Alex POV
The office door closed with a soft thud, the last of my afternoon’s distractions finally out of sight. Alone, I could finally prepare for the evening’s arrangement with Isabella. She knew what time to be here, and I knew she’d try to push me-she always did. The way she’d test the boundaries, just a bit, like she thought she could slip through my fingers.
“Tonight, she’s learning that there’s no escape,” I murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. The image of her defiant eyes flashed through my mind, the stubborn tilt of her chin whenever she resisted…just a little too much. She was fiery in a way I hadn’t expected, but it made her submission that much sweeter.
The faint knock on my office door broke my thoughts. I turned, ready, already feeling the pull she had on me-the woman who was my contracted wife, and tonight, my good girl.
“Come in,” I ordered, my voice sharp.
Isabella entered the room, eyes scanning the space, hesitant but attempting to mask it with a defiance I knew too well. She looked stunning, wrapped in that dress I’d ordered her to wear. It hugged her body, exposing just enough to drive me insane while keeping her elegantly…mine. Her gaze found mine, lips parted slightly, perhaps in a challenge or an unspoken question.
“You’re late,” I noted, the hint of a warning woven through my voice.
She squared her shoulders, those eyes of hers blazing like she was ready to duel with me. “Only by a few minutes.”
I stepped forward, close enough that I could hear her breath hitch, close enough to see the pulse in her neck quicken.
“Late,” I repeated slowly, “is still late, Isabella. Didn’t I tell you to be here on time?”
“Yes, but I-”
I silenced her with a single finger pressed against her lips, feeling the heat of her defiance vibrating just beneath her skin. She didn’t pull away, but I could see the flicker of rebellion. Good, let her push; I could handle it. In fact, I relished it.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” I whispered, my voice dark as I leaned in closer. “When I tell you to be on time, you’re on time. No excuses. Understood?”
Her breath hitched, a mix of frustration and something far more primal in her eyes. “Understood,” she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.
“That’s my girl,” I murmured, watching her cheeks flush at the words.
I let my hand trail down, brushing her arm, her body shivering just enough for me to notice. She didn’t pull away, didn’t fight back, and I could feel that deep satisfaction blooming within me. She was mine, even if she still hadn’t fully accepted it yet.
But tonight, I’d make her realize that resisting was pointless. Her attempts to challenge me only strengthened the inevitable.
I moved toward the desk, retrieving the copy of our contract. I held it out to her, letting it hang between us like a loaded weapon.
She looked at it, a storm brewing in those dark eyes. “What’s this for?”
“You remember our agreement, don’t you, Isabella?” I asked, letting a hint of danger lace my tone. “Your obligations to me? Your vows?”
“I remember,” she replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of hesitation.
“Good. Because tonight, I intend to remind you of each clause…personally.”
Her lips parted as if to protest, but I silenced her with a single look. She wasn’t going to worm her way out of this. Tonight, she’d see exactly where she stood with me-beneath me, bound to me, and out of excuses.
I took a step closer, closing the space between us. “Now, tell me, Bella,” I whispered, leaning so close that our breaths mingled, “what is your role tonight?”
Her throat moved as she swallowed, eyes darting to the door before snapping back to mine. “My role,” she whispered, her voice shaky, “is to submit.”
“Exactly. And you’ll address me as?”
She hesitated, her cheeks flushing. I leaned in, grazing my lips just barely over her jawline, letting the tension build between us like a coiled spring. “You know the answer, Bella.”
Her voice, almost inaudible, trembled. “Daddy.”
I grinned, dark and full of possessive pride. “Good girl.”
But as I stepped back, the flicker of defiance returned. I could see she wasn’t ready to give herself fully, not yet. I would break down every wall until she did. She’d learn there was no room for hesitation when it came to me, no space for secrets.
But she wouldn’t make it easy. And that… that was exactly how I wanted it.
As I turned away, Isabella’s voice, low and laced with challenge, filled the silence. “You think you can control everything, Alex. But one day, you might find out that you don’t own all the cards.”
I paused, intrigued. The gall of her.
Turning back, I gave her a smile that I knew would chill her to her core. “Is that a threat, Isabella?”
She didn’t blink, didn’t flinch, just held my gaze with those defiant eyes that had captivated me from the start. “Just… a warning.”
The thrill of the game coursed through me. “Careful, Bella. Warnings can have consequences.”
The room hung in silence as our unspoken war raged between us, tension sharp enough to draw blood. She had no idea what game she’d started-but soon, very soon, she’d know exactly where she stood in my world.