sense, I always ended up back here, shackled by the very contract I’d reluctantly signed. But it wasn’t just the contract that bound me. It was him. Alex was a force of nature, irresistible and cruelly addictive, a storm I couldn’t escape.
“Is that what you want?” I spat, narrowing my gaze. “A pawn, someone to amuse you when you’re bored?”
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable, a dangerous smirk dancing on his lips. “No, Isabella. What I want is what I own.”
My heart slammed into my chest, and the room felt suddenly too small, too hot. He leaned in, closing the space between us, his scent and heat swallowing me whole. His lips hovered near my ear, his voice a dark, rough whisper.
“You’re mine, Isabella. And when you remember that…” His lips brushed my earlobe. “Maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you breathe.”
“You’re out of your mind if you think I’ll ever be yours,” I bit out, trying to shove him away, but he was solid, unyielding. My defiance only seemed to amuse him more. He stepped back slightly, crossing his arms, his gaze cold and calculating.
He leaned down, whispering close to my lips, so close I could feel the heat of his breath. “It’s not a matter of if, Isabella. You’re already mine. And this time…” His eyes darkened. “There’s no leaving.”
I wanted to fight him, to throw every word back in his face. But a tremor ran through me as I realized-he was serious. There was a cold finality in his words, a promise I couldn’t ignore. And as much as I hated it, as much as my pride screamed to reject him, the truth was, I was drawn to him like a moth to flame.
For all the wrong reasons and a thousand unspoken ones, I needed him just as much as he needed me. But I couldn’t let him know that. Not yet.
“You’re not the only one who has control here, Alex.” My voice was a whisper, but the steel in my tone was unmistakable. “Remember that.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, but the amusement in his eyes was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous. “Is that so?”
And before I could respond, he was on me, his mouth claiming mine in a kiss that was both punishment and possession. I could feel the anger radiating off him, the silent reminder that in this battle of wills, he would always have the upper hand.
Just as I thought I’d lost myself completely, he pulled away, leaving me breathless, shaking, desperate for more. He smirked, knowing exactly the effect he had on me. “This is just the beginning, Isabella. You keep testing me, and you’ll see what real control feels like.”
He turned away, leaving me standing there, trembling, as he strode toward his desk, every inch the domineering, untouchable force that had turned my world upside down.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he called over his shoulder, his voice casual, chilling. “We have a little…*business* to take care of tomorrow.”
“What business?” I asked, trying to steady my voice, my heart pounding with both anger and a strange, unfamiliar thrill.
He didn’t turn around, didn’t even pause, but his words sent a jolt of fear through me, mingling with a spark of something else, something dark and enticing.
“You’ll find out. Be ready by nine.”
And with that, he was gone, leaving me standing in the echo of his words, heart racing as I tried to imagine what fresh hell-or heaven-he had planned.